The Shadow Within

02: UNWANTED

“A deal? Spill it.” Zaylee says as she sips her tea.

They are currently at a restaurant that the man owns, unknowingly to her. the man took out his wallet out of his pocket and revealed a business card and gave it to her. She accepted it without hesitation and looked at its contents.

Lincoln Sterling    Sterling Corporations

Contact #: 09-XXXXXXXXX

Zaylee laughed with defeat in her mind ‘Looks like I really dug my own grave huh?’.

“Totoo na sinabi kong ‘wag mong i-abort ang bata, but we will give It a guardian or foster parent of some sorts and let them raise the child once you give birth. Of course, we will still visit them sometimes but we will eventually give the custody to the guardian with some pocket money of course. See? No harm done on both of our sides.”

“Pocket money? Just how much you are talking about?”

“Are you worried that I’m not rich enough? Trust me, I’m more wealthy than you think.”

Zaylee went silent for a while to think this through. After a while, she extended her hand, attempting to have a handshake with him. “All right, deal.”

Lincoln accepted the gesture before replying, “Well said, Miss Jennings.”

After finishing his food, Lincoln was the first to leave. And then it is Zaylee’s turn, she waited for his manager to arrive and take her to the photoshoot studio for a famous brand.

Dumating na si Vincent na nagmamaneho ng van at kaagad na sumakay si Zaylee dito. At dahil malayo layo ang lokasyon ng studio, walang magawa si Zaylee kundi ang tumitig lang sa daan. Pero biglang sumagi muli sa isipan nya ang sinabi ni Lincoln;

“Are you worried that I’m not rich enough? Trust me, I’m more wealthy than you think.”

Dali-dali nyang kinuha ang kanyang cellphone at hinanap ang kanyang pangalan sa internet. Pagkatapos nyang itipa ang pangalan ng lalaki, sumalubong sa kanya ang samu’t saring news articles tungkol sa kanya. Kasama rito ang ilang mga litrato kung saan palagi syang nakasuot ng black suit at may mga kausap na business partners.

“The promising heir of the Sterling Corporations: Lincoln Sterling!”

“The one of the most successful businesses in the Philippines: Sterling corporations!”

“the business tips of the Sterling Corporations’ newest CEO: Lincoln Sterling!

‘Damn, he really isn’t joking around when he said he is wealthy. A CEO to one of the most successful conglomerate businesses in the Philippines. And he’s the father of my child at that. Pero wala sa interest nya ang magkaroon ng anak, base sa deal nya. It’s alright, the both of us doesn’t want to have a child anyway.’

With the help of Zaylee’s management company and Lincoln’s public influence, they succeeded to hide the woman’s pregnancy with the pretext of her having a year-long vacation to recover her mental health. She was advised to not leave her condo unit if not necessary, and if it’s necessary, she should wear clothes that can hide her identity well.

__________________

At makalipas ang siyam na buwan, matagumpay na naipanganak ni Zaylee ang kanyang anak na babae. Kahit na alam nyang hindi nya ito papalakihin sa kanyang puder ay nagmagandang loob sya na bigyan ito ng pangalan. At pagkatapos ng masinsinang usapan, napagusapan nila na gamitin ang apelyido ng nahanap nilang guardian para sa bata.