Episode 62
Playlist~ Lady Gaga - I'll Never Love Again
Fernando's POV
"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".
I hope my answer is enough to clear the divorce rumor that has gone viral on TV and the Internet.
"But Sir, sources said they've been seeing you alone since you came back from your honeymoon, can you please tell us why?" one of the press lady asks stupidly.
What an annoying question! These press people are really getting on my nerves and I don't like it one bit. "Where the hell did you get that from? And what is your business with my marriage? Get this clear, I'm a business man and I go for business meetings alone to see my partners and clients most of the times. You don't expect me to tag my wife along for every business trips I go to. One piece of advice to you all, learn to focus on important matters in the country not people's marriages or personal lives. Now if you'd excuse me I have some important business to attend to" I gave a slight bow and walked away gritting my teeth from ear to ear while I signal my security guards to stop them from entering the company. Behind me I could still hear them asking more questions and desperately looking for answers from me, it's a pity they don't really know me.
"Wow! I didn't see that coming, I must confess you sounded so convincing!" My father exclaimed with smiles all over his face as we got inside my company.
"Lower your voice father, someone might be listening" I replied glancing around the hotel restaurant.
"Oh sorry, I forgot the walls have ears" he winks at me and I heave a sigh.
Damn! I didn't know I was such a good actor myself, look how I've been wasting my talent. By now I should have been one of the top Mexican actors but I couldn't discover my talent on acting until today. I really did well out there, I just hope they believe me and get over that rumor already.
"Boss Fernando, why did you tell the press you and that woman are still together?" A feminine voice asks behind me and I was forced to turn to confirm if it was Araceli my hotel manager or one of those busybody media ladies that got inside my hotel. Certainly, it was no other person but Araceli.
I chewed on my inner jaw to suppress my anger and held my head forehead briefly. Is this lady crazy or what? Why will she be asking me such a stupid question? My gaze bores on her and that got her to gaze down while she squirms on her feet. "Is something wrong with you, Araceli? What is it to you if I'm divorce or still married? Is that why I hire you here, to be my watchdog?"
"I'm sorry Sir, is just...."
"One more word and you're fired! I'm warning you Araceli, don't provoke me if not you won't like my action towards you. I don't like when people meddle in my personal life affairs, but if you know you're tired of your job here and you want to start working with those damn paparazzi outside then keep bugging me with silly questions. Now return to your duty!"
She nodded shakily and scurries off to wherever she wants to be but not right where I am because I don't want to see her around me. "That woman is crazy, who does she think she is to be interrogating me? Has she forgotten I'm her employer?"
"Maybe she likes you and wants to shoot her shot after knowing you're now divorce" my father snorted and I twitched my face irritatingly.
"Not in this world or the one next to come would I ever be interested in her. She doesn't match my taste of lady, let alone be compared to my wife...sorry I mean ex-wife" I bit my lip for making the mistake of mentioning her in our conversation.
"I see someone is still in love with a particular someone" my father teased and I rolled my eyes. "What are you going to do with your ex-wife when she found out about your interview with the press?"
"Keep it low, father. C'mon, let's go to my office and talk about it". We both took the elevator to my office. "I really don't know what explanation to give her when she finds out what I did" I continued when we got inside my office.
"You should know, you owe her an explanation. You can't just toil with her feelings that way, if you don't want her to spill it out to the press then you have to explain to her and convince her to cooperate with you".
"Are you trying to tell me I have to bring her back here to Madrid to live with me?"
"Do you have any other option?"
"C'mon father, this is way too difficult to comprehend to. I mean the last time...or let's say few hours ago when I met up with that woman I told her...."
"Your wife is in Madrid?!" My father intruded mid-sentence.
"Was in Madrid, she must have left the city by now".
"Really? What was she doing here in Madrid? She came to see you?" he asked and waited for my response but I scratched my hair not knowing where to start from on the reason Micaela was here today. "Forget about my question, are you sure she has gone back?"
"She must have, I didn't give her a reason to stay though".
"Like how many hours ago did you two meet up?"
"I think roughly two hours ago or more" I answered in a bored tone. "Why are you asking by the way?"
"What if she hasn't left the city? What if her flight was delayed or something?"
"I can't tell. But what's the point?"
"The point is you two have to talk to her and convince her to..."
"To act like we were still married?!" I completed for him and he nods. "Are you serious, dad? Do you know what you're asking me to do?!"
"Okay, okay, do whatever you want then, I'm not going to offer my opinion to you anymore" he raised his hand in defeat.
I groaned and ran my fingers through my hair thinking of what to do. My phone buzzed repeatedly on the table but I ignored it, right now is not the time for calls, I'm trying to think straight. To be honest I'm so confused right now, this whole divorce thing is beginning to have a negative impact on me and my business, if I don't do something about it things will get out of hand. There's a project in the mining sector I'm working on with some investors, the completion of that project will increase my networth and open more business deals. If I dare mess it up because of some family issue, I'll be screwed forever.
"Aren't you going to answer the phone? Antonio is the one calling" my father said and my head snaps up to see him holding my phone.
