The Heiress

Chapter 2 welcome home

"are you comfortable Ms. Huntington?"

Tanong sakin ng driver habang nakatingin sakin sa rearview mirror ng sasakyan. Nakaupo Kasi ako sa back seat.

"I'm fine"

Tipid kong Sabi. From Morales to Huntington. Kahit Hindi ko man aminin sa sarili ko kinakabahan ako sa mga nangyayari.

"I'll turn on the tv ma'am to keep yourself entertained in our five hour drive"

May pinindot ang driver malapit sa dashboard ng limo at biglang umangat ang isang hidden mini tv. Wow, ganito ba talaga ka yaman ang Daddy ko? Biglang lumiwanag ang screen ng tv at tumambad ang isang news channel.

"Breaking news, billionaire, Charles Huntington was found dead in his mansion yesterday. Investigations are ongoing as the killer is still at large. In a shocking revelation, his will states that he has an illegitimate daughter and he will be leaving everything in his name to her. We still do not have any details about the mysterious heiress."

Killer? Illegitimate daughter? Ibig sabihin pinatay ang papa ko? Sino naman ang gagawa nun sakanya? At tsaka bakit pa binalita na isang illegitimate daughter lang ako? Totoo ba? And I can't believe it. I'm the heiress. After a long drive that seems to feel like forever nakarating na din kami sa terminal kung saan ako susunduin ni Elliot at nang Daddy niya. Pinag buksan ako ng driver ng pinto ng sasakyan at inasikaso ang mga maleta ko.

"I hope you had a pleasant trip today miss Huntington"

Sabi sakin ng isang babae na lumapit sakin na parang tauhan din. Wow Is this how the rich are treated? I don't think I'll get used to such grand gestures.

"Rest assured, we've been informed to keep your identity a secret"

Bulong niya sakin. Right. Because the "mysterious" heiress is still not discovered which is ako.

"Tarhata! Over here!"

Napalingon ako ng marinig ko ang boses ni Elliot. Agad naman akong nag tungo sakanya. I haven't seen him in so long!

"It's miss Huntington now!"

Puna ng katabi ni Elliot na nakatayo. I'm guessing it's his Dad.

"Elliot! It's been so long!"

Agad ko naman siyang niyakap pagkalit ko sakanya, he hug me back and he just chuckled. Napatingin naman ako sa gawing kanan ni Elliot kung nasan ang Daddy niya.

"Is it true? Am I really Charles Huntington's long lost daughter?"

I ask hesitantly.

"He had your childhood photos, letters exchanged with your mother..."

"Pero sinabi niya sakin namatay si Daddy noong baby pa ako sa isang aksidente"

"She must have done so to protect you"

"This is all too sudden! Nung nakaraan lang nag se serve lang ako ng drinks sa mga mayayaman suot ang uniform ko na kinulang sa tela- you don't expect me to believe I'm actually an heiress to a multi-billion conglomeration! I don't even know what I'm supposed to do!"

Pabulong kong sabi dahil nandito pa din kami sa terminal. Baka may makadinig samin. Nginitian naman ako ng Daddy ni Elliot.

"Just as I was Mr. Huntington's secretary, I'll be here to guide you"

Napatingin naman ako Kay Elliot na napapa iling nalang.

"This is definitely not the reunion I was hoping for us Tarhata"

Flashback

4 years ago at this exact same spot

"Do you really have to go?"

Tanong sakin ni Elliot.

"I'm sorry but you know why I have to leave. Wala na si Mama...at ang raming malulungkot na alaala dito"

Ma iyak iyak kong sabi

"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I couldn't help you..."

Ayan na naman si Elliot at ang puppy eyes niya

"Promise me you'll return someday?"

"I will"

"And when you do, I'll be right here waiting with your favorite flowers"

End of flashback

Bigla akong nagulat ng may kinuha si Elliot Mula sa likuran niya na isang bouquet of red roses at binigay niya sakin.

"It's been four years! Naalala mo talaga?"

Tanong ko sakanya na bakas ang pagka mangha sa mukha ko.

"Of course. Welcome home, Tarhata"

Namula naman ang pisngi niya ng bigla ko siyang gawaran ng halik sa pisngi para sa ginawa niyang effort. Naputol ang lahat ng biglang magsalita si sir Edward, ang Dad ni Elliot.

"Now, let's get out of here before the paparazzi finds out you're back in town. We'll have to head back to the mansion at once. There are others waiting to meet you there! Everything is in a mess! We have to officially introduce you as the Huntington heiress, then you're headed at the office. There's also a gala coming up which you have to attend in your father's place-"

"Dad chill lang. You're overwhelming her...you know what? I'll drive her back to the mansion in my car"

Putol ni Elliot sa Dad niya na nagbabasa sa isang clipboard that it seems to be my schedule. Kakarating ko pa nga lang tambak agad ang gagawin. Ganito din kaya ang ginagawa ni Daddy noon? Agad naman akong hinila ni Elliot palayo sa Dad niya at papasok sa sasakyan niya. Pumasok na kami at sinimulan niya nang buhayin ang makina ng sasakyan.

"Thank you for getting me out of that situation with your Dad"

I sighed in annoyance

"I know how he can get"

"Can you believe it? I'm Charles Huntington's daughter. The billionaire your father worked for is my father! This changes everything! Hindi ko alam kung ready na ako sa lahat ng ito"

Napa face palm nalang ako at tumingin nalang sa labas ng sasakyan

The Huntington mansion

Pag pasok ko isang napakalaki at napaka gara na mga kagamitan ang bumungad sakin sa mansion ni Daddy. Ito na ba talaga ang bahay ko ngayon? Di pa din ako makapaniwala

"That's her?!"

Nagulat ako ng biglang may lumapit saamin na isang matandang lalaki na parang galit na galit at tinuturo ako

"Do you really expect me to believe my brother had an affair with some random woman and they had a daughter? I'm the only surviving family he has left! I should be inheriting his business! Not her!"

His brother? Is he my uncle then?