Callea clasped her hands and bowed her head in shame and pain. The disgust in his voice already inflicted enough pain in her heart. She didn't care before about what people say on her physical appearance, whether she scared them or they stay away from her. But it was sad to hear that from Deive.
He showed her kindness… because he thought she was a goddess. He even protected her from danger. But she failed him. She pretended someone normal. Someone, she's not. And now, he couldn't accept the real her.
"I am not forcing myself to you. I am not forcing you to marry me. You are free to leave the house and I won't stop you. But I want to ask a favor. Please don't my grandfather that you discovered my real identity. Just tell him that you don't want to marry me because you are in love with someone else."
He crossed his arms on his chest while he's wearing a sour face. "And why would I lie? I am not you, Callea. I am not used to lies and deceit."
My teeth depressed my lower lip and I felt tears prick my eyes. Her characters were already in tattered and she made things worse. "I am sorry. I just thought that once my grandfather finds out that I showed myself in a ghostlike state, he will ask me to vacate Villa Celesta.
She couldn't live like a normal human like what her grandfather wanted. She would die in the normal world. She was protecting herself by staying at Villa Celesta.
"Even if I want to help you with your problem in the mansion, I can't lie to my grandfather. I may be a lot of things but I am not a liar."
Callea groaned. She never thought he had that kind of principle. "Why not? My grandfather told me that many beautiful women want a piece of you and they are like flies to horse dung wherever you go. I am sure you won't have a hard time finding a girlfriend once you are back at the dating scene."
That was the only way her grandfather would still give her consideration and would let her stay at Villa Celesta. So he won't think that it was not her fault that Deive backed out of their marriage arrangement.
He stood up and blew on his face. "I am afraid we are riding on the same boat here, Callea. Before I came here, I got into trouble. A major client of Hontiveros Coco backed out because he believed that I impregnated his daughter."
Her eyes widened as her heart sank. "You are about to be a dad?"
"No! I didn't even kiss the girl."
She made a face. She didn't like men who were good at having a good time but didn't want to take responsibility. "Most guys prefer to escape the burdens of fatherhood so they can enjoy their lives as a bachelor. They will tell a woman, have sex with her then leave her for another woman. What is the best punishment for a man who cheats or someone who fucks and run? You know, in my graphic novel, the white lady cut off the man's happiness."
"By scaring him to death?"
"By cutting off his dick literally," she answered with a creepy smile.
Deive's face reddened and hit the center table with his palm. "Hey! Are you even listening to me? And why do you want to cut off a man's dick? What has he done to yo anyway?"
"A man who cheats deserves to dickless.
"If you know what you are missing, you won't say that."
Then there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. Callea looked her eyes away because it was her turn to get red-faced. She felt the heat creeping her body.
She got his insinuation. As a virgin, she had no idea what pleasure a man could actually give to a woman.
"So, you quit Coco Hontiveros because of that?" Callea asked.
"I was fired! Even if I am innocent, my grandfather still kicked me out of the company." Deive shrugged his shoulder and his look was agonizing. That must be shameful and painful especially if he worked hard for his position. "My grandfather took away the chance for me to get a new life. I can't ask for a loan at the bank because I need his endorsement. Without my grandfather's backing, the business that I want to build will not push through. He asked me to fix my life first."
"But you are fixing it."
"In all fairness to my grandfather, he won't let me marry the woman who is claiming that she is my baby momma. He said that he won't let me ruin his life. It means marrying the right woman. Meaning you."
Callea pressed the ends of her forefingers. It looks like Deive's problems were bigger than hers. Too bad she was not the right woman for him. Looks like he doesn't have the luck when it comes to women. "What will happen if you don't marry me?"
"If you will lose Villa Celesta, my business venture with my friends won't push through anymore. My friends will suffer as well. Our dreams will be shattered."
It was heartbreaking. There was love in his voice whenever he mentioned about his venture with his friends. However, Callea understood where his grandfather was coming from. Deive was a womanizer.
Maybe his grandfather wants to put him in a good place by choosing the woman of his own choice. Too bad, his grandfather still made the wrong choice. Their grandfathers formed an alliance based on their decades of friendship. It was not about his compatibility with Deive.
"I don't want you to be miserable because of me," Callea murmured.
He was used to sophisticated and beautiful women who were outgoing and love the glamorous life. They frequent beautiful and shiny places, mingling with equally beautiful people. While Callea was used to being alone and living in a dark. She was not in her elements around people. What would he get from a woman like her?
"Where will you go once you leave Villa Celesta?"
