I'm The Legal Wife

Jayzee was already at the office at seven o'clock Monday morning. His whole family was not there yet because their flight back was just now. He did nothing all weekend but watch sports on the cable channel and swim in the pool. he was not in the mood to go to the club so he stayed at the condo for those two days. For the first time in his adult life, I think he had some 'me' time.

He was still far away when he saw the bright light near his room. he saw Anikka sipping her coffee while looking at the screen monitor and her back leaned on her swivel chair. He thinks it's getting better every day. He also noticed that he had lost his innocence and that his gaze was no longer as intense as before.

"Good    morning,"    he greeted her. It seemed that he was surprised by his appearance which he did not expect because it was still early.

"Good morning," he greeted back. "Coffee?" offer it to him. He sat on the edge of her table and smiled.

"Would you allow me to sip on your coffee cup?" he asked. Every time he attracts her, she quickly makes an excuse to avoid it. But he will not allow it to be just like that. As time goes on, he is more and more challenged by this woman who doesn't seem to care about his charisma.

"No," he answered quickly making him smile even more.

"Why not?    I don't have a contagious disease."

"I'll just make you," he answered. But before he could stand up, he took the papercup and brought it to his lips.

"Iced coffee in the morning?" he frowned as it must have been cold. He immediately placed the glass on the table.

"I prefer cold," he replied. He waits for the girl to take it to drink. Maybe he was embarrassed so he was forced to take a sip again.

"Now you just tasted my lips, sweetheart," he said smiling while still holding the glass. He also saw the reddening of her face. "How does it taste?"

"Coffee taste," he just shrugged his shoulders and focused his eyes on the screen again. he was even more irritated by her reactions. He quickly stood up and headed to his office. "We'll talk about my schedule today, Anikka," he said while walking.

In less than five minutes, he entered his office holding a ballpoint pen and some folders. he stood up and sat on the edge of the table in front of it.

"What's my schedule for today, sweetheart?"

"You only have three meetings today because Mr. del Mundo suddenly canceled yesterday," he answered.

"Yesterday was Sunday, Anikka."

"He called at my number," he answered, making her frown even more.

"He's calling you off office hours?" He gave Anikka a company phone for her to use. he lost his mind that clients would use to call him even when he was out of work.

"Just to cancel the meeting today," he immediately explained.

"Is Oliver calling you often?" he immediately asked, referring to the supplier who was often now in front of his table.

"Sort of." He shrugged his shoulders again. He cursed the secret.

"Add to my schedule later my visit to Zenclub at six o'clock," he said and returned to the swivel chair. "You're going with me," he added.

"It's not during work hours, Jayzee," he denied as she expected. he ignored it but started to open the folders he was carrying.

"You will take the minutes of the meeting from now on," he also ordered that his father's secretary used to do. "You'll be with me at the conference room later."

"Suddenly, I guess?" it said with a smile. He, on the other hand, frowned in annoyance at the thought of always talking to Oliver when he was not in the office.

"That's part of your job as my secretary. I didn't just give birth to you right away because you were new."

"Okay, boss," he seemed to be teasing him because he was still smiling while he was serious. "Do you need anything else?"

"I need a coffee," he said without looking at the girl.

"Hot or cold?" it asked. he looked at her and saw that she was amused by the visible annoyance in him.

"I don't drink cold coffee, sweetheart." He stared at it intently. "I want it as 'hot' as you." He emphasized the last word but she still didn't react. He disappeared into his office for a while before he returned with a cup of coffee.

"Here's your hot coffee, sir," he teased. He stood up and met her.

"Is this as hot as you?" he asked comfortingly and purposely took her hand as he handed her the cup. If he thought he would be alone in the teasing, he was mistaken. And if that Oliver thinks that he will be ahead of the girl, he is also mistaken. he's not Jayzee Albano if other men can outdo him.

"You decide," he replied while waiting for her to sip the coffee to answer his question.

"I can't decide yet," he said after taking a sip. the truth is that he was slightly burned because the coffee was still hot. But he has to stand by what's in his mind.

"Why not?" it seems like a challenge to him.

"Because I haven't tasted you," he said almost in a whisper and automatically put one hand around her waist and kissed her to the shock of the girl. He immediately placed the cup on the table and raised one hand to the nape of her neck to emphasize the kiss even more. to his surprise, Anikka responded in the only way she knew that made him lose his sanity even more. They both catch their breath afterwards. "I think you're hotter," he said quickly to remove the embarrassment from both of them. he didn't answer but quickly turned around and left his room.

