Capítulo 3: The Meeting

Ross gulped, praying this was just a beautiful nightmare.

"Ross, you haven't met our youngest princess." Laura notices that Ross's gaze never leaves her youngest daughter. And so she introduces the two. "This is Yonah. As you heard already, today she turns 16."

"I see… There should be a grand celebration for that," he commented, wishing he had recognized Yonah as the girl in his dreams. However, the pictures he saw were of her in disguise, with complete makeup.

"Hi, Kuya Ross! I finally met you!"

Yonah's greeting brought Ross back to reality, but her calling him "brother" struck him like a heavy blow.

'The hell!' Fortunately, the young lady gifted him with her sweetest smile, and his heart immediately melted. 'Alright, pull yourself together, Ross Michael!'

Ross flashed a smile as if he had not dealt with an inner battle. "Hello, Yonah. Happy Birthday. I'm sorry if I have prepared no presents for you."

"Oh, don't worry about it. This exclusive party is more than enough for a birthday present. The decoration was exquisite. I do like it a lot."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Yonah blushed. "Well, I told my parents not to host a party for my 16th birthday since we've just returned to the country. Little did I know, a surprise awaited me when I entered the hall."

The young lady sounded delighted with the surprise birthday bash thrown at her. Now, he fully understands why his mother has been nervous while she organized this party. He frequently heard her reminding the organizer to make this exclusive banquet successful. It turned out she wanted to impress the Villegas family.

"That's great, then. Good job to mom," Ross glanced at his mother, who was busy talking to the manager. 'What is she up to this time?'

"Well, I heard you paid for everything," said Laura. "Thank you, Ross."

The middle-aged lady squeezed a genuine smile. If it had been in the past, Ross would not have made eye contact with her.

"Small thing, Aunt Laura." Ross could finally have had a proper conversation with her after he made out that he was not the woman he had s*x with in his dream. That was a relief on his part.

'You have forgotten about her younger daughter.' Ross wishes he could slap his inner self for reminding him about it. His gorgeous girlfriend was sitting next to him; however, he was thinking of someone else.

And no matter how much he engaged in a casual conversation, he still could not control himself. His gaze frequently lingers on Yonah's delicate face.

"Ross, don't you think Yonah and I were like twins?"

Laura sounded like she was teasing him. Therefore, Ross chuckled nervously after he was caught red-handed.

"Yes, ma'am! It was amazing…" he conceded.

"Yonah, how many times should I remind you to finish your meal before using your phone?" While conversing with the two families' patriarchs, Antonio noticed his youngest daughter hadn't engaged in a conversation or mingled with the others, but her attention was entirely on her phone.

"I'm full, dad."

"Then why don't you talk to your cousins and make friends? Remember, this is not just a family gathering. We are also celebrating your 16th birthday, so be considerate, mingle with your relatives, and make friends with others."

Antonio Villegas was grateful for Varga's effort at hosting a lavish dinner for them. Therefore, he reminded his youngest daughter to put her phone away and not play until this occasion ended.

In the States, he strictly prohibited using phones during family bonding, especially at mealtime, except for emergency calls.

"A minute, Pa, I am replying, Aunt Mary. She told me she dropped a package for me today." Yonah's voice was laced with excitement, charming her dad so he would no longer scold her.

Helpless, Antonio sighs in resignation. After all, it was her birthday; thus, he let her off. He understands that her friends from the States would greet her late at night because of the time zone difference.

Returning to the country is an abrupt plan after his oldest daughter is united with Varga's eldest grandson.

Therefore, the family canceled the Caribbean trip by their yacht, as they initially planned for Yonah's 16th birthday party. Hence, he actually worries that his young princess will throw a fit after the plan changes.

"Sigh. You teenagers these days couldn't live without gadgets in your hands." He no longer argues.

"Don't worry, Tony; you are not alone in having the same concern." Brandon shared his sentiments. He glanced at his youngest son as he said, "My youngest is also addicted to gadgets. You can't pull him out of the seat once he plays on his phone or iPad!"

"Hey, Dad, what are you saying? I'm researching on my phone and studying our lessons 5hat's why I'm often on my phone!" Remaining silent on the side, Shaun defended himself. He was aggrieved that his father had said that. 'Why are you embarrassing me in front of the Villegas family!?'

Shaun's cheeks appeared to be blushing. He glanced in Yonah's direction, and his face was plastered with a shy smile.

On the one hand, because of his statement, Brandon and Antonio shared a knowing look, grinning. The two fathers were over the moon with their assumptions. It was apparent that Shaun liked Yonah. His gaze had been lingering on the young lady upon their arrival an hour ago, and since then, his eyes haven't been able to tear away. Hence, the two fathers assume the brothers are enamored with and smitten by the sisters' beauty.

