The next five days were peaceful if a bit strained for Angelo. He tried, as much as possible, to avoid being in Gabriel's presence for long periods of time; which was quite easy since Gabriel had been touring their offices. He hardly had enough time to see their father at night, and usually only to give brief reports from the office. Angelo made it a point to leave as soon as Gabriel arrived or if possible before he even did. Luckily, Gabriel's new driver, Eric, was the same one who drove him around when he came back from the US. A couple of ringside tickets to the last PBA championship had earned him the young man's undying loyalty. When Angelo requested to be updated on Gabriel's whereabouts, Eric was more than eager to oblige.
After what happened with Gabriel in the hospital, his relationship with his brother had become strained. It was easier to steer clear of him for the time being. Angelo feared the same would happen with Louisa, but he was glad everything between them had gone back to normal in spite of his mini emotional breakdown in the lounge. At least, he did not scare her off. Unfortunately, due to their busy schedules, he saw very little of her during the past couple of days.
He had spoken to Louisa only once, during a meeting at the hotel. They did not even have time to go out for lunch. They were both extremely busy–Louisa, with the deliveries and final touches to the interiors; he, with back-to-back meetings with his staff and other hotel personnel. He made it a point to call her every day, though, and often at night before he went to bed.
Angelo knew he was putting himself in a sticky situation, but he just couldn't help it. He'd fallen for Louisa long before he learned about that betrothal thing. And though he tried to accept it, he just wasn't able to. Not until he'd spoken to his father and told him about his feelings for Louisa. Surely, if there was anyone who could give him a fighting chance with Louisa, it would be his father. He just had to make him understand.
Now, as he laid in bed, staring up at the clusters of stars stuck to his bedroom ceiling, Angelo tried to compose 'the speech' he would give his father as soon as the Montoya patriarch was fully recovered. The doctors had given his father a clean bill of health and would be discharging him in the morning. But, of course, it would be too soon to discuss something this serious with him. Nevertheless, Angelo needed to be prepared, just in case. Who knew when an opportune moment would present itself, right?
How to begin and where to start, though, he had no idea. He didn't even know the precise moment he realized he was in love with Louisa. He did not plan it, he did not anticipate it. It just happened. It was like he woke up one morning knowing he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
Had she grown on him? Or had she always had a special place in his heart? He'd always been fond of her. They were playmates when they were kids and remained good friends up until high school. And although they had a bit of falling out when he left for the States, he was amazed to find that those years of separation didn't diminish the strength of their friendship. It was like they never happened.
Naturally, he had a couple of relationships in the past. Not as many as reported by the press. Most of them were just rumors while some were products of very fertile and rather malicious imaginations. Others were officially sanctioned for publicity's sake.
Nobody knew, or probably never suspected how he hated being portrayed as a ladies' man. It couldn't have been farther from the truth. The real Angelo Montoya was a one-woman man. He valued his privacy and detested being fawned over and pursued by women. It was part of being a Montoya and he'd already accepted and learned to live with it.
Still, everyone had a limit and he had already reached his. He was tired of putting up with shallowness. Tired of living up to an 'image', of being someone he truly was not. He needed to be him again, plain and simple. He needed someone who would look beyond his looks, someone who would make him comfortable with being just him. No pretensions, no expectations, no condemnation.
And that was how Louisa made him feel.
Of course, at first, the attraction was purely physical. He'd always thought she was pretty. What he did not foresee was how she would turn out to be so devastatingly beautiful in just a few year's time.
His heart stopped when she walked into the boardroom during their first meeting. And it took him a while to remember she was 'little tyrant Louie', the girl who used to climb trees with him, play every known boyish game with him and his brothers, the tiny, bossy girl who used to annoy the hell out of Gabriel.
Ironically, he didn't fall for his beauty. It was her personality that ensnared his heart. She wasn't like those pretty girls he knew who used their faces to gain advantage or to manipulate people, even though she could've, if she wanted to. Her sharp mind, quick wit, and healthy sense of humor added to her charm. She knew when to be serious and when not to be. She knew how to laugh at herself when the moment demanded it. But what he admired the most was her deep sense of loyalty and selfless love for her father.
Considering their present situation, however, that last one could cause problems.
Will she marry Gabriel out of duty? Will she place honor above her own happiness?
Angelo closed his eyes. He was getting ahead of himself. He shouldn't torment himself by predicting Louisa's actions when he was not entirely sure what he would do himself.
True, he had not known about her betrothal to Gabriel when he fell for her. Now that he knew, though, what should he do? Should he continue to nurture his feelings for his brother's future wife? Would he be able to face up to Gabriel and challenge him for Louisa's heart? Would he be strong enough to face the censure of his parents and siblings if he did so? Would he be bold enough to contest the pertinence of an arranged marriage in these modern times?
Angelo shook his head when a sudden thought jolted him. He'd been too engrossed in his own feelings, his own plans on pleading his case with his father when the one question that could nullify all his planning was the one he had overlooked.
The most important question of all: Would he be able to capture Louisa's heart?
Now, that was something that he should find out. And he needed to know ASAP! With a deep breath, Angelo grabbed his phone and dialed Louisa's number. She picked up after a couple of rings.
"Hello, Angel! What's up?"
"Uh, nothing, just wanted to ask if you're doing anything tonight."
"Nothing urgent. I'm planning to stay home and take a look at my babies. I've really been neglecting them lately."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! They must've missed you terribly."
"Yes, they're missing mama's touch."
I miss your touch, he wanted to say, but of course, he didn't. He couldn't. "Is it okay if I drop by tonight?" he said instead.
"Sure! If you're okay with watching me trim unruly twigs and gnarly roots. It can be pretty boring," Louisa chuckled.
I'll never get bored watching you do anything.
"Oh, it couldn't be worse than what I'm doing now," he replied.
"What are you doing?"
Thinking of you, wishing you were here lying beside me staring up at the stars on my bedroom ceiling.
"Staring at my bedroom ceiling." He heard her laugh.
"Wow! Pretty lame indeed. Okay, come over here, then. I'll ask Nana Rosa to whip up something nice to eat. Have you had dinner yet?"
"I had a slice of pizza."
"That's NOT dinner, Angelo."
"It was a big slice," he said, chuckling. Louisa snorted.
"Come on over and I'll feed you proper food."
The image of Louisa feeding him stirred something in Angelo. And it wasn't very wholesome.
"Uh, okay. Are you sure I wouldn't be imposing on you?"
"Duh! I asked you over, didn't I? You wouldn't be imposing, I promise."
"Okay, then. I'll be there within the hour."
"Great! See you later, Angel. Drive carefully, will you?"
His heart fluttered at Louisa's show of concern.
Perhaps, all's not lost yet.
"I will, I promise."
"Okay. Bye! See yah."
"Yup. Will be there shortly. Bye!"
He heard the phone click and a feeling of regret washed over him. He should've said more. He should've been more charming.
No, the call ended at it should've, he conceded.
Wooing her would have to wait. If he moved in too quickly, he might scare her away. He should plan his moves carefully.
Besides, he would be seeing her tonight and that, in itself, was a step in the right direction.
One step at a time, Angelo. Small, baby steps.