She slowly shook her head and her vision turned misty. The idea was unthinkable and scared her a lot. "I don't know if there's a place that will accept me anymore. Our family is known here in Nagcarlan. No one will touch me. If we will transfer to another place, Marina would be in grave danger. People might hurt her and shun her. I don't want her to get hurt again for being different. And Luna, you saw what happened to her. I might not be able to save her anymore."
She could handle things herself. She was worried about the two people close to her heart. She might not be able to protect Luna and Marina anymore.
Deive looked at her for a long time. She swept her hair to cover her face because he was starting to melt her. What's his problem? Why was he making her uncomfortable? Did he think that it was all drama?
"Don't," he commanded and stopped her hand when she tried to put more hair infront of her face. He swept her hair away off her face and dried her tears with his clean handkerchief. "Don't cry, Callea. I can help you so you won't lose Villa Celesta."
She sniffed. "Really?"
"Yes. And that is the only way to get the money I need to start up my business and get my grandfather off my back. Let's get married."
Callea's world stopped turning and her jaw dropped. "A-Are you sure? You will marry someone like me?"
"Now that we are being honest with each other, it doesn't seem so bad at all. I just hate the deceit. And I understand why you have to hide. We don't have to make excuses about why we don't like each other. If I back out of this, my grandfather will either disown me completely or send me to another woman that I don't like at all. And I am sure your grandfather will send another prospective groom to you. It might get uglier than this, Callea. At least with me, you don' have to pretend who you are."
"You are right." It was like a huge stone was off his chest now. She didn't have to pretend anymore.
"You told me that you want to keep Villa Celesta. I want to get out of grandfather's clutches. Perhaps it won't be a problem for both of us. You don't want to get married. I don't want to get married. But we have a common goal. Once we achieve our goals, we are free to live our own lives."
It sounded like a good plan. They would just give their grandfather what they wanted and they could go on their own merry way afterward.
"So it doesn't have to be a real marriage, right?" Callea asked cautiously.
"Are you asking me if we will consummate it?"
"Y-Yes…" The idea made toes shaking. They haven't even kissed yet.
He shrugged his shoulders then rubbed his palms. "It doesn't really matter if it's a real marriage or not. That is something we can decide later on. No pressure. All we need to assure is that the wedding will push through and we will reap the benefits. That is what I call partnership."
It was a brilliant idea. It turned out better than Callea expected. There was no noose around her neck now that Deive knew the truth. She even got him as her ally. He understood her situation now and he was even sympathetic because they are on the same boat.
"I want this marriage for convenience game. But can you really stand the real me?" she asked him. "I want to be sure. I don't want you running scared later."
"I think I can get used to it. At least I know you are not a real ghost."
"How about the women you want to date. I-I don't really mind if you want to date other women," Callea cleared although she felt a pinch in her heart. "You can be discreet, of course."
He groaned. "Look, I know I have a reputation as a manwhore. Sure, I like the company of women but I am not a cheater. I am staying here with you. Do you think I would go back to Manila and to pick up women because I can't keep it in my pants? I am invested in this partnership as you do. No other women while we are together."
"So do we have a deal?"
He shook her hand and put his face a breath away from her. "It's a deal."
Her breath hitched. His face was so near her she could almost taste him. Her heart stopped beating. Would he kiss her to seal the deal?
Callea panicked. She had never been kissed before. At least one where she was willing or with someone she liked. Is she ready for Deive's kiss?
"W-Wait! You are invading my personal space."
He took her chin and lifted her face. Their lips almost touched. She could see the speckles of gold in his iris as the light from the chandelier reflected on it. He was like a vampire. He was hypnotizing her and there was nothing she could do but desire him.
"Get used to the proximity, Callea. We will spend more time together from now on. There are times that we have to act like a real couple." His hand let go of her chin Then his finger traced her neck until it reached the pulse. "You have plenty of time to get used to me. Let's call it a night for now. I will go back to my old room and unpack. I also need to shower because I smell like garlic."
Callea giggled when she thought of the garlic belt on his waist a while. "Did you return the garlic to the kitchen? Marina needs it to cook garlic rice tomorrow," she teased.
"Yes. She told me not that I can't leave the house unless I surrender it to her." Then he suddenly brushed her lips over hers. "Goodnight, my bride. See me in your dreams."
She was stunned and he left her standing there. Deive kissed me… on the lips.
She could feel tingling on her nerve endings. It was short and sweet. And he had no idea how he rocked her world with a simple brush of their lips.
Her knees fold and she slumped on the antique chair. He said that she must get used to being close to him. How could she get used to it when a simple kiss could make her weak?
She was thinking if the marriage idea was the right thing to do.