"Reschedule the appointment," I massaged my temples as I stared at the papers in front of my desk. It's another invitation from a friend to their wedding. I can't help but to cringe seeing their name on the invitation. How the hell did they get a wife?
I'm the only one who never experienced any relationship in our friend circle. It's nothing to be jealous of but I'm curious what does it feel like? Because all my life I never felt romantic love. Surprisingly even attraction. There are a lot of girls in this world and it's surprising I don't find anyone attractive.
That's before I found that woman. That girl who cheated on me with just a fucking owner of a restaurant somewhere in Makati City.
I'm planning to destroy everything about that guy. They both used me for my money. So when I found out about the guy's restaurant, I immediately went there disguised as a random customer. I'll fucking buy this so I can get back everything they worked hard for.
I sat in a corner as I stared at that jerk's face on the counter. That's what he changed to me? He can't even reach where I am. What did Amber see and she replaced me to someone who is not even handsome, not even rich and especially does not have a good behavior at least?
When I moved, I thought the door of the restaurant was about to open. I was greeted by the face of a woman still in uniform from a familiar college. An unexplainable thing happened to me. It's like a sudden strong wind but I'm the only one experiencing it?
Beautiful...
I followed her with a look. She was going to the counter so I lowered my hat slightly because that man might look in my direction. I'm here to make trouble for him, not to be included in it.
She spoke to that man. Couldn't that guy be cheating on Amber with that girl? With that girl's beautiful face she can get any man she wants to. She looks ethereal. Too bad she'll just fall for someone who already has a girlfriend he got from cheating.
Rosy lips and cheeks, fair skin tone, naturally wavy dark brown hair and a slender figure. She's also slightly tall.
I left that day because in addition to other things I had to do, I wanted to find a way to show Amber that scumbag was cheating on her.
"Sir you have an appointment today with Mr---" .
"Can you reschedule that appointment? Maybe tomorrow."
"But sir they've been waiting to see you. They've been in the meeting room for a while now." My secretary scratched her ear. "I don't understand why your father still needs to get an appointment just to see you." She whispered but I heard it.
I sighed and nodded.
This is literally the worst. I'm meeting my father again. "I hope this goes well..."
"My son, Cadmus!"
I fakely smiled as I saw my father seated.
"Good morning, dad," I greeted as he stood up to hug me.
"How are you, son? How are you and Amber?"
I completely lost my mood when he mentioned the name of my ex-girlfriend whom he had never met.
Right then and there I knew I had to find a way because otherwise the company would go to someone else...
"We're doing great," I lied.
I can't find another woman who matches Amber's description. I really have a unique taste huh...
I just went from a friend's wedding. I'm about to go home when I saw that guy's restaurant. I immediately saw from the outside a very angry customer with the waitress who's also the 'woman' of the owner.
I immediately lowered the car window to be curious but I still don't understand. I parked the car in the parking lot before I got off.
"You're just a waitress, you even had the guts to flirt with my man! Don't you have any shame in yourself? You're a woman and you're still approaching men! You've added something sour to our cake!"
"Ma'am, excuse me? I didn't approach your boyfriend! And even more so I had nothing to do with your cake being sour because I did not cook it! Maybe it's just from your armpit that's why it's sour!"
I have not been very close but I immediately laughed at what I heard. That woman was sweating profusely while talking to the customer. She is no longer wearing a college uniform, she is wearing a waitress uniform.
"Erin, you're fired! You're really flirty!"
To my surprise, I saw my ex. Amber.
"What? I'm not doing anything ma'am! I'm just making things up!" She was almost crying, her eyes were still open. But he preferred to give a straight face.
That's when I started to process everything. She's not that guy's 'woman'.
I did a background check on her then I found out she's living alone in a compound and she's studying BS Business Administration. And she doesn't have a boyfriend...
I immediately invited her to the office when I found out. I told my secretary to make an invitation.
"Sir, Ms. Crisostomo rejected our offer."
Why the hell does she keep rejecting my offer? I fucking offered a hundred million just for her to pretend that she's my girlfriend in front of my father. Does she want more? Fuck this.
