“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
Thank you for all your love and support! Have a blessed New Year!
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
“Excuse me?” naniningkit ang matang tanong ni Samantha kay Aaron.She knew what she heard. It’s just that it’s too preposterous that she wanted to hear it again for confirmation.Aaron smiled even wider, his eyes dancing in an emotion she’s not sure of. “Go out on a date with me, Ms. Bautista. Just one date at bayad ka na sa utang mo,” he declared suavely.Date.Tama nga ang dinig niya. Inaaya siya ng mayabang na si Aaron Miguel Sandejas sa isang date!She scoffed. Anong nakain nito at naisip niyong papayag siya sa gusto nitong mangyari?Well, you agreed to meet him here today. What difference does it make? tuya ng isang parte ng isip niya.Napaismid siya. Naisip na naman niya ang katangahan niya kanina. She was just caught off guard and was not thinking clearly. But now, she does.Tumuwid siya ng tayo, nakataas ang noo. “I’m sorry but I have to say no
The ride home for Samantha was silent and uncomfortable. She was more than relieved that Aaron was not talking to her since they left SSL’s satellite office. However, the silence is making her feel more awkward about the situation.Aaron was too close as she was seating on the passenger’s seat next to him. And his scent was surrounding all of her—drowning her with memories of him and that night.She knew now that staying unfazed in the presence of Aaron is tougher than she thought.She sighed.“Twelfth,” biglang sabi ni Aaron maya-maya.She turned to him amused. “Ha?”He shot a quick glance at her bago muling ibinalik ang mga mata sa daan. “That’s the twelfth time you sighed in the past hour. It’s either you’re anxious about something or you just really hate being with me and contemplating of jumping out the window?” anito, nakangiti.Napakurap
It’s lunch, you should eat. Or would you like to have lunch with me?Agad na rumolyo ang mga mata ni Samantha nang mabasa ang text message ni Aaron. That would be the third day that he’d been bothering her with his flowers and text messages. At sa totoo lang, nabubulabog na siya nang husto.Why wouldn’t she? Dalawang beses sa isang araw ito kung magpadala ng bulaklak, isa sa umaga at isa rin sa hapon—a different kind of flower each time. Nagte-text din ito sa kanya sa umaga, tanghali at gabi. At lahat ng text messages nito, halos iisa lang ang purpose—ang pumayag siyang makipag-date dito.Inis niyang inisuksok sa bag niya ng cellphone niya. Nakakapangalahati pa lang ang araw, napipikon na naman siya. Stress na nga siya sa isang supplier niya, dumadagdag pa talaga si Aaron sa mga alalahanin niya.What’s he doing anyway? Piss her off until she say yes to the date?Well, kung gano’n nga
Maingat na isinara ni Samantha ang laptop niya, katatapos lang ng online meeting niya sa isang wedding client na naka-base sa Norway. It was past 8 in the evening at ngayon pa lang siya uuwi. It was a lunch meeting. Well, lunch para sa client nila pero dinner para sa kanilang dalawa ni Mandy.Sila na lang ni Mandy ang naiwan sa opisina. Pinauwi na niya si Bettina dahil nag-aalala ito na baka mabulilyaso na naman ang bebe time nito kay Kristoff. Maging ang ibang tauhan niya pinauwi na rin niya dahil may event sila bukas sa Nasugbu at mamayang madaling-araw ang biyahe nila papunta roon. She wanted her employees to be well-rested for the long day tomorrow.She checked her business phone, walang message o missed calls. She smiled, a satisfied one. It has been more than 24 hours now that she blocked Aaron’s number on her phone. And she must admit, she’s enjoying her peace.“Mag-che-check lang ako kung naisara na lahat, Sam.