Sinugod niya ang ama sa opisina nito. Marami syang gustong itanong. And she wants them answered now! But when she entered his office, si Vincent ang naabutan niya. Prenteng-prente itong nakaupo sa mamahaling chair na dating upuan ng daddy niya.

"Regina! So nice to see you."

But in spite of what he said, he didn't look happy upon seeing her.

"Where's my dad?" mataray niyang tanong.

"Dad's on his way home. He said he wanted to rest."

Napataas ang kilay nya nang marinig niyang tinawag nitong dad ang daddy niya. Vincent never dared to call him that when she's around. Until now. Sumama ang pakiramdam niya dahil doon. Something's changed in him. Parang naging mas kampante na ito. It's like she couldn't ignore his existence anymore.

"Don't call him that."

"Why not?" Now it's his turn to raise an eyebrow.

"You're adopted!"

"So?"

"Sampid ka! You have no right!"

"And yet I hold the largest stock." He gave her a mocking grin. "Isn't it ironic?"

"Bwisit!"

Padabog siyang naglakad palabas ng office na iyon.

"Regina!" he called after her.

"What!" she snapped.

He gave out a sigh. Sumeryso ito.

"Whatever you want to tell him, you can tell me. I will relay the message."

"I have to ask him some things."

"Then ask me."

"It's none of your concern!"

His lips pressed into a grim line.

"If it concerns your dad, then it concerns me."

"Alright." She walked towards him and leaned on his table, displaying dominance. But he didn't quiver under her stare like the others do. "What did you do to make him give you his stocks?"

"The truth?"

"Yes."

Vincent leaned back on his chair, mischief evident in his eyes.

"Marry me first and then I'll tell you."

Regina scoffed. "Ganyan ka na ba kadesperado?"

His face darkened. She knew she hit a nerve. If there's one thing that Vincent hates to be taken for, it's being desperate.

"Do you really want to know the truth?" He stood up. She suddenly felt small. Matangkad si Vincent. Even with her four-inch heels, nakatingala pa rin siya rito. "Your father owes me."

"Magkano? Babayaran ko." She tried to sound like she's not intimidated by his height. She wished he would sit again. Nangangalay na ang leeg nya.

He gave her a mocking smile. "Babayaran mo? Do you think you can pay me with your money?"

"Mayaman ako!"

"Even with all your stocks and properties, you can't pay his debt. Your dad lost all his cash in Vegas. Hinahabol na sya ng mga pinagkakautangan nya. The only way he can avoid to have the rest of his properties taken is to transfer them under my name, together with his stocks."

Hindi makapaniwala si Red sa narinig. Her dad never gambled! And if he needs help with money, nandyan naman sya, handang magpahiram dito ng pera. Why did he go straight to Vincent? Sure, he holds the biggest stock, pero marami rin naman syang pera. Saka marami syang properties under her name. Surely, that's enough!

"He would have gone to me if he needs help. You're lying!"

"At ano naman ang magagawa mo? Can't you see that he's trying his best not to get you involved?!"

"I am already involved!" mariin niyang sabi. "He wanted to wed us nga, di ba?"

"Yes! To put you under my protection! So they could not get to you! Bakit ba ang tigas-tigas ng ulo mo?!"

"You? Protect me?" Bigla siyang natawa. "As if you're not a danger yourself!"

Nagsisimula ng manakit ang kuko ni Regina kaka-tap sa table. Since that heated argument with Vincent earlier, she became restless. Kailangan niyang mapapayag si Troy sa proposal niya. Kailangan din niyang makausap ang daddy niya na apparently ay nagtatago ngayon.

If what Vincent said were true, then her dad's in big trouble. And Vincent's his only solution. Luckily for her, there's still Troy. When Vincent gave her an estimate of her dad's debts, muntik na syang himatayin. He had been gone for a week to Vegas. Isang linggo. How stupid can her dad be to spend all those hard-earned money in just a week?

Kahit may pagkagastadora siya, marunong naman siyang tumigil.

Isa pa sa hindi niya matanggap ay ang sinabi ni Vincent na hindi raw pumunta ng Vegas mag-isa ang daddy niya. He had company. May kasama itong babae.

Akala niya ay sapat na siya para punan ang void na dala ng pagkawala ng mommy niya. She could even accept Vince as an extra patch to that hole. But another woman? She swore to tear the hairs off that woman's scalp kapag nalaman niya kung sino ito.

"Red?"

Vico was at the door, nag-aalangang pumasok. Mukhang ramdam nito mula roon ang init ng ulo niya.

"Do you have any good news for me?"

"Actually..." Ngumiti ito at pumasok. Saka nito isinarado ang pintuan at lumapit sa kanya. "I just spoke with Troy."

"And?"

"You will have dinner with him later. And before you refuse, ang sabi nya sa akin, kapag hindi ka raw pumunta, he will call the deal off."

Kumunot ang noo niya.

"What deal?"

Nagkibit-balikat naman si Vico. "Aba, malay ko. Basta ang sabi nya, magpaganda ka raw para mamaya."

