Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Nine - Make-Up Dinner

“HI,” MAIKLING BATI NI PAIGE KAY RENANTE.

She greeted, but did not wait or anticipate for any of Renante’s reaction. Dumire-diretso lang ng lakad ang babae hanggang sa huminto ito sa tapat ng kanyang desk. Nagmadali naman si Renante sa pagtabi ng cellphone sa kanyang desk drawer. Nadatnan kasi siya ni Paige na nag-aabang sa reply ni Stacey.

Nakaabang siya pero hindi naman naiinip. He understood that her reply might be late because she was busy at work.

Renante lifted his eyes on the woman. She was VVatch personified, looking expensive yet lifeless— her silver chain with a steel-framed heart-cut diamond pendant hung around her long neck. Her hair was cut short in a sleek, dull black bob. Her athletic body showed little shape, usually clad in a high-necked short-sleeved in any shade of neutral color. For today, she wore black and paired it with pale coffee-colored pants. Yakap nito ang tablet na naka-lagay sa mamahaling itim na leather case nito.

Paige was 28, she graduated with flying colors from a prestigious private university. She came from the very wealthy family of Uychengcos. The only reason why a woman like her was working as his consultant and designer was because of her boyfriend, Renante’s brother— Ronnie. Tinanggap na lang ni Renante ang rekomendasyon nitong pagtrabahuin sa kanya si Paige kahit hindi siya sigurado kung ito ba ay para maluwag niyang matanggap ang babae sa kanilang pamilya, o kung isa na naman ito sa paraan ni Ronnie para ipalagay ang loob nito? Hindi naman kasi bago kay Renante na walang kumpiyansa sa kanya si Ronnie at ang kanilang ama na si Ronaldo pagdating sa pagnenegosyo.

Walang ideya si Renante kung paano tumakbo ang relasyon ni Paige sa kanyang kuya na si Ronnie, pero mukhang hindi maganda iyon. He knew that when a person is in love, there should be a different glow on their face when you see them. Something sparkling or full of life in their eyes. Lahat ng iyon, hindi niya nakikita kay Paige. She looked always bored or dead serious.

O baka naman wala lang sigla ang babae dahil sa isip-isip nito, mas gusto nitong makasama si Ronnie kaysa siya. Minsan kasi, hindi rin masasabi sa panlabas kung ano talaga ang nagaganap sa loob ng relasyon ng dalawang tao. Iyon din ang dahilan kaya iniiwas-iwasan ni Renante na kumustahin ang babae tungkol sa relationship nito sa kanyang kuya.

“Have a seat,” alok niya rito.

Tahimik na tumalima ang dalaga. Maging sa pag-upo, pino ito at wasto ang postura. Nilingon siya nito nang may nag-aabang na mga mata.

“Look,” pigil ni Renante mapabuntong-hininga, “I know I already approved the designs you have presented to me. Pero,” nakatukod sa arm rest ang isa niyang siko, napisil ang sentido, “bad news. Delayed ang shipment ng mga stainless na in-order natin. Made-delay ang production para sa mga relo na ikaw ang nag-design.”

“Can’t we find another outsource?”

“Let’s be honest, the designs you’ve made are pretty expensive,” pagtatapat ni Renante sa babae.

Wala siyang nakuhang malaking reaksyon mula rito. Nakatitig lang ito sa kanya at nakikinig.

“You see,” patuloy niya, “mula kina Kuya lang tayo nakaka-purchase ng supply at a more reasonable price.”

“Is it really reasonable?” she questioned in a monotone. “Or is it just cheaper?”

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. “Both.”

“Do we really have to always depend on Ronnie’s help?”

“Look, we’re on a start-up,” he shrugged. No way Paige could intimidate him with her being stoic just to change his ways. “At this rate, it doesn’t hurt to be a little tight on everything.”