Chapter Two: Is He Dead?

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

"Ridiculous! I'm outta here!" Infinity had lost her temper.

She stood up and leave the room without any words. Habol niya ang hininga dahil sa bilis ng pintig ng kaniyang dibdib. She was like this everytime she got pissed off.

Nakakaloko! Isang malaking kalokohan ang sinabi ng mga iyon. Why would she need to get married bago mapasakaniya ang Hasson Manssion? She's the heiress. The only heiress! Her father owned it, anyway.

Diretso niyang tinungo ang elevator at nanginginig ang mga kamay na pinindot ang up button niyon. Agad namang bumukas ang metal na pintuan saka siya pumasok.

Tumigil ang elevator sa floor kung nasaan ang opisina niya.

"I'll be in my penthouse. Call me if needed," she commanded to her secretary.

Nilampasan lamang niya ang kaniyang opisina. Kumaliwa siya at bumungad sa kaniya ang fiber glass door na may security lock. Infinity entered the code and her right thumbmark and the door opened.

She passed by on the bridge made of fiber glass too, it is connected to the Hasson Tower. Like what she did on the first door, she entered the code and her left thumbmark instead.

She gasped some air as she walks towards her unit. There's only two doors on that floor. She owned the door on the left and the other one is under renovation.

Pagal niyang iniupo ang sarili sa malaking sofa nang makapasok siya sa kaniyang 'bahay'. She pinched the bridge of her nose to calm herself. Dumausdos ang kaniyang katawan hanggang sa tuluyan siyang mahiga sa malambot at mahabang upuan. Hanggang sa hindi na niya namalayan ang pagpikit ng kaniyang mga mata.

Hindi alam ni Infinity kung gaano siya katagal na nakaidlip. Nagising na lamang siya sa sunod-sunod na pagtunog ng kaniyang cellphone. Pupungas-pungas na hinagilap niya iyon sa blazer na suot.

"Father…" she answered. She stood and sat.

"Daughter, baby. I heard from Mr. Johnson—"

"Oh, that moron. So, what is that all about?"

"Language, baby."

"Seriously, Mr. Hasson. What is that 'marry-someone' all about?"

Sandaling natahimik ang ginoo sa kabilang linya. Nahimigan nito ang kaseryosohan ng anak nang tawagin na lamang siya nito sa pangalan. This is what happened for letting her daughter to be independent. Natuto itong magdesisyon para sa sarili at manindigan sa kung ano ang tama. And when it comes to business, Infinity doesn't mind who she was talking to. Especially, when you pissed her ass off.

Malalim ang pinakawalan nitong hininga bago sinagot ang nais malaman ng anak.

"The boardmembers set a rule on who has to be the heir of CEO. There would be no problem if the present leader has a son. The board won't allow the Hasson Manssion be run by a heiress, unless if she get married. And in my case, you are my only child, Infinity," paliwanag ng ama niya.

"I already hear that, father."

Saglit na natahimik ang magkabilang linya, bago muling nagsalita ang dalaga.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I had lost my chance, darling. I thought, I still can handle the position until you get married."

She sighed. Batid niyang napilitan ang ama na ipasa sa kaniya ang pamamahala ng kompaniya nang wala sa panahon. Kung hindi ito inatake sa puso ay hindi pa nito ipapasa sa kaniya ang pagpapatakbo sa Hasson Manssion. She understand why they had to set that kind of rules. The Hasson Manssion Philippines is not the only condotels running. It was spread all over the world. And it's not just a low-class condotels. Hasson Mansion graded as seven star condo and hotels.

And be run by a woman is a risk.

"What will happen if I don't want to get married?"

"You should, baby. Or else the vice president will get your position. If that happened, we will going to lose our empire."

Naihilig ni Infinity ang batok sa sandalan ng sofa. She look up at the ceiling and pinched the bridge of her nose. She sighed again.

"How too soon?" She asked.

"Three months, darling. You have three months to get married."

"That was too soon, Pa," she said out of despair.

"I'm sorry, baby."

Lack of words to say. She bid him goodbye and cut the calls. Walang buhay na naibaba niya ang kamay na may hawak sa telepono. Ilang malalim na paghinga pa ang pinakawalan niya habang nakatitig doon.

Then suddenly, she heard the sound of her stomach.

"Oh!" She exclaimed as she look at the time. It's past one o'clock, already late for lunch.

Ayaw niya munang mag-isip. Lalo na't nakakaramdam na siya ng gutom. Iinit lang ang ulo niya at hindi siya makakapag-isip nang maayos.

Tumayo siya at dinampot ang purse na nalaglag sa makapal na alpombra, saka niya tinungo ang pintuan. Bumaba siya sa basement ng Hasson Tower gamit ang elevator.

