Marrying Mr. Stranger

Chapter 3

"Damarah, marry the heir of Allmark Group." I remembered him saying in his deep and firm voice.

It was an order. Henry Perez never asks. What he wants, he gets. He mouthed that after sipping his coffee while we're there at the veranda of Perez mansion on a peaceful afternoon.

I didn't expect makakabalik pa ako sa mansion. It's been years since I moved out and never returned until that moment.

His hazel brown eyes encircled by wrinkles were looking straight into mine with no expression at all. May edad na ito ngunit matikas pa rin ang pangangatawan. He is tall and still holding that power and authority in his voice and presence. If I was the same Damarah when I was younger, I would have trembled and never looked him in the eye.

But I'm not that Damarah anymore...

"This is ridiculous!" I exclaimed.

Halos sampung taon na simula nung umalis ako sa poder nila tapos ipapatawag ako para lang utusan na mag-asawa? Isa pa, I don't believe in marriage and most of all in love. It can be the most beautiful thing for other people but not for me.

Ayokong matulad sa aking ina.

"I have heard your company is facing lawsuits and is in trouble right now." He said, completely ignoring my dislike of the idea.

"We won the lawsuit. And could you please mind your own business." Naiirita kong sambit.

"Well, I'm just asking since it's in the news." He said nonchalantly.

With all the control I had, pinigilan kong mag-react at magalit.

"What made you think I'll do it for you?"

"No, you'll do it for yourself and for your beloved company. I know you won the lawsuit AND..." diin nito, "I also know that your sales are still significantly declining even after that."

"What's your point?"

"Have you not thought that if you marry Mr. Salazar, it will help in restoring your company's image? Mr. Salazar and Allmark Group have a good reputation. Public sentiment towards your company may change if you associate with them. Then you won't have to deal with declining sales month per month. As for me, I get to expand my business and influence. It's a win for both of us."

He made sense. But I didn't need anyone to save my company. I believed in my team and our products itself. The sales decline was just temporary.

"Why me? You have another daughter, a legitimate one. Can't you marry off your other daughter to a distinguished family?" I was sarcastic but at the same time curious. May isang anak pa naman ito na babae, maganda at higit sa lahat lehitimong anak. Bakit ako pa?

"No more questions! I have arranged your meeting with Mr. Salazar tomorrow at 7pm. You will see him and that's final!" Galit na saad nito.

But really, why me?

Then a thought came to my mind. Of course, if everything won't go according to his plan after the wedding, he can easily dismiss me and leave me to that family.

How smart. I'm an illegitimate and just the perfect sacrifice. That's the only answer.

He is still intimidating as ever. Ngunit hindi ako magpapatinag. Malayo na ang narating ko at ayoko nang magkaroon pa ng koneksyon sa pamilyang ito.

"Thank you for wasting my time but I decline. Goodbye, Mr. Perez." I bravely said and stood to take my exit.

Nakatingin lamang si Mr. Perez habang ako'y naglalakad papunta sa parking lot. Tanaw ko na ang aking sasakyan na pula ngunit bago pa man ako makasakay, isang tawag ang aking natanggap.

"Ms. Damarah," ani Mira, ang aking sekretarya,"nasusunog po ang factory natin! Malaki ang damage!" Halos naiiyak nitong sabi.

Gimbal ako sa narinig na balita. I just took out a big loan from the bank. Ininvest ko yun sa mas makabagong mga makinarya sa factory at ipinampondo sa aming marketing upang mabawi ang pangalan ng kumpanya.

Dali-dali akong sumakay sa kotse at pinaharurot yun palabas ng mansion.

MALAKI ang naging damage ng sunog. Ang mas nakakalungkot pa, nadamage rin ang mga bagong biling makinarya. Wala na akong ibang mapagkakautangan since the bank had just gave us a loan.

I had been operating the company literally on credit. Kaya namang bayaran sana kung tuluy-tuloy ang operation. However, the fire just destroyed everything.

"Pa'no na ito, ma'am?", malungkot na wika ni Mira habang nakatingin sa nasunog na factory. Natupok na ng mga bumbero ang apoy ngunit nanatili pa kami roon para tingnan ang sitwasyon.

It was almost 8 in the evening.

"May paraan pa, Mira." Walang kabuhay-buhay kong sambit.

Sa puntong iyon, tumawag ako kay Mr. Perez.