Star Siren (Reluctant Bride No. 3)

CHAPTER 8: Si Bree

CHAPTER 8: Si Bree

“Welcome back Gabriel” bati ni Greg sabay yakap sa pamangkin.

Lunes na.  Unang araw ng pagbabalik ni Gabriel sa opisina.  Pinapahinga pa sana siya ng kanyang ama but Gabriel insisted on coming to the office today and start his work.  He is the Chief Operations Officer of this holding company after all and his one year hiatus made him miss his job.

Ngayon, lahat ng VP pati ang mga Department Heads ay nandito sa isang restaurant sa Penthouse ng building nila upang magkaroon ng welcome luncheon.  Ayaw na sana ni Gabriel pero the office insisted kaya natuloy na rin. 

Mas gusto sana ni Gab na magpa-meeting na lang pero dahil sa pagpupumilit ng Uncle Greg niya, itinuloy na lang itong simpleng salo-salo.  Kaya nga’t nandito na siya ngayon at binabati ng halos lahat ng VP at department heads.

Naglunch na agad sila.  Ayaw ni Gab ang may program-program pa.  He felt it was too over-rated.  He preferred approaching everyone one-by-one and thank them for coming which he intends to do after lunch and before everyone goes back to work.

“O, Gabbie, anong plano mo ngayon?” Tanong ng Uncle Greg niya habang kumakain sila ng lunch.  “Itutuloy mo pa ba ang expansion sa Hong Kong?”

“I’m still completing the feasibility.  Expanding to Hong Kong is important if we want to get into China so I am carefully studying the plan.” Sagot ni Gab.

“Magaling!  Pero, Gabbie, kailangan isipin mo muna ang personal life mo.” Komento ni Greg.  “Hindi sa nanghihimasok ako ha, pero hindi ka na bumabata, baka kung simulan mo itong project na ito hindi ka na makapag-asawa.  That Bree girl is crazy leaving you like that.” Halos mabulunan si Gabriel sa sinabi ng uncle niya. 

Sino pa ba ang nakaka-alam?  Pati uncle niya alam na. 

Close siya sa uncle niya.  Lawyer din ito.  Siya ang mentor niya sa negosyo at pati na rin sa buhay kaya ganoon na lamang ito kung magkomento tungkol sa love life niya.  Pero, siya na nga lang talaga siguro ang hindi na-inform na may ginagawang milagro si Bree habang nasa London siya.  The thought was starting to ruin his day.

“Huwag kang mag-alala uncle, darating din tayo diyan.” Sagot na lang ni Gabriel ng may ngiti, trying to reassure his uncle.  Sumagi sa isipan niya si Star, but quickly shook off the memory. 

“At ito naman si Prime, gagong…” his uncle continued.

“Uncle…” Gabriel quickly cut off his uncle.  He doesn’t want to talk about Bree.  He wanted to forget about her and his traitor friend Prime.  The quicker, the better.  Hindi maikakaila na three days after he arrived from London he still feels like crap where Bree is concerned.  Hindi biro ang pitong taong pagsasama nila bilang magkasintahan. 

“Ok, I’m sorry.  I am just as affected as you.  I was expecting a wedding after you got back from London and this just makes me feel sad.” Explain naman ni Greg.

“I understand uncle.  The important thing now is that I’m back and I will make everyone busy planning that expansion into Hong Kong and later China.” Ngumiti si Gabriel.  It made his uncle feel good that his nephew seems to be on top of things.  He expected him to be distraught with this issue regarding Bree, but seeing that his nephew can still smile gave him hope.

Nagpatuloy ang lunch.  May nagtoast pa para kay Gabriel na isang subordinate niya.  Then, at around 1:30 ay nagpaalam na ang karamihan sa mga nagsidalo.  Marami nga naman ang gagawin ngayon considering that it is a Monday.

Nagsabay nang bumaba ng elevator ang mag-uncle.  Kasabay nila ang iba pang mga department heads na biniro pa si Gabriel kung may naiuwi daw ba itong prinsesa galing sa London.  Tumawa ang lahat nang sinabi ni Gabriel na mas type niya ang mga prinsesa dito sa Pilipinas.