Chapter 6: The CEO

THIRD

Staring at my client's achievements records, my eyes narrowed into slit. He wants to be an investor of White Kiss even though my company is already enough in this regard.

One of the things I've learned throughout my life is to help people but when it comes to business, I'm not a mutt. He has many achievements and has a good investment records in every company he joined, but no...not sure.

Some of these companies are failures— bankrupt. Pero...siya ang apektado, even though he is not the cause. Nagdadalawang isip ako whether to accept him or not especially since he is the first Filipino to be a white kiss investor.

I looked at him observing how he checked my papers. I know he will see the failures of the company's financial statement 6 years ago. I want to see his reaction especially since the record is worse, but knowing that my company has worked well and it has come far than before, I am not sure if he will refuse.

Nilapag ko ang records niya sa lamesa, katabi ng isang pen. Pinanood ko siyang uminom ng kape in a professional way. Sumulyap siya sa akin, putting the coffee cup back on the table and looked at me holding the paper in both hands.

Clearing his throat for a moment, he spoke, "Mr. Deluco..." He heaved a sigh, I can see the trust issue in the way he breathes. He went on, "What about the records 6 years ago, I mean..." he trailed off. There is a caution in the way he talks about the issue—he obviously doesn't want to be straight to the point.

I gave enough explanation, even though I knew he was the one who needed this opportunity, "The former CEO's name is on the record, Mr. Hilvano—that was Hudson Deluco's history. The CEO of White Kiss today is me. It can be seen in the record that the assets are higher than the liabilities. That means the negative record of my father's name has been resolved by mine. Do you have any concerns about the progress of my company, Mr. Hilvano?"

My eyes zeroed in on his, unblinking, he did the same. But, knowing that my name exploded as one of the best entrepreneurs worldwide, he should be the one to keep me. White Kiss will remain standing without his support. My company is full of that but he... he has to start over. I'm just being nice.

In the end, his eyes gave up and just told me, "Your record is clear and indeed great, Mr. Deluco. Hope that White Kiss remains strong under your management. Knowing that you are one of the awarded CEOs in the world, in the line of Lingerie brands..." He shrugged. "I won't hesitate."

My eyes flickered at his hand taking down the records on the table and pulled the brown envelope between us towards him. He took the document inside and signed it without the second thoughts.

He returned it in a professional way to its original place. Alam kong hindi niya papakawalan ang White Kiss at alam kong noon pa niya ito target, lalo na nang lumago ito sa ilalim ng pamamahala ko.

Pero ang mga tanong niya, the way how to check the papers... pinamukha niya sa akin na ako ang nangangailangan sa kaniya. I arranged my records, gave them to my secretary who also stood next to me and rose to my feet.

Loosening the necktie, I told him, "Please accept my sincerest apologies, Mr. Hilvano, but I decided to refuse the contract."

Like I said, I like to help people but when it comes to business, I'm not a mutt. I'm an asshole, actually. Binabaan ko ng tingin ang secretary kong pandak na nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. Ignoring the shock of Mr. Hilvano, I told her, "Let's leave."

Walking out of that restaurant, ignoring the usher of the staffs, my secretary trailed behind me trying to catch my steps. Is it difficult to walk fast?

"S-Sir!" Sumigaw pa. Sa bundok ba ito pinanganak? "Teka wait lang sir! Masakit po kasi sa paa iyong..." she trailed off realizing na wala akong pakialam sa paghihirap niya as she just say, "Yes sir bilisan ko na lang."

I mentally glared and just unlocked my car with the remote control before I could get close to it. Patakbo naman ang sekretarya kong umikot sa kabila na animo'y takot maiwan.

Pumasok na lang ako sa loob nito at pasimpleng sinara pinto at nagsuot ng seatbelt. Habang sinusuksok ang susi sa ignition ng sasakyan nagtanong siya, "Bakit hindi mo tinanggap, Sir? May mali ba sa record niya?"

Walang mali sa record niya, sa ugali niya meron. Pero hindi naman kailangan sabihin iyon sa kaniya, sekretarya ko lang siya, sinasahuran para sa trabaho niya, hindi para sa pagiging chismosa niya. Tiningnan ko lang siya sa peripheral vision ko at nagtanong, "Just tell me my next appointment."

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa manibela nang makitang nanghagilap pa siya ng folder sa gilid niya. Pambihira naman, kung hindi naman siya tanga, bakit niya ilalagay ang folder sa alam niyang hindi safe?

Tulad nga ng inasahan ko, binanat niya ng seatbelt para makayuko upang kunin ng folder na nahulog sa ilalim ng upuan. Kahit anong pagmadali ang gagawin niya ay sagabal ito. Naghihintay ako sa sagot niya, at iyon pa naman ang pinakaayaw ko.

How dare she...

Nangibabaw ang tunog ng mga binubuklat na papel sa loob ng sasakyan, matapos niyang makuha ito. "Sir, eleven to twelve may appointment ka po kay Miss Emery Hunshin."

