Chapter One: Accident

INFINITY fixed her hair before she get off the car when the driver opened the door for her. She scanned the building as soon as her feet laid on the ground.

"Good morning, Lady Hasson!" greeted by the employees that are properly aligned in the hallway and bowed as she entered the building.

No response from her. She just walked in the middle of them. Mararamdaman ang otoridad na mayroon siya.

"Welcome to Hasson's Manssion, lady. Your father, Master Hasson told us to give you a wel—" Mr. Manchester hold back as she lift her hand in front of her to stop him from talking .

"It's just a waste of time. All of you, go back to your work," she coldly said.

Muling humakbang ang dalaga kasunod ang tatlong bodyguard, nang nakayukong umalis sa kaniyang harapan ang branch manager. The tallest man pressed the button and let her in inside before they move to another lift.

"Okay, as what you heard, go back to your designated area." Mr. Manchester commanded.

"Sayang naman ang food, sir," one of the staff exclaimed.

The BM (branch manager) smiled and shrugged his shoulder. "You can eat it on your table," he announced.

Meanwhile, inilibot ni Infinity ang kaniyang paningin sa silid na kaniyang pinasok, ang magiging opisina niya. Napangiwi siya. She doesn't like the interior design of the room. So femine, at masakit iyon sa kaniyang mga mata.

She reached the table and placed her Prada purse on it. She sat on the swivel chair and laid her back. Infinity pinched the bridge of her nose. Sign of her irritation.

She looked for her phone and dialed her father's number.

"Yes, baby? How was the welcome party?"

"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't like the idea of a party?"

"I'm your father, Infinity. You shouldn't talk to me like that," Mr. Hasson warned her daughter.

"And what is this? I don't like the design of my office," balewalang reklamo pa ng dalaga.

"What is wrong with the pink and blue combination?"

Pumalatak si Infinity kasunod ng pag-ikot ng kaniyang mga mata. Her father doesn't have a taste. For real!

"I want to change it."

"Okay, do what you want."

She cut the line without saying good-bye. Dinampot naman niya ang awditibo na kumukonekta sa secretary niya.

"Goo—"

"Call all the head staff and bring them to the Hasson room. Now."

"Yes, Lad—"

She dropped the phone and dialed again.

"Interior desig—"

"Be here in my office immediately. Arrange all stuff here and I want you to change the interior design."

Hindi na binigyan ng pagkakataon ni Infinity na makapagsalita pa ang kausap, agad niyang pinutol ang linya.

Binigyan niya ng sapat na minuto ang mga itong marating ang kaniyang opisina. Kasabay ng pagtunog ng bawat ikot ng orasan sa dingding ay ang bawat tunog naman ng kaniyang mga daliri sa kaniyang mesa. Waiting is making her bored, mabuti na lamang at tumunog ang telepono.

"Yes?"

"Lady Hasson, they're all in the Hasson room. The interior staff are outside of your office."

"Let them in."

Ilang saglit lang ay pumasok na ang limang tauhan. Nangunguna ang babaeng may katangkaran at nasa around twenties ang edad. Tahimik na yumukod ang mga ito bilang pagbati.

Tumayo na si Infinity at kinuha ang purse matapos nitong isuot ang brown cardigan.

"Change everything. I want you to finish it today." Diretsong naglakad ang dalaga matapos iyong ibilin sa designer.

Tinalunton niya ang daan patungo sa Hasson room. Tanging ang tunog lamang ng kaniyang mga takong ang madidinig sa kahabaan ng koridor. At nang makapasok siya sa silid na iyon ay matalimang tumayo at nagsipagyukuran ang lahat.

"Sit down," Infinity commanded. Her voice were full of authority that you may feel intimidated.

Walang naglakas ng loob na magsalita. Dahil batid nilang sapat na ang pagyukod dito. Alam nilang ayaw ng kahit na anong ingay ng dalaga. At ang simpleng pagbati mo rito ay maghahatid na rito ng pagkairita.

"Mr. Gonzales, I want the yearly financial report tomorrow morning," anang dalaga na nakatingin sa head accountant.

"Mrs. Lopez, I need the employees report too." Binuklat niya ang folder na nasa ibabaw ng conference table nang marating ang sariling upuan na nasa kanang dulo. "And, Mr. Calixto, hand me the supplier's list." Muli niyang tiniklop ang folder

"And, by the way, I am Infinity Hasson. Only daughter of Mr. Antonov Hasson. And I will be the new CEO from now on. Any questions and concern?"

Lakas loob na nagtaas ng kamay si Mr. Manchester.

"Yes, BM?"

"Ah, I'm sorry, Lady Hasson. We conduct a welco—"

"Did you hear me a while ago, right?"

"I'm sorry, Lady. It's your father's request. And the staff wants to meet you also."