He sat on the swivel chair afterwards. Her mouth was sweet; a mixture of mint and coffee. One of his curiosity about Anikka has been answered – how she kisses and what her kisses taste like. he was sure that was her first. He smiled and felt proud. He promises it won't be the first or the last.

Welcome to my world, Anikka Merced... she said to herself.

"My son Augusto!    Where is Ana?" Diana cried to her husband while lying on a stretcher in a hospital in Quezon Province. They were on their way to Manila carrying their father's Pajero when the vehicle collided with a Manila-bound bus. there was a traffic jam on the zigzag road that he suspected Octavio's half brother was involved in. Even the accident in the mine owned by the family in Camarines Norte is suspected to be the work of his brother - though he still needs to prove his claims.

"I will find Ana, Diana.    I promise." The husband quickly nodded while still crying. He left her and went to some rescuers but the son was not there. He prayed constantly that his son would not be among the bodies recovered. the concern did not go away because since the people rioted and the son was released, he has not seen him again.

There were seventy people on that bus, so it was difficult for him to find his son now, especially since others had relatives who had arrived. he came out of the hospital and there were several bodies that were declared dead. His chest was constantly beating as he looked at those who were there one by one. The last thing he saw was the corpse of a woman almost as old as his son.

"Anikka.."    a young woman who was probably his mother cried continuously while holding the child's hand. He couldn't bear that scene because he was thinking about his son and he couldn't imagine what happened to him. He cannot afford to lose his only child.

he circled again to keep looking for Ana but he was disappointed. He also can't face his wife because she will cry even more. He sat in the waiting area of ​​the emergency room for a while while his eyes were still wandering.

"Papa..." said a small voice that immediately made his chest pound.

"Ana?" He looked around where the son's voice was coming from and saw that the woman who was crying holding the corpse of a girl was holding it. "Ana!" he immediately hugged his son and breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up at the woman and she smiled slightly.

"Thank you very much," he said to her. "I'm sorry for what happened to..."    He nodded to her while his face was still covered in sadness. "If there's anything I can do to help, just say so."

"I just need to bring Anikka home with us," she answered between sobs. He felt the pain she was feeling.

"I will help you.    Where do you live?"

"In Nueva Ecija.    My son and I just visited a relative so we are here. I wish I didn't take him with me."     She started crying again and she let him release her painful feelings.

"I will take care of everything.    wait for me here, I just have to go to my husband because he's worried about Ana."    The woman nodded.    "I'm Agusto Mondragon. And you are?"

"Lucila Merced," she answered. He nodded before saying goodbye for a moment with his son.

after he brought the child to Diana, he immediately called a friend who would help them get out of that place. Octavio doesn't need to know what their situation is now. He needs to keep his family away from his brother's evil.

"I can't be away from my son, Augusto," the husband said when he revealed his plan to stay away from Ana at Rancho Mondragon.

"We've got to get Ana out, Diana. Octavio won't stop until he gets his revenge. He'll be safe away from Octavio. I will take him with Mother Tina. We will not let her perish." The Mother Tina that Agusto is referring to is the mother who now lives outside Hacienda Mondragon because she has stopped working at the mansion. She is Agusto's father's sister.

Diana didn't answer because she knew why her brother was so angry with them. This was Diana's first boyfriend and she got him pregnant when they were children. But because it hurts a woman, Diana decides to stay away from it. when he found out what happened to the two, he offered the woman in marriage and was responsible for what she was carrying. It was then that he began to develop a liking for the girl. That angered Octavio so much that it gave more reason to hurt Diana again which caused the child to miscarry in her womb. He promised that they would never be silenced for betraying him.

it was just one of Octavio's grudges against him after all. Another serious reason for this is the loss of its inheritance in Rancho Mondragon. that land belonged to the mother, Manuela Mondragon, and when her Papa died first, the mother made sure that Octavio had no rights because he was the son of her Papa Roman by another woman. a year ago the mother died and that's when his gradual revenge began after learning about the will from the family's lawyer.

"Promise that no one will know about all this, Diana.    Ana's safety depends on it.    you wouldn't want to lose a child a second time, would you?"

It let out a gentle nod. He led his wife away from that hospital without Ana's daughter.

APRIL 2018

"Maybe I can take you home, Nikka," Jude's boyfriend said when he picked her up from school one afternoon. It's been a year since he answered it after eight months of courtship. but it seems that he is not yet ready for their relationship to go to a more serious state especially and he still has many secrets that he has not told here. Today is also the day when his father came to talk about something important.

"I can't now, Jude.    next time," he excused himself.

"You're always making excuses.    Are you not serious about our relationship?" it seems to have a strong language. His head suddenly hurt during their conversation. After all, Jude is kind and a gentleman. not once did he force her to go beyond kissing. This is a call center agent and twenty-five years old.

"Papa is at home now and waiting for me,"    was another excuse. "Let's just set it up for another day."

"I want to ask you to marry me, Nikka. You're done with college."

He quickly stared at it before quickly looking out the car window to see his girlfriend staring at him. he is not even ready to introduce her to her parents let alone marry her. He has not even experienced working and having a career in his chosen AB in Mass Communication course.

He let out a deep sigh while still looking at what they were going through. When he reached their house, he saw his father's car in front of the gate. The father was outside talking to his Mother Lucila as if he was just waiting for her to come. he immediately said goodbye to Jude and kissed his cheek but instead the young man leaned forward to kiss his lips. He immediately moved away for fear that his father would see it.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your Papa?" he asked as if waiting for a good answer. His face darkened when he couldn't speak. "Goodnight," he said without looking at her. He quietly got out of his car and quickly entered the gate.

"Anikka is already there," said his mother Lucila and his father immediately turned and greeted him when he saw her.

"Hi, Dad!" He kissed her cheek and smiled.

"Good and there you are.      we have something important to talk about," he said as he accompanied him into the house. Their house was small with only three small rooms. He placed the bag on the study table. The father just remained standing at the door and frowned. the hands.

"It's time for you to go back, Ana.    I will give you an hour to pack your things."

"W-what?" he asked his father in surprise. he knows that they used to live in Camarines Norte because he was eight years old when they left that place and there was an accident where his mother Lucila's real daughter, Anikka, died. he was too young to understand things in those days; why he had to go with a woman he didn't know and change his true self.

"You graduated from college, Ana," the father said. calling her by that name seems like a stranger to her because she grew up using Anikka. Although at school he was asked to use his real name. Anastasia Mondragon.

"I'm fine here, Pa," he said while taking off his sneakers.

"You need to face your real life.     You need to study the ins and outs of our business as well as ranch management.     I'm sorry, Son, but you're the only one I can count on because you're the only one - we are your Mama's son," the father continued. once he drew in his mind the vast land covered by Rancho Mondragon as well as several companies founded by his Grandmother.

"Aren't our lives in danger, so you kept me away from there? Why do I have to go back?" the nervousness in his chest gradually rises.

"Because your Uncle Octavio wants to claim half of the ranch as well as the income of Golden Land Mining Corp."

"If that can calm him down why don't you just give it to him?    maybe he also has rights as Lolo's son,"    he further reasoned.    The truth is that he doesn't want that much responsibility.      The simple life here in Nueva Ecija is okay with him.

"If only it were that easy, Ana.    but your uncle is contesting his inheritance because he needs a large amount. He will sell that land just in case. We are suspecting he is a drug lord and having that piece of land will make him rich and powerful."

"The more I shouldn't go back there, Papa.    My life was in danger thirteen years ago, it will be in danger now.      Won't you declare me dead?"

"We never declared you dead, Anastasia!" hostile language of the father. "Missing, yes.    but there is someone in the mansion pretending to be you."

He stared at his father in confusion at what he was saying now. "W-what do you mean?"

"Five years after that accident and we announced that you have not been found yet, Octavio brought a girl to the house who is your age.     She was claiming she was our daughter.       We accepted her anyway because your Mama misses you. "

he could not believe what the father had confessed. He also couldn't stop crying at the thought of someone else claiming his identity and this being the company of his real parents. even though Lucila did not fail to give him attention, it still could not fill his longing for his true family.

"So, he's using my name?"

"No.    I will never let others use your and your Grandmother's name.    She's simply Ana Mondragon.    where Octavio found him or what was his reason for bringing the child to us we do not know. But now everything is becoming clear. We suspect that he is Octavio's son by another woman. Since we only have one child, there will only be one heir. if it's true that we can't find you, Ana will be the heir to everything – which will all be in favor for Octavio."

"And now that your real son is coming back, how do you think he will feel?"

"He lived a rich life, Ana-"

"Anikka, Papa," he felt guilty for calling her Ana. "Let her use that name.    I'm a different person now."

"You will always be my Ana," the father said passionately but she ignored him. "He won't suffer because we legally adopted him from your Mama."

"Then Uncle Octavio still wins, Papa, if your adoption of him is legal."

"No.     Rancho Mondragon has been in your name since you were only eight years old.     If he gets anything, it's the shares in the company, but it's enough for him to live luxuriously."

"I didn't prepare all this, Papa. I didn't even expect it. I wanted to think about it first."

"Sooner or later you still have to claim what is yours, Anikka."

"But like I said this is the life I want.    I have also applied for a job here at a local radio station. My friends are here and I also have a boyfriend here," she confessed.

"I am also set to marry you to the daughter of a good friend, Anikka."

"What?!"

Anikka's one year at Rancho Mondragon seems to have changed the cycle of her world from a simple life to a chaotic one. Everyone was surprised when he returned that the father revealed that Lucila suddenly appeared at the Rancho and surrendered him. he gave a reward and immediately dismissed the mother-in-law who almost ran to go back with her. He didn't want to go back to the Rancho especially seeing how his Uncle Octavio's eyes were glazed over and Ana's disgust at his presence.

the father immediately called a meeting and immediately transferred the management of the Rancho to him despite his objection.

From the big house he raised his eyes to the land he owned. He was eight years old when he left here thinking he would just go for a walk in Manila because he wanted to go to Ocean Adventure. Due to an accident, he was completely removed from the land he owned. now he can see again the part of his youth that was happy, colorful and full of life. Now it seems like a prison that prevents his freedom because of the eyes of the people there; the Uncle Octavio and the adopted parent Ana.

two are family-owned companies that both he doesn't want to mess with; the Golden Land Mining Corp., and the Mondragon Agri Corp. which distributes the agricultural products of Rancho Mondragon. Both companies involved a lot of money. for now the Rancho was enough for him to get around. Whether he admits it or not, there is fear in his heart every time he faces his Uncle Octavio because of his sharp eyes. he's just thankful that Ana's relationship with him is getting better in the past months. .if there is a good relationship between the real mother and Ana, he should not be jealous because Diana is also trying to fill the time lost between the two of them.

"You have to go to the company meetings, Anikka," said her father from behind her who had entered the room without realizing it. "Soon you will manage those too. It is good that you learn early."

"Ana is the one who has an interest in that, Papa, you should only appoint her.    I want to have a job according to the course I completed."

"But you are my son. This land and the company I inherited all from your Grandmother. You are the real Mondragon, not Ana and especially not Octavio.     on Monday I will take you to the office and give you a position. Ana will still remain in her position," he seemed to say finally.

"Can I refuse?"

"No.    you need to embrace this truth son – you are rich and you own a Ranch and two companies. I want you to be wise, watchful and brave during these times. I'm not always here to protect you."

he was hit on the forehead by the weight of the responsibility he wanted to put on him. If he had grown up here, he could easily get used to being an heir, not like this he will suddenly be sent to war with no ammunition.

the father had left he still couldn't think straight. Jude is constantly calling her when she will return to Nueva Ecija because she did not inform why she suddenly left. he can't send his girlfriend here because the father will insist on reconciling with his friend's son whom he has never seen in his entire life.

Her life was in turmoil and she was not happy.

"There you are, Nikka," the mother said when she went down to the kitchen to eat lunch. Ana was already in the dining room and happily joking with the servants. The relationship between her and her mother is fine, but she feels sad that her attention is divided between her and Ana. and when he is troubled like this he wants to run to Lucila and tell her his thoughts. He could see Lucila's sympathy for him even just talking on the phone more than Diana who was with him now.

"Is something wrong, Nikka?" Ana asked when she noticed that he smiled for a moment before his expression turned serious.

"Nothing." He showed a forced smile again.

"You look bothered," he said again.

"I just have a headache," he answered. when he thinks a lot like this, he gets an anxiety attack.

"There's paracetamol in the medicine cabinet, Nikka. I'll have the maid get it," said the mother, who also sat down at the dining table. The conversation between the two started again which he didn't understand much. after eating, he immediately returned to the room and just listened to music to relieve the heaviness in his chest.

When the afternoon came, he sat on the veranda and enjoyed the fresh air. A loud voice from behind him startled him and made him thump in his chest.

"How is our dear Princess?" Uncle Octavio said with a smile. "What are you doing here alone? Your mother and Ana went out of town. Didn't they invite you?"

"I just came out of the room," he replied simply. he wants to drive him away but the father tells him to force him to live together so that he will not be included in the trouble of the brothers but it seems that is not what is happening.

"Ana has completely captured your Mama's heart.    Won't you at least be alarmed?" it continued to speak. he knew she was provoking him to take action against his mother or Ana but he would not allow it.

"I also don't want to change whatever their company is just because I came back here, Uncle," he hardened his voice to show that he would not be affected by what he was saying.

"August said that you will join the company on Monday.      did you know that Ana has applied to be the VP for Operations at Agri Corp? Maybe you won't block that for you to land the position."

"Papa will decide on that, Uncle. Ana and I should respect what he wants, shouldn't we?"

