Chapter 2

Bad Impression

Odette and Martha immediately search for some information about the agency that approaches them backstage. Isa na doon ang kompanya ni Barron. Hanggang sa tumungo na ang tatlo sa dressing room ay panay pa rin ang pangangalap ng mga ito ng mga impormasyon. They do that for the sake of Vanessa's career.

"Rockets Entertainment, maganda ang feedback ng company na ito in the past past years. Pero sa ngayon ay iba na ang namamahala nito simulang pumanaw ang mag-asawa na siyang nagtayo at nagpaunlad ng kompanya sa loob ng 10 years. I heard that the younger child is now in charge. Although nasa magdadalawang taon pa lang niyang hawak ang family business pero may napatunayan na itong angking galing sa entertainment industries. Well, that's a good and positive side. But the negative side is, the CEO is only 26 years old now. I heard that before he managed their family business, is known as a great heartthrob, casanova, player, and womanizer." isinatinig ni Martha ang buong impormasyon na nakakabit sa character ng namumuno sa Rockets Entertainment company.

"This Ellis Agency, I think ito ang naaakma para sa 'yo, Vanessa. What do you think, Martha?" tanong ni Odette sa dalawa.

Vanessa on the other side nodded plainly at her assistant. "I will leave that to you guys. Kayo ang mas nakakaalam kung saan ako mas bagay na ahensya. I have a huge trust in you, alam n'yo 'yan." Then she winks at them while looking at the presents that came from admirers, fans, and also from the company who is interested in her signing their company.

"Sa limang nabibilang na malalaking kompanya ng bansa ang nagpakita ng interest ngayon sa career mo, ngunit sa dalawang ito ka lang nababagay na ahensya. It's either Rockets or Ellis," Martha said curious about, Vanessa's decisions.

"I said, kayo ang mas may alam kung saan ako nababagay. Again, you choose for me guys," she said. She intended them to choose the one for her.

"Well, this, the Rockets company offers great resources for Vanessa. While Ellis, they also have great resources, pero hindi katulad ng Rockets na napakaraming koneksyon sa kahit saang ahensya ng bansa," Odette raised that matters to them.

"They both have good companies to offer. Pero ang Ellis ang mas nakakaangat at mayroon itong napaka may magandang reputation. Also, they just focus on their model. Although, maganda rin naman ang reputation ng Rockets, pero bukod sa mga models ang focus nila ay ang mga artista na hawak rin ng kompanya nila. And most of all, ang Ceo nila ay may past bad image," wika naman ni Martha.

"Then, let me choose, Ellis," Odette finally gives her decision.

"Me too, kahit mas gusto ko sana ang Rockets. Ayoko lang kasi mapapunta sa maling kompanya ang model ko. Mahirap na at baka makursunadahan ka pa ng may-ari si, Vanessa." said Martha.

"That is true, Martha. Then, we'll go to Ellis Agency for Vanessa's rising career," Odette said cheerfully.

Vanessa grin. "Oh, come on girls. I intended to be single all the time. Kaya kahit landiin ako ng mga mayayamang at popoging kalakihan ay walang epek sa akin 'yan ngayon." nakangiting lahad niya sa lahat.

"That's good, habang bata ka pa ay mag-focus ka lang dapat sa karera mo. No boys for now, dahil nandiyan lang ang mga 'yan sa tabi-tabi. You can have one of them at the right time." Martha proudly said.

"Everyone," isa sa tagapamuno ng event ang pumasok sa loob ng dressing area. Napatingin ang lahat rito. "The Banquet party is now ready. Come on, let us all celebrate the great show for tonight," malakas na saad nito sa lahat na naroon.

Pagkatapos nitong mag-announce ay may isa pang pumasok, iyon ay ang events director ng gabing 'yon. "Martha, may mga gustong kumausap sa 'yo at sa modelo mo," wika nito at masayang tumingin sa direksyon ni Vanessa. "Van, balita ko ang daming lumapit na ahensya sa 'yo sa gabing ito. Well, for me, you should have chosen, Rockets Entertainment. They have great resources to boost your career to the highest level,"

Nagkatitigan silang tatlo sa iminungkahi ng babaeng director. They keep their mouth shut for a short time. Until one of them speaks.

Martha smiled. "We are already discussing about it, and we have it in our mind already,"

"I'm curious what company you chose, Vanessa," tinig patanong ng director.

Vanessa smiles a little. "I already decided, Mrs. Alvarez... and Rockets is not my choice to sign with," Vanessa responded politely.

