Her Inevitable Fall

KABANATA 1

"Google says, Thyrone Lothario Abellanosa is a known businessman. His family owned and manufactured several medical products which are distributed in several areas in the Philippines," informed by my secretary.

Thyrone Lothario Abellanosa, I've been saying this name for several times already. Trying to remember any personal interaction I've made with him, pero kahit anong piga ang gawin ko 'di ko pa talaga na kilala ang taong ito.

I stared at Demeece trying to pull some more information about this man. But it seemed she has nothing more to say. So I asked her, "Did you asked him the reason for scheduling a meeting with me?"

She turned tense at this question and immediately I knew she failed to get this important information. Even though I've told her during our orientation that she could always welcome those important people in my time but I didn't expect her to do it during a busy schedule.

She knew I hate incompetence. Five minutes ago, she came into my room disturbing me from reading a bunch of articles that are due for printing just to inform me that a man called up, and set a meeting schedule with me tonight. She approved it without even asking if I'm available.

I know I need to expand a little more consideration with her mistake. She was deceived, that's what happened. It's only her second week as my personal secretary and this is the first time she made a wrong decision.

She's my sixth secretary within the three-year duration. 'Yung naunang dalawang sekretarya ay bumibitiw na lang, 'di man lamang sinabi kung bakit sila nag-resign. Basta na lang ibinigay sa aking manager ang kanilang resignation letters. At 'yung tatlo naman ay ako mismo ang nag-fired dahil wala silang alam na gawin kung 'di ang bigyan ako ng sakit ng ulo sa trabaho.

Halos sa lahat, it's only Demeece who manifested my life's motto, "Do your work with urgency and with no mistake." Ngayon lang, ngayon lang talaga niya pinasakit ang aking ulo ng sobra.

I was tapping my pencil on the table while glaring at her, waiting for an answer that surely she hasn't. She turned paler in front of me, hands with a logbook on her chest.

"I'm sorry Miss Valiente. I missed that detail and approved his appointment. He told me that you were college friends and you've talked about this already. And you know about the dinner. I'm sorry I made a wrong judgment," she apologized.

Okay, hinga ng malalim Thyian. Nobody's perfect, only you. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth together.  Then I command, "Call him up and tell him I can't. I got more important things to do at the office. And there are due magazine articles which are expected to be published soon. And emphasize this meeting him isn't important."

I saw her swallowed before saying, "Okay Miss, I'll inform him immediately that you are busy with more important things."

I mean what I say. "Do it immediately. We're done," I concluded.

I took the third manuscript in front of me and began reading and editing some of it's information. These manuscripts were to be published in OaO Magazine, my publishing company. This company had been mine for more than 5 years, I built it from scratch on my own. I built it without asking any help from my parents because I can and I'm able.

Patapos na ako sa binabasang dokumento at masasabi kong wala talaga akong masabi sa halos lahat ng aking hired contributors. Ang gagaling nila, sulits talaga ang pera, oras, at training na inilaan ko sa bawat isa sa kanila. Tulad na lang nitong binabasa kong manuscript ng women's empowerment na ang content ay mula sa kilalang actress. Huling limang pangungusap na lamang at tapos ko na ito ng biglang may kumatok sa aking opisina.

"Ano ba?!," di ko napigilang isigaw.

Dumungaw si Demeece sa aking pintuan ng may takot. "Miss, I'm sorry to disrupt you but Mr. Abellanosa demanded to talk with you," she said in fear. "He's too persistent I don't know what to tell him any more."

This man again. Two, that was the number of fouls he made against me, firstly, pretending to be someone closely related to me, and secondly, uncomprehending to any of my words. Actually, this isn't the first time it happened. I've known some persistent client who tried to change my decision but none of them won.

"Sira ulo ang taong yan, ah. Bakit 'di makaintindi ng salitang busy?! Put him on my line!" utos ko.

She hurriedly did my bidding and in no time I heard a man's voice on the other line.

I leaned on my chair and rubbed my temples with my hand, listening to the man on my speaker.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Valiente, I was informed by your secretary that you can't make it tonight b---", he started but I interrupt him.

"How difficult is it for you to understand the words no and busy?" I softly said voice traced with sarcasm.

"I have the right to demand!" in a raised voice he said. "Because you are teaching the wrong principles to the young adults. How could you dismissed this urgent request when our family is in trouble because of you."

My eyebrows were pulled together in confusion from  hearing his wrong accusation. I immediately grab a pen and write those accusations he's saying, preparing myself in getting some weapons that I could use against him.

"What wrong teaching are you saying? You said that it's your family's problem, then why would you include me. My life ----" returning his words to him.

"Do the things that you love on doing, and don't feel obligated to do what others wanted from you. It's not your responsibility," he quoted my words. "These are the exact words that my brother keeps on repeating. Rejecting his obligation to his own family. Now tell me, isn't it your responsibility to correct what falsely teaching you've told my brother? "

His loud breathing and tension were loudly reflecting on my speaker. On the other hand, my breathing was getting rougher too. Feeling the headache that starts to build around me. I knew I need to think properly during this time and say the right words he wanted to hear. Any wrong uttered words will sure make this situation in a more worse condition.

In a calmer tone, I said, "I don't hold your brother's mind and whatever his thinking. The words I said were based from research and studies, they are not just made up. These principles came from the known successful individuals in the entire world. Your brother wanted a none stressful life then let him be," I insisted nicely. Pointing out that he needed to be open-minded and see things from a better perspective.

I heard him took a deep breath before emphasizing, "My brother's future is our family's concern. Him being unproductive, idle, and insufficient will surely cause him trouble. You don't care cause he's isn't your family. And we are concerned because he is ---"

He's truly testing my patience. With this behavior manifestation, I know that this will not end anytime soon and the only solution to this is to do his bidding. "Okay, fine. Where will we meet? Because for sure you will not stop until you get what you want,"