Versailles Series Book 8: The Designer [COMPLETED]

PART I: CHAPTER 3

~ philip ~

"Sir Philip? Saan ka ba nanggaling? Kanina ka pa pinapahanap ni Don Lito." Mukhang inaaninag pa ako ng gwardiya para siguradong ako ang kinakausap niya.

Ngitian ko ang gwardiya sa may gate namin. "I just walked around."

Pinagbuksan ako nito ng gate. "Eh pumasok na ho kayo at kanina pa kayo hinahanap."

Nilapag ko ang mga binili kong inihaw kanina sa mesa nito. "You can have it. It's clean. It's cold now though."

"Naku Sir Philip. Salamat!"

I was whistling when I entered the mansion. My grandfather was sitting on the big chair facing the big verandah.

"Where were you, young man?" Sabi nito kahit habang nagbabasa.

I shrugged. "Just walked around. The river was nice. The people are nice." That's true. That's one of the reasons why I liked running and walking around the same area. The river is very refreshing to look at.

Nag-angat ito ng tingin mula sa dyaryo. "People? Have you talked to people?"

I nodded. "I met someone in particular. She's funny. She keeps talking to herself or maybe she's just talking out loud. I walked her home because a dog might run after her again. I had dinner with them. I didn't know vegetables and grilled fish could be that good. Or it must be her cooking?" I touched my chin as if that would help me with an answer.

I stopped talking when my grandfather was watching me closely. "You met a girl?" He never asks me innocent and plain questions.

"I know that look, old man. I just helped her out." I chuckled to mask the shyness I've been feeling. I plopped myself on the sofa and played with my basketball.

"You seem too happy." His eyes were squinting at me already.

"You put malice on everything."

"I wasn't the one walking in like he won a million or something. Although your trust fund is much bigger than a million."

I sat up. I have been meaning to ask him this. "Lolo, why are you making me your sole heir? You are putting my life at stake here. You're not even choosing my parents' generation. Why does it have to be me? I don't care about the money. I just want a normal job."

That one is true. After I finish my MBA in the US, I want a normal job after that. Work at some company and take home a pay. It doesn't have too many responsibilities and my work ends at 5 pm.

"Exactly the reason why I'm choosing you, Philip. You're not there for the money. Your family does. Your parents, aunts, uncles, and even your cousins. Believe me, Philip, with businesses, greed for money will bring everything down." Umiling-iling pa ito.

"Why not just equally divide it?" Being the sole heir means I'll work my ass off while my family won't even break a fucking sweat.

"I can't risk it. Until they prove to me that they are not after the money, the inheritance will be yours alone. My will won't be changeable once you reach 22."

"I'll be dead by then, Lolo." He knows it. The hell will freeze over before that happens.

Umiling ito. "What's keeping you alive right now is a clause in there. If anything happens to you of unnatural causes, all the remaining members will not be able to hold a position nor will receive any money from their trust funds."

I exhaled in surrender. "Really. Gee, thanks."

Bumalik ang ngiti sa mga labi nito. "So tell me about this girl."