The Reluctant Bride (Completed)

CHAPTER 50: Getting Ready

CHAPTER 50 - Getting Ready

 

"Shit!" Napamura si Kate habang tinitingnan ang sarili sa salamin.  She had kiss marks and bite marks at the base of her neck and on her chest.  Napansin din niya ang maliliit na pasa sa kanyang bisig at hita.  And the worst thing is, she is sore.  So sore she can't walk properly. 

She was worried because she had to go to Buenavista today and she was not in her best condition.  She was physically hurting from Red's exertions last night and she was also psychologically wrecked from Red's request of an annulment.

She was still covering up her kiss marks with make-up foundation when she heard a knock on her door.  Whoever it was did not wait for her to let him in, pumasok na lang ito.  The knock turned out to be a warning that he will come in and not a request to be let in.  Typical of Red.

"Hurry...." Natigilan si Red nang nakita si Kate.  "...up." 

Kate was still in her underwear.  She was wearing a red lace bra and red lace panties that she bought at Victoria's Secret when she caught a sale in the store once.  Tumalikod si Kate kay Red at hinarap muli ang salamin.

"You can go ahead.  I'm still covering up my bruises."  She said matter-of-factly.  Hinawakan siya ni Red on her arms and quickly turned her to face him again.  He looked at her intently.  Let out a breath and turned his eyes on her bruises.  Red put his hand on the base of her neck and caressed the bruises gently with his thumb.  Napakunot noo ito.  Was it regret that Kate saw on his eyes?  Pero Segundo lang ito.  Biglang dumilim ang mukha nito.

"Does it hurt?" he said coldly.

"Yes..." Kate was able to let out the sound.  "I'm sore." She whispered.

"Serves you right bitch." His words cut her like a sword making her sink lower than she was already feeling.  "I can't wait for you forever.  I'll go ahead."  With that he left her bathroom with a Kate na napanganga na lamang sa inasal ng lalaki.  Parang may ibang ibig sabihin sa sinabi ng lalaki.

***

Napapikit si Red nang marating ang kotse.  "Rod, sa Buenavista tayo."  He gave the order to his driver.  He let out a breath, as if he was holding it in.

Putang ina!  Muntik-muntikan na naman siya.  That body would be his undoing.  Seeing her in that red lace number just melted his resolve immediately.  Fuck!

And her bruises.  Siya ba talaga ang may gawa noon?  He hurt her.  During lovemaking.  Lalo siyang napapikit.  Agad siyang binalot ng pagsisisi.  Ni minsan hindi niya nagawang saktan si Kate kahit ano pang ginawa nito sa kanyang pananakit ng damdamin.  Ngunit naalala na naman niya ang dinanas na pait nang umalis ito. 

Tama lang yun sa kanya.  For all the pain she caused.  She deserved it all.  Kulang pa.  Napatiim bagang si Red and brought his mind to the meeting in Buenavista instead.

***

"I'm so glad to see you Bes." Saad ni Kate nang pumasok ito sa opisina ni Pia at binati ito ng isang mahigpit na yakap at beso sa magkabilang pisngi.  Nagkita naman sila sa ospital at sa burol pero hindi sila gaanong nakapagkwentuhan.  She was just too grief-stricken at that time.  Aside from short comforting conversations wala na silang pinag-usapan pa.

"No, I am glad to see you back.  Hay naku Kate, ang dami kong kwento sa'yo." Saad ni Pia while she sat on the arm chair in front of Kate's desk.

"Ako din." Kate said but it lacked her usual luster.  Hindi ito pinansin ni Pia, thinking that she must still feel bad about Gramps passing.  "I am so glad you are now part of Buenavista.  Buti naman pumayag ka nang maging Vice President for Legal Affairs ng kumpanya." Saad ni Kate na may ngiti na ngayon.  Matagal na din naman kasi niyang rine-recruit na magtrabaho sa kumpanya nila si Pia pero lagi itong tumatanggi.  Masaya siya na sa ngayon ay pumayag na ito.

"I felt it was my duty.  Gramps was good to me you know.  This is just my way of thanking him.  And he needed me badly.  The last VP for Legal seemed to be in cahoots with your company's raiders."  Namilog ang mata ni Kate sa balita.

