Avaricious Hearts

Chapter 41: The Move He Made

NEIL'S POV

"Yes? What can I do for you?" a lady around forty years of age asked me as she open the door a little for me.

I look at her. Yes, she look like my Cleo. But Cleo is not like her. 

I have her investigated. Celeste Madrigal, Cleo's biological mother. 

"I am Matthew Neil Vergara, Cleo's fiance" I formally said. 

She looks surprised. Lumabas siya ng hotel room niya at sinara ang pinto sa likod niya. "Sa cafe sa baba tayo mag-usap, hijo. Pinapunta ka ba dito ng anak ko?"

I clenched my jaw. She doesn't have the right to call her 'anak'. Kailanman ay hindi siya naging nanay kay Cleo. Someone as selfish as her doesn't deserve to be a mother. "No. She doesn't even know that I'll see you" seryosong sagot ko at sumunod na din sa kanya sa lift.

Tahimik kami habang papunta sa cafe ng hotel. 

Nang makaupo kami ng magkaharap sa pandalawahang lamesa ay hindi na ako nagaligoy-ligoy pa.

"I am here to talk to you, Madam. I am here to beg you to just disappear" I said in my cold tone. 

Nabigla siya sa sinabi ko. Naging matapang din ang anyo niya. "Who are you to say that?!" galit na tanong niya. "Matagal akong nangulila sa anak ko! Hindi pwede na hindi ko siya makasama ngayon!" pinalo niya pa ang lamesa.

Sinenyasan ko ang waiter na kukuha sana sa order namin na lumayo na lamang sa amin. Walang ibang tao ngayon sa cafe dahil tanghali. At naipagpasalamat ko iyon.

"'Wag mo nang guluhin ang buhay ni Cleo. I have you investigated. I know all your secrets. I know what are you running from. I can crash you, I can ruin you" nagbababalang sabi ko. "Let her be happy. I will give her the happy family you failed to give her. Stay out of her life, or I'll break you into pieces" I said in my icy tone.

Mukhang kinabahan naman siya sa sinabi ko. 

"Who do you think you are to say that to me? Anak ko si Saskia kaya may karapatan ako sa kanya!" giit niya.

This lady is trying my temper. If it is not for Cleo, I wouldn't do this like this, in a nice way. But because, she brought to this world the most precious half of my soul, I'll be forever grateful for that. 

I cleared my throat. "Don't drag her into your mess" I look into her eyes, she got same pair of eyes with my Cleo. "Kung pera ang kailangan mo, bibigyan kita ng sapat na pera, 'wag na si Cleo ang pagkaperahan mo. I can help you hide, all you have to do is to stay away from my girl. Dahil kapag ginulo mo pa ang buhay niya, ako na mismo ang tatapos sa'yo"

Ilang saglit na nakatitig lamang siya sa akin.