The Bank Client

Chapter 17 - Feisty

Ana wearily pressed the call button for the penthouse elevator.  She was so tired. She didn't know that the nationwide payroll for all the construction employees of Amaro were credited every Friday. It took her about three hours of overriding the supervisor's payroll transactions for various companies that maintains an account with them.

Her parents are staying over at the penthouse for the night. Tomorrow they will all be flying to Iloilo, Ryan included.

Her boyfriend had all the schedules arranged. Ryan asked Laura that she be given a two-day vacation leave. Good thing he did not ask her manager to give her an extended vacation. So she'll be back to training on Wedenesday.

She keyed in the password to the main door of the penthouse. Everything was quiet inside. They must be at the bedroom.

She headed straight to the kitchen to get a glass of water. She stopped midway when she heard voices coming from the dining room.

"What if she wanted to come back home to Iloilo?" Her papa.

"Pa, I own an airline, don't I? I can come home anytime to any place she chose to be."

"I know we are to spoil our women but you're giving her too much, Ryan. You made everything easy for her."

"I love your daughter, Pa. and I want to give her the world because I have more than enough, and because I can and I want to."

"I still don't agree with her living here... or owning your properties..."

"Pa, I'm old enough to make my own decision." Both men were surprised when Ana entered the room. She went to sit beside her dad and put her arms around him. "Whether I live here or not, people will make an issue out of it. Ryan takes me along with his travels. What do you think people think when we're alone? Counting our hairs?"

"As to owning his properties," she looked at Ryan and continued, "I might agree with you, Papa."

"Ana," Ryan stood up and pulled her up and held her on her waist, "babe, those are for you. I am just saving time in doing transfers to your name in the future."

"Babe... " Ana wrapped her arms around his neck. "That's the second implied proposal I get from you today. Are you cooking up something? Is that why Papa is back here in the Philippines?"

"No!" The two men chorused.
"Ana, I came home because I missed you and your mom."
"Babe, I should be kneeling on one knee when I'll be proposing."
They simultaneouly said.

"Whoa! Alright! Alright!" She raised both her hands and headed to the fridge. Then she turned and waved her point finger at Ryan. "Just no more big surprises, babe. You're giving me a heart attack."

Hadn't she opened the ref and got the pitcher out, she could have seen the two men winking at each other.

          ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"Oh, God! I miss this kind of privacy!" Ana raised her arms up high.

Her friends have all gathered on a Sunday, except Bambie who can't take a leave from her job abroad. Ana texted them that she'll be coming home to Iloilo with her parents and Ryan.

And here they are now, in the beautiful island of Guimaras. Basking under the sun in a private resort bought and named after her, Isabelle's Hideout. The resort has its own beach that is partially hidden in a cove, and a pool in the middle.