Embers From Within (Casa Fuego Series #6)

Chapter 22

R-18.

Worship

How do I tell Art that I feel uncomfortable attending all the business events he'd been taking me on as his date when I fiercely promised to myself I will support him in everything he does?

Noong mga unang beses, pilit kong isinantabi ang pait na nararamdaman. I find my reason of not wanting to go with him because I feel small rather petty. I always think that I shouldn't feel this way because Art did nothing but encourage me all the way as I navigated my way in the industry. Ayaw ko ring makaramdam ng pait dahil pakiramdam ko, hinahayaan ko ang opinyon ng iba na manalo laban sa akin.

But I'm not exaggerating when I say that his career has been overwhelmingly at its peak. Kaliwa't kanan ang mga proyekto niya, madalas din siyang umalis ng bansa para sa mga business ventures, at halos nakakatatlo kaming business function na dinadaluhan sa isang buwan. I want to be proud of him without feeling small and insecure except that I don't. Because I do.

Dahil ang totoo niyan, hindi naman talaga ako sa career ni Art nanliliit. Kundi sa career ng dati niyang mga babae. Lalo na ni Veronica Sanchez. Kakaiba ang epekto niya sa akin, kakaiba ang pait na nararamdaman ko sa kanya. Marahil dahil siya lang naman ang bukod tangi sa mga babae ni Art na mayroon akong historya. She may not know me, but she's all over my head. Ever since I was eighteen. And most especially now.

Ngumuso ako habang tinitignan ang isang business magazine kung saan si Art ang coverpage. I remember him almost rejecting that offer but I convinced him to push through because it's a huge honor to be in the coverpage of that prestiguous business magazine. I even remember him bribing me of a dinner date in exchange of showing up to the photoshoot.

"Proud?" Emy smirked.

Binaba ko ang magazine at pinikit ang mga mata. I treat her into a manipedi session just to unwind. It's a Sunday and I've been working my ass off the past months. Madalas kasi buong araw kaming magkasama ni Art o 'di kaya'y may lakad kami. Noong kailan lang, we had a staycation in Bataan. Pero ngayong linggong ito, may emergency meeting siya kaya mamayang gabi pa lang kami magkikita.

Kailangan ko na ring magpaganito dahil sa Sabado na ang ribbon cutting ceremony ng manufacturing company ni Art. Wala na akong oras sa weekdays kaya minabuti kong isama na rin si Emy para makapagrelax siya lalo pa't buong linggo rin siyang abala sa kanyang Masters.

"Of course."

"Kanina ka pa titig na titig, e. Parang 'di mo naman kasama palagi. At parang hindi pa kayo isang taon na nasa relasyon?"

I opened my eyes only to playfully glare at Emy to which she just chuckled off. I arched a brow on her as the prelude of my storm of a comeback.

"Palibhasa wala kang matignan na magazine. Kuya Er..." I gulped the word when I saw her flinch. "He doesn't like being featured in business magazines or any ranking whatnots. He pays the magazines to take his name off the lists or rankings."

Ngumuso siya.

"Namana niya 'yon kay Tito Fred at kay Lolo. Russ did too, actually. Lolo said real wealthy businessmen would even pay just to be removed from any rankings or lists."

"So kapag napasama ka rin sa mga ganoong rankings, babayaran mo rin para tanggalin ang pangalan mo sa listahan?"

I chuckled. "That is if I would ever be included in such things. My career barely has a spark."

Bumuntong hininga si Emy. "Hindi naman minamadali ang pagtatayo ng negosyo, Therese. Ang dami mong dapat gawin at asikasuhin, at hindi rin madaling mag crowd sourcing. Especially that you're starting from scratch, refusing any help from your family."