Elite Wars

Chapter 29

GUSTAVE

I wish I had the luxury to grieve. My marriage is about to turn into shambles but instead of drowning myself in alcohol to forget, I'm in Visayas. I need to oversee the development with the Ecowind land. Today is their first day of operations. To make matters worse, I'm here with the douchebag—Holden Smith.

Makapal ang tensyon sa pagitan namin ni Holden. Lalo na pagkatapos ng nakaraang kaarawan ni Abuelo. I didn't even know why he was invited, but I didn't like him talking with my wife alone. She didn't give me any details but she told me Holden cornered her drunk as a skunk. Kung hindi lang nagka-pirmahan ng kontrata, wala na siyang mukha.

Sandrine and I are far from okay but at least we've cleared the air between us. I didn't have to leave home and get away from her. It's too easy, right? I love her and she loves me, except that's just not the fucking case. I do love her, and hell, it took me a long time to finally accept that. Alam kong mahal ko siya dahil iniisip ko palang na masasaktan ko siya, gusto ko nang mag-wala.

Fuck me if I didn't have any plans on my end. I admit, the whore threw me out of my game. But my mind is clear now, and boy do I have plans for her. I'll tell Sandrine, in due time. Just after I decide what I'm going to do to that whore. I should've told her that night but I didn't, I couldn't. Selfish? Probably, but I don't want to risk losing her. Not when I've just told her I love her. Hindi madali ang posisyon ko dahil hindi ko alam kung kanino ako mag-titiwala. I had to hire a private investigator to know what really happened to me that night. Pero hindi ko din pwedeng alisin ang posibilidad na anak ko ang nasa sinapupunan niya. And that's why I have arranged someone to relocate the woman in a secure and safe neighborhood. That way, I'll know the baby is safe. I couldn't care less about the bitch, but I just can't risk my baby's safety, if it is really mine.

Magkatabi kaming naka sakay ni Holden sa maliit na golf cart na magdadala sa amin sa lokasyon ng mga makinarya. I couldn't stand a minute with the guy alone. If I had a choice, I wouldn't even be here.

Natanaw ko ang ilang mga empleyado na nag-hahanda na para sa ground breaking. Lahat sila ay naka suot ng dilaw na industrial hat at naka suot ng akma sa construction. Namataan kami nang ilang mga construction worker at kung hindi ako naiinis sa pagmumukha ni Holden ay ipinaliwanag ko na sana sa kanya ang posisyon ng mga empleyado. Pero dahil hindi maganda ang gising ko ngayon ay hindi ako nag-salita.

"Ah! Mang Terry, there you are. This is Holden Smith. You'll be working under him for this project." Sinalubong kami ng pinaka matandang engineer na nag-tatrabaho sa Salguero Tropics.

Kinamayan ko ang matanda at kinamusta. Hindi naka takas sa akin ang pamilyar na ngiti ng huli. He is the definition of the word 'loyal'. Yes, there are a lot of brilliant engineers in the industry. But Mang Terry has one of the most rare aspects of having the job. Experience. There are a lot of things that you can never learn in school, so I trust this man.

"Ah, ito pala ang bagong boss namin. Magandang araw ho, Sir Holden." Malapad ang ngiti niya nang kamayan niya si Holden.

"Nice to meet you." Maiksing sagot ng bastardo.

"Mang Terry is our oldest engineer at Salguero. He's been working with us for forty years. He knows a lot about the process so you should coordinate with him."

"I see. Ano hong masasabi niyo sa mga bagong machine? Kaya naman ho ba?" Tanong ni Holden.

"Nako, opo. Mas madali ngang magamit ito at medyo updated na. Maganda din naman ang mga gawa ng mga Chiu pero outdated na ho eh." Tumango ako bilang pag-sang ayon kay mang Terry.