Romancing A Banking Magnate (Full English Version)

Chapter 7

Katrina's heart was pounding hard inside her chest. Her knees were softening. She felt as if she might trip to the granite floor that she was walking on any moment. She was having an anxiety attack, and she couldn't help it.

Her breathing was restrained due to the effect of the overwhelming riot of emotions inside her. She was scared, really scared, that she wanted to turn her back and just run away, but she knew that she had to do this. She had plans, and she must do it by hook or by crook. This was the last option she had in her list. It was her only hope, her vulnerable lifeline, and she had to cling to it.

Her legs became numb, and she stopped walking. With a hand gently pressed on her chest, she took a deep, long breath.

She was having a cold feet, but she toughened her resolve. She was already here. No more backing out. It wasn't even an option.

She thought of her family, and suddenly, courage brimmed in her heart. She had to do this. This was her only hope left to help her family get out of their financial predicament. She had already exhausted all her luck and means for the last five months, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough.

Her family's future depended on her, and she couldn't think of any better idea to raise a big amount of money in a short span of time than wanting to be a wife of a billionaire extraordinaire. She was running out of time, and she needed to act fast.

She took a series of deep, long breaths. She could do this, she convinced herself. She only had to put up a brave front. After all, she was really desperate. She wouldn't be putting her all in the line - her last ounce of money, dignity and future, if she still had other remaining choices.

They only had a month left to fully settle their debt in the bank. The six-month allowance was fast approaching, and they still had around three million pesos as balance. Three million pesos! She didn't know where the heck she would get that huge amount. She had already borrowed money from all of her contacts, and she didn't even know how to pay them at this point. Well, her only consolation was that, she could bid her time in paying for her family's personal debt, but not the bank.

She murmured a prayer as she composed herself. She knew that she was a strong woman, a fighter in particular, but she needed all kinds of strength right now to back her up.

She was already sporting a calm and composed demeanor when she started pacing. This was it! She was now ready to face this new challenge in her life. For her family. She would do everything for the sake of her family. She wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice for them. They were her life.

She swallowed the lump in her throat when her eyes caught the figure of the receptionist who was in her designated post. She was clad in a tidy executive suit that reminded her that it's business as usual.

She stopped for a moment just to breathe some air. Then, she approached the receptionist with a pleasant smile on her face. "Good morning, Miss!" Her voice was polite and crisp when she spoke. It didn't reflect a bit of nervousness that she was nursing inside her. Well and good.

"Good morning, Ma'am. How may I help you?" The woman smiled graciously at her.

She cleared her throat as muscles in her stomach tightened in tension. "Uhmmm... I'm here to see Mr. Xavier Yuchengco," she managed to pull the right words from her mouth.

"Do you have an appointment?" she retorted back in a polite manner.

"No, but... yes," she couldn't help but stammer. And she groaned secretly at what she did. Confidence, girl. C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-CE. She reminded herself.

She instantly redeemed her poise, pushed her chest out, and sported an assured smile. "Oh, I don't have an appointment, but I was told that I can go to his office anytime to see him. You know, this is an important matter." She was really trying hard to remain calm and composed even if her knees were silently shaking.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but you have to have an appointment before we can entertain you. Mr. Yuchengco is busy with very important matters."

That was a red flag that she needed to overcome. She knew that.

If she was a bit hesitant a moment ago, she was more persistent now to attain her goal – and that was to talk to Xavier Yuchengco. She had spent her precious money to fly all the way to Metro Manila just to see him. She wouldn't go without talking to the man. He was her lifeline.

She widened her smile even more, unfazed by the obstacle that the receptionist waged against her. "Oh, by the way, I'm an attorney," she lied just to intimidate the woman. She was still a law student, but she had to do something drastic just to pursue the reason why she was here in the first place. "Atty. Katrina de Leon," she continued. And I'm here for a very important, legal matter. I want to talk to Mr. Yuchengco. We have something to discuss about." She raised her face as if she really meant serious, legal business. "You know, just tell your boss about me, and we won't have any problem at all. He's expecting me today." She was really thankful that she didn't falter, that she delivered her lines as smooth as she could. She would punch herself in the face if she hadn't. She wouldn't disappoint her family.

"May I have your name again?" the woman reluctantly asked, but it seemed as if her trick worked on her.

"Katrina. Katrina De Leon. Atty. Katrina De Leon," she emphasized the word attorney.

"Okay, Atty. De Leon, please have a seat while I go and talk to Mr. Yuchengco." She pointed to the black, leather-enclosed couch in the corner.

She flashed the receptionist a grateful smile. "Thank you!"

The woman turned her back on her, and she walked to the couch. The moment that her ass sank in the couch, she sighed in relief.

Whew! That was close! Thank God, and the receptionist accommodated her request. She now had the chance to get close to the man who would bail her out of her financial woes. She really hoped that things would go in her favor. She really hoped so!

She held her quivering knees with her cold hands. She followed the receptionist with her eyes. The woman slid in a corridor and disappeared from her sight.

She raked her eyes around her surroundings. All she could see was modern architecture, from the granite floor tiles, to the still granite tiled walls, black leatherette furniture, and floor to ceiling glass windows. The place was indeed impeccable and organized.

A moment ago, when she arrived at the vicinity of the tall building of Unified National Bank, she couldn't help but be amazed. It was an imposing, modern-looking skyscraper that was made of glass and steel. It represented immense wealth and power. Just like its owner. Certainly, Xavier Yuchengco was a very powerful and rich man. And she needed him. He was the answer to her mundane, financial problem.

She waited for the receptionist to come back. Her chest was heaving with apprehension. She had nothing to do in the reception area, but to rove her eyes around where she was at.

She noticed a huge canvass that hung in the center of a tinted glass wall. It was an impressive work of art of one of the most famous painters in the world - Picasso. It took her attention, and with admiration in her eyes, she stood up, and walked closer to the magnificent painting.

She was an art lover, and she couldn't resist adoring the splendid painting that was now in front of her. Of course, she wouldn't miss a Picasso creation, especially when it looked authentic.