"You still have a lot to learn before being assigned to a high position, Nikka. If you want to work with me for a while," he said tactfully. What he knows is that he has a position in Mining but his rank has dropped due to a series of mishaps of the staff before in the mine. Her father took over the operations and put another manager in his replacement.

"No problem, Uncle.    as long as my father approves it," he replied.

"Of course your father won't allow that.    Because what I know is that you will be appointed to Agri as CEO in the next few days." He was surprised by that news and immediately turned to his uncle. that's not what his Papa told him, and if what the other person is saying is true, he won't accept it.

"Ana will surely be devastated, Nikka.     What she expects is that your father will appoint her there.     but because you came, he only accepted the position he could dream of up to VP."     he continued.     "And if Ana gets hurt because of that, your Mama will definitely be hurt too. You don't want that, do you?"

"Like I said, Papa will decide where Ana and I will be placed. Will you excuse me, Uncle? I forgot I had to call someone," he excused himself to end the conversation.

"Sure."    It also stood up but spoke again before it completely left.     "Don't go away from sightseeing in Racho, Nikka. There are still dangerous places on this earth," he said, leaving her with goosebumpsthe accident that happened when he was a child came to his mind again and still comes back to his dreams.

When the father came home that evening, he talked to her in the library. since he came here a year ago he noticed that mother Diana's non-interference in any family company.

"Is there a problem, Son?" The father sat on the swivel chair while he remained standing.

"Uncle Octavio spoke to me this afternoon.    are you really planning to replace me as CEO in Agri? I want to know what you really planned for me that's why you sent me back here, Papa."

"Yes.    I don't know where Octavio got that information, now I believe that man has eyes and ears in my office."

"I don't want such a high position just at the time of my return.    if I really have no choice because I'm your only child, give me a year to learn the ins and outs of the company."

The father stared at him for a moment before slowly nodding. "If that is good for you I will agree.    but you will come in on Monday as my assistant, Anikka. Tomorrow you will accompany me to the lawyer for some things I have to leave to you."

"Don't I start on Monday?"

"This is not about business.    This is personal.    promise no one will know all this."

If earlier he was talking to his Uncle Octavio he was nervous, now he is twice as nervous because of what his father is saying. "Why hasn't Mama been in our conversations since I came here, Papa?" he finally asked the father. He waited a long moment before answering his question.

"I don't want to confess them to you now, Anikka, but I guess you need to know now." This is the beginning that seems to have difficulty confessing what to say next. "Ana is Octavio's daughter."

"You told me that suspicion, Papa. Have you confirmed that suspicion?"

He nodded slowly before taking a deep breath. "And your mother's daughter."

"What?!"

A moment of silence followed. now he understands the relationship the two have that despite his return, he seemed like a stranger to his mother during the first months of his return. Even when visiting Nueva Ecija, he rarely goes with Agusto.

and now he understands Agusto's distrust of his wife regarding the business and wealth left by his Grandmother.

"How did you know?"

"It was Diana who forced me to adopt Ana even though we both knew where we were taking care of you.    at first I thought your mom was just missing you so I agreed. But I noticed Octavio's fondness for Ana so I had the two DNA tested. It was positive. just this past month I had your Mama and Ana DNA tested when I noticed that Diana seems distant from you compared to Ana. And the result just came out last week."

He sat in the receiving chair because his knees were shaking. he couldn't fully imagine the pain the father felt the moment he found out about his wife's secret to him.

"We are really brothers..." he said almost in a whisper. "But you said Mama was captured then, right?"

"That's what I thought too.    but maybe Octavio just fed him to get an inheritance from me through their son."

"So, where is Mama's loyalty now? Is it with us or with Ana?"

"Despite the separation of your Mama and Octavio before Diana and I got married, they have been in good company until now.      It's not hard to guess why.    They live freely thinking that I don't know that secret."

he wanted to feel sorry for the father for enduring to keep the secrets discovered just to keep everyone quiet.

"How do you receive all this, Papa?" The father briefly wiped away the tears he had been holding back.

"Because of you, Anikka.    I need to be strong for your sake and your safety..."

"Why don't we just go away? Just leave this wealth behind. Sell the Rancho and let's leave this place. I want to live in peace, Papa. I don't want to live in fear."

"I will not agree, Son.    I will not be defeated by them.      So I ask you to be brave at all times."

"Oh, Papa..."    She stood up and hugged him. He felt the suffering of her feelings and if only he could admit the pain and he did. from what he found out now he wanted to hate his mother.

"Promise you'll be brave, Anikka.    Don't let them beat you.    Do you understand?"

He did nothing but nod to reassure her. he is the only ally left for now. He cannot be discouraged.

But the truth is that he wants to get away from this place.