“You can’t do this to me!”
A loud exclamation from Rhezi resonated inside Kraius’ office that afternoon. She was pacing back and forth in front of Kraius’ table while the latter was looking at her with a mocking smile plastered on his lips. He was obviously teasing and playing her to his content.
She was busy taking care of Dos when she received a letter from the firm. Her resignation was declined, and along that paper from the firm was another paper which contained the possible cases that can be filed against her for her indolence at work.
She had gone mad. She did not waste any time and went straight to Kraius’ office. Dos was better so she let their maids take care of him. Her strides were fast while gripping the paper in her fist when she entered Montreal firm as she was shocked to hear what the man said.
Kraius definitely tricked her. The paper stating about the work was just a front. It was obvious from the way he looked at her.
“And why is that?” Kraius said mockingly and shook his head, as if in disbelief.
“Because I am their mother! Don’t you understand that?” Rhezi replied. She even put her hands on the table and leaned towards him, forehead creased while her eyes looked at him incredulously.
Kraius’ eyes pierced onto her. He leaned closer to her that their faces almost met. “I am their father, too, but you didn’t give me the chance. Now, I want them to be with me. No one can stop me from doing that,” he firmly said with conviction.
Rhezi blinked a few times, trying to digest what Kraius just said. She could see longing and desperation in his eyes but anger was more evident in it. The woman knew that nothing could revoke his decision, but she needed to try. She couldn’t loose them and be away from her.
“They don’t know that you’re their father. How could you tell them? My kids would have a hard time!” she shrieked, trying to prove a point.
Her legs wobbled and she could feel her body tremble. Her knees giving in was something she never wanted to happen amidst the argument. Her calmness despite everything was only a facade, hiding what she felt.
Rhezi wanted to show Kraius that she can fight, but she’s slowly losing strength because every word the man had said was like a knife stabbing her countless of times. She admitted she was at fault too, but she won’t take all the blame. Kraius has a big involvement with what happened in the past.
“I will tell them that I am their father. No one can ruin it. Not even you!”
“No!” Rhezi shouted. She held onto the edge of the table because she was feeling dizzy.
The woman weakly gazed at Kraius as the latter leaned against his swivel chair. He suddenly opened the drawer on the table and pulled something out of it. It was a few pages of papers which he spent his time for the past days. He worked and aimed for it even though he had to use his dirty tactics again, just to make the process faster.
“Take it,” he commanded as he extended his hand with the papers to her.
Despite feeling weak, Rhezi forced herself to stand up properly. She was hesitant to take the papers but her instinct said otherwise. She first glanced at the man, and with a trembling hand, she accepted the papers. Then, she read it and was caught off guard from the written words in it. Her eyes abruptly turned to Kraius who was looking at her intently.
“Temporary custody for my kids,” he said in a serious tone. “They will live with me and it’s final.”
“Please, don’t do this,” Rhezi begged. She even shook her head. “Dos is still recovering. It’s not good for him to feel stress. My kids will get hurt,” Rhezi added. Her poise was totally gone, shoulders slumped as he stared at the man in front of her with pleading eyes.
“Did you realize that when you left with my children? Have you thought about the pain that I would feel?!” Kraius hollered.
He stood up and walked towards Rhezi. His eyes were full of contempt, piercing through every fiber of the woman’s being, as if he was the only one that went through pain in the past years. As if he was blaming her for everything that transpired.
As the realization sank in, Rhezi couldn’t help when bitterness filled her. As she stared at Kraius walking towards her, all the memories came crashing through her mind. She doesn’t want to relive those memories, but it can’t be prevented, especially with the man accusing her.
“You can’t tell me what to do this time, Rhezi. I lost so many years to be the father of my own children. You lied and played me arou-”
Kraius did not finish his words as a loud slap echoed across the room, hitting his cheek painfully. He looked at Rhezi, eyebrows furrowed and jaw clenched tightly. The shock was evident on his face but the glints of anger can also be seen.
Regardless of that, the woman never yielded. She also looked at him with the same intensity he was giving her. The formerly fearful and hopeless feeling inside her had vanished. She stood up and shook her head. Why would she be scared of Kraius? He was the one who betrayed her and not the other way around.
