Branding My Minx (COMPLETED)

Chapter 35

Nasa maliit na kwarto ang mga ito kung nasaan ang mga monitor ng CCTV. Nahilamos ni Thomas ang mukha ng palad. 

"What do you mean na sira ang CCTV? Since when?! Alam ba ni Ed ito?! Why is he not doing anything?" he irritably asked the security of the cafe.

"Sir kanina lang pong umaga. Alam na po ni Sir Ed. Padating na po ang gagawa. Pasensiya na talaga sir." mapagkumbabang sabi nito.

"I really have to talk to  him. He can't afford to have this kind of problem and not  do anything about it immediately! It's almost noon pero wala pa rin ang gagawa?! Anong klase yan? And even your staff inside couldn't even  answer my question! You boss should find more competent people for crying out loud!" 

He was pissed. When he asked  the waiter who served Kim about the guy she was with, he couldn't give a specific and clear answer.  The server obviously focused his attention on her so he  hardly remembered who she left with. Ang sabi lang nito, matangkad daw ang lalake. 

"You are barking at the wrong tree Thomas. We better get back to your office.  You are stressing yourself  and the guard for no reason," malumanay pero malamig na sabi ni Franchesca.

He looked at her with narrowed eyes. "I didn't ask you to come with me here.  I told you to go back to your hotel."

Naningkit din ng bahagya ang mga mata ni Franchesca at sasagot pa sana ito pero nagsalita ang security.

"Excuse me po sir, nandito na po ang mga gagawa," magalang na sabi  nito.

Tumango si Thomas bago tuluyang tumalikod para lumabas. