PREDICTABLE | Mikhaloi [18+]

Deal

The fluorescent lights of Dad's office buzzed, casting an unsettling glow on the worn leather chairs. It was 9:00 pm, and I was already feeling the familiar knot of anxiety in my stomach. Dad had called me in, and I knew it wouldn't be good news. Especially not with Callie. We were barely on speaking terms, and the tension between us hung heavy in the air.

As I walked into the building, my secretary, Emily, greeted me with a tired smile. "Good evening, Maxwell," she said, her voice a little strained. The rest of the staff echoed her greeting, their faces reflecting the same exhaustion I felt. Why did Dad have to call me in at this hour?

I found Callie standing outside Dad's office, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.  She was probably just passing files, but my heart sank. Dad's office was a battlefield, and I knew this meeting wouldn't be easy.

"Maxwell, you're here," Dad said, his voice weary.

"Yeah, Dad. What's up?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"It's about Callie, sweetheart. Is everything okay between you two?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern. "I heard you two had a bit of a falling out."

"Dad, can we just drop this? Maybe Callie's uncomfortable around me. And what about Avery, Dad? I can talk to Avery. It's easier, we actually like each other."

"It's good for the company, Maxwell. Don't be such a brat. And besides, after we build their firm, the deal with Mr. Villanueva is done, and you... you should be doing the job right."

"Fuck this," I muttered under my breath.

A wave of memories crashed over me, pulling me back to a conversation that had changed everything.

Flashback.

"Maxwell, you need to take Callie out. Date her," Dad had said, his voice firm.

"What? What are you talking about?" I had asked, confused.

"We have an issue with the contract with Mr. Villanueva. It's for the company, too. If we release a statement about you two, it'll cover everything up."

"Dad? Why her? And you know she's angry with me!"

"I'll pay you three times your salary, and cut it off with Avery. I saw her kissing Jeremy in the conference hall."

"That's not true! Whatever, I don't need the money, and I won't be doing it."

"Then you're finished with this family," Dad had said, his voice cold.

"Dad? Are you serious? You'll cut me off just like that because I don't want to do this deal?"

"Then take it. If you want to be part of this family, you'll do this. And besides, I know you've been wanting to take over the company, and your sister Cole has been handling cases."

"Fine," I had said, my voice a mere whisper.

I had walked out of the room, feeling utterly defeated. My life, my dreams, my future, all seemed to hinge on this ridiculous deal. It was a betrayal of everything I stood for, and yet, I was trapped.

flashback ended

I went to my car and drove to the bar where avery used to go to.

The scene crackled with tension. I'd gone to confront Avery, to finally end the messy, undefined thing we had, and the so-called "paghanga" that seemed to be consuming her.  I found her in the corner of the bar, her lips locked with a boy. My blood ran cold as I recognized him. It was Jeremy.

"Ahem," I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper.

Avery broke away from the kiss, her eyes widening in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice strained.

"Let's talk," I said, reaching for her hand. I wanted to pull her away from this scene, from Jeremy, from everything.

But Jeremy held onto her arm, his grip tight. Avery stopped walking.

"You're busy, nga," I said, forcing a smile. "Sige, next time nalang."

I turned and walked away, my heart pounding. I couldn't bear to watch them.

"N-no, wait," Avery called out, her voice laced with urgency. She started to run towards me, but Jeremy held her back.

"Potangina, Jeremy, tumabi ka!" she shouted, her voice filled with anger. She slapped his hand away, her eyes blazing with fury.

The scene left me reeling.  I had walked away, but I knew this wasn't over.  The tension, the anger, the hurt – it all hung heavy in the air, a storm brewing on the horizon.

I just sent a text to Avery to end things, but there were no replies or calls. Maybe Jeremy and Avery were occupied all night. However, my mind couldn't shake off thoughts of Callie as the clock struck midnight. I decided to drive to Callie's condo. Upon reaching the building, I proceeded straight to her unit and entered the code to unlock the door.

As I stepped inside, there were no signs of Callie's presence. The dim light, the closed bedroom door, and the empty sofa added to my unease. I searched for her in the bathroom, but she wasn't there either. Worry started to gnaw at me. Suddenly, I heard the entrance door open. A guy entered, supporting Callie as she struggled to walk. She seemed drunk, and I didn't recognize the boy. I approached them and politely asked the guy to leave, saying, "I'll take care of her. Thank you for bringing her here."

Carrying her to the bedroom, I noticed her black backless dress and her intoxicated state. I gently laid her on the bed and fetched wet towels to clean her up and change her clothes. After helping her change, I found her makeup remover and skincare products on the vanity table. As I was removing her makeup, she murmured something incomprehensible. I paused, looking at her flushed face, struck by her beauty.

Completing her skincare routine, I stood up, but Callie grabbed my wrist, causing me to fall towards her. The moment was filled with a mix of concern, tenderness, and a hint of something more.

As I sat beside her, Callie unexpectedly pulled me closer, her lips seeking mine in a tender yet intoxicated gesture. Her head fell onto my shoulder, her soft breaths warming my skin as she instinctively sought comfort in my presence, her actions speaking volumes in the silence of the room. I held her gently, enveloping her in a moment of vulnerability and closeness, her touch and the weight of her head against me creating an intimate connection that transcended words. The kiss lingered briefly, a mix of emotions swirling between us, before she nestled closer, finding solace in the shelter of my embrace.

Weeeeee, yippee