บท 25: Hector and his parents
Aryana and Emma were waiting for a taxi when an SUV stopped in front of them. A tall muscular man got off from the passenger side.
"Marlon!" Aryana greeted cheerfully.
"Long time no see Aryana. Hop in. Your aunt is already inside."
He opened the door for them.
Aunt Elena was sitting behind Erik. Emma got in first and sat beside Aunt Elena. She did not dare to sit beside the handsome but cold man. Left with no choice, Aryana sat beside Erik.
"Are you going to the Pearl Hotel too?" She asked shyly.
"Hmmm." He hummed his attention on his tablet. "I have a business lunch there."
Aryana shifted her gaze to her aunt.
"Aunt Elena, where were you earlier? You were not in your seat."
"Denise asked me to look for her mother outside the auditorium. She said that there was still plenty of time. I'm so sorry Aryana." Her eyes have become red.
Her aunt was very simple-minded. That's why Beatrice and Denise were able to take advantage of her.
Aryana sighed. "Let's forget about it. It's in the past now. Besides, Erik went up the stage."
They arrived at the Pearl Hotel after a few minutes and they go their separate ways. Aryana escorted her Aunt and Emma to a table. It was a buffet restaurant. She got food for her aunt before getting her own and settling down to eat.
Hector joined them at their table. He stood up from time to time to get food for everyone on the table. He was very attentive to Aryana and his gaze was extra gentle.
Hector Galvez was an engineering graduate and a year older than Aryana hence they graduated at the same time. He has been pursuing Aryana since she was a freshman but Aryana was adamant about entertaining suitors. She was serious about her studies and she gave it full attention. But now she graduated and Hector was hopeful.
Unbeknownst to them, three pairs of eyes were trained on them. Hector's parents were sitting not far away. They were angry because Hector opted to sit with 'that' girl and abandoned them. There was also a man seated on the second floor whose brows furrowed every time Hector carefully put food on Aryana's plate and gaze at her lovingly.
"Is the food not to your liking Mr. Lee?" The man across from him asked anxiously.
"It's fine." He answered calmly.
His eyes narrowed when he saw Hector reach out and wipe Aryana's face with a table napkin. He cannot see her reaction as her back was towards him. He can only see the young man's face and he was irritated at the way he looked at Aryana.
He heaved a sigh of relief when Aryana stood up.
'That girl. She always attracts men towards her.'
Aryana was very uncomfortable with the attention given to her by Hector. She excused herself and went to the restroom.
She was drying her hands with a paper towel when a middle-aged lady entered and stood beside her scanning her from head to toe.
"So you are the lady that my son is crazy about. Indeed you are very pretty."
Aryana sensed hostility in her voice. She was Hector's mother. She saw her photos with Hector on Facebook.
She gave her a tentative smile.
"You misunderstood Ma'am. Hector and I are only friends." Aryana said in a respectful tone.
"Is that so? Then why is my son eating at your table today and disregarding us?" She asked, her right eyebrow raised.
'How is that my problem?' Aryana thought to herself. Loudly she said. "Indeed we are only good friends Madam."
"It is good that you know your place. While you are intelligent, you are still after all a daughter of a chauffeur. My son deserves better."
Aryana's face turned crimson at the blatant insult.
"Ma'am, my father's job is a noble one. At least he did not steal to take care of his family. Besides, without the likes of him, how are you going to enjoy your luxurious life?" Aryana's voice still sounded respectful but with a hint of sarcasm. "Hector is a good person. He sees beyond the facade. I didn't expect that he has a mother like you." Aryana sounded disrespectful but the lady in front of her was not respectable.
"How dare you!" Mrs. Galvez raged and her chest was visibly heaving.
Aryana recollected herself and apologized.
"I'm sorry for sounding disrespectful. Again, Hector is only a friend to me. Nothing more. If I may." She excused herself and went out of the comfort room with her head held high.
Mrs. Galvez controlled her breathing. She was angry at first but a look of admiration flashed across her eyes as she followed Aryana's back until she was out of sight.
'What a strong woman. Maybe it is not a bad idea for her to be my daughter-in-law when the time comes.' The corner of her lips moved upward as she exited the restroom.
When Aryana went back to her seat, she urged Hector to join his parents at their table.
"Hey, your parents are here to celebrate with you. Go and accompany them."
Hector frowned and was about to open his mouth in protest.
"Do you want me to be enemies with them for stealing their son on such a momentous event?' Aryana cut him off.
'She makes sense.'
Hector scratched his head and look in the direction of his parents. In the end, he reluctantly obliged and joined his parents at their table.
Aryana glanced in their direction and she was surprised to see Mrs. Galvez giving her a smile.
"She is a smart girl. She acted well." The woman whispered to her husband.
The stern man beside her gave Aryana a quick look over. He gave his son who just sat down a pat on the shoulder and said in a deep voice.
"Aren't you going introduce that girl to us?"
Hector lifted his head to look at his father. He thought he has misheard but when his dad gave him a wink, his face brightened and in a blink, he went back to Aryana's table and dragged her with him.
"Dad, Mom, this is Aryana, the one I told you about." He happily introduced her to his parents.
Aryana frowned. 'What kind of introduction was that?'
"Yana… my parents."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Galvez. I'm Hector's friend." She greeted politely. She looked at Mrs. Galvez hesitantly. Hector's mother gently smiled at her.
"We met at the ladies' room and I bullied her." She laughed lightly. "But she is no push over so I like her." She said looking at her husband.
'Was that a test earlier? Looks like Hector's parents aren't that simple.'
"Didn't you say she is your girlfriend?" Mr. Galvez teased his son.
Hector's ears reddened. He scratched his head and watched Aryana's reaction.
Aryana was speechless.
"Dad! I said, future girlfriend."
Slightly embarrassed, Aryana excused herself and Hector escorted her back to her table.
The happening on the ground floor did not escape the watchful eye of the man in the VIP room on the second floor. His gaze turned colder and colder and his grip on the glass tightened. The elder man across him almost choked.
"Are you alright Mr. Lee? Is there anything wrong with the contract?"
"Do you know who are the couple at table eight below?" Erik did not answer his question.
The man tilted his head to the left and looked down.
"Those are Mr. Afred Galvez, a retired major turned successful businessman, his wife Hannah, and their youngest son Hector."
Erik scowled. 'The Galvez family.' He heard that they were very influential in Green Heights province.
'Did the Galvez family offend Mr. Lee?' The man sitting across him who was enjoying his wine wondered.
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