THE COMPETITION

CHAPTER LXXXVII

MARQUEZ'S EMPIRE

JAVIER'S PROVERBS

I have a gut feeling na may pagdududa si Daddy sa akin hindi niya pwedeng malaman na ako ang nagpakalat ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga plano niya kaya kailangan malaman ng dalawang panig na kinakampihan ko ang tungkol sa pagdududa ni Daddy sa akin to ensure my safety I dont want to be fucked up.He acts like he didnt care but I know him very well my old man is a smart ass kaya kailangan kong makausap ng harapan ang mga Rivera at mga De Guzman.

Kaya agad kong tinatawagan ang Rivera Realty at De Guzman Estate to set up a different appointment for a personal meeting but they told me that we are going to meet to a restaurant kasi hindi pwede makita ng mga tao doon na nakipagkita sila sa akin so I have no choice but to agree.

It's currently 9:00 AM I must be in Grinder's Cafe at exact 9:30 AM kaya nagmamadali akong lumabas sa aking office pasakay na sana ako ng elevator nang makasalubong ko si Aurora ang right hand ni Daddy,ano kaya ang ginagawa ng babaeng ito dito?tanong ko sa sarili.

AURORA:Javier saan ka pupunta,parang nagmamadali ka yata...

She asked curiously ano namang pakialam niya kung nagamamadali ako,I looked at her flatly.

JAVIER:May pupuntahan lang ako

Saka nagmamadali akong sumakay sa elevator.

GRINDERS CAFE

After a 15 minute drive nakarating na rin ako sa  meeting place namin ni Israel so I need to wait for a few minutes a few moments later dumating na rin ang aking hunihintay together with his secretary,so I stood up in my seat to greet them as formality.

JAVIER:Good morning Mr. De Guzman

ISRAEL:Good morning Mr. Marquez,by the way you can call me by my first name tutal magkilala naman tayo here is Benjie he is my long time secretary.

JAVIER:I agree that we can call each other by our first names nice to meet you Benjie.

BENJIE:Nice to meet you too Mr.Marquez

Saka umupo na kaming dalawa ni Israel habang ang kanyang secretary ay umorder ng kape.

ISRAEL:Can you tell me the reason why you set up a personal meeting?

JAVIER:Hindi na ako paligoy-ligoy pa Israel I have a feeling na nagdududa na akin si Daddy so I need your help para ma proteksyonan ako if everything will be fucked up.

May diin kong sabi while he looked at me me with a poker face.

ISRAEL:So technically you need more protection am I right?

JAVIER:Yes..

Tipid kong sagot

ISRAEL:I already have one of my men to look after you in your building so what you need is someone to spy on your Dad? Is that it?

JAVIER:Your'e correct I know that your gonna ask what's in it for you,just like we agree I will give more information about my Dad's secret agenda.

Israel suppose to say something pero dumating na si Benjie na may dalang tray na may tatlong cappucino..

BENJIE:This for you Sir Israel and the other one is for you Mr. Marquez doon lang ako sa kabilang table..

Israel just nodded as a form of agreement then we continued our conversation.

ISRAEL:Okay I will assign one of my men there to disguise as one of your employees.

JAVIER:Great anyway I go ahead and thanks for the coffee