"Why do I have to dress nicely for him? I don't even like him," Regina muttered as she rummage her closet for something to wear. Contrary to what people are thinking about her closet, hindi lang puro pula ang damit niya. Mahilig din siya sa ibang kulay, mostly black and white, but red gives her fire. Na parang ipinaparating ng kulay that she's not someone you can mess with.

But she decided to dress in all black this time. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang iisipin ni Troy mamaya kapag nagkita sila but frankly, wala siyang pakialam.

Alas sais ang usapan pero 7:30 siyang umalis ng bahay. Nakarating siya ng restaurant ng mag-aalas otso. She was surprised to see Troy waiting. From what she heard about him, she'd known him for quite an impatient man.

Hindi ito tumayo para salubungin siya.

"You're still here," puna niya.

"Kararating ko lang din. I got a tip na mali-late ka so nagpa-late din ako," nakangiti nitong sabi.

She rolled her eyes. Vico!

Naupo sya at nilagay sa table ang bag. She removed her black fur coat to reveal a black tube dress.

"Did someone die recently?" kunot-noong tanong ni Troy sa kanya.

"Wala naman."

"Why are you dressed in all black? Even your earrings are black."

"Pasalamat ka nga nag-red lipstick ako e," sabi niya rito.

"Dapat kasi nag-red ka na lang. That color suits you perfectly."

"I know."

Napangiti ito at napailing. Hindi na nito itinuloy ang usapan. He just called the waiter and gave their orders.

She ordered the most expensive food on the menu. But that didn't seem to bother him. Why would it? Marami namang pera si Troy. And he certainly wouldn't hold back. Well, wala naman syang kasalanan kung sa mamahaling restaurant siya nito inaya. Pwede namang sa Jollibee.

But then again, kung doon lang, hindi na sya mag-aaksaya ng oras para kitain ito.

"So, what's the deal that you would cancel if I didn't come?" tanong niya habang kumakain.

"The marriage," sagot nito agad. "I'm saying yes."

She frowned. "Really?"

Tumango ito. "Yes. Really."

"What's the catch?"

Imposible namang basta-basta na lang itong pumayag.

"Before we get to the catch, I want you to tell me why first."

"Why? Isn't not wanting to marry Vincent isn't enough reason for you?"

"Is it enough reason for you to ask me to marry you? I know you, Red," seryoso nitong sabi. "You're not the type of woman who will do what she doesn't want. If you don't want to marry Vincent, you can just say no."

She sighed. That was true. Was.

"I know. But the situation's different. He now holds the company at its neck. I want to reclaim it. But my money won't be enough to do that."

"But why me?" tanong nito.

"Because you hate him as much as I do. And if we're able to bring him down, he won't be able to get up again."

Troy smirked. "I got to admit, I like how you think, Red."

"Hindi sapat ang ganda lang, Troy."

His smirk quickly turned to laughter. She let him laugh. And when he's done, they talked about business again. This time, with the intent to crush Vincent down.

"Ano naman ang makukuha ko out of this arrangement?" tanong nito sa kanya maya-maya.

"I'll share half of the spoils with you."

His eyebrow arched. "And?"

"And what? Isn't that enough?"

Pinagdaop ni Troy ang mga palad nito, his elbows resting on the table while his chin rested on his hands.

"Red, I will give up my eligibility. You should pay a high price for that."

"I am giving up my eligibility as well!" She tried to control her temper. If she blew it off, mahabang pakiusapan na naman ang mangyayari. "We can file for an annulment after."

"My father wouldn't approve of that. The old man cares about the family name more than his own family."

"Then what are you proposing?"

"We'll file for an annulment after 5 years. But you won't share my properties and I won't share yours. Kapag napabagsak natin si Vincent, we'll divide the money equally. You can take over your company. I want no part of it."

"Five years?! Does it have to be that long?"

"Let the marriage sink in first. Hindi pwedeng maghiwalay tayo agad-agad. What will they think of us if that happens?"

"I don't care about what they will think," giit niya.

"But I do. My family does."

She rolled her eyes. She does not see Troy as someone who cares about his reputation. Him? The same guy who fucks his employee in his office in broad daylight?

She tried not to laugh.

"Three years," tawad niya.

Troy sighed. "Fine. Three."

"Two and a half."

"No. Three or nothing."

She grunted. "Fine!"

"And one more thing."

"What now?"

"I want a son."

Kulang na lang ay malaglag ang panga niya sa plato.

"Are you out of your mind?!"

Troy smiled wickedly. "It would be a waste if the marriage won't be consummated properly."

"No!"

"Okay." Sumandal ito. "Then, I'll say no as well."

Gusto niyang magpa-padyak hanggang sa maputol ang takong ng sapatos niya.

"Say, if I agreed, paano kung the first try e babae ang mabuo?"

"Then we'll keep trying until you bear me a son."

"You're unbelievable!"

Troy laughed until his cheeks turn red. Kuyom na kuyom na ang mga palad niya sa steak knife at tinidor. She wanted to stab him so badly. Hindi na niya alam kung alin ang mas malala: ang makasal kay Troy o ang ma-stuck kay Vincent.

Nasaan na ba kasi ang daddy niya?