Chapter_1

Tanya's POV

I walked like a zombie out of his building until I got to my own office. I don't know where my brain went but after what happened inside his office I just couldn't think straight anymore. All I could ever think about was his words and how it made me doubt myself.

With a loud sigh I let my self lean on my swivel chair. My hands flew to my forehead massaging it to ease the pain on both sides of my head. This is stressing me out too much!

I couldn't even remember how I got out from his encaged arms around me. All I know is that I couldn't understand myself, as to why I doubted every word that I've said. It was just a simple word, a simple phrase and yet it made me doubt my own?

That cannot be right! If I can't get him to help me without marriage, then I'll find some other way. The question is, is there even any other way? None! All questions answers only him!

Jesus how am I suppose to solve this?

I looked at the reports on my desk that needs attention. I can't seem to bring myself to read each one of those. Mr. Cohen is enough for this day to bring me much stress.

I was about to get my bag and head out when my office's door flew open revieling me Henry with a grin plastered on his handsome face. I know why he's here so instead of returning his grin I rolled my eyes on him and just focused my eyes to the documents on my desk. I wasn't supposed to touch this paperwork's but because of this man in front of me I was forced to. Can someone tell me how bad this day could get?

If I know he's here only to mock me about going to Mr. Cohen and asking for his help. Damn it! And that is the least thing I needed right now.

"Soooo...how did it go my beloved cousin? I thought you won't ask for his help even if it's the only option left for you to choose?"

I sent him death glares. He should stop this by now before I could forget that he's my cousin!

"If you're just here to mock me around then you better get the hell out of my office Henry. Mockery is the least thing I needed right now so if I were you I would get the **** out of this office before I could forget that you are my cousin."

My words sent him into laughter that made me more pissed about his existence. I took countless of deep breaths.

Relax Tanya, remember that he's your cousin and you can't just kill him on the spot. He's your cousin, your blood is as same as his. Calm the **** up before you could kill your own cousin!

I continued whispering that to myself just to make me restrain my self from harming my own cousin. He'd be the death of me.

"Oowww my dear cousin. If only you'd accept his marriage proposal then you'd be out from this situation earlier."

I opened my mouth to say something, to defend my self but I was shut off when he speak again.

"I don't believe your reasons Tanya. Not marry in convenience? Really? Is that really your reason Tanya? Or you're still stuck in the past? Can't move on dear cousin?"

Please tell me to calm down. Please tell me that he's my cousin. I am nearing to forget that he is.

I can't believe he'd bring that up. He knew from the very beginning how sensitive that topic is for me. I hate him for bringing that up.

"This is not about the past Henry. Get out, I don't need you here."

I need him out as soon as possible. I want to be alone. I don't know why but the mere mention of the past always makes me tear up. I don't know why I can't stop myself from crying whenever they bring that up. God knows how I wanted to forget that past. I hated that past of mine...

"Tanya..."

With a heavy hand I grabbed my hand bag just above my desk then started walking out from my office, away from my cousin. If he can't leave, then I will.

I never looked at him when I walked pass him and just continued walking away. This is what I'm good at, walking away, never letting them know how that past hurts me every time it gets to be brought up.

Henry didn't do anything to stop me from leaving, instead, he just followed me with his stares. I know he knew he made a big mistake bringing that up. And I don't care if he's feeling guilty now for not choosing the right words to say to me.

The moment I got a cab I told the driver the address of my best friends café. I looked at my watch and it's already 10:48 a.m . Still too early to grab some lunch, maybe I should let off some steam at her café before I eat my lunch.

If you're wondering why I always take taxi's instead of driving on my own. I just couldn't bring my self to drive anymore. Whenever I do, I always tremble in fear.

I closed my eyes to remove the memory that popped out of my head just by the mere mention of driving. If only I can do something about it, if only I can erase that memory on my head I already did.

It keeps on hunting me, I can't get myself to escape. Later on, I felt hot liquid cascading down my cheeks. I quickly brush it off and just focused my attention outside. Entertaining myself with buildings and people as we pass them by.