Agad na sumalubong sa kaniya ang limang bodyguard. Tumayo siya sa pintuan sa driver seat at inilahad ang kanang palad upang hingiin ang susi sa kaniyang driver slash bodyguard. Nag-alangan pa itong iabot iyon sa kaniya at hindi sana ibibigay kung hindi pa niya ito pinagtaasan ng kilay.

Maliksi siyang naupo sa harap ng manibela at isinuksok sa keyhole ang susi, saka in-start ang sasakyan. At dahil sa desperasyong nararamdaman, sa pagmamaneho niya iyon ibinuhos.

Nakita niya ang pagkataranta ng kaniyang mga bodyguard na makasakay sa SUV na ginagamit ng mga ito, nang mabilis niyang paandarin ang personal niyang sasakyan palabas ng basement. Agad din naman siyang nagminor nang marating niya ang highway. She's not that stupid to take her life at risk on the road.

Driving is one of her stress reliever. Kung may alam nga lang siyang lugar na pwede siyang magpatakbo ng mabilis, baka pinuntahan na niya iyon upang kumalma.

She drove her car to the place she only knew. A restaurant that served her favorite food. Nag-search pa siya sa internet para lang makakita ng ganoong restaurant na malapit lang sa lugar niya.

Due to her starving tummy and excitement, and the traffic-free road, she freely drove her car to the restaurant. But when she's about to turn right, out of nowhere, a man appeared. But it is too late to stop, she already bumped on the walker.

She was stunned as she stepped on the break pad. Her heart thumping so fast. She was gasping. She was surprised on what she did.

Did she... did she crashed into someone?

Nervous, she remained inside. The commotion started. She saw her bodyguards at the back of her car, saka lamang siya nakahinga nang maluwag.

Nakita niya ang pagbaba ng mga ito sa sasakyan at ang paglapit ng mga iyon sa kaniya. Ang apat ay dumiretso sa unahan ng kaniyang kotse, habang ang isa ay tumayo sa gilid ng pintuan sa gawi niya.

Scared and panicked. Her eyes get wide as she watched her bodyguards lifted the body of a person. She get out of the car and saw the unconscious man.

"Lady, you should stay inside. They will drive him to the hospital," anang naiwan na bodyguard.

Tila walang narinig. Hindi makapaniwala at nanlalaki pa rin ang mga matang naitakip niya ang isang palad sa kaniyang bibig habang pinapanood ang mga tauhan na isinasakay sa SUV ang taong kaniyang nadisgrasya.

Naramdaman na lamang niya ang pag-alalay nito sa kaniya pasakay sa back seat at ang pagsara nito sa pintuan. Ito na ang nagmaneho para sa kaniya.

"I-is he dead? D-did I killed him, Anton?" She asked, trembling.

Sumulyap muna si Anton sa rearview mirror bago ito sumagot.

"Not that serious, Lady."

"Are you sure?"

"As what I saw, the victim is not on his death. Don't worry."

"Why are we here?" nagtatakang tanong ni Infinity nang inihinto ni Anton ang sasakyan sa parking ng restaurant na dapat ay sadya niya, sa halip na sundan ang SUV na magdadala sa ospital sa taong nabangga niya.

"You haven't eat yet. You should eat, Lady."

Damn this man! Paano pa nito naisipang makakakain siya sa kabila ng nangyari? Nang-aasar ba ito?

"Drive the car to the hospital, idiot! Where on earth did you think that I can eat after what happened?!" She shouted.

Tila naman naalarma ang lalake at agad nitong in-start ang makina at muling pinaandar paalis sa lugar na iyon upang puntahan ang pinakamalapit na ospital na posibleng pinagdalhan sa biktima.

"Lady, I think you shouldn't be seen by the police," paalala ng lalake nang marating nila ang ospital at akma na siyang lalabas ng sasakyan. "They will ask about you at maaari itong makarating sa management."

"It was an accident, Anton. It was my fault, I know, but still, it was an accident."

"Naiintindihan ko. Pero isipin n'yo na lang po ang mangyayari kung sakaling kumalat ang balitang ito at malaman na kayo ang sangkot. Maiiskandalo ang pangalan mo, Infinity."

Natahimik ang dalaga, lalo na at tinawag na siya nito sa kaniyang pangalan. Naroon na ang concern sa tinig ng lalake.

Napapabuntonghininga siyang yumuko at pinagmasdan ang mga daliring pinaglalaruan ang isa't isa.

"Okay, but can you check the victim for me?"

"Okay, then." Tinanggal ni Anton ang sariling seatbelt saka ito umibis sa sasakyan.

Naiwang tinatanaw ni Infinity ang papalayong bulto ng binata. Anton is not just her bodyguard. He is the only person she can entrust her life. Kaya naman may pagkakataong nawawala ang pagiging amo niya rito oras na marinig na niyang tawagin siya nito sa pangalan. It only means she is on her hard-headed once he called her by name.