THE LAWYER & I (Completed) #Wattys2018

3. CONFUSION

JOAQUIN

"Attorney, I heard you've met Anna?"

"Yes Sir. We've met"

"A handful?"

"Hahaha you probably know her better than I do Sir."

"Attorney, or may I call you Carlos?"

"No sir. Call me Joaquin or JC."

"Okay JC. You are probably wondering why I personally asked your boss for your service in this particular case. I have not told him about this yet. I actually do not have any intentioms of telling him. I could see you are a good person and you will probably disagree with me on this."

"What is it Sir?"

"I am old, and Anna is hard headed and does not know anything about running the business. Your grand father and I have been the beat of friends when he was alive. I just lost communications with your Dad nung inuwi siya ng Lola mo sa Amerika. Hindi ko na aalm ang nangyari. I promised your grandfather to tale care of his family, kaso magaling magtago ang lola niyo. Nalaman ko na lang na na pinaampon pala niya ang Daddy niyo. Kilala ako ng Daddy mo nung bata siya but it broke my heart when I learned he passed away so young."

"Sir?"

"How's your Mom? I don't know her but I am sure she's a good woman."

"Sir. My father died in a car accident. He was a race car driver. Kaya maaga siyang nawala. My Mom is a very responsible woman. Pinalaki po niya kami na siya lang using the money my Dad left. Sa Singapore po kami ipinanganak at lumaki ng mga kapatid ko. I am the second sa 3, my sister Carla stays with my Mom sa bahay ng maternal grand parents ko sa Baguio kasi only child si Mom and her parents are old na din."

"Where do you live here in Manila?"

"I have a condo at BGC Sir in Taguig."

"How are you related to Atty Marcus Artadi? Ikaw ba yung Escudero sa law firm?"

"Yes Sir, inilagay nila yung Escudero. Actually, katuwaan lang dati yun. Pustahan yun, eh nanalo ako kaya inilagay yung pangalan ko. Atty Artadi is the uncle of my Mom. She's an Artadi sir."

"Hahaha kaya nga di ako nagkamali na ikaw ang napili ko. You resemble Nathalie, yung apo ko na anak ni Anna. Magkahawig kayo."

"She looks like my sister Carla sir. I hope they will meet someday."

"They wil."

"So what was that you want me to do Sir?"

"Marry Anna."

Anong marry Anna? Nababaliw na ba ang matandang to? Sabi ko na nga ba may iniisip to na ipagawa sa akin eh. Hindi pwede to. Tsaka yun? Yung babaeng yun pakakasalan ko? Over my dead body. Ang sama ng ugali nun ah. Pwede ba.

"Sir..."

"Let me explain. When I promised your grandfather I will take care of his family, I was true to my word. Kaya lang itinago naman siya sa akin ni Bridget. Now that I found you, it maybe too late already pero gagawin ko pa din yun."

"Sir, you...."

"Let me finish Joaquin. I built my empire with sweat and blood. I fought the toughest businessmen in the world to get it where I want it. Anna is my only heiress, now it's Nathalie. Kung si Nathalie siguro ang naging si Anna baka pwede na akong mamahinga cause I see na mas matalino ang bata kaysa sa Nanay niya. Mabait si Anna kaso wala siyang alam sa business. Baka isang linggo pa lang lugi na ang negosyo ko. I asked for your help kasi para hindi na mag iisip si Anna ng iba't ibang scenario. Alam mo naman siya, artista mag isip. "

"Sir. Paano kung hindi ako pumayag?"

"Papayag ka kasi dito din nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ni Nathalie."

"Sir?"

"Hindi mo siguro naalala or hindi mo siguro alam pero si Nathalie ay apo rin ng Lolo mo. Isa din siyang Artadi- Escudero."

"Sir? Pano nangyari yun?"

"Sasabihin ko sa tamang panahon. Pero right now, pag usapan muna natin kung anong palusot ang sasabihin natin kay Anna para maniwala siya and will share. Kayong dalawa ang mamamahala sa negosyong itinayo ko."

ANNA

"Ano?"

"Oo Anna, tama narinig mo. Half of the property is owned by Joaquin's late grandfather Pocholo. And that is why, you will both have to work together para hindi malugi ang negosyong ipinundar naming dalawa."

"Pero Abuelo, hindi ba pwedeng bilhin na lang natin ang parte niya para ako na lang ang mamamahala?"

"The business is worth 23 Billion pesos, pag hinati mo yan babayaran natin siya, wala nang maiiwan sa yo. Malulugi ka lang."

"Bakit kailangan naming magsosyo?"

"Actually that's not it eh."

"Ano pa?"

"You will have to marry him?"

"What?"

"Marry him."

"Why do I need to marry him?"

"Because you will do everything for Nathalie. Yung negosyong yan will help you raise Nathalie and give her the best of the bests and she will have a business to fall back to when she grows old"

"This is so unfair! Does he know?"

"Kanina lang din. Pareho lang kayo ng reksyon"

JOAQUIN

Paano naging Escudero si Nathalie eh Walker apelyido niya?