“Sam, anak, ikaw na ba talaga ‘yan?” ani Aling Ness bago siya mahigpit na niyakap.
“Opo. Kumusta po kayo?” aniya bago gumanti ng yakap sa matanda na itinuring na rin niyang pangalawang ina.
Sinadya niya talaga ang matanda sa Brgy. Happy Village nang araw na iyon, ang barangay kung saan naroon ang dati niyang inuupahan. It was Sunday. At dahil wala naman silang event ng araw na iyon. So, she had decided to introduce Charlie to Aling Ness. It has been long overdue.
Ang sabi ni Bettina, ayaw raw umalis ng nanay nito doon. Ayaw nitong iwan ang bahay na ipunandar nito at ng nasira nitong asawa si Mg Ben, ang ama ni Bettina. Tanging si Brian na lang ang kasama nito doon tuwing umuuwi ito mula sa destino nito sa Pampanga. Doon kasi ang destino nito bilang medical representative ng isang pharmaceutical company.
“Maayos ako, anak,” excited na sagot ng matanda bago siya binitiwan. “Ito na ba ang an
Sam’s world was spinning in a fast pace-- with her eyes on her staff moving around the big hall and her ears attentive to all their concerns for the final touch-ups of the place as they prepare it for their big event for the night. She must admit, she’s stressed. It was a happy stress though. She felt like she’s back in California again.Sa totoo lang, ilang araw na siyang ganoon mula nang pormal niyang buksan ang opisina ng Charlize Elizabeth Events. Bookings came like a tidal wave after that first event she had with Mrs. Cobbarubias. Talking about making a good first impression. And most of their clients are from people within their circle—high end events that suits the taste of the upper class. And luckily, moving in that same crowd had taught her many thing in the past four years.As soon as the hustle and bustle of the hall settled down, she took a deep breath and started to instruct her staff assigned on dif
Maya-maya, nagsalita si Mandy sa earpiece niya. Dumating na raw ang VIP guests—foreign investors. Agad niyang sinabihan ang kaibigan na igiya ang mga ito sa VIP table na malapit sa stage. Nilapitan naman niya ang host para sa event na mag-uumpisa na ang inihandang short program ng mga Lobregat para sa investors ng mga ito.When the host started to speak his welcome spiel, she heaved a deep sigh as if letting go of the nerves. Though she had had events more than she could ever count, hindi pa rin maalis sa kanya ang mag-alala just in case something won't go well as planned. Subalit tiwala siya sa mga tauhan at suppliers niya. Maitatawid nila nang maayos ang event na ito.Ilang minuto pa, tinawag ng host si Don Gerardo para sa toast. Nagkanya-kanyang kuha naman ng alak ang mga guests at nagsimula na ring i-serve ang mga alak para sa espesyal na mga bisita.“For many more years of business with all of you. To Pillar!” ani Don G
Hindi mapakali si Aaron habang nasa backseat siya ng kotse niya. He was staring at the calling card given by that d*mn feisty woman at the investors party of Pillar.The woman said she’ll buy him manners if she can.He scoffed, lalong nainis. Pinitik niya ang calling card na agad pumailalim sa upuan ng kotse. He had never been pissed off the way he was at that moment for some time now. Nasanay siya sa SSL at sa iba pang kumpanya na pag-aari niya na ang lahat ng sabihin niya, batas na dapat paniwalaan at gawin. At SSL, nobody dared to mess with his instructions. Nobody has ever dared to talk back to him. Everyone knew their place.Ngayon lang siya nakatagpo ng babaeng kayang harapin nang kalmado ang init ng ulo niya. At babayaran pa raw nito ang special sake na siya mismo ang bumili para kay Mr. Sato. It has cost him at least a million bucks just for that sake. Hindi pa kasama roon ang bayad ng mga taong inutusan niyang hanapin ang espesyal na sake na iyon