"Oh, that's sad news for the CEO of the Rockets," she said shaking her head. "But, it's your decision after all. Anyway, congratulations, Vanessa. We are very happy to have you as our finale model. You did a very great job."

"Thank you," she smiled politely.

"Well, I hope to have you again in our future events like this one, Vanessa. The owner of this luxurious dress company is eager to congratulate you personally. So, get out of here and show yourself at the banquet party that we prepared for all models."

"Sure, Mrs. Alvarez, and thank you for your kindness," she said and shake her hands.

Vanessa doesn't do any effort to retouch her makeup. Dahil kahit wala o mayroon man siyang kulorete sa mukha ay hindi pa rin nagbabago ang kanyang kabuoang ganda. Kaya nang matapos na niyang palitan ang damit sa isang kulay puti na bestida ay agad na silang lumabas sa dressing area.

"Hey, girls. Mauna na kayo at gagamit lang muna ako ng banyo," paalam ni Vanessa sa dalawa niyang kasama.

"Okay, dalian mo at sumunod ka kaagad sa amin," wika ng dalawa sa kanya bago pa siya iwan ng mga ito sa direksyon patungo s banyo.

"Okay, see you there." then she go to the comfort room area.

Meantime, when Barron heard about the model he chose to sign with their company taking down the offer, he eventually feel offended.

"What?" his gaze immediately landed on his assistant.

"S-sir..."

"It's just a simple task, but you didn't handle it well! What happened?" mahina ngunit mariing tanong ni Barron sa kanyang assistant.

"N-nakapagdesisyon na raw kasi s-si, Ms. Vanessa, Sir. S-sa Ellis Agency raw ho siya pipirma ng kontrata. 'Y-yon ho ang naririnig ko sa manager at assistant niya," nauutal na paliwanag ni Rene sa kanya.

His eyes narrowed with anger looking at the owner of one of his competitor companies. "What they did do? Have they tricked her to sign with them!?" ang mariing tanong ni Barron rito.

Rene shook her head. "H-hindi, Sir. U-um, as what I heard, ibinase raw nila sa reputasyon ng isang kompanya ang papasukin ni Vanessa," nauutal pa rin si Rene habang sinasabi niya ang impormasyon iyon. Alam na alam kasi niya ang ugali ng kanyang amo kaya takot n'ya lang na salubungin ang galit nito.

His sharp look continues. "What do you mean?!" singhal nito sa kanya sa mahinang boses.

Rene shaking in his bad temper. "I... I—" She was afraid to continue her words.

"Damn it! What is it?"

Rene is even more afraid of her boss at that time. Sino ang hindi kakabahan at matataranta kung ang amo ay ganito ka intimidating. "T-the reputation and the image of the Ceo. 'Y-yon ang binasehan nila, Sir." after Rene spill it she sighed heavily, para bang nawala ang bigat sa kanyang paghinga.

"Bullshit!" he angrily barks.

Rene suddenly chill. Para bang lahat ng kalamnan niya ay nanginginig sa takot kung ano pang galit ang mararanasan niya sa kanyang boss. She used to her boss's temper pero sa oras na iyon, galit na galit ang boss niya at wala siyang magawa upang kumalma ito ngayon.

"S-sir," she stops and swallows hard, para bang wala na siyang lakas loob magsalita pa.

Barron was annoyed by what he heard but he eventually calm down his self. "I told you to bring her to me so I will personally talk to her, right?" Rene seems to want to say something but Barron continued his words. "I guess, it won't be happened. Well—" napatingin siya sa babaeng kakapasok lang sa banquet party. Barron glares at the woman intently and with anger across his eyes.

"S-sir... I will try to convince, Ms. Dizon and—" wika ni Rene rito habang sinusundan ang tingin ng kanyang amo. Napalunok siya ng mariin dahil sa uri ng titig ng kanyang amo kay Vanessa. Sa palagay niya ay galit na galit ang kanyang amo sa nalaman nito. Sino naman ang hindi magagalit na akusahan ka kaagad base lang sa issues na naririnig. Vanessa immediately expressed her bad impressions for no valid reason. That is not right, of course.

"What ashamed! She immediately accused my image and question my company. The nerve of this woman! What is her right to accuse me when I didn't do anything wrong with her? She really is an unprofessional human being!" anger shows even more in Barron's gaze.

"L-let me talk to her, Sir. I... I promised to sort this out tonight and—"

Barron stops Rene with his cold and bad-tempered tone. "I will talk to her myself!"