The Billionaire's Contract Wife [COMPLETED]

Three: Sincere Apology

"Aerabella, right?" ani James while putting down my ID on the table. "Can I call you Belle?"

I cringed. "Please, no. You can call me Aera."

"Okay, Aera. I'm Louie's assistant. You can call me James. I'm so sorry for the huge misunderstanding. Louie has been through a lot recently kaya I admit, medyo napaparanoid na din yan. He hasn't set foot in the Philippines for two years now but there will always be someone secretly following him around. That's why he had trust issues with everyone he finds suspicious," anito.

"I could sue him for harassment," I said. 

"I know. But believe me, you don't want your name to get entangled with his."

He's threatening me, I know. 

"Sikat ba siya sa Pinas? Like artista?" I asked.

James looked at me as if gauging the truth in my words. "You don't really know him?"

I shook my head. "Five years na ako dito sa Spain. Wala na akong kilalang artista sa Pinas."

James stared at me. 

"But still… " He shook his head. "Never mind. Let's get down into the business, Aera. How much do you need?" He took the checkbook out again.

I stared at him. Disgust must've been evident on my face because he started to shake his head.

"Don't get me wrong. Alam kong wala kang masamang intensiyon. You have proven your identity already," he said as he pointed to my university ID. "But still, I wanna compensate you for the trouble."

I sighed. "I've never felt this humiliated before." I grabbed my ID from the table and stood up.

Okay, inaamin ko. Mukha akong pera. Kaya nga kung anu-anong raket na lang ang pinapatulan ko. 

But I have my pride, too. Parang wala namang ibang ginawa 'tong mga 'to kundi ang maliitin ako at ang buo kong pagkatao.

Agad na humarang si James sa daraanan ko.

"I'm sorry if I offended you," anito. "I just want to make sure that ---"

"Walang lalabas tungkol sa pangha-harass na ginawa ng boss mo sa akin?" I finished his sentence for him.

He slowly nodded. "Y-yeah.. basically.." he said in hesitation. "Well, that's technically part of my job. To protect him."

"That must be tough." I was sarcastic.

"Yeah, it is," he agreed, not buying the sarcasm in my tone.

"I need to go. Malamang kanina pa nila ako hinahanap sa baba. Baka wala na nga akong suswelduhin tonight."

"That's why I am offering to compensate you for the trouble," he insisted.

"I'm tempted, but no. I want to keep my dignity intact. Thanks for the offer." 

"Please. I need to do this. Just let me do my job." He was pleading.

I looked at him. "Do you really think not accepting the money means I have the intention of talking about what happened tonight?"

"Hindi naman sa ganoon kaya lang.."

"Will it give you peace of mind if I accept your offer?"

"Well, parang ganoon na nga."

"Listen," sabi ko. "I have no intention of making a big deal out of this. Unang-una, hindi ko kilala 'yang boss mo. Pangalawa, wala naman akong mahihita kung ipagsabi ko man ang nangyari ngayong gabi. Pangatlo, ang sabi mo nga, it was a huge misunderstanding on his part. He didn't mean to do it. Pang-apat, I have no time and energy for these kinds of things. I have more important things to do. Ni wala na nga akong matinong tulog dahil sa dami ng kailangan kong gawin, maghahanap pa ba ako ng dagdag na problema? Kaya makakaasa kang hindi n'yo na kailanman makikita 'tong pagmumukhang ito paglabas ko ng pintuang ito. Cross my heart, hope to die."