"They don't need to know me. I don't want them to know me. And that is my order."

Malalim ang buntonghiningang pinakawalan ng branch manager bago ito yumukod. "Again, I'm sorry, Lady, I understand."

Bakas ang pagkairita ng dalaga nang tiklupin nito ang folder na hawak at ibinalik iyon sa table nang walang pag-iingat. Saglit na katahimikan ang namayani sa silid na iyon, ramdam ang tensiyon.

And when Infinity realized something, she pinched her nose and sighed. "You can proceed to the party. But don't expect me to come. Thanks by the way. Meeting adjourned," aniya.

Nang makalabas ang mga ito ay saka lamang siya naupo sa upuang nasa kaniyang gilid. Inihiga niya ang ulo sa sandalan at mariing ipinikit ang mga mata.

She just starting her first day as the new CEO, pero nakikinita na niya ang ilang problemang nasilip niya habang pinag-aaralan ang record ng kumpaniya, bago pa man siya magsimula.

It's just a minor problem, pero hindi niya alam kung paano siya mag-a-adjust. Wala siyang kilalang pwedeng pagkatiwalaan. Lalo na't bago lamang siya sa bansang ito. It's just good that she's fluent in Filipino language, dahil Pinay ang kinuhang yaya ng kaniyang mga magulang. She has to learn Filipino language, because her dad has a plan to let her handle the branch here in the Philippines once Infinity reached the right age.

She smiled in annoyance. Majority of her OJT was held in other countries. Not knowing that she will lasts here in the Philippines. If she only knew. Tsk!

She stayed for an hour in the conference room. Busy scanning all the files that her secretary gave her, when someone knocked on the door.

"Lady, all the board members just arrived," pagbibigay alam ng kaniyang sekretarya.

Halos magsalubong ang mga kilay niya sa labis na pagtataka. Anong kailangan ng mga `to at walang pasabing nagpunta rito?

"So, the acting CEO is really here?"

Hindi pa man niya nasasagot ang kaniyang sekretarya ay bumungad na ang isang lalaking sa tingin niya ay nasa mid fifties ang edad. Pormal na pormal ang ayos nito sa suot nitong all brown suit from head to toe, except sa puting polo na nakapaloob sa brown nitong jacket suit. Hinubad nito ang suot na brown na sombrero at inilapag iyon sa table bago walang pakundangang naupo sa kabilang dulo, katapat niya.

'Mr. Eugene Johnson.' The Vice President, who owned twenty five percent of shares at Hasson Group of Companies.

Sumunod na pumasok ang isang ginang na hindi nalalayo ang edad sa nauna. Puno ng alahas ang katawan nito at nagsusumigaw roon ang karangyaan. Nakakaasiwa ang mukha nitong nangangapal sa make-up. Bakas ang pagiging istrikta nito.

'Mrs. Evangeline Salazar.' Oh, well, sa pagkakaalam niya ay ayaw nitong ina-address na Mrs., so, it should be Ms. Eva or Ms. Salazar. Nagmamay-ari ng dalawampung porsyento ng stock sa HGC. Naupo ito sa kaliwang bahagi ni Mr. Johnson.

Kasunod nito ang dalawa pang may edad na rin na pawang mga nakaitim na suit. Si Mr. John Fitzgerald na naupo sa tapat ng ginang at si Mr. Ali Singh na naupo naman sa tabi nito. Kapwa rin may share sa kumpaniya.

"What is this all about?" Hindi nawawala ang pagkakakunot sa noong tanong ni Infinity.

"We heard that the next CEO is already here. We just want to welcome you," Mr. Johnson answered.

"Thank you for that, Mr. Johnson. You shouldn't bother anyway."

"It's our pleasure, Lady. So, when is your wedding?" Ms. Salazar asked.

Lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay ng dalaga dahil sa tanong na iyon ng ginang. Bakit siya tinatanong nito ng tungkol sa kasal?

"What? What wedding?"

"You did not know?" that was Mr. Singh.

"Know what? What is it that I need to know?" Nararamdaman niyang nauubos na ang kaniyang pasensiya, ngunit pinipilit niyang kumalma.

"We had that one rule in business, Lady. And that is, you have to get married before you can have the full power in that position," nakataas ang gilid ng labing sagot ni Mr. Johnson. Nanatili namang tahimik at nagmamasid lamang si Mr. Fitzgerald.

"I don't get it."

"Didn't your father told you?"

"He have not told me anything!"

"Iyan ang nag-iisang rules, hija, para tuluyan mong mahawakan ang kumpaniya. As of now, acting CEO ka pa lamang. Since you are the only heiress of Mr. Hasson. But you have to get married first before the year ends if you want to take the full responsibility as CEO," Mr. Fitzgerald explained.

"Why is that?" aniya rito.

"Because we won't allow this company to run by a woman."