"Si Tito Jack?" pagtataka ni Kate.  Si Jackson Miranda ang family at company lawyer nila.  She practically grew up knowing him.  Matalik na kaibigan ito ni Gramps kaya't hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig.

"Yes.  We found out that Atty. Miranda was working for Star Holdings.  Apparently, after his wife died, naging sugarol na ito at nabaon sa utang kaya't siguro ay napakapit sa patalim." Kwento ni Pia.

"Nasaan na siya ngayon?" tanong ni Kate.

"Last I heard he is now working as a legal consultant of Star Holdings, Inc."  sagot ni Pia. 

"Okay." Malungkot ang komento ni Kate.

"Anyway,"  nag change topic si Pia.   "The Board Meeting will be at 1PM today kaya maghanda ka na.  Now with Gramps gone, a lot of them will try to take over.  I want you to stand your ground." Pia started.

"Of course Bes." Matipid na sagot ni Kate.

"Wonderful!"  sagot ni Pia.  "Now, Pinnacle is doing really great.  I hope you still have time to read through the reports.  Magaling magpatakbo si Red, Kate.  He did very well managing the place and Buenavista while Gramps was sick, so everything is in good shape. Bilang president ng Buenavista, kailangan mong maging matatag.  Alam mo na ang sitwasyon nang umalis ka.  Hindi pa rin nagbago yun.  Hanggang ngayon marami pa rin ang gustong makapasok sa Buenavista."

"Akala ko okay na.  Hindi ba sinabi ni Gramps dati na I have majority of the shares?" gulat na tanong ni Kate.

"Yes.  It's true until now.  Kahit nga nag-I.P.O. na ang kumpanya, kayo pa rin ang majority ngunit, in the past two years, the buying continues.  And now that Gramps is gone, everyone wants to have a piece of the pie." Saad ni Pia.

"I understand." Sagot ni Kate.  Patuloy nilang pinag-usapan ang laman ng mga reports at dokumento na nakalatag sa desk ni Kate.  Inisa-isa ito ni Pia at nakinig ng maigi si Kate sa mga sinasabi ni Pia. 

In the end, she couldn't help but be impressed with Red.  He is really a good manager.  He was focused and driven and most of all a kind employer.  Through his efforts, he was not only to able to take Buenavista to new heights but made sure the triumphs of the company was felt all over the entire human resource of the company from the top of the rung until the lowest utility worker.  He was beyond good.  He is the best.

It is in this perspective that Kate started to see Red with new eyes.  She could have thought that he was a greedy gold digger of the past but now she was ready to change her mind.  But she still needed to see more of him in action.

Now she was ready for the board meeting.

+++++

CHOCOSHINE'S NOOK:

Nakapuslit ulit ng oras sa office.  Lolz!

Update update din pag may time.  Lolz!

Salamat sa lahat ng nag-aabang, sana hindi ko na kayo gaanong mabigo sa paghintay ng UD.

Wala munang dedik for now.  Paparami muna ako ng mga nagpaparamdam.  Patuloy pa rin ang pasasalamat ko sa mga nagparamdam na at patuloy pa rin na nagpaparamdam with their votes, adds, comments, texts and follows.  Super appreciated ko lahat kayo.  

Obviously, naubusan na ako ng mga taong ide-dedicate itong story ko.  Baka sa author na lang muna.  Pinag-iisipan ko pa, pero most probably kay @Jonaxx ko ito ededicate dahit nabasa ko na ang hardcopy/libro ng Heartless at hindi ko ito maibaba-baba talaga.  Read it in one night - around eight hours yata.  Yes, hindi ako nakatulog hanggat hindi tapos ang istorya kaya't puyat ako noon.  Lumalabas na ang haring araw nang natapos ko yung book.  So yes, kay @Jonaxx na lang.  Hehe...

Again, vote naman kayo dyan. Happy Holy Week readers!

Love. Love. Love.

*chocoshine*

PS: May problema si wattpad. Ayaw gumana ng dedicate button. :-( Maybe some other day na lang.