Chapter 3

"Wait! What are you doing?" Alex pulled her arm from him but she couldn't. His grip was too strong. Robbie took her in his bedroom and sat her on the bed.

"We need to talk," he stated and his hands went on his waist.

"Here?"

"Yes, here."

"Don't you have an office?"

"We can do the formal writing later."

"Don't transactions happen in a formal environment?"

"Why? Do you think I'll have sex with you first so you'll sign the agreement?"

"And what made you think of that?"

"You tell me, Alex."

"Dream on, buddy. You're not my type."

"Not mine either. Like you said, I'm gay, right?"

"And it never changed."

Robbie sighed. "Look! Just give me a chance, okay?"

"How can I give you a chance when you wanted to take her away from me? Custody? Are you nuts?"

"You haven't heard the full agreement yet."

"Huh! As if I need to know the rest. What are you going to do, manipulate me, ask me to marry you so we both have full custody of her?"

Robbie grinned.

"Oh, hell no!"

She stood up and crossed her arms.

"What do you have to lose, Alex? I can give a proper name-"

"A PROPER NAME?" her voice raised. "Why, is my last name not worth it? My daughter used my last name for ten years, Robbie. So what made you think that you can just barge in and change it?"

"Don't I have the right to give my last name to my daughter in which you actually deprived from me for years? Alex, don't be selfish."

"I'm not being selfish! I haven't needed you before and I won't be needing you now!"

"Sht, Alex! Your pride will definitely kill the both of you."

"At least we die together."

"I can't believe you. You're still stubborn."

"And you're still bossy."

"I never boss you around."

"Well, that's what you're doing right now."

"Alex!"

"What, Robbie?!"

Robbie sat on the bed in frustration.

"I hate this!"

"Well, then maybe you just needed to let us go on our way."

"And then what? You'll disappear again for another ten years? No! I gave you the option already of leaving. You're not taking my daughter away again."

"And I will never leave her to you either."

"Then why can't you just agree to my terms?"

"Stop pushing me around!"

"I AM NOT!"

"Then what do you think you're doing?"

A knock on the door stopped Robbie from what he was about to say.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Irritated, Robbie stood up and walked towards the door. He opened it and a maid stood before him.

"Sorry to bother you, Sir. But Ms. Frances is here," the maid informed him.

"Thank you, Tonya. Let her know I'll be there."

"Okay, Sir," and she looked over to Alex who was sitting on the bed now.

"Is there anything else, Tonya?" Robbie said in his most authoritative voice.

"Uh, No, Sir! I'm sorry," and she quickly walked away.

"Where's Manang Gloria?"1 she was referring to the old lady who had been with Robbie's family for years. She was their maid since he was five.

"She passed away."

"When?"

"Five years ago. She's very old, Alex."

"I know..." and she suddenly remembered her face.

Her tears threatened to fall. Manang Gloria had been like a second mother to her ever since her own mother passed away when she was younger.

"Hey!" called Robbie, placing n arm around her, he sat down beside her. 

"It's so unfortunate I wasn't there to say my goodbyes to her," and she placed her head on his shoulder.

"I know..."

She sighed.

"Do you remember how we used to tease her a lot when we were kids?" asked Robbie, his face lit up with the memory.

"Oh yeah! You're a mischief. You always take her slippers and hide it somewhere. It would take her hours to find it. Then, once she found it, she would chase you around the house with her slippers."

"Make sure you hide your little butt away from me or it will surely be sore when I get you," Robbie said imitating the throaty voice of the woman.

They both laughed.

"But she never get to spank you though. She's the sweetest," commented Alex.

"Yes. Even in her old age she was still a bit playful," added Robbie.

"That's true."

He sighed. "Those were the days..."

"Yeah...."

Silence. A few seconds later...

"I missed her..."

"Me too..."

"Listen, Alex-"

"Mom! Where are you?" Alex heard her daughter from outside the door. She lifted her head and walked towards the door.

"I'm here, honey!" she called out from the room and opened the door.

Sasha looked at her with knitted eyebrows.

"What are you doing inside his bedroom?" she queried.

"We were just talking, Sasha."

"You're not kissing, are you?"

"Honey, no!" she answered uncomfortably, as heat rose to her cheeks. "W-Why are you thinking that?"

"Well, I heard one of the maids said to Cynthia you're doing hanky-panky."

"Sasha!" her eyes grew wide upon hearing the word.

"What?" she replied innocently. "They said that you guys might be kissing and touching each other's private parts. Is that what hanky-panky means?"

Alex gasped. Never did she ever teach her daughter these words.

Robbie strode over to her side quickly.

"Did Tonya tell you that?" demanded Robbie.

"Yes."

"Ugh! That woman is fired!" Robbie spat out. "I can't believe they teach my kid some inappropriate words."

"No, Robbie! Just let it go, okay? I'll just talk to her."

"But-"

"Robbie, let me handle it."

He nodded. Somehow he was convinced. Alex had a way of dealing with people, a trait she always had since they were kids.

"Am I in trouble, Mom?"

Alex could feel her daughter starting to get nervous and she wanted to take that away by comforting her. She bent down to her level and held her shoulders.

"No, honey. You're not."

"But did you do it?" Sasha was curious to know.

"Can we please not talk about this anymore?"

"Okay."

She gave her a hug.

Robbie watched them enviously and a part of him just wanted to join in. He fought the urge to do so. Sasha needed more time to get to know him. For now, he was happy watching them.

Robbie cleared his throat and made both of them turned to him.

"I hate to break this to you but Frances is waiting downstairs."

Sasha's eyes lit up and lifted her head. "She's here? My gosh! I can't wait." She let go of her mom as she clapped her hands and giggled.

Sasha ran off ahead towards the stairs, leaving Robbie and Alex standing by the door.

"We'll talk more later. For now, let's focus on Sasha," reminded Robbie to her, and he took her hand.