The Billionaire's Sweet Psycho

Chapter 5

I was nervously scratching my finger nails. Hindi ako mapakali habang hinihintay ko ulit ang tawag ni Zack para sabihin sa akin ang kalagayan ng Daddy. I thought everything is fine? ang sabi sa akin ni Mom last week ay naayos na ang gulo at nahuli na ang nagpapadala ng death threats pero ano 'to?

    "Calm down, Catalina."

    Napatigil ako sandali at sandaling huminto ang paghinga ko nang marinig ko ang baritonong boses ni Luther sa aking tabi. Gosh. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na siya ang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan at nasa tabi ko lang!

    "How can I calm down if my father was shot?" hindi ko gustong tumaas ang boses ko pero sobra talaga ang takot na nararamdaman ko.

    My lips are wet, my fingertips hurt because of nonstop picking of my nails. My heart is beating so fast. It's been half an hour, and Zack still hasn't called me. Sampung mensahe na ang naipadala ko at tinatanong ko ang kalagayan ni Dad.

    Isang oras pa ang byahe para makarating sa St. Mary's hospital at ngayon ay gusto ko nang sabihin kay Luther na paliparin na niya ang sasakyan niya.

    But this man beside me was just quietly driving. Hindi naman mabagal, mabilis naman pero may pag-iiingat.

    "What did the man say when he called?"

    I swallowed hard before answering. Hindi ko talaga maitago ang nararamdaman ko. It was my father...

    "Tinamaan sa tagliran si Dad. T-The shot could be life threatening. Oh, God, hindi pa ako nakakabawi sa kaniya sa mga nagawa niya sa akin.I even refused to take over his company, and we had a small fight when I suggested he should just give up his position as the CEO."

    My eyes heated up. Naninikip ang dibdib ko dahil sa takot at kaba. I love my father so much. And even if I know he wanted me to be the CEO, he respected my decision of not joining their business world. Pero nang malaman ko na may banta na sa buhay niya dahil sa kumpanya simula nang mas dumami ang mga investors at mas nakilala ang kumpanya ay sinabi ko kay Dad na i-give up na niya 'yon.

    W-We don't need a lot of money... pero ayaw ng Daddy, eh. Sabi niya na mas mabuti pa raw na mamatay na nasa kaniya ang kumpanya kaysa mapunta sa mga halang ang kaluluwa. He doesn't want to let go of the company because he worked hard to build it, naiintindihan ko naman 'yon pero kung ganito at buhay niya ang kapalit mas mabuti pa na hayaan na niya'yon.

    "W-Why do business run like this? bakit may sakitan? may pagbabanta?" I whispered. Pinalis ko agad ang tumulo na isang butil ng luha sa aking kanang pisngi.

    "It always work in this way, Catalina. In order to be in a powerful seat everyone must fight for it."

    "But, Dad owns a huge share! he worked hard for the company for years! it was his and--"

    "Your father is Callix Trevor Rivanez. He is a huge person, he has a lot enemies not just inside of his company."

    Marahas kong binalingan si Luther. He is still calmly driving. Nasa daan lang ang kaniyang mga mata pero sinasagot naman niya ang mga sinasabi ko at mga tanong.

    "Why? he is a good person! I don't remember anything na ginawa ni Dad para mangyari ito sa kaniya... h-he is one of the kindest... he has a lot of friends..."

    I bit my lower lip hard but when we stopped because of the traffic lights turned red, I heard he breathed harshly. As if he's having a hard time making me understand their 'world.'

    "Sometimes, the people you consider friends can be your enemies, and not everyone close to you has good intentions."

    After he said that, one of his hands let go of the steering wheel at nang humarap siya sa akin ay umangat ang kamay niyang 'yon at lumapat sa pang-ibabang labi ko. He pressed it harder and I let go.