Sinful Indulgence Book 3

"I'm sorry, Miss -"

"Ella. And you're?" Ella cuts me, and I realize we have been sitting across from each other in this coffee shop for several minutes already, but we have not introduced ourselves to each other.

"Zed. Zed Ramos."

She smiles, stares at her cutleries for a while, then looks at me. "Sir, it's too expensive if you'll get me a room in a hotel. And so are the food. If you don't mind, can I just go home with you?"

What?! I gape at her for a second, and my lips curve to a smirk. Never.

"I can explain it to your wife. I can help her with the household chores, take care of the kids, anything- "

I understand. There's no malice in her expression. This woman looks up to me as her savior, and I know she's grateful for it. But I can't.

"I'm sorry, Ella. I'm single, but I don't like to have any women in my house. Nor, in my workplace."

Her brows furrow into frown and confusion. It's perhaps the way I say it. Or, probably because I make it sound like I'm allergic to women. If I am opportunistic, this is already my moment to take advantage of her. Yen may be the most beautiful woman in my eyes, but that changed when I saw this girl at the airport. I got mesmerized.

Or, maybe, just maybe, it's already a sign that I have moved on because I'm beginning to appreciate other women's beauty.

Yet, I distance myself away from any woman. I don't want to go through the pain anymore. I even dismiss my female attendants in my coffee shops when I decide to come back, and I no longer mingle with groups that include women. I may sound weird, but it's my way of protecting myself.

However, I couldn't ignore Ella at the airport. My conscience will be killing me if I shut my eyes to her needs. Of course, I'm just avoiding women, but I can't ignore somebody who needs my help.

As I observe her reaction, which I anticipate already, my mind goes back to how I met her an hour ago.

_____

I stepped down from the airport with just a single piece of luggage in my hand. All my other things, including the fixtures I ordered for my new house, would be shipped to me in a few days. The surroundings seemed eerily quiet, and I remembered our flight was delayed for a few hours.

I raised my arm and glanced at my watch. It's past midnight already. So, I head directly to the taxi stand. But seeing that the queue was still long, I decided to sit on a bench and waited until everyone was catered. I didn't have to hurry; no one was waiting for me. But while I ran the tips of my thumbs on my phone's screen, I heard sniffs coming from the end corner of the bench.

I looked in the direction of the sound. And my brows furrowed when I saw a woman in her mid-twenties, brushing her tears away. She sat with one long leg over the other; her eyes were on her lap.

Even without knowing her yet, I could tell she comes from a prominent family. Her skin is creamy; her movements were graceful and refined – even if she's crying. Her tucked-in, off-shoulder cream top matched the color of her wedges, and her old-rose, high-waist pants matched the shade of her luggage.

I hadn't seen her right away because a huge pillar obstructed her from my view. And judging from the swelling of her eyebags and the redness of her face, it looked like she's been crying for hours already.

My heart melted. If her crying was about her love life, I could relate. I'd been there. And even if I am slowly healing now, there are still times that I cry for her. The loneliness is just too overwhelming sometimes.

A guard walked over to me and whispered in my ear.

"Sir, the lady has been sitting and crying there since morning, according to the morning shift guard. When I came here this afternoon, she was already like that. I never see her eating," whispered the guard who perhaps followed my eyes.

"Really?"

"Yes, sir. I'm already worrying about her. It's already past midnight."

"Maybe she's waiting for someone," I said, keeping my voice a little louder than a whisper.

"Maybe, boyfriend? And that he doesn't show up. Or, he showed up but took her money away." The guard chuckled, then left.

I scoffed and shook my head. What kind of a boyfriend is he that ditches a lady as beautiful as she?

I looked around. And I noticed that the taxi stand had already cleared from the queuing passengers. I rose from my seat and reached for my luggage, but my attention was drawn again by the lady's stifled sobs.

I put down my luggage again and walked towards the lady. I stepped back when I was a foot away from her. I might be intruding on her privacy.

But what I learned from the guard bothers me. She wouldn't be staying this long if she had money. If she's waiting for a boyfriend, then perhaps, she needs help in finding the address.

I cleared my throat to let her know my presence. "Miss?"

She looked up right away, her face smeared by her tears.

"The guard told me you were here since morning. Do you need any help?"

She answered me with a cry escaping from her lips. She covered her mouth right away but continued sobbing silently.

"I'm sorry," she said, forcing out her apology in between sobs.

I guessed she needed more time, so I sat down beside her. "It's okay."

"I don't know where to go," she finally opened her mouth to speak after a few minutes of battling against her urge to cry louder.

I pulled my brows. "I don't get it."

"I made a call this morning, leaving my things on this bench. I was not far away. I just need a little distance from the crowd. But when I came back, my bags weren't there anymore."

"You didn't ask help?" If it's her bag, it means her important things were in there. It could be money, cards, passport, or important documents.

"I did, but I knew It's useless."

"But there are CCTVs all around."

"It won't be easy to track them down. I'm not new to this incident."