“We are really sorry, Sam,” sabi ni Nicole kay Samantha. The party just ended and it was somewhat successful despite the commotion at the bar with Aaron and Mr. Sato. “Mr. Sato is one of our biggest investor that’s why Mr. Sandejas really wanted to please him. Kung alam ko lang—“ “Hey, it’s okay,” putol niya sa kaibigan, pilit pang ngumiti. Ngayon lang nito nalaman ang tungkol sa nangyari. Kung may nagkuwento mula sa mga guests na nakasaksi o sa iba pang paraan kaya nito nalaman, hindi niya alam. Basta ang alam niya ngayon, she will pay that damn sake whatever it’s worth and slap it to that conceited oaf’s face named Aaron Sandejas. “Pero—“ “It’s okay, Nicole. Besides, wala naman talagang nasaktan. Napahiya? Well, as the boss, I am owning up to the mistake of my staff. Normal lang na mapahiya ako. Aside from that, there was no harm done, really.” Which is really true. The bar was located at the farback end of the hall-- may sapat na dis
Napabuga ng pagod na hininga si Aaron nang sumalubong sa kanya sa opisina ang sandamakmak na emails na kailangan niyang sagutin. Idagdag pa ang patong-patong na papeles na kailangan niyang pag-aralan at pirmahan. He was just gone for a day and yet the amount of work he has for the day is almost drowning him.“Another long day it is,” he muttered before settling himself on his executive chair.He quickly sent a to-do list for the day for Viviane and Diego before he took a sip on the cup of black coffee before him. He kept Viviane, his father secretary. Not only because he treats her like a family but also because she’s efficient. In a year or two though he needs to find a replacement for Viviane because she’s getting older. At hindi lang miminsan siyang pinakiusapan ng anak nitong si Everly na kausapin ang ina nito na tumigil na sa pagtatrabaho. And he knows, though he wanted Viviane to linger at SSL, he knows, the time
“Hurry up, Aaron. Your niece is hungry and sleepy! And should I need to remind you it’s almost 5 in the afternoon? You wouldn’t want Josh to know about today wouldn’t you? Kahit kuya ka no’n, uupakan ka no’n,” pasigaw na sabi sa kanya ni Ana habang inaalo nito si Tala na panay ang iyak sa baby carrier nito. She was hurriedly fixing his niece a bottle of milk but the little airline heiress kept wailing like it was no tomorrow. Tumakas si Ana sa bahay nito at ng kapatid niya, bitbit ang pamangkin niya without the knowledge of his brother. Pinakiusapan niya kasi ito na hanapin ang tungkol sa kung sino man si red rose or si Sam Bautista. Unfortunately, his sister-in-law’s connection wouldn’t work kung hindi ito mismo ang magpupunta sa SSA at maghahanap sa impormasyong pinapanahanap niya. Truth be told, ang akala niya, hindi na talaga niya kakailanganin ang tulong ng hipag niya. He was confident that his legal team can get Silver off th
“Ang saya natin ngayon a! Inspired?” ani Bettina kay Samantha habang tumitipa siya sa laptop niya.She was composing a response to an email for a wedding client scheduled for the next year. Yes, they are fully booked for the rest of the year. And another yes, despite what happened last night, it was business as usual for Charlize Elizabeth Events today.“I’m always inspired,” sagot niya pinipigil ang ngiti, ang mga mata nasa laptop pa rin.Rumolyo ang mga mata ni Bettina, mukhang hindi convinced sa sagot niya. Humawak ito sa gilid ng table niya, tinitigan siya nang malapitan bago tinantiya ang expression niya.“Na-inspire ka dahil nagkita kayo ng dati mong boss?”Nalukot ang mukha niya bago siya natawa. “Hindi ‘no! Why would I be inspired seeing him? Sa totoo lang, I got pissed seeing him.”Hindi lang ang Daddy niya at si Lucas ang nakakita ng mga mal
Samantha's heart automatically stopped and her jaw dropped.She had waited for him to call her the whole day. She knew he’d call after he delivered the goods she anonymously instructed him to buy for Natalie’s family. Natalie was a clue that would eventually lead to her—the one behind the elaborate game plan of the day. And now that he’s calling her, she’s glad that her plans had worked. She can’t wait to talk to Natalie later.But what if he plans to retaliate that’s why he’s calling her?Then the game is not yet over, she said to herself.She took a deep breath and composed herself. “Hello, Mr. Sandejas. This is Sam Bautista. Are you calling for the payment of the sake? Please tell me your bank account number so I can transfer—““Fine, you won,” putol nito sa kanya, mababa ang tinig ngunit may bahid ng inis.She grinned, satisfied. “I won? What do