"Antonio? Give me the phone" I requested and he handed me the phone. "Let me guess, you've watched the news isn't it?" I asked the second I picked up the call.
"What game are you playing at, Fernando? What's all those rubbish you said on TV?"
"It is what you heard, bro. What? Don't you like the fact my wife and I are back together?"
"Fernando, I'll ask you one last time, tell me what the hell you're trying to do with Micaela?! Are you just toiling with the woman's feelings just to save your name and business?"
"Hey, don't talk to me like that! I owe you no explanation, so stop asking for one. Where is your girlfriend? Has she gone back to Seoul?"
"What do you care? I asked you a question and you're trying to play smart, isn't it?"
"You're becoming so nosy of recent, I don't know you to be such a friend. That's by the way, tell me if Micaela Alvarado my ex-wife has gone back to her base, or do I have to beg you to give me an answer?"
"Nope, not at all. If it is in your best interest to know where she is then I'll tell you. Your ex-wife is in your house with your mother watching the lies you just told on TV. Now how does that sound?"
"Wait, what...was... that?" I stuttered.
"Micaela is at your house waiting for you to give her an explanation. Enjoy the rest of your day" he replied and hangs up the call.
My jaw dropped in disbelief and I was looking at my dad like a zombie. Micaela is still here in Madrid? In my house?
"Fernando? Are you okay? What happened?"
"It's Micaela".
"What happened to her?"
"She is here in Madrid".
"That's great news then! You should call her and tell her...."
"She's in my home as I speak to you" I cut him off.
"Wow, isn't that fate bringing you two together once more?"
"Please don't start father, at least not right now. I'm still in shock with the news of Micaela being at home, I mean what the hell is she doing in my house with my mother?"
"You can as well ask her that when you see her" my dad replied calmly. He looks so calm with the whole situation while I'm here feeling so tensed.
"Are you saying I should go home and meet up with her?"
"Were you planning something else in mind apart from that?"
"Oh damnit! You're answering me with questions father and I don't like it" I groaned distastefully.
"I'm sorry but I can't offer direct answers to you anymore because you don't value them and you think I'm saying the wrong things. So just do what your heart tells you, son".
I stared at him in silence for a moment and then I bow my head trying to think straight.
"I guess you are right, I have to return home, perhaps I'll be able to reason with her and convince her to pretend everything is fine between us".
"Goodluck with that".
"You'll stay back here and get familiar with the company. You can return home anytime of your choice".
"Thank you for everything. Please be kind with your words towards that woman, if you need me just call me".
I nod in response and exited my office. I don't know why, but I feel so nervous and guilty I guess. If only one can read someone's mind I'll like to know what her reaction would be when she sees me. Will she tear my eyes out for what I did to her? Does she feel bad that I covered up our divorce case? Why do I worry so much of what she thinks anyways? She deserves anything that I do to her so let her face her fate.
"Hey you watch it!" A lady snapped at me at the hallway of my hotel. I just got out of the elevator and I was seeing myself to the door when I collided with someone. The thoughts of Micaela is the beginning of accident. Look what just happened, if I wasn't thinking of her I wouldn't be colliding with this person.
"Sorry I....."
"You?!" she exclaimed cutting me off and I had to take a glance at her face.
"Me? What about me?" I shrugged wondering if she knew me before now.
"It was you who kissed me and walked away without saying anything to me!" she half-yells and I furrowed confusedly at her.
"What the hell are you talking about? And hey lower your voice because I don't want any attention right now".
"Ha! You're actually pretending not to know me now, aren't you?"
"Ma'am, I don't know you, okay? Maybe you're one of my customers here at my hotel and you've been seeing me around but I seriously don't know you. It's obviously impossible for me to know all my customers, I'd appreciate if you don't pick offense and get over it. I have urgent matters to attend, please excuse me".
I bow slightly and took a walk away from her and got out of the hotel. "Hey you stop right there!" I turnaround to have glimpse of the face and obviously same lady has been trailing behind me.
"What now, woman? I already apologized for colliding with you, what else do you want?"
"If you think I'm stupid and forgetful then I'm sorry to disappoint you I'm not that kind of lady! I do remember everything in my life that do happen to me! You were the same guy who stole a kiss from me on one fateful morning 2months ago at a park down valley road. Your outfit for that day was a grey joggers pants and a black hoodie paired with a black sneakers. You had an earpods on and it was like you just finished jogging and was catching your breath. I was trying to have a conversation with you but it looks like you were so horny that all you wanted to do was kiss me and sex me right there or no....you ran away like a scared little boy!"
Like the universe was playing tricks on me right now, this lady is the last person I want to see in this world. I've completely forgotten about this woman after the experiment I had with her few days after Micaela and I shared a kiss and I wasn't sure what love or feelings really meant then because I was so naive. Meeting her again today after how many months ago wasn't what I'd wished for at least not even today maybe some other day. Today is a bad day to come across her again, a lot of things has happened already and I don't have the strength to stand more dramas...well at least not after I must have discussed with Micaela about that whole drama with the press which I'm very sure she'll be all dramatic when she sees me.