My eyes narrowed into slits. This is the client who wants the collaboration of my White kiss and bridal accessories. Bukod doon, mayroon pa siyang intimate intensyon sa akin.

Wala naman siyang sinabi na ganon nga, pero kabisado ko ang mga ganoong actions since mas malinaw ang mga idea ko about sa kanila. Ayoko ng iniistorbo ako kaya refused sa akin ang mga ganoong tao. "Cancel it."

"Po?" gulat niyang tanong. Gusto ko rin siyang tanungin pabalik kung ano ang worst na mangyayari sa kompanya kung tanggihan ko ang alok ng babaeng iyon para pakitaan niya ako nang sobrang pagkagulat na reaction.

Nagsalita na lang ako, "I know Dos didn't give me a deaf secretary."

Hindi ko siya tinitingnan pero nasa imahinasyon ko ang pagngiwi niya. "S-Sorry po. Pero kailangan mo po siyang siputin para po sa—"

"Ikaw ang haharap sa kaniya."

"Po?!" Mas malakas na ang boses niya. Mas gulat kaysa kanina. Maliit na babae pero ang lakas boses. Isa na namang palpak na sekretarya ang binigay ni Dos sa akin. Inaasar ba niya ako?

Ilang ikot na lang ng gulong nasa harapan na kami ng restaurant kung saan ang meeting place namin ni Miss Hunshin. Kaya nagkaroon ako ng way upang iparamdam sa sekretarya ang pagkadisgusto ko sa ugali niya. Inapakan ko ang preno, tumili siya at tarantang sinabi, "S-Sabi ko nga po, ako po ang kakausap."

Malakas na ang aircon dito sa loob ng sasakyan pero dahil sa umiinit ang ulo ko sa secretary na ito napilitan akong alisin ang suit ko habang sinasabi sa kaniya sa kalmadong paraan pero maawtoridad, "Tell her, I won't accept the offer at bumalik ka kaagad dahil ayoko nang naghihintay ng matagal." I pulled the necktie even looser so I could breathe more freely.

"S-Sige po. Pero final na po ba, sir? Hindi mo talaga tatanggapin ang alok niya?" Imbis na sumagot, I unlocked the car enough for her to understand that I don't change my mind. She murmurs, "Oo nga po final na po talaga."

Maayos naman ang record ng babaeng ito, except for height and average beauty, pero bakit wala sa ugali? Does she not know how to communicate with her boss in a professional way? Po nang po.

Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang likuran niya ng bumaba siya ng sasakyan. Sinara niya ito pero pabagsak. Sinundan ko siya ng masamang tingin hanggang sa makapasok na siya sa restaurant and then took the phone from my pocket to call Dos, one of my brothers.

I heard it ring on the other line and time over, his voice hit my ears. "Luckily, I just had a meeting with a friend."

Running my hand over my face out of frustration, I scolded him, "When are you going to give me a sensible secretary?"

"You have a complaint with your secretary again." I could imagine the rolling of his eyes on the other line. "Akala ko ba pasado na iyang record ni Maila?"

"The record is accepted, her stupidity is not." Walang kaso kung galing probinsya ang babaeng iyon, pero sana maayos naman siya dito sa syudad lalo na't malalaking mga tao ang makakaharap niya. Para siyang yaya kong habol nang habol sa likuran ko.

But Dos Retorted, "That's your request. Ayaw mo sa mga magaganda, naintindihan ko naman, kaya nga si Maila ang binigay ko sa'yo eh."

Napapikit na lang ako sa mga rason niya. Kahit siya naman siguro ayaw niyang maging sekretarya itong binigay niya sa akin. He added, "Oo nga't hindi pangit iyan same as your request. She has beauty somehow, pero alam kong pasado sa'yo ang height niya. Ayaw mo rin sa mga matatangkad, di ba?"

Ayaw ko sa matangkad dahil ayaw kong may maalala. He went on, "But if you are complaining about her behavior... hanggang kailan ka ba mag-iinarte sa sekretarya? Hanggang sa wala na akong may maibigay sa'yo? Huwag ka kasi refuse nang refuse, mahirap kumilos na walang alalay, Dude."

I hissed, padabog na sumagot sa kaniya, "She's so stupid, the way she talks to me, I don't like it."

"What about my secretary?" His secretary...I mentally smirked at that. Alam kong hindi lang sekretarya ang trabaho noon sa kaniya.

Hindi ko alam isasagot, pero alam kong alam niyang ayaw ko kaya, malamig kong tugon ay, "No."

"You have no choice, but to keep Maila, the important thing is that she can works well. So yah, I'll take my leave now, marami pa akong asikasuhin..." I was about to drop the call but he spoke, "Wait!" I waited for what he had to say. "How's the modeling contest going?"