I nodded. She's right. It will take forever to solve this case. Pickpocketers, snatchers, and thieves are common in this country.

"I can give you money so that you can go home."

"I don't have a home."

"What?"

"It's a long story, sir. But it wouldn't have been an issue if I didn't lose my bag."

I sighed. She indeed had a reason to cry her heart out. "I'll book you a hotel until you can figure out what to do."

"Thank you so much," she said, flashing a beautiful but sad smile.

I blinked and stared at her for a few seconds. She has the most beautiful smile I have seen ever since I started refusing to set my eyes on other women aside from Yen.

"Let's go," I said, picking up her luggage.

She stood to her full height, and I was stunned at how tall and beautiful she was. Although I'm already taller than most of the men I come across with, but she's still at my shoulder's level.

"Hungry?" I shouldn't have asked. I knew she was.

She pursed a smile and nodded.

"Let's get you food on the way."

Ella pulls her brows together and looks at me. She perhaps can't believe her ears that I'm distancing myself from any woman. I know it's not normal for a man in his prime like me, and I'm also aware that my declaration piques her curiosity.

"Failed love life?" she asks, but her eyes widen afterward.

I smile.

"I'm sorry. That was personal, I know."

"It's alright." I pause, then continue. "Miss Ella, do you mind if I ask where do you come from?" I am curious as to why she said she has nowhere to go.

She gives me a quick stare before answering, "Japan, but we used to live here until I graduated from college."

"I remember you telling me you don't have a home here. Is that right?"

"Yes. Maybe, I have some relatives here, but I don't know any of them."

"You're here for a tour?" I'm trying to rule out the guard's conclusion that she's here because of a boyfriend.

"No. I'm here to cause trouble."

My eyes pop out right away. What?!

I stare at her, wondering if she's joking. Then, perhaps expecting my reaction, she chuckles and says, "I'm serious."

"That's dangerous!" I exclaim.

"It is."

I'm expecting that she'll take back her words, but she doesn't. Instead, she smiles at me then reaches out for her coffee.

"You must be tired already, sir. So, shall we go now?"

I turn to Arnold, a friend that manages my chain of coffee shops. He's standing behind the counter, overseeing the flow of the customers. When he learned that I was coming back and would drop by the shop close to the airport, he immediately came over to see me.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Arnold. I'll be here at three," I tell him as soon as he comes over to our table.

"Welcome back, Zed. I hope you're planning to settle down already since you are buying her a house," Arnold smiles, glancing at Ella. I know that look. It suggests that Arnold thinks Ella is my girlfriend.

"Nothing has changed, Arnold. My vocation is my woman. And this woman has made me travel all around the world. Who wouldn't be happy that way?" I chuckle.

Arnold laughs softly, stealing glances at Ella, then reaches out to tap my shoulders. "Okay, see you tomorrow. Your date must be so tired already."

I look at Ella, who seems amused at Arnold's presumption. She tilts her head gracefully and glances at me.

I threw her a question. "Are you my date, Miss Ella?"

"Of course," she answers, her lips curving into a smile, riding along with Arnold's presumption.

Arnold then hands me my car keys. Since he knew that I was coming today, he took my car to XYZ's Coffee Shop, the branch closest to the airport.

"Your car misses you already, Zed," Arnold says as he walks us to the parking lot.

I chuckle. "Yeah, but I'm giving her to the new owner tomorrow."

"Oh, so you have already found a buyer."

"Yes."

I press the car's remote as soon as I see the car. The headlights then beam brightly at us. I open the door at the passenger's side for Ella before I walk to the driver's side.

"See you tomorrow," I tell Arnold before I step into the car.

"Yes. Let's talk about X, Yen, and Zed tomorrow," Arnold replies, then waves goodbye.

I laugh and wave back. Arnold refers to XYZ Coffee Shops. X is supposedly the first letter of our child if only she lives. So then, Y stands for Yen, and Z, my name.

Surprisingly, XYZ's Coffee Shops have become popular since I left the country. I had only three branches when I left, but now it has multiplied into 30 branches nationwide. Perhaps, its success comes from being a famous motivational speaker. I am standing before hundreds of people almost every night here and abroad, and this job has rewarded me with huge and easy markets for my products.

It's because, aside from building my audience's self-confidence and determination, I'm also indirectly advertising my business to them. Hitting two birds in one stone, they say. And because I am always hired by companies that promote their products through multi-level marketing, these product advocates also do their presentations at my coffee shops.

"Sleepy?" I ask as Ella fastens her seatbelt.

"A little."

The short trip to the hotel where I plan to take Ella has been silent. Even if I can initiate a long conversation, I decide to keep quiet. I don't intend to know more about Ella. Her name is enough. Whatever her reason for coming here is, and whoever she wants to cause trouble with, I'm out with it. Because after dropping her at the hotel, our communication must end.

I pull in front of the hotel after a few minutes on the road. Ella glances at me, and I nod. "Yes, we're here."

