Pagod na umupo si Charlie sa executive chair sa opisina niya. She had been to three different banks just this morning, but all the same—they refused to consider her loan. Heck! They didn’t even gave her a chance to explain or hear out her plan on how will they pay the loan. They just rejected her outright like she’s some penniless start-up businesswoman who doesn’t have a penny on her name. She’s a Sandejas for goodness’ sake! She still owns the biggest shipping lines in the country! They’re experiencing a little setback now but still, she still has her name and money. How could they treat her like trash? Like she’s some kind of a leper who must be avoided at all times! She leaned on the back rest of the chair and closed her eyes, frustration, pity and worry drowning her all at once. Kanina pa niya gustong umiyak, pinipigilan lang niya. She knew if she’d allow herself to cry now, baka hindi na siya tumigil. The past two days had been too much. Idagdag pang ginigigil siya ni Gael
“Thank you dahil sinamahan mo ‘ko. I know you are so busy these days with your company and all but I really appreciate it that you came and helped me out today,” ani Jasmine bago ininom ang juice na nakasilbi sa harap nito.Sinamahan niyang magmerienda muna ang kaibigan sa isang cafe sa mall dahil nauuhaw na raw ito matapos nilang mabili ang mga basic baby essentials na sinabi niya. Honestly, she wanted to buy more for Jasmine’s baby but Jasmine is being Jasmine kaya panay ang tanggi nito Siguro, magpapa-deliver na lang siya ng mga gamit ng baby nito sa mga susunod na araw kapag naayos na ang problema niya.Kapag naayos na ang problema niya.Mabilis na napasulyap sa kanyang mamahaling wristwatch si Charlie. A sigh instantly left her lips when she realized that she only had less than an hour to spare for her to make it on time for the meeting.Muling bumigat ang dibdib ng dalaga. Ayaw man niya sanang kabahan, hindi niya mapigil ang kanyangs sarili. She knew how the board is, they don’
Charlie was instantly greeted by Rancho Italianos’ staff when she arrived at the restaurant. The staff know her and her family well because the owners are a family friend. It was also their go-to restaurant since she and Caleb were kids kaya kilala sila ng mga staff doon.Maya-maya pa, iginiya na siya ng isa sa mga waiter sa hilera ng mga private rooms na naroon. The waiter stopped at the third door and gently opened the door for her.She took in a sharp breath before entering the room. Agad na bumungad sa kanya ang bulto ng isang lalaki na hindi nalalayo sa edad ng Daddy niya. He was sitting on one of the chairs facing the table set-up, drinking casually from his wine glass. He seemed lost in thought for a moment. But when he saw her, agad itong tumayo.“Y-you must be Ms. Charlize Sandejas,” anito, ngumiti.She forced a smile. “I am. And you must be Mr. Stanley Dominguez,” pormal niyang sagot.Lalong lumawak ang ngiti ng lalaki. “Stanley. Just call me Stanley, Ms. Sandejas,” anito,
“I’m so proud of you, Charlie,” anang Uncle Joshua niya nang sila na lang dalawa ang naiwan sa loob ng board room. Katatapos lang ng kanilang mahabang meeting kaama ang mga board directors ng SSL. She reported about the payment extension Crown Bank Inc. has given them and that they can now proceed with the recovery plan for the cruise line.“Thanks, Uncle Josh. Well, what can I say, I’ve learned from the best,” pabirong sagot niya.Her uncle chuckled. “I’d really take that as compliment kahit na alam kong inuuto mo lang ako, Charlie. Go ahead spill it. What do you want?”Natawa na siya. Her uncle really knows her well. “It means I needed some time off and be with Levi,” mabilis niyang sagot. Ilang araw na siyang paulit-ulit na tinatanong ng anak tungkol doon subalit hindi niya ito masagot-sagot dahil sa problema niya sa Crown Bank. And now that it's settled, there's no better way to celebrate than to be with her son. Nagkamot ito ng batok. “Fine. I’d oversee SSL for a while so you ca
