Bound by Crown (Boundless #1)

Chapter 5

My feelings are still conflicted towards Dad and the Montecillo Family and I still question myself why I came back home without much of a fight. It's a tough decision but I think it's for the best. I can't run and hide from Dad my entire life, I had to live with this situation.

I am not ecstatic nor excited when I am about to meet the Montecillo Family. At least now that I know his surname, the surname that I would carry if I will not act soon enough to stop this madness.

I didn't have the chance to question Dad about the Montecillo Family because of the sudden dinner he told me about, plus he is quite busy and my mood is already off from our conversation yesterday. Ayaw ko ng madagdagan pa.

Even if I am not prepared for tonight's dinner, I know I still need to get dress appropriately and appear prim and proper in front of everyone. I need to please all of them including my Dad to get positive points from him. Wala akong magagawa kung magre-rebelde ako.

Dad will be more cooperative if he knows that I am not planning anything to ruin his plans for me. I'll let him think that I am now behave like a good girl ready to obey him.

Pagkatapos maghanda ay saka ako bumaba para silipin si Dad sa kanyang opisina. He always stay in his office at parang ginawa na niya iyong tulugan. I haven't seen him linger in his room kung hindi lang siya magbibihis papasok ng trabaho.

He looked up at me in question from the paper he is reading when I peeked in and I smiled going inside even without his invitation.

"Can I ask permission to go shopping? I really need a dress for tonight's dinner, Dad." Paalam ko na nakangiti pa rin.

Kung tutuusin, hindi na nga dapat ako humihingi ng permiso sa kanya na lumabas. I can just tell him I'll go and leave pero dahil alam ko na hindi pa siya tiwala sa akin ay kailangan kong magpakabait. I can't be drastic here.

"Sure," sagot niya pagkatapos ng ilang sandali. "Take the driver with you," dagdag pa niya.

My license is already expired and I thought of commuting on my own but having a car with my own driver? How can I say no? Wala naman akong balak na tumakas.

He pulled his wallet and handed me a card na tinanggihan ko kaagad. I don't have cash on hand but I have my card with me na pera rin naman niya. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung puwede pa ito dahil hindi ko na nagamit simula ng umalis ako. Maybe Dad blocked or freeze my account already.

"Um..." Kinuha ko ang card ko na galing sa kanya noon and showed it to him. "I don't know if you blocked this already but if not, I can just use it."

"I didn't," He answered and gave me some more cash na hindi ko na natanggihan because he insisted on giving it to me.

Lumapit ako sa kanyang gilid pagtabi ko ng pera na kanyang bigay sa loob ng aking maliit na shoulder bag and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Dad. I'll be back after a few hours."

I asked the guard l found who is lurking inside the house to tell our driver that I will go somewhere and he immediately radio in my request to someone on the other line.

A white car is already waiting for me when I went outside and I thought kami lang dalawa ng driver pero may kasama pa pala na isang security na nakaupo sa harapan katabi ng driver.

Hindi na ako nagreklamo dahil kahit sampu pa ang ipasama ni Dad sa akin papuntang mall ay wala naman akong balak na tumakas. Magsawa lang sila na sumunod sa akin sa mall habang namimili ako, wala naman silang mapapala sa akin.

Nang makababa ng kotse ay agad din na sumunod sa akin ang security at naalibadbaran ako sa sobrang lapit niya. He could have just handcuffed me kung ganito siya magbantay.