ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH?

Chapter Seventy

MISS JACKIE WAS ALREADY SEATED. Naunang pumasok ng conference room si Paula. Nakasunod si Lily at natigilan sa pinto nang makita ang babae sa likod ng maling paratang sa kanya.

Lily braced herself before stepping in. Her white peep-toe wedge shoes with pink accents softly thudded against the dark carpeted floor. Her bob-cut blond hair was pulled back by bobby pins, clearing away from her face. She wore the most comfortable white ruffled top with thin shoulder straps paired with pink-tie dyed white straight pants.

And yet, she carried the heaviest feeling in her chest. Lily was stiff and reserved even if she already found a seat.

Sinadya niyang okupahin ang upuang katapat nang pinuwestuhan ni Miss Jackie. Ang makinis at mahabang itim na mesa lang ang nakapagitan sa kanilang dalawa.

Paula occupied the other end of the table. The seat at the head of the table was automatically reserved for Basil.

Lily stared back at Miss Jackie’s steely eyes.

How could this woman have the audacity? Looking at me with no remorse at all?

Miss Jackie sat still. Relaxed. She crossed her legs, angled to the side. Her attire still screamed she’s the HR Head— a fitting pencil skirt and button-down blouse both in darker shades of periwinkle. Mababa ang pagkaka-ponytail ng mahaba-haba nitong buhok. Haba na umabot sa ilalim ng mga shoulder blade. Make-up was finely applied on her wrinkled face. She truly came prepared for this meeting.

It made Lily cautious. If Miss Jackie came prepared, she should expect that the woman have something in store for them.

“Hi, Paula,” malaming na bati ni Miss Jackie rito. “How’s my seat? Comfortable, isn’t it?”

“Too hard,” Paula replied unaffectedly. Nasa kalagitnaan ito ng pag-isa isa sa mga papel sa loob ng dalang folder. Nagdo-double check kung kumpleto ang mga pahina. “Nakapag-request na akong papalitan ‘yong upuan. Ilang dekada na yata kaya ganoon na kanipis ang cushion.”

Miss Jackie slightly narrowed her eyes. As usual, the old woman remained careful, so careful, with giving away hwr reactions.

“It wears thin, sure. But impressive how long that chair had been there. And it still served efficiently.”

“It serves who it wants to serve. Doesn’t pass my standards though,” binaba na ni Paula ang folder at tinapunan si Miss Jackie ng tingin. “We will have to wait for Sir Basil. Do you need anything before the meeting proceeds?”

“She might need some water,” mataray niyang singit. She welcomed Miss Jackie’s glance at her with a precision-sharp glare. “You know, for all the burn she’s getting later.”

Napangisi si Miss Jackie. Sarkastiko. “As expected from an unprofessional employee like you.”

She mockingly gasped. Even dramatically covered her lips. “Oh, my, Miss Jackie! That’s so unexpected from a professional like you.”

The woman gritted. Napikon ng kaunti. “You—”

She was cut off by Lily’s cruel laugh. Lily even pulled her head back and kept laughing even when she already returned her eyes on Miss Jackie.

“You, what? Come on. Say it. Cuss. Curse me. It won’t make you less of a professional to show emotions, Miss Jackie.”

“Miss Lily, please,” Paula warned.

She released a groan, reluctantly shrugged her shoulders. “Miss Paula, Hindi ibig sabihin na magiging HR Head ka na, magbabago ang trato ko sa’yo.” Her arrogant tone shifted as quick as that to a humbled, hushed one. “But since you requested so…” She sighed and just smirked at Miss Jackie.