Perfect Muse has already submitted the final registration earlier. I just signed it without paying attention to their participant's personal information, I don't care, anyway. I can still see them after three days of preparation. Sumagot ko, "It's closed."

"Great..." I end the call to save my pride. Ayokong pinapatayan ako ng phone kahit na sa aming dalawa, siya pa rin ang kuya, pero hindi ibig sabihin na hindi ko siya nirerespeto bilang kapatid.

Wala sa modo na ibinalik ang phone sa bulsa ko, but my annoyance was replaced by different kinds of emotions, which automatically spread through out my body when I saw the woman I had been trying to forget for five years walking towards my car.

Cassy...

Para akong binalot ng lamig, as my heart thudded inside my chest. My throat dried up whilst I couldn't stop myself from watching the way she walked. She still stunning and so fucking sexy. She's with Painch who's handing her the three paper bags owing to the phone call she had to answer.

She hesitated at first but realizing that she had no choice, she just took it. She seems to have grown up perfectly. The last time I saw her, she was 17 years old and I was 19.

Now, apart from being at the perfect average height for a woman, she also had a perfect body shape, perfect size of breast and hip. Everything about her is perfect in my eyes. Yes, perfect, sa ganda, sa alindog, lahat natural. Walang kahit isa sa party ng katawan niya ang binago. Siya lang ang babaeng magandang kilala ko na hindi retokada.

Her creamy skin glistening under the sun. Especially the color of her fitted blouse, it's light brown and just plain, but looks elegant in her body as well as in her fitted black jeans, revealing her curves.

As usual, she's wearing less make-up, no shade of lipstick lips and she's always like that. She remained simple but her beauty never faded.

Humigpit ang pag-hawak ko sa manibela sa sobrang pagka-miss na nararamdaman ko sa kaniya. Gusto kong lumabas dito sa sasakyan, para yakapin siya, pero alam kong hindi na pwede.

Iba na ang sitwasyon ngayon, I can't turn myself in different personality just to get close to her, katulad ng dati. I'm sure she doesn't want to see me anymore, she said it clearly before and I don't want to hear it again.

At isa pa this time, alam kong nakikita niya ang mukha ko sa buong paligid. Kahit na oo, sa puso ko, talagang siya pa rin, pero may mga nagbago na. Nasaktan na niya ako enough na iyon, sapat na ang mga pinagdaanan ko. Sinayang na niya ako, kaya hindi na dapat maulit pa.

The excitement I felt turned to resentment when her words went back to my head, 'Hayop ka! Sinungaling! Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Paano mo nagawa iyon? Paano mo nagawang hayaan akong mag-hubad sa harap mo, habang alam mo sa sarili mo kung ano ka talaga? Mahal mo ako? Iyong mukha at katawan ko lang ang minamahal mo Tres! Kasi kung ako talaga, dapat binigyan mo ako ng respeto noon pa lang. Pinagsamantalahan mo ako ng palihim! Ang baboy mo! Ayaw na kitang makita kahit kailan! Umalis ka, huwag ka nang bumalik pa!'

I wiped the dripping sweat from my forehead. My chest tightened, I wanted to hate myself for why until now, it still hurts. But the resentment was replaced by panic. She ran to my car's back door.

I quickly, lean over the steering wheel and cover up with my suit. Ano bang naisip nito at pumasok sa sasakyan ko? I also forgot to lock it, what the fuck!

Sinara niya ito, hindi ako kumilos, mas maiging maisip niyang tulog ako. "Mas bet ko ang air conditioner na ginamit mo ngayon kuya kaysa kanina."

My stomach twisted out of excitement because of the sweetness of her voice. That's the voice that, even if it's just a simple hum, I was covered up with euphoria when I hear it. Naramdaman ko rin na parang naghuhubad siya ng sapatos, mukhang sinipa niya ito kung saan.

Burara ka pa rin talaga hanggang ngayon, Cassy! Sigurado ako si Painch or si Maple pa rin taga-ligpit mo.

Bumukas ang pinto, naririnig ko ang boses ni Painch na bumubulong. "Anong ginagawa mo diyan?"

"Umuupo, nakikita mo ba akong nakatuwad?" Did she really not notice that she was in the wrong car?

"Hindi atin ang sasakyan na iyan!" Painch hissed.

Gusto kong humagalpak ng tawa nang bumulalas siya ng, "What the fuck!"

She hurried out with her things and closed it. I quickly raised my head and looked back. I also peeked at the back seat and saw her shoes, black with silver glitters underneath.

Hindi ko na naiwasang mapangisi at bumuwelta ang sasakyan. Alam kong nakapaa siya, bahala siyang masunog ang talampakan niya sa init.

Kumatok pa siya na tarantang-taranta, pero pinaharurot ko ang sasakyan ko palayo dala ang malokong ngiti, shaking my head saying, "That's your punishment for rejecting me, Cassy! Ngayon, magtiis kang nakapaa."