I got her address. That day, I decided to talk to her personally so we can talk about it. Hell, she's so lucky to meet a young self-made and good-looking billionaire like me. I just know when she sees me, she'll never reject my offer again.
My car had stopped in front of her house when I saw her running out. I frowned when I saw the clothes scattered there. Is that her clothes? She quickly picked it up. I flinched when I saw a flying shirt. What the hell?
She hardly wiped away her tears before taking the cellphone from her pocket. She typed something thete. Just a few minutes later I received a message from my secretary.
'Good morning, Mr. Arcajantel! Miss Crisostomo finally accepted the offer sir. She said she's planning to meet you soon.'
I smiled spontaneously. Hell, I knew it. She can't bring me down.
I was about to leave when I saw that old woman who almost slapped her but she let it go. The woman was so angry that I immediately got out of the car.
My right hand is in my pocket. I slowly walked towards them until they felt my presence. They looked at me at the same time.
"Crisostomo, right?" I asked, knowing it was really her.
"Who even are you?" Her voice trembled as she spoke. I can still see the tears in her eyes. Hell, why is she beautiful when she's about to cry. It felt like it was an angel crying in front of me.
I was about to speak when I saw her torn shirt. I can see her underwear even I'm still not that close to her. I looked up for a while as I removed my coat. I placed it on top of her shoulders. I can see her eyes slowly enlarged. I smirked.
"My name is Cadmus Arcajante. CEO of the Arcajante Bank Holdings."
Her eyes grew bigger. And yeah, this guy just offered you to be his fake girlfriend. But you keep rejecting him.
This girl... She's really naughty. But unlike other girls, she doesn't remind me of my ex or any other girls. She's unique. She doesn't care even she embarrasses herself just to make her love ones happy. She'll do anything for money.
Just like we agreed to do so, she stays in our mansion for the meantime. That's an advantage for me. To live with that woman.
Dad is a really smart person, he can smell when I'm faking it or not. He knows me so well. So I tried faking my feelings for that woman. But damn...
I fucking fell for her. I fell harder than I wanted to fake...
It was going well, then that guy appeared. Her ex. To my surprise, that guy also owns a company. So that's why she's hard to tame huh. She had him. And what's more? That's our rival company.
"I had her first, Arcajante," Jarmin said and smirked. We're in a restaurant drinking together. I refused to, but since we used to be friends and he said he wanted to talk, I went with him.
And now this is what he means by he wants to 'talk' to me?
I greeted my teeth. They're still talking, does that mean they still love each other? I have not even confessed about my feelings to her. Even I do things for her hinting Erin that I like her, I want to say it so she have an assurance for it.
When dad found out that Erin and I were just faking the relationship, he didn't react as I imagined. He already knows, he met Amber before but he didn't tell me. He kept up with my lie but he let it happen because he saw that I'm happy with that woman.
But then my world turned upside down. We don't have the subsidiary's stock in companies so we're dealing with the minority owners. We need to deal with it as soon as possible.
I trusted her, I trusted Erin because she knew what to do. But because of her, all of my father's... Including mine's work turned to an ash. Bankruptcy.
And then she left with that Jarmin for fuck's sake. I cried a lot but I have no choice to put myself together. It took a while to get everything back.
But I lost her. She said we would try, but she left me... I'm ready to hear anything but she left.
Does she still loves that guy? Okay, I'll try harder to be better than him. She'll blame herself for the company bankruptcy? I fixed it. I don't blame her for that. Besides it's fine now. I was ready for everything. I would drop everything for her. But she left with him. They went abroad to get married.
I'm still here, going to the restaurants we've been through. Eating alone unlike we used to before because we eat with each other... Going to familiar places I've been with her. But especially, I stay in that park whenever I'm sad because it cheers me up.
Eating cheap foods she told me that would taste good while spending a few coins.
Hell, I miss her so bad.
But what can I do? She chose that guy.