“Hello! Hello!” singhal ni Gael sa kausap sa kabilang linya. Mabilis niyang tinignan ang cellphone niya. He quickly cursed when he realized na binabaan siya ni Charlize ng tawag!He dialed her number again but his call won’t go through. It seemed Charlie blocked his number. He scoffed bago gigil na initsa ang cellphone niya sa office table niya.“The guts of that woman!” he said, cursing under his breath.Kanina nang malaman niya na kahapon pa na-aprrove ang request for payment extension ng SSL Cruise Line, he wanted to tear the whole office apart! He just knew that it was one of the board of directors who betrayed him. He knew it. He just fcking knew it!Noong unang board meeting pa lang nila, alam na niyang hindi siya tanggap ng mga ito. He just knew that some stranger taking over the chairmanship will not sit well with them. But he didn’t expect them to be this bold.He took a sharp breath. “Hugo!” tawag niya sa assistant niya.Hugo is half-German and half-Filipino at kasa-kasama
Agad na nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Gael dahil sa sinabing pangalan ng lalaki. The name sounded familiar yet… His head throbbed, more painful this time. But he willed his logic not to falter. He briefly closed his eyes and tried to recall where did he hear that name.No. He didn’t hear it, he read the name somewhere.Right. He read that name from the investigation report about him.“Samaniego. You’re my former boss?” takang-tanong niya sa lalaki nang magmulat siya, naguguluhan pa rin.The man chuckled and murmured something he did not catch. “I’m not your former boss, Gael. My Dad was your former boss.”“Eric Samaniego?” sambit niya, frowning after.He didn’t know where it come from. Hindi niya masyadong matandaan ang nilalaman ng report na hiningi niya tungkol sa kanyang pagkatao. Kaya naman maski siya nagulat when the name just popped inside his head!“That’s the name of my Dad,” anang lalaki.“And who you are to me?” he quickly asked, balling his fist after. The pain in his head
“What’s this?” takang-tanong ni Jasmine kay Charlie habang hawak ang isang envelope.“Why don’t you open it to find out,” ani Charlie, pilya pang ngumiti bago sumimsim sa baso ng juice na nakasilbi sa harap niya.She was at Jasmine and Gray’s house. After visiting the SSL Cruise, doon siya dumiretso. Ayaw na niya kasing patagalin pa ang surprise niya para kina Jasmine at Gray.”T-this is a baby shower invitation… for my baby,” nanlalaki ang mga matang sabi ng matalik niyang kaibigan nang matignan ang laman ng envelope. “Binibigyan mo ng baby shower ang baby namin ni Gray?”“Yes at hindi ka pwedeng tumanggi.” Tumayo siya mula sa garden set na kinauupuan niya sa lanai ta tumabi sa kaibigan. “Please indulge me, Jas. I never had one with Levi. At saka your baby girl needs all the love she could get. Allow me, us, to shower her with all gifts before she’s born. Please.”It’s true she never had a baby shower when she was pregnant with Levi. Not that she doesn’t want to, she did. But she doe
For a moment, Charlie’s mind was filled with haze. She cannot think of any logical explanation how the hell Gael ended up inside her fitting room… and has helped zipped her clothes up!Lalong nanlaki ang mata niya sa naisip.He zipped up my clothes, she thought. Oh my god!He just had a glimpse of her damn bare back! She didn’t even wear her brassiere that day, she just had he Nippies on. And Gael just…“Oh my, god!” she groaned in utter disbelief.She cannot believe she allowed Gael, her very own enemy, to have a partial free view of her naked body! Of course she had been naked in front of him before. But that was before. The Gael now doesn't!Mabilis niyang pinagkurus ang mga kamay sa kanyang dibdib. She felt so exposed!Shame and confusion washed over her again. But just after the shame, came the rage. Gigil niyang dinuro ang dibdib nito.“How dare you come in here, Gael! Are you out of your mind? Have you become a damn perv? Hindi ka man lang nahiya! Ano bang—“ Her next words we