C8 LET’S TALK

A month after our meeting with LHI, Luna gave me the good news.

We got the project!

I can't believe we got this project! Many companies applied for this project, and I can’t think that among all the companies, we got chosen!

I can’t stop myself from thinking about the things that Ulie said to me while we were eating in the Korean-Japanese restaurant a few weeks ago.

I grabbed my phone and started to call him. I need to ask him for my peace of mind.

"Have you heard of the good news?" He said upon picking up my call.

"Yes. But I want to ask something." It was evident with my voice that I’m suspicious of him.

"Let me guess? You would ask me if I declined the two companies I was supposed to meet." He said.

I nodded though I know that he can’t see me doing it.

"Yes." I honestly said.

I heard him chuckle. "Didn't I tell you that I would not do that because you want me to be fair?"

"Yes, I did. So you are saying that you were able to meet the remaining two companies?" I asked to confirm.

"Yes, I did. And even if you ask Jace, no favoritism happened. It's LHI's first resort here in the Philippines. We need to take this project seriously, so there's no room for favoritism. Also, I asked you guys to send a draft design for LHI resorts.” He explained in a serious tone.

His answer gave me tremendous relief, and now I can continue with my excitement and gratefulness because of this great news.

I finally got one of my dreams! The LHI project. I can now imagine what will happen next to CIC. All the opportunities that we will be getting once we finished the project. We will finally have a solid portfolio to conquer the international project!

Our company’s vision is to dominate not just here in the Philippines but all over the world. It lives by its name, Cabello International Corporation.

"Okay, thanks. I want to clear my conscience before we celebrate." I said, feeling a bit ashamed.

"I understand. It was my fault for you to question me because I was the one who gave you the idea. But rest assured that you got this project because you are the best among all the companies that presented." He said in a gentle and genuine voice.

His words touched me.

Twins, I think your dad was not bad after all.

"Thank you for the compliment, and thank you for choosing CIC. We will not let you regret your decision." I said to end the call.

After the call, I asked Luna to call the teams that will be handling the LHI project. As much as I want to be hands-on on this project, I can't.

Right now, my baby bumps are pretty visible. If I join the meeting LHI, I am very sure that Ulie will take notice of my baby bumps, and he will find out the truth. This time I know that I will not convince him that I am not pregnant with his child.

Even if I think that he was a good guy, my decision will never change. I want my twins only for myself, and I will raise them alone. I will not ask him to take responsibility because I can do it by myself.

I know I'm selfish, but I want to make our lives less complicated.

With the kind of lifestyle that Ulie has, I know that he was not ready to be a father yet. And I don't want to oblige him to take responsibility because I planned this baby.

I first informed them that I would not join them in their upcoming meetings with LHI. I already assigned someone to lead this project, but I will still be with them. They will serve as CIC’s face, and I work internally.

After a few weeks, I can see the curiosity in the eyes of my employee every time they saw me.

I'm 14 weeks pregnant now. My baby bumps were now visible. I never plan to explain to them my situation because my pregnancy has nothing to do with the company.

When I went inside my office, Luna went to me, and she looks distraught.

My forehead creased.

“Luna, is there a problem?” I asked her.

“Yes! We have a huge problem!! Your pregnancy already leaks in the media!” She said worriedly.

My eyes widen! Oh no! It can’t be!

Luna gave me her iPad to show me the articles that reveal my pregnancy.

I clenched my fist. “Do you have any idea about the source of that columnist?”

She shook her head. “I honestly don’t have any idea who did this, but there is a strong possibility that their source was one of our employees.”

I heaved a heavy sigh.

I knew that I couldn’t hide my pregnancy forever and people will find out, but I did not expect that it will reveal this soon. Why it has to be now? We are working on a big project currently!

My eyes widened when I thought of LHI. Oh, shoot!

I am very sure that they already heard the news. I knew that Ulie already found out that I was pregnant and he was the father.

And speaking of Ulie...

My phone rang, Ulie is calling.

I swallowed hard. It made me feel nervous.

“Are you answering the phone or not?” Luna asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

"Do you think he has an idea?"

I nodded. "Ulie is always teasing me. We coincidentally often met whenever I went out. He took notice of my mood swings, cravings, and my body changes.”

“If that’s the case, you have no other choice but to answer his call and tell him the truth.”

She has a point. I don’t have a choice now.

I felt so weak when I answered his call.

"H-hello?" I said, stammering.

"Let's talk."