NELINA
I gently shook Royce's shoulder to wake him up.
"Baby, I have to go."
Royce had a little movement the third time I shook his shoulder. His lips parted, and he talked like a baby. He opened his eyes little by little, and as soon as his sight landed on me, he smiled.
"Good morning, baby. What time is it?" He asked, grabbing me on my waist and pulling me close to him.
"Baby, stop. It's almost 8 in the morning; mom and dad must be worried. Besides, you still have to go to your company."
"Hmm…it seems too early to work. We can spend an hour staying in bed. What do you think?"
"We can't; I have to go. Let..."
Royce kissed me before I could finish what I had to say. I couldn't find the strength to protest as he was deepening our kiss. Royce succeeded in getting me to stay in bed for an hour.
Before heading to shower, I checked local news online to see if there was an update about the charges we filed against the Sunny Corporations executives. Since they are well-known men, the press must be feasting for a new scoop.
The online news didn't disappoint me. The headline said Business tycoon Mr. Robert Gonzalez, Sunny Corporation chairman, was replaced by Mr. Renee Ochoa. The statement said Mr. Gonzalez was accused of plotting an accident to kill the former Chairman, Mr. Arthur Cruz, and his son.
Although the company spokesperson denied the accusation was true and that the replacement of the new chairman wasn't related to the case, the media are adamant about knowing the truth.
Some claimed that Mr. Gonzalez was almost useless being a chairman as he lost the ability to run the corporation. Most businessmen who used to partner with them backed out even before the charges against him.
They are known developers, but numerous projects have been halted recently due to mismanagement and lack of funds. The board voted for a new chairman who they think would be capable of leading Sunny Corporation.
"Pay off time, Mr. Chair," I mumbled to myself.
I hadn't even had a shower when I got a call from Marica.
"Good morning, besty. How's your morning?"
"Oh, nothing could be better than reading the news. Have you read it?"
"Which one?"
"Robert Gonzalez was replaced as the Chairman of Sunny Corporation. What else do you expect?"
"Yes, I know. I read it just now. So glad the case started rolling. It's a little relief having read it. At least, Mr. Gonzalez isn't that powerful against us, and so are the other executives."
"Good for them. This is just the beginning. I'm also filing charges later when I come out."
"Wait. Have you found out who are the people behind your accident?"
"It will be clear soon. Although we all know they are, we need strong evidence. Don't worry about me; take care of yourself, alright?"
"Baby, who's on the phone?" Royce asked as he wrapped his arms around me.
"It's Marica."
"Hey, Nelly, I thought you were home last night? Seems like you two had a yummy night, didn't you?" Marica said, and then she laughed naughtily.
"Besty, I have to go," I said, cutting the call.
Royce kissed me on the lips, but I avoided it. "Baby, it's late; I need to take a shower."
"Sure, I'll give you a shower then. I am your slave," he said with an evil smirk on his lips.
"Stop it. You shouldn't have interrupted my call with Marica," I said, poking his cheek.
"Baby, she knows everything about us; there's nothing to hide. Besides, we both love each other. I love you to the moon and back, baby. Say, you love me too." Royce said the latter like a child, and then he gently poked my lips.
"You know I love you," I said. A little bit annoyed with his childish talks.
"Then say it, baby, please..."
"Let's take a shower, you silly."
"Just one."
"Alright, I love you, baby," I said slowly.
An evil smirk crept out of Royce's lips, showing he won.
Royce and I parted ways after breakfast, he went to his office, and I went home. I stayed at home for the rest of the day like the usual daily routine I've had for weeks. The only hobby I could turn to was putting up organizing event ideas. Something I wanted to propose to Nelly when I get back to work.
Sometimes, I put make-up on my face, so I wouldn't forget how to do it. I missed my job so badly.
At night, I helped mom cook dinner. It was the least I could do while I was jobless. It was 7 in the evening when I heard the doorbell ring while tossing the pasta.
"I got it, mom." I left a bowl of pasta on the table and checked who was at our door.
"Hey! You didn't tell me you'll visit," I said as I opened the door.
"Can I let a day pass without seeing my princess? Of course not. Can I get a kiss?" Royce leaned over, and the smell of his cologne wafted in the air, but it was not the same scent as the one he used the first time I met him. I don't remember the last time I smelled the cologne his grandparents' gifted him.
"We were together this morning, you silly," I answered, avoiding his kiss because I knew mom was watching.
"Royce, come in. It's good timing for dinner. Nelly, invite your boyfriend for dinner."
"No kiss for now. Let's go; time for dinner. It's good you're having dinner here, so you won't eat alone in your condo."
Royce heaved a sigh. "Well, that's a good reason to skip a kiss now. But later, I'm gonna get a kiss, right?"
"I'll see if I can. For now, we have to go. Mom and dad are waiting for us," I said, grabbing Royce's wrist and pulling him to the dining area. You're lucky; you'll have free dinner tonight from my mom's cooking."
"Even more lucky to have you by my side for dinner."
"Let's go before I do something bad to you."
"Baby, you know you can't." He said confidently. I glared at him.
"Royce, it's good that you're here. I want to take this opportunity to formally thank you for all your help. Since we arrived from therapy in Manila, I haven't thanked you for everything. I know you offered a huge amount of monetary help. Don't worry, I assure you we will pay it all," Dad said as we were having dinner.
"Sir, Arthur, please. I don't think of it as debt; it was all help. I think of you like family, and besides, you are one of my grandparents' friends. That's what friends do, help each other. You were in bad shape, and my family is favorable to help you, so I did."
"Thank you, but still, we will pay it all. Nelina told me it was a debt. You two talked about the money spent for my therapy; it was a deal."
"Well, if I can't convince you to forget about the money. You can pay whenever you get the amount."
"Don't worry about it, dad. I'll pay for it all. I was the one who talked to Royce," I said before dad could answer.
"No, sweetheart, keep your money. You've been saving all these years. I can't take that from you."
"But dad, it was my debt. It was a deal between Royce and me."
"Nelly, your dad was right. We will pay for it, sweetie," Mom chimed in.
"I'll make sure we get everything that is taken from us. It may take some time, but we will have it," Dad assured.
Dad was possibly referring to our share in Sunny corporation. It was like a mystery that we only got a small portion of our wealth after Mark died and dad was paralyzed. We had to sell our mansion and other properties to meet our daily needs.
Mom and I knew nothing about business, so we couldn't complain to the executives. They made us foolish and ignorant. Executives collaborated against my dad; they betrayed him.