She steps out of the car ahead of me as soon as she sees me turning off the engine. I follow on the other side, walking to the trunk first to pull out her luggage. She waits for me at the side, and then we walk together to the reception area.

The registration is smooth and fast, so I am already ushering Ella to her room in a couple of minutes. I want to end our interaction there, but unfortunately, I can't leave her in the lobby and allow her to drag her heavy suitcases alone.

"Mr. Ramos, thank you so much for everything. I will surely repay you for your kindness."

"It's a pleasure, Miss Ella," I smile, pulling out my wallet from my jacket at the same time. I pick up a card, then hand it to her. The pin is ...."

"Are you not afraid that I'm going to spend your millions?" Ella laughs, her eyes turning into slits.

I'm not. Honestly, it doesn't cross my mind. I don't see her as a swindler but an elegant woman. Yet, it's too late to back out on my words if I may have regrets.

"Of course not. I can always block the purchase if I like. The notification is active."

She chuckles. "Many thanks, again. I'll pay everything later."

"I'm not yet collecting, Miss Ella. But you're welcome."

Ella suddenly throws her arms around me, encircling me into a tight hug. My body turns rigid, and before I can blink, I push her away. Ella staggers backward, and her eyes grow wide – shocked by my reaction.

Realizing my mistake, I quickly pull her into a hug and apologize. "I'm sorry, Ella. I don't mean to offend you."

She has no idea that this is the first time in three years since a woman hugs me.

I sit across from Atty. Garcia on her desk. She's still into a phone call when I arrive, so I quietly help myself into a chair across from her.

She sits elegantly on her swivel chair, an exquisite wall in oakwood design spreads as her backdrop. A shelf filled with trophies and a corner wall adorned with diplomas speaks of her myriad achievements as a lawyer. And she's the lawyer who handles my annulment proceedings with Yen.

"Welcome back, Zed! How's your travel around the world?" She smiles, adjusting her large-framed glasses. Then, she stands up, opening her arms wide to me.

I hug her back. Of all the people I am interacting with, she's the only one who knows the depth of my emotional struggles against my annulment. She and Ara are the only exemption to my no-woman rule since she's already in her mid-forties. And she has become a friend to me.

"It's good," I chuckle. "I've gone to different places, met many people – "

"But never a special someone?"

I laugh. "I'm surprised you get it."

"Because you won't be doing this if you have found a new one."

Atty. Garcia gestures for me to sit down. "Are you sure to do this?"

"Yes."

By saying yes, I am authorizing her to transfer the ownership of the first three coffee shops I have opened to Yen, aside from the 50% share of the house and car I've just sold lately. This is one of the reasons why I return. Although these are not literally conjugal properties since I had acquired them before our wedding, I have still decided to give them to her. Just because I bought those properties for us.

She was my inspiration. And she's part of it ever since I started dreaming of having them; her presence in my life completed it.

"You love her that much," she says, sliding me the documents I need to sign.

Her words choke me, but I manage to smile. Then, suddenly, the same old feelings of pain and loneliness come crushing me deep inside again.

"Would you want to be here when she signs?" Atty. Garcia says, staring at me. I know she sees me through.

"No."

"Zed, the only way to forget is to love another."

"I'm fine, Atty."

I stand up to end the discussion, then extend my right hand for a handshake. "Thank you so much, Atty. Please let me know once she signs it."

"Sure," she smiles, accepting my hand.

I wave at her, then hurry to my car. Unfortunately, I still have to return the car to my old home since the buyer will come over this afternoon. But before I turn on the ignition key, a message notification beeps.

I swipe my phone's password then click the message. "An amount of P5, 000. 00 is deducted from your account xxx...."

I smile, remembering the awkward incident last night. Then, fastening my belt, I pull out from the parking lot and head toward Yen and mine's house.

I start feeling nostalgic as I turn towards the familiar block of the subdivision. And as soon as the guard ushers me in, my eyes lay on the façade of the house that holds my bittersweet memories of Yen.

I step out of the car, checking the garden first. The flowers beckon me from their well-crafted landscape islands, and all of them remind me of Yen. The wooden swing is still there, drawing some memories of her from the back of my mind. I'm glad the housekeeper has maintained the way I want it to be.

Why is it so hard to forget? If loving someone with all of your heart puts you through this searing pain, I'd rather stay alone forever.

Stepping out of the garden, I proceed to the main door. I open it, and the same furniture I left behind greet my eyes. A surge of painful memories then floods in my mind that I step back. I close it again, park the car well, and leave.

I book a car ride and proceed to the car rental company. I need a car before my new one is released. I have already processed it ahead, but I think it will still take a few days before I can have it.

I haven't paid much attention to my time in the car rental company and the car showroom. I glance at my watch, and it's already thirty minutes before three. Arnold must be already at the coffee shop. I can't waste his time since he's handling all the branches of XYZ Coffee Shops in Cebu.

I drive faster than I usually do, and when I open the door to the coffee shop, the smile of the woman I'm never ready to see greets my eyes.

It's Yen.