Boss Lady #4: Laws in Love

VI. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

HER heart warmed when she remembered Atty. Hidalgo's change of mind about her case last week. Akala talaga niya, wala na siyang daan palabas sia pagkakatali niya kay Gio, but Atty. Axel served as the light at the end of the tunnel.

The attorney instructed her to take photos of her bruises to serve as evidence in the annulment case. Sinigurado niyang gawin agad ito pag-uwi niya saka in-upload sa ginawa niyang folder sa isang file sharing website. Atty. Hidalgo also reminded her to get their marriage contract as part of the evidence. He admitted to her that normally, domestic violence is not considered as one of the grounds in annulment but he assured her that he will still win it.

Seryosong seryoso ang abugado sa pagtulong nito sa kanya kaya hindi niya maikakailala na malaki ang pasasalamat niya rito.

Olive snuck inside Gio's office in the mansion to look for the marriage contract. Ilang araw na niyang pinaplanong hanapin ito pero ngayon lang siya nakahanap ng tyempo, kaya agad niyang hinanap 'yon pag-alis ng asawa nitong umaga.

Simula noong kinasal siya ay hindi pa niya nakikita o nahahawakan ang marriage contract nila. Ayaw talaga niyang makita 'yon dahil palatandaan 'yon ng ginawa ng mga magulang niya sa kanya pero ngayon ay wala siyang choice kundi hanapin ito.

She looked at the folders and envelopes placed on the shelves behind Gio's office desk. Hindi niya alam saan ba dapat mahanap ang dokumento pero susuyurin niya lahat, makuha lang ito.

"Nasaan na ba 'yun?" bulong niya sa sarili. Lahat ng nasa shelves ay tinignan na niya pero hindi niya makita.

Olive then faced her husband's desk and looked at the drawer. Nang buksan iyon ay wala rin doon ang hinahanap niya. Tinignan din niya ang dalawang maliit na drawers sa side ng desk pero wala rin, puro papeles ng kumpanya ang naroon.

After searching for nothing, Olive sighed and went out of Gio's office with nothing in her hands. She almost gave up when she decided to enter Gio's bedroom and look for the contract there.

Hindi siya nalalagi rito sa kwarto ng asawa dahil alam niya na puro kahalayan lang naman ang ginagawa sa kwarto nito. As soon as she got inside, Olive started looking around the bedroom. Tinignan niya ang ilalim ng kama, ilalim ng mattress, sa mga drawer ng dresser, at sa wardrobe cabinet ng asawa.

Olive was digging inside the cabinet when she saw a brown envelope hidden at the bottom part of the cabinet. Hindi ito basta makikita o mapapansin kung hindi mo ito mahahawakan. Agad niyang kinuha ang envelope at tuwang tuwa siya nang makita sa loob nito ang marriage contract nila ni Gio.

She made sure to keep everything in place as if nothing happened, then went out of Gio's bedroom. Tumungo siya sa sarili niyang kwarto at itinago roon pansamantala ang marriage contract. She left the brown envelope in the cabinet to make it look like no one touched it. Olive will be bringing the marriage contract to Atty. Hidalgo immediately, so she decided to prepare herself before driving to his law firm.

Dahil kahit paano ay nagla-lighten na ang mga pasa sa katawan niya, nagpasya ang dalaga na magsuot ng black fitted dress with short sleeves. Nagsuot na lamang siya ng itim na choker para hindi mahalata masyado ang marka sa kanyang leeg dahil mas halata pa ito kumpara sa iba niyang pasa.

Olive quickly went out of her car, the marriage contract in one hand, and went inside Atty. Hidalgo's law firm. Nakilala na siya ng receptionist kaya hindi na siya hinarang pa.

When she got to Atty. Hidalgo's secretary named Dina, binati siya nito at pinapasok na sa opisina ng amo nito. Olive knocked three times before entering his office. Atty. Hidalgo immediately looked up when he heard the door open as she entered, and he gave her a small smile.