Next to you

Chapter 17 (part 4)

"Hello sir, it's been a while. Kumusta po?"

"Ianne, hija, welcome home. Mukhang hiyang na hiyang ka sa America ha. Kumusta ka naman? Kumusta ang hotel? I'm sorry for calling you this early. Baka may jetlag ka pa hija?"

"Ok lang po sir. Nakapagpahinga naman po ako kahapon. The hotel is fine. Malapit na pong matapos. Maybe more or less at the end of the year matatapos na po yung hotel. Baka pwede pa pong maihabol para sa Christmas."

"Oh yes. You did a good job. I expected nothing less from the vice president. Very good hija. If only Wess is as dedicated as you. Anyways, ipinatawag kita dito dahil may gusto akong sabihin sayo."

Kinabahan ako sa narinig. Ano naman kayang importanteng sasabihin ni tito Zac na hindi niya pwedeng idiscuss sa phone. Kapag kasi pinatawag ako, sigurado importate yan. Either about a big project or personal.

"Maupo ka hija. Do you want anything? Juice, coffee maybe?"

"Ok lang sir. Katatapos ko lang pong magbreakfast."

"Then, lets get down to business."

Naghintay ako nang sasabihin ni tito Zach.

"Do you remember the talk we had before you enter my company? Before I recruited you?"

"Yes I do sir."

"I think now is the time para gawin kang CEO hija."

Kahit ineexoect ko na ang sasabihin ni tito Zac, ay nagulat pa rin ako. Parang panaginip lang lahat. Parang guni guni ko lahat.

"S-sir, ano po kasi-"

"Alam kong nagulat ka hija. But I've already made my decision. I told you before, I want a trust worthy employee, and you proved to me that you are one. However I also told you that I want you to become the CEO in case my son disappointed me. And right now, I am really disappointed.

Did you ever thought Wess would give up everything for Mikaella? I've talked to him. Sinabi niyang ok lang daw na alisan ko siya ng mana. Then, I'll do it. Aalisan ko siya ng karapatan sa kumpanya, sa hotel at sa lahat ng ari-arian ko.

I let him be when he made Mikaella his girlfriend. Wala ako sinabi. Kahit ayoko, kahit ayaw namin. Hindi ako nagsalita. Hinayaan ko lang siya. Ayoko kasing may masabi sa akin ang batang iyon.

Pero iba na kasi ang sitwasyon ngayon, Ianne. Kasal na ang pinag-uusapan. Kahit siguro magalit pa si Wess sa akin, ilalayo at ilalayo ko pa rin siya sa babaeng iyon. Pero ang magaling, tinakot ko na't lahat lahat, wala pa rin.

Akala niya siguro hindi ko gagawin. Hah. Baka nakakalimutan niya that I have you Ianne. Kayang kaya mong patakbuhin ang hotel. Tinganan ko lang kung hindi siya iwanan ng babaeng iyon kung malaman niyang ibinigay ko na sayo ang kumpanya at wala nang maiwan kay Wess."

Nagulat ako sa suuden outburst ni tito Zac. Alam kong ayaw niya kay Mikaella pero the fact na ganoon niya pala kaayaw si Mikaella shocked me.

"Mahal ko ang anak ko. Syempre. But if the only way for him to realize that, is for him to lose everything, then so be it."

"Sir, I don't think kaya ko pong i-handle ang kumpanya at ang mga hotel. I'm sorry but I think I can't be the CEO. Para naman po kasing inagaw ko kay Wess ang kumpanya kung ganoon ang mangyayari."

"Adrianne, I think I've already made it clear, even before you enter na ikaw ang gagawin kong CEO once I've felt disobedience and disappointment fom my son. And you accepted it. Will you let my trust in you fade?"