Archie and I did a lot of walking and my feet felt like they were dying. So I asked him to take me to my husband's office while he was still in the conference room. I placed my sling bag on the long leather sofa and kicked my new shoes. I walked barefooted on Bram's carpeted floor. I stopped beside his office chair because Bram's background was a huge floor-to-ceiling glass window.
He had the perfect view of the city skyline from here. I sighed and enjoyed the sight of cars passing by and people who went out for their lunch. I heard the door open and turned to see who it was. Bram entered with Archie on his tail.
"We're having lunch in the Manila Hotel with Connor," Bram announced. He was no longer wearing his coat and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbow, "We need to go now."
I released a long breath and walked to the sofa where I left my things. Good thing I was able to freshen up and put on light make-up on my face earlier, when Archie showed me the restrooms of the building.
The Manila Hotel
We met Connor at the Cafe Ilang-Ilang—a restaurant renowned for its international buffets for lunch and dinner. It was Connor's treat and he said that he reserved us for an all-you-can-eat lunch. I got enough food on my table and waited for Connor and my husband to return. I was craving pasta so I went with that and garlic bread on the side. I got the juice of the day for my drink. Connor and Bram basically took all the food that they wanted, left it on our table and returned to get more food again.
They only sat down when they were satisfied with the amount of food on our table. I started to eat when the two of them started to eat their food. I did not know how to start a conversation with these two, so I kept quiet and focused on eating. I was glad when Connor changed his position and started a conversation. He put his fork down and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"So, how did you two meet?" Connor asked, as he switched his gaze between Bram and me. How I wish that he had not started with this question!
Bram was still chewing some food in his mouth, so I answered instead, "I was the private Nurse of Bram's father."
Connor nodded in acknowledgement, then he took a sip of his juice and added, "Wow, so you're a Nurse? Have you tried working overseas?"
I was about to put some pesto in my mouth but I put my fork down and turned to Bram. I wanted to see his reaction. He gave me a quick glance, then he turned to Connor and continued eating. I sighed, "I wanted to, but that was before. I wanted to travel to Europe with my mom and my brother."
Connor nodded and commented, "But you met this guy instead?" Then he pointed at my husband. Bram just winked at Connor and took a sip of his drink.
"Yes," I answered with a smile, then started to eat my pasta again.
Connor shook his head, "I could not believe that Bram got married before me. We both know that I was the marrying type, not him."
I swallowed the food in my mouth then took a sip of my juice, "Um..I had no plans on getting married too," I said to Connor.
Connor's eyes widened in surprise, "Really?"
I just nodded at him and finished the remaining garlic bread on my plate.
"You should travel the world like you planned. It's good for the soul," Connor said, looking directly into my eyes.
"Yeah, I will," I responded with a small smile and nodded. There was an awkward silence after my last words. I turned to Bram and our eyes met. His face was expressionless so I could not make out what he was thinking.
We were on our way back to the office inside the LS500. Bram kept on glancing in my direction. I focused my attention on the passing cars outside my window. Jonas was quiet today. Usually he made small talk with me when he drove for me before. I tried not to look at Bram's side. I was kind of irritated with him for not answering his friends' questions!
There was already this huge space between Bram and me. It was built on things that we did not say to each other. And Connor's questions during lunch caught me completely off-guard. Bram did not help at all, he did not even say anything. It was so frustrating! I shook my head and decided to ignore him completely.
We were both seated at the back. He was on the right side and I was on the left. My hand was on my lap beside my sling bag and my head was turned to the window. The wheels in my head were turning. I was thinking about what Connor had said. I was thinking that maybe I could travel the world after I fulfilled the requirements of the contract.
I was startled by Bram's touch. I turned to his side and gave him a questioning look. He took my right hand and held it so that both our hands were on his lap. I had no choice but to change my position and move closer to him. He let go of my right hand and hugged me from the back, then he kissed my right shoulder.
These gestures of Bram's brought me hope, but at the same time, it brought me anxiety and fear. I knew that he was just pretending because of the contract that we signed. I glanced at him and gave him a small smile. We were in that position until we reached the RGC building. Bram instructed Jonas to drop him at the front entrance of the building. Then he told me that Jonas could take me anywhere that I wanted to go.
"I might be late. You can also wait at Aunt Calla's condo. I already called her," Bram explained. Then he went out and walked towards the main entrance of the building.
There was really no place for me to go. My mother and brother were still on Siquijor Island. I was thinking of spending the afternoon with my friends but I realized that they might be busy too. I ended up telling Jonas to take me to Aunt Calla's condo. When I got there, Aunt Calla was not alone—Brando and George were there too.
Aunt Calla and the two guys stayed in the living room and I told Aunt Calla that I would take a nap in the guest room. I was yawning on my way to the guest room. I did not realize that I was that tired and sleepy. Maybe because Bram woke me up early and I toured a good portion of the RGC building. I placed my bag on the nightstand and kicked my shoes. When my body touched the cool mattress, my eyes instantly closed. I was about to give in to sleep but someone knocked on the guest room door. I forced my eyes open and saw Aunt Calla go inside the room.
"Darling, Bram was calling you," Aunt Calla said with phone in hand.
I slowly sat up and got my bag from the nightstand. There were three missed calls from Bram. I heard the door close as Aunt Calla went out of the room. Bram called again and I answered immediately. He asked for me to turn my camera on for a video call.
"What are you doing? What happened to your hair?" Bram asked without pausing.
"I'm in the guest room and was about to sleep," I told Bram as I removed my hair tie.
"I heard some guys laughing. Who are those people?" Bram asked again, his eye color changed into a deeper shade of blue.
"I think it's George and Brando," I told Bram as I laid back down on the bed again, "They are Aunt Calla's models."
"I can't cut my meeting short. I might be there around past six. Just wait for me there, okay?" Bram said sternly.
"Yeah, I'm going to take a nap, Bram," I told him as my eyes started to droop.
"Don't get out of that room and don't forget to lock it," Bram ordered me.
I nodded as acknowledgement, then Bram spoke again, "You stand up now and lock it. I want to see you lock it!"
"Bram!" I groaned in irritation.
"Do it now, show me that you've locked it!" Bram raised his voice.
I sighed and walked towards the door. I flipped the camera to show him that I had locked the door. Then I walked back to bed and landed ungraciously. I flipped the camera back so he could see my face. I turned to my right side and met Bram's eyes.
"I should probably get you a bodyguard," he said without blinking.
I rolled my eyes at him and said, "Bye, Bram!"