“How could you say that?” she asked. “How could you say that when in the first place, you’re the one who betrayed me? It was you who ruined everything, Kraius!” she added and pointed her finger to him.
“What did you say?” Kraius asked in disbelief, his eyes were still in fury but it now contained confusion. He couldn’t believe what Rhezi was saying. How was it his fault when it was her who left him?
Rhezi’s heart throbbed as the memory from ten years ago came flashing through her mind. There was a fast flash of scenes, like in the movies, and she remembered every little detail of it. They were the scenes that brought pain to her heart.
How could she forget? It was exactly the day after their wedding day. One week after her eighteenth birthday, and also one week after Kraius’ father asked her to leave. The old man said that she wasn’t good for Kraius. That the latter was bound to marry someone else. That she would never be enough.
But she stayed. She didn’t believe whatever the man said. She stayed because she wanted to prove the old man that he was wrong. That she was worthy and mature. That Kraius loved her the way she loved him. That they were serious even though she was young. Because she believed that he was serious, too. Her young and inexperienced heart trusted Kraius, and yet it was all a lie.
“Do you remember what you said to Shan in the haven, Kraius? Do you exactly remember the words you said to her?” she stopped. Her heart tightened and she can’t seem to breathe because of the contraction and pain she felt. However , she had to tell him. She had to tell him for them to finish everything. “You said you’re not ready. T-That you d-don’t love me.”
Her voice cracked as she said the last words. The mere thought of Kraius playing her still hurt her every time. She thought that he was serious, but in the end, he wasn’t or will never be. He was the same as all the playboys. They woo girls then leave them into pieces.
Rhezi smiled bitterly at Kraius then started to move backwards. She tried so hard not to cry in front of him. She doesn’t want to show the man that she was hurt, although the truth was that she’s still tormented by everything. It hurt because up until now, her feelings for him stayed inside her heart even after a long time.
She walked away from Kraius’ office, leaving him dumbfounded. As she walked the long aisle outside, she let herself succumb into tears. The lady let those tears cascade down her cheeks, not even caring about the eyes that have feasted on her as she walked lifelessly towards the exit of the building. She lost the care to maintain her sophisticated aura.
When she got inside of her car, there was only one person she wanted to see. Her safe haven. Jericho, whom she knew was still in his office. It wasn’t late yet, and the man was hard working so she knew he was still there. She wanted to tell him that she finally said it. That she finally uttered the words she couldn’t dare to speak.
Rhezi wiped her tears after a few minutes of crying her heart out and started to manoeuvre the car. Because the traffic seemed to be less busy, she quickly arrived at Bailey restaurant, a high class European restaurant along Quezon City.
She parked her car and went outside. Her strides were fast as she dashed inside the restaurant. As usual, it was still clean and cozy. Even the crew looked clean with their white uniforms which suited the minimalist interior of the place.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Bailey. What can I do for you, Madam?” the manager greeted, meeting her as she entered the restaurant.
“Is Mr. Bailey available?” Rhezi asked. She even smiled lightly at the man.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Madam, but Mr. Bailey is talking to a VIP inside his office,” he informed. “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for a few minutes. Do you want anything, Madam?” he added.
Rhezi shook her head. “I’m fine. I’ll just wait for him inside,” she replied.
The manager nodded his head and left the woman alone. She walked inside Jericho’s office and saw the waiting lounge for visitors. There’s a couch and a television for entertainment. She sat onto the couch and patiently waited for him, and after a few minutes, she saw the door open.
Rhezi abruptly shifted her gaze to the newly opened door. She plastered a smile on her lips and stood up. She waited for Jericho to come out but she was surprised at what she saw. Even Jericho, who was following behind the figure looked shocked at the sight of the woman. Meanwhile, Rhezi shifted her eyes alternately onto the two people in front of him. Confusion was written in her tired eyes.
“Mr. Montreal?” Rhezi whispered then looked at Jericho. “Do you know him?” she asked.
“Momma,” Jericho called.
Rhezi shook her head. She doesn’t know what to think after what she had witnessed. All she knew was that she’s miserably hurt.