Episode 61
Playlist~Beth Crowley - Perfect Doesn't Last
Fernando's POV Cont'd
My divorce? The press knew of my divorce? But how? I thought it was a secret between my family, my lawyer and the judge? How did it get leaked out?
"Son, what happened?"
"The press now knows about my divorce and they want to know the reason behind it".
"Oh no!"
"Sir, so it's true?" Araceli's voice rang in my ears. She just reminded me the call was still ongoing.
"Do not let me pass my aggression on you if not you'll regret it! Now, go back to the press and tell them I'll be with them shortly" I growled to the phone and dropped the call thereafter.
"How did this information got leaked to the press?"
"How the hell would I know?! Maybe is my ex-wife doings, she wants to screw me over before I do her!"
"C'mon Fernando, stop saying that. Micaela can never go to the press to screw you over. What reason or benefit comes from doing that to you?"
"Do you know my pain?" I asks and he shook his head. "My pain is that you all don't know what that woman is capable of and it hurts so badly".
"Why do you suddenly hate this woman so much? Why are you letting your past control your future?"
"Why do you care, huh? Just because I made you my adopted father doesn't mean you should meddle into my personal life!"
Pedro narrowed his gaze at me and his face twitched in horror. His transformation was out of this world, I've never seen him like this for all the years I've known him working for me. He looked really pained by what I just said to him, it looks like I did crossed the line after all.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for my words to come this harsh" I apologized with my head bow low in guilt. No doubt I'm overly paranoid with all the drama happening in my life right now that I just want to take it out on those around me.
"It's okay, you're right though, I'm not your father so there's no point of me wanting to know what concerns your personal life".
"I don't mean it that way, a lot has been happening in my life lately and I don't really know who I can rely on since all of you seems to be supporting Micaela over me".
"I think we should forget that and focus on the press now. What are you going to do with the press? Are you going to admit your divorce to them?"
I sigh heavily and fiddle with my beards. "I really don't know what to say to them so they can get off my marital affairs".
"The only way to get them off is to deny you're not divorce".
"What?!" I exclaimed in disbelief and he shrugs.
"That's the only way to get them off, because if you accept you're now divorce they'll request for a reason behind your divorce and I don't think is something you really want to share with the public, or do you want to do that?"
I stared at him in awkward silence trying to process all he just said in my head. He's right after all, denying my divorce story is the only way to get the press, social media etc off my private life. "Such a brilliant idea. But how do I convince them Micaela and I are still together since she's far away from here? Because I know they won't stop digging for the truth".
"That's gonna be tough you know since you don't want her around you, except you're willing to convince her to play along with you to fool the world".
"No, no, no, no, I can't live under the same roof with her. I'll find a way to fix this myself. Let's get going, turnaround, we're going back to the hotel".
"Whatever you say, boss" he replied and switch on the ignition.
"Please father, don't pick offense with what I said earlier. I don't want you to start addressing me as your boss again. You know what? I'm going to get another driver while I'll make you the CEO of my hotel company, that way you won't be seeing me as your boss but more of a father and son business".
"That's not necessary son, I'm okay with this job you gave me, you don't need to make me your CEO" he replied and made a turn back to the city where my company is located.
"Whatever I say is final, you're the new CEO of FERNAD'S HOTEL, get ready I'll educate you on all you need to know about how to handle the company. And as for the reason why Micaela and I are no longer together, I'll tell you more about it after I address the issue with the press maybe only then would you understand why I can't forgive her".
"Thank you for counting me worthy to be your company CEO, you don't know how happy I am" he glance back briefly and flashed me a smile and I returned his smile and nodded at him.
***~~~***
Micaela's POV
"Thank you so much for believing in me, you just gave me a reason to keep living" I hugged her for a moment and we let go of each other.
"Promise you'll keep my grandchild and won't get rid of it?"
"I promise. You gave me a reason not to get rid of it so I'll keep this pregnancy until the due date". We both giggled and hugged each other again. I feel so relieved to know that the only woman I've ever addressed as 'mom' after my mother died years ago do have a heart of gold. Explaining all that happened thirteen years ago opened her heart to love me more than she ever did before. I can't forget how hard she cried when I told her I got pregnant after that night the rape incident happened.
Surprise huh? Yeah, I found out I was pregnant few weeks after the rape incident and that was the worst nightmare of my life. I was so frustrated that I almost took my own life if not for a lady at my work place who noticed right on time before I did, in fact she was the one that told me I am pregnant before I ran a pregnancy test on myself and confirmed it. It was because of that lady I made it out of that hell I found myself then. You must be wondering what happened to the baby, well is a story for another day.
My phone rang making me jar out of my thoughts and I dig out my phone from my purse. It's Antonio, I guess he's worried of my safety. I picked up the call and placed it on my ear, "Hello Antonio, I know you called to check up on me, don't worry I'm fine".
"Good to know, but that's not why I called. Have you visited the internet today?"
"No, why?"
"The world knows of your divorce with Fernando!"
"What did you just say?"
"I said your divorce with Fernando is all over the internet. That's not the only thing though, Fernando is being interviewed by the press as I speak to you".
"What! No, that can't be. Tell me you're joking, Antonio" I pleaded in tears.
"I'm dead serious. If you're still at his house you should turn on the TV and see for yourself".
I couldn't wait to hear more from Antonio, I rushed to the TV and switch it on. There he was standing in front of the press at his company smiling broadly. I gasps and my mouth remained in a gape as I stared at the TV screen.
"Micaela what is going on?" his mom asks behind me and I slowly squint at her and my fingers pointed to the TV screen. Before I'll say Jack she has already rushed to pickup the TV remote control and turn up the volume.
"Mr Fernando, we heard about your divorce from a trusted source, is it true that you are really divorce?" one of the press lady asks and I stared at the man I once loved ready to screw me to the world.
"Why didn't you tell us about your divorce with your new wife? Why keep it a secret from the world?" another of the press guy asks.
"One question at a time guys. First I'll like to know where you guys got the information that my marriage is over".
"Mr Fernando just tell us the truth, are you really divorce like the news on the internet is spreading?" another lady asks. I was choking on my breath but I was keeping it on check.
"The answer is no, my wife and I are not divorce, we're still together. I don't know where this rumor is coming from but the only truth that is coming from no other person than me is that my marriage with Micaela Alvarado, my newly wedded wife is still very intact. Do not believe everything you see on the internet".
"Wh...at did he... just say?" I muttered in disbelief staring at the TV screen in shock.
"He just said you guys marriage is still intact that you were never divorce" his Mom answered beside me and I squint at her with wide eyes.
"This can't possibly be real" I mumbled and reached for a couch to lean on before I'll find myself on the floor again.
