Hold Me Close (DeMarcus 1)

Chapter Five

EVELYN DeMARCUS

I managed to ignore Third for a good two weeks. Kina Eva ako umuuwi lagi, kahit medyo mas may kalayuan 'yon. He doesn't know where their condo is kaya para sa'kin ay mas safe. All his calls were forced to go to voicemail every time habang ang mga text naman niya, ni hindi ko nabubuksan. I only read some of it, kapag hindi natatabunan ng panibagong text.

The board was glad of the news when I told them of the clause. I assured them na sigurado na talaga ang pagpapakasal ko by the end of the year. The only thing I have to do now is to find myself a groom. Someone that would fit 'the likes' of Alexander III Lounge.

"How about this Mikhail Donovan, ate?" usisa ni Eva na ginawang trabaho ang paghahanap ng mapapangasawa ko. "It says here he's single and he's a lawyer! May sarili din siyang criminal law firm."

Napangiwi ako. "What use is his criminal law firm to me? Wala namang illegal na ginagawa ang kumpanya natin."

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Malay mo lang, ate. Baka mamaya may laundering na nangyayari, o kung hindi, baka may magnakaw na investor—"

"Seriously, Eva, you watch too many crime shows."

"Oh! How about ate Kyla's brother? 'Yung kuya niya, ate."

This time, I threw a crumpled paper at her. "Yuck, Eva! He's basically my brother-in-law!"

"What? Hindi naman 'yon incest, ate!"

"No! Jeez! How can you even say that?"

Sumimangot si Eva. "I'm trying to help you. Ikaw nga, ate, ni hindi ka naghahanap ng mapapangasawa, e. Need I remind you that you need to get married by the end of the year? Sinabi mo mismo sa board."

I groaned when I remembered. Dapat pala sinabi ko, end of next year nalang. Kinausap ko naman si dada at ayos lang sakanya ang isa pang taon ng pamamahala. He even encouraged me to date whoever first before jumping into marriage.

I ignored Eva and her constant match-making. Kung hindi ko lang siya kapatid ay baka kanina ko pa siya binato palabas ng opisina ko. But the fact is, she is my sister and what she's doing is for me. Ako lang talaga 'tong ayaw kumilos. It's as if I wasn't as motivated to get the presidency anymore. Sa katotohanan nga, madami na akong na-delegate kay Russell na trabaho na hindi naman niya madalas ginagawa. It got so bad that he stormed to my office a few days ago, claiming he had no interest in working for the headquarters. Sapat na daw sakanya na siya ang namamahala sa isang branch namin.

Why the Lord gave me such stubborn siblings, I'll never know.

"Oh, ate! By the way, kuya Third has been bugging me lately. Halos araw-araw na," biglang sabi ni Eva. A sly smirk went to her face when I paid attention to her. "Mhm! He even said na mali daw 'yung claim mo tungkol sa provisions ng last will. Dapat daw ay siya lang ang p'wede."

Kabado man sa sinasabi niya, nagkunwari akong kalmado. The hell was he saying? Klaro naman sa will na hindi lang siya ang option ko. If I take Eva on her offer, p'wedeng lapitan ko na si Mikhail Donovan ngayon din.

"But I say just ignore him, ate. Besides, sila parin naman nung girlfriend niyang si Jane, hindi ba? He can't keep her and then marry you. Excuse me, you're a DeMarcus!" Eva sounded so apprehensive, para bang siya pa ang naiinsulto.

Tinaasan ko nalang siya ng kilay pero hindi na nagsalita pa. She had a point, of course. What's the point of pursuing him again, kung wala din naman pupuntahan? I've already done enough damage to Jane and her family's business, ayoko nang dagdagan pa ang kasalanan ko sakanya.

On Saturday, nagulat ako nang tumawag sa'kin si mommy. She said that there would be a formal dinner in a nearby restaurant. Pamilyar ang pangalan, doon ko naalala na 'yon ang bagonh restaurant ng mga Lounge, the one that Luis was currently handling as a starting point. Hindi na ako nagtanong, pumayag nalang ako dahil minsan lang din naman mag-invite si mommy.