Three Men Plus She (Completed)

59 - Paranoia

For several days that Gabriel is away for a business trip he seldom communicates with Emily. If he does it will only be about works and nothing else. And this makes Emily to think about Gabriel dating another girl and the possibility of meeting her in North Carolina. She now somewhat taking the Charlotte thing seriously. "What if there really is Charlotte in Gabriel's life?" she often asked herself and her anxiety slowly builds up.

Despite repetitive denials from Elizabeth each time she asked her sister about Gabriel and Charlotte, she still could not control herself to be sad and be paranoid to think that it might be true. This business trip of Gabriel is not doing any good for her. There were times in the past that Clint also had to attend to some business trips but she was never been this paranoid in those instances.

"When is Kuya coming back, Lolo?" Franco asked the Chairman while they are having dinner 2 three days before the JAGC anniversary celebration.

"I don't know, the last time I talked to him was four days ago, and wala syang nabanggit sa akin kung kelan ang balik nya," Don Jose replied while Emily remained mum and prefers to listen to the conversation.

"Hindi pwedeng wala sya dito sa anniversary celebration natin, Lolo,"

"Yes and I presume your brother is aware of that, but it seems this trip is very important for him, therefore, I will not mind if he misses this year's celebration," Don Jose replied.

"If Kuya will miss the event, sino ang mag-rereport ng accomplishment ng DBS, Lolo?" Yago suddenly asked.

"I can do that," Don Jose said. "Halos pareho rin naman yung report last year, so walang problema and JACP is the main attraction for this year so the presentation will be brief," Don Jose uttered.

"Why not let Emily do the presentation of the DBS accomplishment?" Franco said and he mischievously smiles upon seeing how shock Emily is on his suggestion.

"Pwede rin naman," Don Jose replied.

"But Mr. Chairman," Emily uttered, disagreeing

"I don't see anything wrong if you do the presentation in behalf of Gabriel. You have been working on that for weeks already," Don Jose uttered.

"But, Sir, I don't think I can do that, temporary lang ang stint ko sa DBS. If there is someone who can do the presentation, that is Norma kasi sya naman talaga ang nagstart gumawa nung presentation, itinuloy ko lang," Emily said.

"I'm sorry but I have to agree with Emily, Lolo. It will not be nice if we let her do the presentation then introduced her as one of our winners in the writing contest. Baka malagyan ng malisya ang pagkapanalo ni Emily sa contest," Yago interrupted.

"Well, Kuya Yago has a point, Lolo," Franco agreed.

"I must say that I agree, too, Santiago. Thank you for reminding me about that," Don Jose said. "I guess I will be the one to do it this year," he added and that is the only time Emily were able to breathe normally. She then mouted, 'Thank you' to Yago and the latters acknowledges it with a smile.

"But let's not loose hope, siguradong pipilitin ni Kuya Gabriel na maka-attend sya ng anniversary celebration," Franco said. "Sa iyo ba, Emily, waang nabanggit si Kuya kung kelan ang balik nya?" he asked and Emily immediately shooked her head.

"Wala naman syang nababanggit," Emily briefly replied.

"Para saan ba kasi talaga ang trip na ito ni Kuya?" Franco asked.

"Well, I only have one in mind, I have been eyeing to sell JACP books globally and only recently that I heard na yung owner ng isa sa pinakamalaking bookstore sa U.S. is based in North Carolina and Gabriel has a friend who happens to know this guy. But that is only my hunch, since Gabriel told me that this will be his surprise for me," Don Jose uttered.