"Blake, how much is that bag?" Mom asked as I got home.
I looked at the couch in the living room where my Dior bag is in its box. "3,800 dollars? Why? It's my money. I sold a painting last week." I walk towards my bag, and an invitation on the center table took my attention instead. I pick it up, and it gives me goosebumps after I read what's on the envelope.
"An Invitation from Vazquez?" I asked Mom as I showed it to her.
She sighed. "It's Zachary, not his Father."
"He's still a Vazquez, Mom," I complained.
I have a problem with Vazquez. They are all cruel like their father. I'm afraid that Zachary might like his father, but my parents were sure about this. They're confident about me marrying Zachary. Maybe because Zachary didn't raise by his father, but his blood runs in his too.
"He's different from them, Blake. Trust us. He's a good man."
I doubt that. I really doubt that. He's a good man? Funny.
"Really? Or he threatens you?"
Her expression didn't change, and she just smiled. "He didn't. "
I just sighed and brought my Dior bag up to my room. There is nothing that can stop them, but I can do something about it. I know I can do something. That invitation is for having dinner with my family to talk about the engagement party before the wedding. But I haven't seen him even in a picture. He never allows anyone to take him a shot. He's private. Too private not even send me a picture of him since he want to marry me and share with my inheritance. Even he will share his inheritance with me. I don't really care about it. Yes, he's rich, but I know his legacy is from his brutal father. His father did so many illegal things to get more money. I heard that news from Dad's colleagues.
I'm very disappointed how he just got back to his father. Dad said he's living by himself, but his father wants to be with him after so many years they parted, though I don't believe him. I don't know him much, and I don't want to know anything about him.
Few days before meeting Zachary, I planned to ask Dad if I can have a vacation in my Mom's beloved country. I think of this carefully.
"Dad, I want to leave the country for vacation," I said while we're eating dinner all together. We often eat together because they are busy with work and I busy painting something in my room.
"For a vacation? Sure after the engagement party."
"No, I want the day after tomorrow," I said while looking at my Dad fiercely.
He gave a death glare. "You're avoiding the engagement party, aren't you?" he sounded so mad right now.
That's how badly they want me to marry Zachary. "Just a vacation, Dad. I will not vanish in the air," I said calmly. There is no reason to raise my voice, and he's still my Daddy. All I can do is glare at him.
"No," he said.
"Why you suddenly want to have a vacation?" Mom asked.
"I have nothing in my mind to paint. I want to look for inspiration," I lied.
"You mean a man, so you don't have to marry Zachary."
I sighed. "Dad, you know I don't need a man to be my inspiration to paint. I can live my life without a man."
"Yes, you can, but you can't be happy enough, Blake Dominique." I just pursed my lips and didn't say anything.
I can't say anything until we finished eating. He may be right that I can't be happy enough without my own family, but I still could live. Is it my problem if I still don't have a plan to have a family? I'm still young, and I have things want to do.
I was just busy painting in my room a few days after that night when Dad knocked in my room. "Dad."
"Let's talk about your vacation." Simple words of Dad made me get excited and nervous at the same time.
He leaves my room so I could ready myself. I cleaned my mess, and I dressed up myself. I want to leave this country right away. I don't have any idea what he's going to say, but we'll see. All I want to do is to, yeah, Dad is right. I want to find a man who will love me, so I don't have to marry Zachary. Or even he won't love to help me with this shit.
I walked inside my Dad's study room, and he wasn't smiling. He just looked at me with a severe aura. It scared me a bit, but I took a deep breath before sitting in front of him.
He took something inside his cabinet and placed it on the center table. "That's your flight ticket to the Philippines."
I can't help but smile. "I can go to the Philippines? Really, Dad?"
"Yes, you can stay there for a year, but you have to work on your own, and the son of my friend has a business there, and he needs a secretary. Would you mind being a secretary?" He asked.
"Not at all, Dad, it's fine! Really!" I was about to take the ticket, but he takes it first.
"No expensive things while you are away." He said grimly.
"I... I'll try, Daddy." I'm reaching the ticket in his hand, but he moves it away.
"You will do it, honey."
I just nodded. "I will do my best." Then he gave it.
This is what will happen when you love expensive things. You can't promise to buy whatever you will see at the mall. But for me? Of course, I can discipline myself. I don't have a reason not to if I can have it. If I want it, I will get it if I can.
Dad said I would leave tomorrow, so I pack my things together with my art materials to continue my hobby every day. Yes, I paint every day. Our house is full of my paintings and some of them sold. I sell some of my paintings, but I have favoritism, and I keep them in my little gallery in our house.
I heard my phone rang and I picked it. "What?"
"Have a safe flight, Secretary Cortes." Hart mocked.
I have an idea of what he means. "I will be your secretary, but that doesn't mean I will look up on you, Hart," I said while smirking. "Get ready to get bankrupt," I chuckled, and I ended the call so I could continue packing.
There is such thing I want to experience, and I hope I enjoy it like others enjoy doing it. I may be a good daughter to my parent... okay, not really— I am stubborn, but there are things I haven't done in my life. I know it's for adults, but when I reach 18, I still never tried it. People know what I mean. Yeah, boy, it's sex and relationships.
"Take care, honey." Mom said as she hugs me so tightly like I will not come back anymore.
"I can take care of myself, Mom." I smiled and kissed her cheeks, and I hugged Dad after.
They drive me to the airport, and they waited until the time of my flight. My family doesn't like having a private plane or jet because they enjoy socializing. They like talking to strangers, and that's what I took from them. When I was a kid, I always talk to strangers in my school, but I wouldn't say I like having close friends back then. I got bullied because of my looks. I'm not a nerd or that ugly, but there are times I got bullied because of their insecurities. I wasn't yet a bitch that time, so I didn't fight back.
While on the flight, I sleep, so I will still unpack my things in the condo my Dad bought for me. I don't want to get dead tired after the flight because it pains my ass. I sleep and eat.
As I arrived, Hart picks me up and drive me to my condo. After that, he told me that I could start my work next week, but I insist on working tomorrow. If I only like Hart, I will ask him to be my boyfriend so there will be no nuptial between Cortes and Vazquez. Even the engagement is still planning. I know they won't make it long. Callous want it fast severely.
