Reid Alleje? Reid Alleje?
Natigagal si Tamarra dito. "Uh! Mr. Alleje," gulat niyang bulalas.
Ito na ba si Reid Alleje? Those pictures didn't do him justice. She was not prepared for the onslaught of peculiar emotions that she felt when she saw him. Nakakawala pala ito sa sarili sa personal.
"You seemed surprise to see me."
Tumikhim siya at hinamig ang sarili saka ito kinamayan. She felt that small pressure when he shook her hand. Nanlalambot ang tuhod niya. Anong nangyayari sa kanya? Di na siya umaakto ng normal. Sa pagkikita nilang iyon, dapat siya ang mas composed. Ipapakita niya na siya ang may hawak ng alas. Pero di pa sila nagsisimula ay nanlalambot na siya.
Get hold of yourself, Tamara. Lalaki lang iyan. Hahayaan mo bang masira ang mga plano at pangarap mo dahil sa lalaking iyan? sermon niya sa sarili. Napakabigat naman ng pagsubok niya sa buhay. Bakit ganito pa kaguwapong lalaki ang kailangan niyang harapin? Kaya ba niyang maging pormal dito mamaya?
Sinulyapan niya ang relong pambisig. "Am I late?"
Her future was at stake with that talk. Di siya pwedeng papatay-patay.
"No. It is still early. I just saw you on my way to La Plaza." Ang La Plaza ang restaurant ng hotel kung saan sila magkikita. "Shall we go now?"
Tumango siya at nagpatiunang maglakad. Inalalayan siya nito sa siko. It was a very formal and restrained touch. But she felt a tingling sensation.
She stopped herself to cringe. Pinilit niyang gawing walang ekspresyon ang mukha niya gaya ni Reid. According to Attorney Cabral, Reid Alleje was a man with a very strong personality. When he was after something, he would surely get it no matter what. Even his colleagues cower in his presence. Di biro-biro para sa isang babae na humarap dito.
"I already took the liberty of ordering the food for us," wika nito pag-upo nila.
"Huh! But…"
"I know that you are a vegetarian. So I asked them a very special meal for you. Don't worry, the chef assured me that it is the house's specialty."
He was so domineering and it annoyed her a bit instead of impressing her. Ayaw kasi niya ng pinangungunahan siya. "Pina-imbestigahan mo ba ako?"
"No. I just don't want to waste time. We have a serious business to discuss. Anyway, we can discuss it over dinner."
"That's my idea as well," she said in a formal voice. Everything about him was business. Kung ibang lalaki siguro ay baka bola-bolahin pa siya. But not him. He wasn't a bit interested to her as a woman.
"Maybe because you work with animals."
The food was really sumptuous. The thick sauce had just the right sweetness the way she liked it. It was made for meat. Nagsilbing meat ang gluten o veggie meat. Mukhang alam nga ni Reid ang gusto niya.
"I guess Attorney Cabral told you about my proposal," panimula nito habang kumakain sila.
"Yes. The Stallion Riding is a very big project indeed. I am impressed."
The Allejes had this very large farm. It served as a home for different excellent breed of horses from all over the world. Kaya naman naisip ni Reid na gumawa ng isang sanctuary para sa mga kabayo. A riding club. But it would be a home and a paradise for rich and popular men, where they could relax and do what they want. Twenty-one pa lang ito nang simulan nito ang pagde-develop sa Alleje Farm. He used his vast inheritance from his grandfather from Spain. Isinakripisyo nito para sa ambisyoso nitong project.
"It is almost complete. Except for the lakeside part." He showed her some of the pictures of the developed parts. There were villas and excellent riding centers. Pati na rin state of the art horse facilities. With its lush greeneries, the riding club really looked like a paradise. "All we need is your land so we can complete the project. So perhaps we can discuss the terms now."
"I am afraid I can't sell the land to you, Mr. Alleje."
Mukhang di naman ito nagulat sa sinabi niya. "Maybe the price is not high enough. I am willing to double the price. Or even triple it."
"Hindi naman presyo ang problema natin. My father left me a testament. Di ko pwedeng galawin, I-develop o ibenta."
Dumilim ang anyo nito. "No! No! He can't do that! I need that parcel of land," mariin nitong wika. "It will ruin my whole project." Nakataas ang noo nito nang tumayo. Ano ba ang laban nila sa naiwang testamento ng matanda. It can't be undone. "So this talk is talk is useless after all. Nice doing business with you, Miss Trinidad," he said in a composed manner. He didn't act like a sore loser.
"I can still help you, Mr. Alleje."
Umupo ito. Bahagyang sumilay ang pag-asa sa mga mata nito. "How?"
"You will have the liberty to use my land as husband."
A flicker of surprise shone in his eyes. Subalit saglit lang iyon. As if nothing could faze him. "So I have to marry you?"
Tumango siya. "Yes. Magkakaroon lang ako ng karapatan na kontrolin ang property kung mag-aasawa ako. Kung ako ang masusunod, wala akong planong mag-asawa. The land could stay at its state right now and I won't care a bit. And it's up to you if you don't want to marry me."
Gusto niyang iparamdam dito na ito ang may kailangan sa kanya. Na dapat pa nga itong magpasalamat sa suggestion niya.
"I am considering it." Subalit nakikita niya na gusto nitong tanggapin ang option niya. Ang milyon-milyon nitong project ang masisira. Isang malaking attraction ang plano nitong pagde-develop sa tabi ng lake.
"While you are at it, you can also study our pre-nuptial agreement."
Nakakunot ang noo nitong pinagmasdan ang kontratang ipinagawa niya. "We can't get an annulment until you are twenty-six. Why?"