Not too long I reached my friends café. I payed the cab and made my way straight to my best friends office. Her secretary smiled at me before I entered her office. They know who I am that's why I can freely go inside of her office without making any appointments.

I saw her standing beside her desk with the telephone near her ears talking to someone on the other line while she's still wearing her apron.

The moment her gaze met my way he bid her goodbye to someone on the other line and focused herself on me and my state.

I pouted when she raised her brow on me.

"Sit Ms. Lopez. I don't forbid you to sit on my couch to just sit. What do you want? Water, coffee, or juice? Any cakes you want to eat?"

I sighed while following her order by sitting down on one of her couches. I asked for juice, though I really wanted to eat one of her cakes right now. I just don't want to eat delicious foods right now since I'm still feeling devastated. I feel so betrayed about my cousin.

"Wait me here and we'll talk. I'll just bring you your juice and cupcake. I know you want some, you're just being a baby again."

I pouted again. She just rolled her eyes on me then made her way out of her office.

She's Freddie Georgeton. She preferred being called ' Freya ' because 'Freddie' is too manly for her—as what she said.

She's been my friend since middle school. Now she's a baker of her own café. I always come here whenever I'm down or I just simply want to eat her new inventions on cakes and cupcakes. She makes sure I get to taste first before she can introduce it to the public. I know I can get poisoned her or whatever, but fortunately it still hasn't happened. She's good at baking, she never did once failed even on her recipe inventions.

It didn't take too long before she arrived with my juice and my one slice of cake on a tray. She placed it in front of me. I first got the juice and have a drink on it. The cake looks so tempting, it looks really good I don't want to destroy it's beauty.

"Eat Tanya, don't feel so wasted on the design. It'll be better if you eat it."

I looked at Freya, "You didn't tell Henry I'm here right?"

She shook her head answering my question. She's my cousin's girlfriend. They first met when I brought Freya at our house to do some projects. The said it was first love. I admit I kinda envy them both. We could've been like them.

"I won't tell him you're here. But even if I did not tell him you're here, he'll eventually know Tanya. You always come here whenever you're down or you picked a fight with Henry again. You are too easy to read."

I sighed then drank again from my orange juice, "Now tell me what is it this time. What brings you here?"

I looked down, only focusing my eyes on my juice. I can't look at her in be eyes, since she almost know everything about me.

"I went to Mr. Cohen to seek help. But he has conditions I dislike. Then Henry, as he is—mocked me about it..Then he suddenly brought the past up. You know what happened next."

I thought she'd be more concern about me and Henry being in a fight again because of that past that made everything wrong. But I was wrong, she's more curious that concern.

"What condition?"

I palm made its way on my face. If only I knew....

"Mr. Cohen? You mean, Zacharias Cohen? Tanya? Oh my ghad! No wonder Henry mocked you! Seriously Tanya? Is he the only option now? Can't you get anyone's help besides him? Tanya you know—"

"Stop," I stopped her before she could mention something I don't want to hear ever again, "...I know Frey. I know. But I'm running out of time! If I can't pay my fathers debt within a month I'll loose everything I worked hard for. My company will be theirs and I don't want that to happen, I won't let them have it! It's the only thing my mother and father left of me besides our ancestral house at Cebu. "

I put the glass of orange juice down the table then clasped both of my palms with each other. Making movements out of it out of frustration.

"I only have two weeks left of that one month time Freya. And I don't know where the hell can I get twelve million dollars to pay all of my fathers debt."

She just sat there, across from me, just staring at me with sympathetic eyes.

Oh please! I don't need sympathy! I need money!

"Then you have to accept his offer Tanya. Zac is your only hope now. Swallow your pride and accept his proposal. Besides, you can ask for divorce after two years of being married."

I gazed at her, "You think he'd let me off that easily after what happened to his twin? No Freya! He'd surely make me suffer—"

"Then don't let him make you suffer! That's too easy Tanya. We all have our own free will to do things we want to do. It's your choice if you'd let him make you suffer or not. Isn't it?"

I sighed. My head is starting to ache again. I think I should consult a doctor. Maybe they can give me pills to relieve stress.

"Tell me, I don't really have a choice, do I?"

She shook her head, with that, I already have my answer....

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