บท 9: Breathe
When I woke up, Bram was already gone. I got my phone from the nightstand and checked the time. It was nine in the morning on a Sunday. There was a message from Aunt Calla so I tapped it open.
Aunt Calla: Darling, I know it's Sunday but I want to see you. I just need more time for us to get to know each other. Can you meet me at my home?
I planned to stay in bed all day but I needed to meet her. I agreed and told her that I would just get ready. I called Maria about my unscheduled activity today. She told me that she would ask the driver to get prepared. I went inside the bathroom and took a shower.
I chose to wear a denim mini skirt and a plain white V-necked shirt. I decided to wear my Stan Smith sneakers and had a half ponytail on my hair. I used the grand staircase this time since I was wearing comfortable shoes. I decided that I would do my make-up on the car.
Aunt Calla's Condo Unit
I reached Aunt Calla's condo past eleven in the morning. I was surprised to see that she had already prepared lunch and there were other visitors too. Attorney Silas and my mother-in-law, Credence Rivera, were sitting on the long sofa. After our lunch, I helped Aunt Calla clear the table. The four of us were seated around Aunt Calla's square-shaped dining table.
Attorney Silas brought out some papers and gave us each a copy. It was the contract that I signed with Bram two weeks after Don Agustin passed away.
"I wanted to discuss this with you since Bram has already consulted me on this," Atty. Silas stated, his hand was clasped on the table.
"Can I read it first?" asked Aunt Calla.
"Sure, go ahead," Atty. Silas said to all of us.
I scanned the contract again and focused on the important parts. It said the conditions that Bram and I needed to follow.
The conditions were:
Mister Bram Josef Rivera, the only son of Mister Agustin Rivera, will take the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Rivera Group of Companies.
Mister Bram Josef Rivera and Miss Emma Lara DeTomas will be married and they need to have two children: an heir and a spare within 3 years.
Bram and Emma needed to live on one roof as husband and wife.
Miss Emma Lara DeTomas will receive five million pesos if she agrees to these conditions.
Once they have fulfilled these conditions, Mister Bram Josef Rivera and Miss Emma Lara DeTomas can decide if they prefer to separate.
I looked up at Atty. Silas when he called my name. He was asking me if I had anything that I wanted to clarify.
"I wanted to know what my options are regarding child custody? I mean, can I still see my kids?" I asked. My eyebrows scrunched together.
"We need to discuss that with Bram, Madam," Atty. Silas said to me. And I just nodded in response.
Aunt Calla removed her glasses and asked, "What did Bram ask you regarding the contract?"
"He wanted to know if we could shorten the three years into two because of his girlfriend," Atty. Silas answered as he looked at Aunt Calla's reaction.
There was silence in the room. And all of them turned to me. I turned and looked at them one by one and I stopped at Aunt Calla to my right. I felt that I wanted to faint for a moment, but I sighed and smiled at them.
"I guess I needed to get pregnant as soon as possible," I commented with an awkward smile. My mother-in-law reached for my left hand.
"We'll take care of you, dear. Don't you worry about anything," mama Credence said as she squeezed my hand. I answered her with a smile.
After the surprise meeting, my mother-in-law and Atty. Silas left and it was just Aunt Calla and me. She quickly changed the topic and never mentioned anything about the meeting again.
"So I was wondering if you would like to meet the models and beauty queens that were training under my agency?" Aunt Calla asked me.
"Oh, I have read about your agency. Are we going to meet them now?" I asked Aunt Calla.
"Yes, dear," said Aunt Calla as she walked towards her kitchen counter and got her black branded handbag, "Let's go!"
Calla Lily Artist and Model Management, Manila
We got into Aunt Calla's building around two in the afternoon. She took me to the cafeteria of the building that she was renting. We were greeted by two good-looking male models and two beautiful female models. They all hugged and kissed Aunt Calla, then she introduced them to me.
"This is Bram's wife," said Aunt Calla.
Then each of the models introduced themselves to me. We all sat down and I placed my bag on the table. They all started to discuss where we were going to celebrate the birthday of one of the male models, George. They eventually settled at a Japanese restaurant.
We left Aunt Calla's car in the carpark and took her company's white van. Since it was George's birthday, he was allowed to drive it. When we got to the restaurant, Aunt Calla requested a table that would fit eight people. She said we could have a space for our bags. After what had happened to me these past few weeks, eating out with people that I barely knew felt like a breath of fresh air.
I noticed George was the only one who was interacting with the two female models. The other male model was just talking to Aunt Calla. The other male model appeared to be very close to her. When our orders arrived, all of us were commenting on how good the food was. I was getting a California Maki using my chopsticks when Aunt Calla called my attention. I turned to her and saw that she was placing her phone back in her bag.
"That was Bram, dear. He was looking for you," Aunt Calla said, then she continued her conversation with the other male model.
I opened my sling bag and checked my phone. There were ten missed calls from Bram. I placed my phone on the table so I could see if he would call again. I forgot to remove my phone from silent mode last night. My eyes were on the phone as I slurped some of the ramen into my mouth.
"So what do you do?" George asked me.
I was a bit startled by his question but I answered him politely, "I'm a Nurse."
"And what does a nurse do for fun?" George added.
"Watch movies during weekends, read and sleep," I responded to him.
"Boring stuff," George commented, and the two girls smiled at him.
I smiled too and then my phone rang. I put the ramen spoon down and answered Bram.
"Hello?" I answered Bram.
"Where are you? I was calling loads of times!" Bram yelled. He was obviously irritated by the tone of his voice.
"I'm in a Japanese restaurant with Aunt Calla and her friends," I said to Bram.
"And you didn't care to tell me?" he yelled again.
The other female model who was seated beside me turned to me. She probably heard what Bram said because it was pretty loud. I excused myself from the group and went outside the restaurant.
"What do you need, Bram?" I asked him as soon as I closed the glass door of the restaurant.
"Do I need to repeat what I just said earlier?" Bram asked with sarcasm. I closed my eyes and bit my lower lip.
"Bram, you never asked for my permission every time you leave. And I don't recall any part of the contract that said that we needed to update each other's whereabouts," I told him and I ended the call. It felt really good after I did it. I sighed and went back inside the restaurant.
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