So I continued my life because nothing will change if I stop something. I needed to go on but I felt empty. I was hoping God will bring me another woman like her again. Or maybe even better than her but I can't imagine any woman being better than her because Hell, she's better than anything. My baby's the best of the best.
I started to move on.
But cupid's really playful huh? I saw her again.
"What the hell..." I blinked twice when I saw her on the airport while I'm waiting for my Cadesia who came from Japan with her boyfriend. "Maybe I'm just hallucinating..." I shook my head while looking at the same spot I thought she was on.
"No sir, I think I've seen her too." It was my secretary, Kimberly. "Is that possible that she's back in the Philippines again sir?"
"I don't know and I don't care." Yes of course I lied. "What's the name of the company again?"
We're about to go on a meeting with another company. My friend is one of the workers of this company we'll be meeting now so I trust it a lot. I've never heard about the CEO though. I don't really care unless we actually meet. This time, we'll meet.
"Wait sir.." he looked at something in the folder. "It's Hyacinth Inc., Sir."
I looked at him while frowning. "Hyacinth? Did I hear you right? Are you sure it's the name of the company?" I asked one question after another.
Hell, that's her dream company name.
"Yes sir. Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing, I just thought the name was familiar."
As soon as I entered the meeting room, I had a heavy feeling. I first saw the CEO's secretary. Who is that secretary? It was Amber. And the CEO, it's her. It's my baby. It's Erin Crisostomo.
I chose to ignore her but stayed professional. She's married right? I can't touch her anymore. Not again.
"Fuck this!" I saw her crying in that park. "I miss him so bad! Why the hell is he ignoring me?"
What's that? Is she on a call with her husband? Or a friend? When I came closer, I didn't see a phone. She's talking to herself.
"I miss you so much, Cadmus Arcajante! Fuck you! Fuck this! Fuck everything! Fuck everyone!" I heard her sobbing. I want to hug her so badly.
But wait, what the hell did she just say? She misses me?
I still walked away, knowing I want her so much. I miss her so much.
Not until I found out she's not yet married. What? Did they file a divorce or what?
"There is no divorce in the Philippines, sir." My secretary blurted out.
"So she's married in another country..." I shook my head and looked at my secretary who has been married for five years and has two children. "Act like my girlfriend in front of her. Can we do that, Kimberly?"
"You overthink too much, sir," she laughed. Since we are close to each other like friends, she feels comfortable talking to me like that. "Because you two have been kind to me, I'll go with your plan, sir. But as you said she got married in another country, maybe she really did. But you know that Ms. Crisostomo and that bulldog didn't really get married."
I laughed because of what she called to Jarmin.
But come to think of it, maybe they didn't really get married?
It was a celebration for another subsidiary company when I bumped into Jarmin.
"Hey, it's been a while," he smiled.
"It's only five years," I answered. My blood immediately boiled when I saw him. The fuck is he even doing here? I want to punch his face until every features he has disappear. Fucking hell.
"How are you and Erin? I haven't received a wedding invitation. But I expected that of course, after what I did to you both..." He sighed. "Congratulations to another subsidiary of your company and to your wife's new company. You're both doing well and you deserve it."
"What?" I feel like I'm going crazy with what he just asked me. Why is he asking me that question? didn't they both get married in another country? "Wedding invitation? I thought you guys got married?"
"What?" He asked back. "She hasn't told you yet?"
"Tell me what?"
"We never got married." He sighed again. "It's actually for a show. I want to see you fall down because I was jealous and I was childish. I'm telling you right now that I've changed... I was in charge of the stocks of your company so I wanted to ruin it all because I noticed how different Erin looks at you unlike the way she looks at me before. Erin and I had a deal."
"Deal? What the fuck... So you're the one who ruined me. I fucking knew it. You asshole, you still envy me until then huh?" I smirked. "What did you fucking gain? What are you even doing here?"
"Please calm down. I just came here because Amber and I want to tell Erin we're about to get married for her father's will. Since she hasn't told you about it yet, I hope I can help you a bit." He lowered his head. "We made a deal that I would stop ruining you when she told you we would get married abroad. I also asked her to break up with you and be with me instead. She did everything for you except one. She never wanted to be with me again after our relationship before. She doesn't want me anymore."
