Captivating Aphrodite (UNEDITED)

Chapter 26

Reese's POV

Kinakabog ng kaba at takot ang dibdib ko. Sabi sa akin ni Angela, ang kanyang personal assistant, malapit na sila.

I don't know how to react. I feel like a little girl who just broke a flower vase.

"Aphrodite." Hindi ko alam kung lilingon ako o hindi muna. How should I react? Should I be cheerful and warm, or firm and professional? Mas mahirap pang humarap sa kanya kaysa sa mga investors.

"H-hi dad." I am stuttering. Gusto kong i-headbat ang ulo ko kahit kanino. I sounded stupid and maybe dad thinks his daughter's retarded.

"Come here." Medyo malayo kasi ang pagitan namin. Humakbang pa ako papalapit. When I'm close enough, I was surprised to receive a hug from him.

Three years.

Three years akong walang yakap kay daddy. Niyakap ko sya pabalik and I can feel that my eyes are starting to water. I didn't expect that I could miss someone like this.

"I missed you, princess." My heart wants to melt. He just called me Princess for pete's sake!

"D-Dad." Sa dami ng gusto kong sabihin, tanging dad lang ang nasabi ko at may utal pa. Hindi ko namalayang umiiyak na pala ako. Pero wala akong pakialam. This is what I was waiting for. For three painful long years, my father's hug is enough to cover all the longing.

**

"Dad, you see, Aphrodite is so much better now," pagmamayabang ko kay daddy. Nasa office ko sya ngayon. Kakatapos lang naming magliwaliw. We ate in a fancy restaurant, then watched a movie. And to tell you, sobrang komportable ko kasama sya. Which is very opposite of what I was expecting. Dad laughs, smiles, shares some stories. All the time I was looking intently at him and noticed that he grew older over the years, yet, he's still the most handsome man I know.

"You managed it better than Adam," dad said. I suddenly felt the nervous I was feeling while I was waiting at the airport some time ago. "Where is he by the way?"

"Dad...." I said, almost whispering. Lumapit si dad sa akin. His eyes telling me everything is okay. "Dad, wala sya eh. I don't know if he's coming today." And I am silently wishing he will not. Ayokong sirain nya ang araw ko, ang araw namin ni daddy Tim.

"Dad, I don't know if it's a good idea if you'll see him today. Alam ko naman pong may problema kayong dalawa," saad ko. He looked away.

Dad didn't know anything about me and Spencer's status. All he knew was we're good brothers and sisters. Pero hindi talaga eh. Kung malaman kaya nya na...something happened?

Will he still manage to talk to me? To us?

"It's all in the past." He said calmly. And I didn't help myself from hugging him. Ibang-iba talaga ito sa inaasahan ko. I thought dad will equip my energy by his dark aura. And I will be very nervous and will be guarding my movements from time to time. Pero hindi.

I am seeing Timothy Preston, the one who introduced me to Adam Spencer Preston when I was a kid. The man with the softest eyes and kindest heart.

"I will take you to him." I promised.

**

It was already 7 pm when we reached Spencer's place. His Christian-Grey-type of place. Where we found ourselves most vulnerable.

"Dito sya nakatira dad." I said, even though I am not sure. Probably isa lang 'to sa mga maaaring tuluyan ni Spencer knowing that he's filthy rich.

FINALLY we're here. Kakatok na lang kami sa pinto and all is set to fall to its destiny.

I was shaking as I knock. And I can feel, that my father, is starting to feel nervous. Kung ano man ang hidwaan nila, I am sure it's very deep dahil for sure, dad will not feel this way if it's not. Dad is the last person on Earth that I am expecting to shake. At ngayon, eto sya. Damn nervous, even if he'll not admit it, alam ko.

The door opened and it released a beautiful creature.

"Oh. Reese, what brought you--" naputol ang pagsasalita ni Spencer as he noticed the guy beside me. He froze. His soft expression turned into a wild one, nagsalubong ang mga kilay nya, he was breathing heavily.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?"