If the brothers fall in love with the sisters and settle down, they will be the happiest fathers in the world. Once their children fulfilled the elders' promises, it would be like hitting two birds with one stone. The elders would be delighted and earn the favor as their children successfully united the two families—something the patriarchs had long waited for.

Two days had gone by too fast, and his headache persisted; he missed hearing the knock on his office door. His mind was occupied with so many things that he thought he was going crazy, and so he was startled when his secretary appeared before him.

"Sarah? Do you need something?"

"Yes, sir." Sarah Sherman, the VP's head secretary, who worked at the company for ten years, handed him a folder and began her report.

"This is the proposal for MisERGY Corporation. Sir Franco wanted you to review it."

"Okay. I will read it later. Anything else?"

"Yes, sir. The HPM would like to know if we can reschedule tomorrow's lunch meeting and move it to Monday."

"Perfect then," he said without thinking.

Sarah was stunned to hear his reply. She thought her boss would make a fuss, but he had forgotten the importance of closing this deal immediately. "But sir, you demand to buy that land and want to acquire it before the KJL, sir, and so are you certain about it?"

KJL is a rival company to the Varga Corporation. Therefore, just the other day, her boss fretted about scheduling this meeting ASAP. But then he plans to slack off today?

On the one hand, Ross is sure his secretary has noticed that he has not been himself lately. Most of the time, he was staring at a blank space.

His excuse, "I have a terrible headache, so I guess it is a perfect opportunity to rest today," is entirely true.

"Oh, you should have said so, sir. Do you want me to get you something for your headache?"

"No, it's fine. I already took some medicine before I left home this morning. Maybe the pill takes a long time to take effect." He explains, composing himself to calm down as irritation rises.

His secretary did nothing for him to throw a temper this early.

"Okay. If there is anything you need, ring me, sir." Sarah smiled before she left the office, aware that her boss had become irritated these past few days, so she had better give him the peace he needed.

Ross heaved a sigh of relief now that he was alone again. He likes the silence in his office, so he rests his head on his chair.

Yet, closing his eyes didn't help at all. It simply provides him with an opportunity to remember his dreams. Therefore, he must consume alcohol excessively to achieve a restful night's sleep.

If he continues this behavior and it becomes a habit, it will negatively impact his work and attitude toward his employees. Furthermore, his mom would incessantly criticize him upon learning that he had frequented a bar and was coming back home extremely drunk. He often witnessed when his mom reprimanded his father.

'Dammit!' Now, all he could do was cuss.

He thought things would get better after a few days of not meeting any of the Villegas' family members. However, he was wrong. Everything on his end is still complicated.

What must he do? Ross has often asked himself these past couple of days. But he found no answer.

Deciding not to take a nap, he grabbed the folder Sarah handed him the proposal and reviewed it to put the things bothering him at the back of his mind. To no avail, his headache was killing him even more.

He throws the folder on his desk and gets up from his chair. He strode toward the window and stared at the cloudy skyline above the city.

He was standing there for just about two minutes when there was a knock on his door.

'And what about this time?' Frustrated, Ross combed his head and shouted at the door. "What is it?"

He had already instructed Sarah to reschedule all his meetings today, and no one must disturb him until lunchtime.

"Hey, Kuya Ross, what's up?" At the door, a younger version of him appeared, screaming, "Sarah said you had a headache."

"Then why are you shouting at me, young man?" Ross answered agitatedly. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder before his attention returned to the skyscrapers before him. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a class?" he asked afterward.

"Whoa. Another work problem? You were breathing fire at the moment, you know that?" Shaun thought it was. Thus, he added, "It looks like we came at the wrong time. I guess we shouldn't have to disturb you further."

"We?" Ross turned around to see who else his little brother was referring to. Just then, he noticed the person standing behind Shaun.

"Hello, Kuya Ross."

"Yonah?"

"Hmm… I'm sorry if we came unannounced." The young woman seemed shy around him.

"Ah, not at all. Come in!"

"Thanks!"

Yonah flashed a smile, and suddenly, her soft, sweet voice washed his headache away.

Watching this scene on the sidelines, Shaun was dumbfounded at what was happening. A while ago, even if it was just a split second, he caught the hostile gaze flash in his brother's eyes.

Shaun wondered for whom that anger burned in his brother's eyes. 'Whatever.'

Shaun nonchalantly disregards his curiosity and lets go of his interest when he assumes a rival company has first acquired something his brother badly wants. Instead, he exhibits a concerned look on his face and suggests, "You want me to call a doctor, brother Shaun? How about sister Shenna?"

"No!" he snapped.

"No?" Shaun creases his forehead, perplexed. Scrutinizing his brother, he asked, "Why don't you want me to call sister Shenna? She is your girlfriend and happens to be a genius doctor."

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