Chapter 8

IN THE HOME OFFICE....

Alex read the agreement. It stated all the terms they had discussed earlier except for one thing. She knitted her eyebrows as it read:

"This signed agreement states that the two parties, Robert James Magsano and Allison Jane Macatangay, have agreed to be married for a year in exchange of full custody of both parties to their daughter Sasha and a payment of ten thousand dollars for bank debts of Ms. Macatangay.

In addition to this, Ms. Macatangay also agreed to work as an assistant to the CEO in JM Cosmetics and will be staying in the residence of Mr. Magsano during the duration of the said agreement.

When the two parties decided to divorce, the said agreement will be terminated, and a new agreement will be discussed further after the termination."

"Assistant to the CEO?" she asked."Why? What happened to Connie?"

"She moved on," Robbie replied simply as if he didn't want to discuss further.

"By moved on, you mean..."

"She just quit."

"Since when?"

Robbie sighed. As much he wanted to dismiss it, Alex wouldn't stop asking until she gets the answer she wanted to hear.

"Since Rico."

Alex's eyes grew wide. "You mean-"

"Yes," he nodded. "Rico is Connie's son."

"But how? Did you..."

"No, of course not."

"No, why not? I mean..."

'They had history... somehow,' she thought.

"Alex, can we not talk about this now and just sign the agreement?"

Robbie was getting frustrated and irritated at the same time. He couldn't take all these questions thrown at him. Not now...

Attorney Rafael Ledesma cleared his throat and fixed his tie. Beads of sweat suddenly started to appear from his brows. He didn't like where the conversation was going either... especially if it was about Connie.

"I'm sorry to interrupt both of you but if you don't mind, can we finish signing the agreement? I just remembered I have another important client that is waiting for me in the office," he said and pushed his glasses up which fell from the bridge of his nose.

"Pen," Alex stated, raising her eyebrow. She knew she couldn't twist his arm from telling her what really happened so she resigned from asking for now..

Attorney Rafael happily obliged and took his pen from his pocket then gave it to her. She signed on the blank line below. Then, she handed it to Robbie who signed it, too.

"So now, let's discuss the wedding and sleeping arrangements," she said in her business-like tone.

Robbie smirked. "That's fast."

"Yeah. Why not? Let's discuss while we're at it."

"But first, we need to agree to another thing."

Alex creased her brows.

"What is it?"

"No one should know it's a fake marriage and..."

"And?"

"You cannot date anyone until we get divorced."

"Okay. That's not hard to do."

"Really?"

"Robbie, I haven't dated since Miguel so I don't think that would be a problem."

"Since Miguel? You mean..."

"I haven't dated for ten years."

Robbie knitted his eyebrows.

"I thought you and Miguel... why?"

"Long story," she dismissed and she heaved a deep breath.

"So you don't want to tell me that there is a huge possibility that Sasha is not mine?" he asked, quite upset.

"Wait! What are you talking about?"

"You're still together when you left."

She rolled her eyes. "God, Robbie! Don't you think I know who Sasha's real father is?"

"Well, you can't blame me for not thinking that way. Miguel was your boyfriend and I'm not the only one whoever had touched you, Alex. Isn't that why you left? Because you're pregnant with him?"

"God! I can't believe you're thinking that way. Sht!" and she walked out of the room.

"Alex!" Robbie called.

"Well, that was really... something. Thanks for the show, pal. Good luck to you! Sorry, but I got to go," Attorney Rafael commented, and he pat him on the back. He then walked out of the room.

Robbie sat in his swiveling chair and placed his hands on his head. His temples were starting to throb.

What the hell was he thinking accusing Alex like that?

He knew right away Sasha was his. All the traits were there. A mixture of his and Alex, and yet he got upset at the mention of Miguel's name. She never dated after him.

Why? Is it because of Sasha? Was it too painful for her when they broke up?

When she left the States, he didn't bother to follow her at all. He thought she was happy and the pain of her leaving him after the incident just made him colder to her. She turned her back on him when she needed him the most.

She didn't know how much pain she had caused him when she left. He had hated her and yet he was looking for her. But he never had the courage to reach out. Pride was there to keep him from following her.

After what she did, he didn't want to do anything with her. She ruined his image... and here he thought she was his friend. But instead, she left him having to explain everything to everyone of what he really was.

And left him owning up that stupid mistake she made ten years ago...

A call from his mother had stopped him from his thoughts.

"Hello, Mom!" he answered.

"So, I was on a video call with Bernie a few moments ago. Is there something you want to tell me, Anak(Son)?" the stern voice of a woman had made him straightened in his chair.

He didn't want to tell his mom yet. He knew how she was and the dreaded news of what she said next had made his knees wobble. It's a good thing he was sitting down, otherwise, he probably collapsed on the floor.

"I'm coming over to visit this weekend, hijo. Make sure you tell me everything all about this," she said and before he could say something, she hung up.

Now, it got more complicated than it actually was.