Race 3

I wore a black midi dress and a white leather choker necklace and a pair of silver heels.I grabbed my purse and headed to the reception area. Once I reached the receptionist, she looked at me with a surprised face.

" Reservation from Mr. Rodolfo Dominggo? "I asked her.

"Yes ma'am,"she pointed out, "that table."I glanced at the table and saw a familiar man sitting there with his head down. I saw Randy was already there.

I felt relieved seeing him and I don't what will happen when he's not here. I walked towards the table and I could hear my heart beating loudly when I saw him. He was wearing a light blue shirt and dark gray slacks. His gray hair was neatly combed back and his facial features looked sharper. He lifted his head and our eyes met.

" You came early. I was expecting you would be late again, " he said with a tone of authority. I bowed to him,

"I am just lucky that there's no traffic today, grandpa, I mean Chairperson. " I replied. He simply nodded at me, and then turned his attention to something in front of him on the table.

I took one glance at Randy and then looked back at grandpa and said,

" So how was your trip sir? " This earned me a raised eyebrow from our grandfather, but otherwise, he remained quiet for a minute. I sat next to him and we ate in silence. My father cleared his throat after awhile and addressed the old Chairperson.

"So how was it, papa?" My father asked grandpa with an amused smile on his face.

"It was nice enough,"Grandpa said."Did you enjoy yourself in Spain? "My father continued to ask.

"I enjoyed it immensely, "The old Chairperson replied.

"How about you, Red? How's your car racing career? I heard our company sells quite a lot of cars in the city here in the Philippines. "Grandpa asked.

I swallowed hard and tried to hide the nervousness in my voice,

"it's good I guess. "I answered nervously, hoping they wouldn't notice the nervousness in my voice.

"That's all you have to say? That's good enough?"Grandpa asked again, sounding irritated now.

"Yes grandpa. Yes, sir. " I said and looked at him, trying to avoid eye contact.

And Randy glanced at me again. I still felt his eyes penetrating me.

After dinner, we bid each other farewell. I was about to call Danny to pick me up when I heard the honk of a black van. Then the wind shield opened and it was grandpa.

"Where's your car? " he asked coldly.

"Huh? "

"Where is your car?" he repeated.

"I left it in my condo, grandpa. " I said to him, looking directly in his eyes, trying to calm myself, so I could get through the encounter.

"Then let's go!" he snapped. I got behind him, with my back straight, as we drove to my condo.

When we arrived at my condo's building, grandpa got out of the passenger's seat.

"I want to talk to you alone, Red. " he spoke in a low growl.

"Sure, chairperson." I said and got out of the back seat.

He locked the door of the car and we both walked inside the elevator.

"I want you to quit your career, Raniyah, and focus on our business. " He said sternly.I was surprised by what he said and didn't know how to react.

"What? "

"You heard me Red! If you keep doing this, I will end it. Do you understand me!? " Grandpa shouted at me, making me flinch.

"But grandpa, I love racing." I protested in anger.

"Then do something else for God's sake. Don't continue with your sport, that career is pointless! " he snapped.

As far as I know, since Randy and I were kids. Everything he says must be followed, otherwise he will do everything to fulfill what he wants.

Why?

Because he's the head of this family, the Dominggo 's.

"What if I'm not? What you gonna do?" I asked him, clenching my fists, trying my best not to lose my temper. I wasn't able to control the urge though.

"I would take everything away from you, Raniyah."He hissed with venom in his words.

" Money, fame, and being a Dominggo, so think wisely, young lady, before you lose everything you had right now."I stared at him stunned, have, I couldn't believe what I heard. Is he threatening me?

Why did he come back here just to ruin our lives here in the Philippines?

To manipulate everything we have here? To destroy our dreams.

To make our lives worse?

Why does he even care?

Why does he need to come back?

Suddenly, the elevator opened its doors, revealing the floor I lived on.

"Do whatever you want? But I'm not giving up my passion and my career, " I said before exiting. I watch the elevator

The doors closed shut between us.

*****

I made my way inside my condo unit, and I immediately plopped onto the couch.

"I want to be stressed out. "

I sighed and decided to call Danny. After picking five rings, he picks up the call.

"Red?" he answered.

I heard loud music blasting in the background.

"Danny, where are you? "I asked.

"I'm here in the BGC, hanging out with my friends, " he responded.

"OK, I'll be there in 10 minutes." I said to him.

"Okay, Red," he said. We hung up. I stood up from the couch and went upstairs and put on my makeup. I wore a red short sleeve dress, with a tight fitted black leather jacket and black high heels. When I finished my makeup, I went downstairs to get my bag.

I went to my car parked outside my condo, I unlocked the car and I got inside. I placed my handbag on the passenger seat and started to drive to the BGC. As soon as I arrived at the club, I found Danny making out with some random guy.

"C'mon Danny, get a room. "

I said to Danny as he finally broke off the kiss.

"Hey, Red! How's your family dinner with your grandpa? "he asked me.

I sat beside him and said,

"

Fine", then I looked at the guy beside him. He was wearing a black suit and brown shoes. The same outfit Danny was wearing. He smiled at me. I looked at Danny, and he winked at me.

I laughed and rolled my eyes at them.

I left them and I found myself on the dance floor . I started dancing slowly and moving my hips to the beat. I danced and thought about all the things that happened earlier.

After dancing for about ten minutes, I decided to check the restroom. I walked past the crowd who were still dancing and headed towards the restrooms, when I bumped into someone while I passed by, I turned around and saw the girl that I bumped into earlier.

"Einah?" I asked her. She was wearing a long black skirt with white tights and black boots. Her hair was tied into a small ponytail which was falling down her back. She raised one eyebrow .

"Who else would it be?" she said to me sarcastically.

"Sorry, " I replied. I was about to walk past her when she grabbed my arm and stopped me.

" I didn't expect you to be here, but I want to ask you something, " she said with a serious look on her face. I looked at her,

" What is it, Einah? "I asked.

But her phone rang,

"Argh! Nevermind. " she said, walking away.

I shrugged and entered the restroom.

In fact, I didn't care what she was going to ask. We're rivals, remember?

And everything around us is a competition.

At first I thought about getting a drink with Danny and drinking a few drinks, but I realized that I was a little tipsy already. So I decided to go home. After a couple of drinks, I drove home. I stopped in front of my condominium building. It was late already. I took a shower and then changed clothes. I lay on my bed. I fell asleep thinking of what happened earlier that day.

The next morning, I woke up and I stretched my arms over my head. I rubbed my eyes and yawned loudly. I checked the time on my alarm clock and it read 7:45 AM. I jumped from my bed and quickly freshened up. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and dressed in jeans and a loose-fitting gray sweater.

I went downstairs and prepared breakfast for myself. After that, I went to the parking lot on the ground floor and drove to my father's office before going to my testing ground. Luckily, the traffic wasn't heavy today, so it took me only 30 minutes to reach his office.

I parked near the entrance of the building and entered inside the lobby. A man in a black suit greeted me,

"Good morning Ms.Red." he greeted him. I responded with a smile at him.

I walked toward my father's office and was about to knock on his door when I heard a familiar voice shouting angrily inside.

I opened the door quickly and my grandfather was talking to my father angrily.

"W-What's going on? " I asked them with a worried expression on my face. I noticed my father standing stiff and cold like a statue,

My grandfather looked up at me with a scowl on his face.