Honne; Tatemae

Chapter 10

Kaylee

"I swear Miss Olsen, that I'll get you suspended for bre—"

"Tell your boss that I'm here or I'll let her know myself about my presence!"

"Please include in the options that I'll have you get drag by the guards out of the building for your obvious misconduct, Miss Olsen."

"Go!" Payne seethes. "Tell them to drag me out of this building pero pasapak muna ako sa bruhildang boss mo! 'Tangna ng babaeng yon! Ginagawa akong bayaran! Makikita nya talaga! Ilabas mo yang gagong boss mo!"

From outside my office, I could clearly hear Payne and my assistant, Margaret, bickering at each other. Sakto kasing may papatawagan ako kay Marge nang bigla namang sumulpot si Payne kaya naiwang nakaopen lang yung intercom ng assistant ko. Thus, making this drama, known.

Payne is really a pain in the ass. Really!

At bago pa lumala yung commotion sa labas ng pribadong opisina ko ay tumayo na ako para harapin si Payne. Sigurado kasi ako na hinding-hindi iyon papapasukin ni Margaret sa opisina ko kahit magkaroon pa ng eskandalo dito. That's the reason why my assistant is still keeping her job, because of her utmost dependability and ability to shoo unwanted presence away from me.

"It's okay, Marge." I said in a flat tone as I open the door of my private office.

Inabutan ko pa yung dalawa na kulang na lang ay magsabunutan habang masama ang tingin sa isa't isa. Malapit na nga yata magbalyahan at magsukatan ng lakas.

Sabay na napalingon ang mga ito sa direksyon ko.

"Let her in, Marge. Always."

"As you say, Miss Montello." mula sa paghaharang sa daan ay kusang umatras si Margaret at binigyang-daan si Payne.

Payne glared at Margaret before shooting me a dead stare.

"Buti naman lumabas ka bago ko pa sirain yang pintuan ng opisina mo!" galit na singhal ni Payne.

"You want a talk? Fine." I said cooly. "In my office. Not here. Unless you want to humiliate yourself, then, be my guest." inangat ko pa yung ulo ko patungkol sa presensya ng assistant ko.

Without a word, tinabig lang nito si Margaret at nagdire-diretso ng pasok sa opisina ko.

Margaret, on the other hand, just have a passive expression on her face.

"No visitors while Payne is still in my office. No phone calls. No disturbance." I instructed at her. I waited for her to nod her head before shutting the door close.

Nang makasiguradong nailock ko ng maayos yung pinto ng opisina ay saka ko hinarap si Payne.

Nakasandal lang ito sa gilid ng pader na para bang naiinip at hindi makapaghintay na masigawan ako. May hawak pa itong envelope na kulang na lang ay ipanghampas sa mukha ko.

"'What's this!?" Payne hissed in a low tone, obviously insulted.

"What's what?" Kalmadong inangat ko lang yung tingin ko dito habang kaswal na naglalakad pabalik sa upuan ko. "You may also take a seat if you want. Do you need anything? A coffe—"

Galit na nagmartsa palapit sakin si Payne bago marahas na ibinagsak sa ibabaw ng lamesa ko yung envelope na hawak nito. Sa sobrang lakas ay pati yung tasa ng kape na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa ko ay kulang na lang ay mabasag. Yung lamang kape niyon ay tumapon na sa gilid ng saucer dish.

"I am not a slut!" Payne's voice roared my office.

I just gave her a blank stare. "I didn't say that you are."