My eyes were blood shot. I grabbed his collar. "You did what?"
"I-I'm sorry, A-Arcajante..."
I tried to calm myself down because I was at an important event. I inhaled hard. "So where is she the whole time?"
"I gave her money... To at least help her study on Chicago. But she declined my offer. She became a freelancer while she's studying Business abroad."
So all this time, it's all fake?
What a relief.
"I also... have pictures of her in my phone. She always sends pictures to Amber, Erin and I's group chat to brag about how strong you guys are but now I found out she was lying the whole time. She's blaming herself for something she didn't do and it's my fault."
"It's your fault!"
He didn't listen to me. He showed me a picture of Erin in different clothes--- different days while she was eating turon. So she still loves me? Does she?
I have no time for this.
"We're not done yet," I was about to leave when he suddenly spoke.
"Arcajante, she came back to New York earlier today. That's why I never got to tell her Amber and I were about to get married."
I closed my eyes tightly and hurriedly called Kimberly to send the private plane. I'm going to New York right now.
"I'm really sorry, Arcajante---"
"Fuck off!" I screamed in annoyance while dialing Kimberly's name on the phone, silencing several guests who were talking. "Answer please please." I also looked around because I couldn't see her. Maybe drinking with her fellow secretaries of other companies.
It took a few hours before I got on the plane. I also received a message from an unknown number. I immediately knew it was Jarmin because Erin's address was written on it.
"What are you planning to do after this?" Kimberly asked. She's on the same plane.
"When I see her I'll ask her to marry me."
"What?! That's so sudden! You can't do that if you're serious!" She's startled so the tone of her voice rises a bit.
"I'm serious!" I also raised my tone so that we were equal.
When I got to that house, I immediately rang the doorbell. After he opened it, she didn't seem surprised because she saw me on the screen. She must be wondering what I'm doing here.
"Mr. Arcajante? Why did you come here so suddenly?" She's so professional. Even though she was only wearing a simple white silk night robe she was still very beautiful.
"Marry me, baby,"
It was silent. "I-I'm sorry, what?" Her eyes were still wide and full of confusion.
"Marry me, Erin Crisostomo,"
"You have a girlfriend!" She screamed at me. Looking in disbelief.
"I made a deal with Kimberly." I licked my lips. "She's been married for five years and has two kids. She's my friend, we wouldn't do that. No one's best at everything other than you."
She was quiet again. I was just surprised when she suddenly cried and hugged me. "I have died everyday waiting for this moment. From whom did you learn the truth?"
"Is that a yes or no?" I caressed her head while it was buried in my chest. Yes, I'm in a hurry. I will marry her immediately.
"That's a yes, Mr. Arcajante."
"You own me now then," I chuckled.
"Of course," she laughed while crying. "I always own that billionaire." She pointed at me so I took her finger to place the ring I bought a few years ago before we broke up.
The girl that used to be my fake girlfriend... She's my wife now.
"Do you believe in love now then?" She smiled while looking at our daughter.
"Yes. Love is when I found you, Erin," I smiled back and kissed both of their foreheads. "Love is when I met you. I feel that love everyday."
"So we're believing in the same love now then?"
I smirked as I remembered the conversation we had years ago. "Fine... I believe in that love now."
"I love you, Cadmus,"
"I love you, Erin," I said as I kissed her.
I've walked so far. I don't have a goal. But when I started to walk with her, I stopped caring about that goal. The only thing that I care about is I'm walking with her. This is just the beginning. We might get tired someday but we'll rest with each other. Then we'll walk again. Because she's the goal. That's what I realized.
----
1 Corinthians 13:4–8a —
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
****
SWEET SUBMISSIVE SOFTIE #1 [SERIES]
Arcajante (I Own That Billionaire)
No more pages to turn, the end.
See you on Sweet Submissive Softie #2: Raedwald (Dominant Passion) Jarell and Brelenn’s story.