Twisted

Chapter 8 (part 2)

Walang dumating na Mateo Vidal sa condo unit niya ng gabing 'yon. Sa halip ay isa na namang package ang ipinadala nito kinaumagahan. Ang parehong matangkad na babae ang nagdala noon sa kanyang pinto.

"Do you work for Mateo?" hindi niya napigilang itanong sa babae pagkababa nito ng mga itim na kahon sa kanyang cocktail table. The four black boxes were of varying sizes but all leaned toward big.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Uhm, messenger?'

Kumibot ang dulo ng mga labi ng matipunong babae. "Bodyguard po, Ma'am. Pero sa ngayon, kasama na rin po ang messenger."

"Bodyguard ni Mateo?"

"Ah, hindi po."

"Bodyguard nino?"

Napakurap ang babae, at medyo napangiwi 'to. "Ah, kay Sir niyo na lang po itanong."

Bahagya siyang napakunot. "Matagal ka na bang nagtatrabaho kay Mateo?"

"Kailan lang po, Ma'am. Uh, siguro po si Sir na lang po ang tanungin niyo sa iba. Sige po."

At dali-dali nitong tinungo ang pinto niya na para bang may nakahahawang sakit siya.

"Wait, what's your name?"

If Mateo's going to keep sending her stuff and having his bodyguard deliver them to her, she should at least be on a first-name basis with them.

"Trina po, sige po, Ma'am."

At malalaking hakbang na nitong tinungo ang elevator.

Kunot noong isinara niya ang pinto.

Could it be?

Did Mateo Vidal put a bodyguard on her?

Umiling siya sa sarili at tinawagan ang front desk para ipaalam na paderechuhin na lang si Trina sa unit niya kapag may delivery ito at hindi na siya kailangang tawagan para humingi ng permiso.

Nakasimangot niyang pinagmasdan ang mga kahon.

Since their bathtub tryst, Mateo hadn't called or texted her again. Mila was ashamed to admit she had waited for him to arrive until past midnight. Wala 'tong ibinigay na excuse kung bakit hindi 'to nakapunta kagabi. He just decided to cancel his visit to her without even telling her anything.

And now he sent her these gifts as if she was some well-kept mistress.

God, he was an ass.

She should send these back to him.

Magkasalubong pa rin ang mga kilay, binuksan niya ang malaki pero mababang kahon. Nababalutan ng white tissue paper ang laman noon at binuklat niya 'yon. Her eyes rounded as the soft frothy tulle material came into view. Inangat niya ang kulay berry rose na tela at inilalad.

It was an ethereal tulle midi cocktail dress that had off-shoulders, fitted bodice, and floaty skirt. May intricate metallic embroidery 'yon na mayroong mga tiny rose gold Swarovski para magmukhang vines. The metallic embellishment curled around the shoulder wrap and bodice, then cascaded down the floaty tulle skirt. It was Oscar de la Renta at kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay kasama sa latest summer collection nito. She had been eyeing this cocktail dress herself since it came out.

Had she posted that somewhere online? Or did Mateo just choose a dress according to her usual style?

May shopper ba 'to?

Binuksan niya ang sumunod na malaking kahon, at muntikan na siyang mapasigaw.

She stared wide-eyed at the iconic Pantheon mesh on the front of the gift boxes with the golden Bulgari logo embellished on the centers.