Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty

"Do you have reservations Sir, Ma'am?" The receptionist asked us. I immediately nodded and then said my last name. He guided us inside the restaurant to the VIP lounge.
"Wow! This place looks like for lovers only! The ambiance is romantic and the place is really beautiful." I pulled a chair for Lenita and then I sat in front of her.
A waiter approached us and then he handed over the menu so Lenita and I were both busy choosing our orders. A waiter approached us and then he handed over the menu so Lenita and I were both busy choosing our orders.
"It's been months Justin and I always get news about Joanna and Terrence keep on going out together." He started. I didn't say a thing and just listened to whatever he wanted to say. But I really don't like the idea of talking about my Wife. especially when it's all about negative feedbacks.
"I am one hundred and one percent sure that she's over you. She has already forgotten you so I guess it's about time for you to move on too." I clenched my hands when they rested on my thighs.
My jaw also tightened at what he said. I don't want to do anything now but yell at him. But I need to calm myself. This is not the right time for me to get mad at her, we need her family's help, I will just make the situation worst if I get mad at her.
"Justin..." He bit his bottom lip and then took a deep breath and continued what he was going to say. "...what I'm just trying to say is, your parents and my parents voted for us and I am sure if we make it official they'll be happy for us."
"Is that what you want?" Weak if I ask him. He smiled and then he nodded one after the other and said -
"YES! YES! YES!" So that night Lenita and I are 'officially' together' because that's what she wants. We immediately reached his family and they were all happy for us.
"Justin, what the hell are you doing?! Why did you make Lenita your girlfriend when your already married to Joanna!" Lola asked me very angrily after our dinner with Lenita's family. Because he just found out that Lenita is my girlfriend.
"I have no choice, Dad will root in jail and we will lose the company if I didn't agree to be with her." Poor answer I'm with Grandma. "You know exactly the consequences of your action. Don't you?" He asked me. I didn't answer. I don't want to choose over Joanna and my parents because I wouldn't think and just choose Joanna right away. Lola's silence enveloped us for a few minutes until -
"O...ouch. D amn! Grandma is sick! Stop it." I stopped him from touching me.
"Fix your life you child! Go back to the Philippines, you can't have a girlfriend while you are my my wife! You're a little kid! And even though I haven't talked to your wife yet, I like Joanna better than Lenita. It looks like Lenita is still liberated and won't fall for such women. So break up with that girl!"
A few months later, Lenita and I returned to the Philippines. Everything is going well, as planned. I took over the company as the CEO, Lenita started working as a fashion designer, building her own name not only in the fashion industry but also in the showbiz industry, when she started making dresses for the artist. Until one day came...
"Babe it's just an interview! Besides, you've been invited for interviews for a long time, right? In magazines, you're the only one."
"Please! Besides, it's also publicity for Smith House, you know, when they read about you in the magazine, there will be many interested bachelorettes who will invest in Smith House, right It's a man's business!" I sighed and looked at her for a while. She has teased me about this several times since we got back from the US, but I always decline.
I just really don't want a lot of attention focused on me. I am not a famewhore, if they want to invest on my company they can contact Smith House but I want Joanna my wife, to know that I am back now. Lenita always hangs out in my office, she also goes home with Mommy, in short he always picks me up from home and office and then he will pick me up from their driver back home. It's really weird because it should be the other way around but it doesn't matter anyway.
"Babe! I have good news for you!" It was one Saturday morning and its seven AM when Lenita came to visit. She went near me and gave me a peck on my lips and when I looked at my parents, especially my Mom is looking so happy, I can tell that she is thrilled. Oh my! Has she forgotten that I am married? Geez
And when I turn my gaze on my Grandmother, her both arms are crossed on her chest while she keeps on shaking her head slowly. I can see how disappointed she is about Lenita and I. Because she wanted me to end my relationship with Lenita when we're still in the US but I don't know what has gotten to me that until now I am still with her. Lenita faced my parents and thanked them then sat beside me and told us about her carrier.
"I was invited to visit Paris and be part of Asia's next top model Paris, France to be one
of the judge and also they told me that I also have fashion shows to attend
that will feature my design, Mom and Dad are so happy for me and I am so excited." Then it was
he turned to me, with puppy eyes. He even hugged my arm with one of his hands and then asked.
"It's okay with you, right Babe?" I don't care anyway. She doesn't need to say goodbye to me but I don't want to embarrass her in front of my family so I just simply nod as a response.
I can't take care of my own d amn business because she's also with me, I can't contact some private investigator to look for my Wife because she always asks me who am I talking to over the phone, most of the time it's annoying that I chose to ignore her rather than answer her.
"She is using her maiden name, Joanna Cruz." I formed my fist into a ball when he started giving me information about my wife. So, she doesn't want to use my last name huh? She still prepares her maiden name? Psh!
"She is currently unemployed and looking for an office job." I nodded to what the private investigator I hired to find Joanna said. "She's living on an apartment with her best friend Katastrophe dela Mercede, for some years now. She's not seeing any man and her daily routine is house look for a job then house." I thanked him for the information he told me and then he said goodbye.
"Anytime today, you'll receive your payment on your ATM." He nodded. I pressed the intercom that connects me and the secretary if Mrs. Thompson and then ordered him to enter my office.
"Please send an email to all the Smith House business partners and to all my friends about Joanna Cruz. Tell them about her dishonesty about her full name." Mrs. nodded. Thompson at my command. "And call her after and invite her for a job interview."
"For the CEO's secretary?" Confirmation by Mrs. Thompson.
"Yes." I answered him. Mrs. Thompson is my late grandpa's secretary, then he also became Daddy's secretary and now that Daddy has passed the company to me, he is still my secretary. But Mom already informed me about her retirement. She's getting old so I understand.
The next morning, the HR manager called me and told me about the application of my wife as the CEO's secretary. So, my wild guess is really correct, huh? She doesn't have any idea that my family owns the company and she'll be working for me. Hmm... this is interesting; I wonder how she would react when she'll find out that I am going to be her Boss.
I am so proud of her; no one really knows that she is my wife. She passed all her interviews without anyone's help and today is her first day. Then that day came, it's her first day of work. Oh my! I feel like I want to hug her so tight, kiss her until both of us run out of breath. I miss her so much but I need to act tough and cold. I'm still sulking because he doesn't use my last name.
"Miss Cruz this is our Boss, Justin Montemayor." Joanna's surprised reaction did not escape my eyes when we finally faced each other and our eyes met. It was as if he had suddenly disappeared himself because he was just stunned by me. So, you never really expected that this day would come huh?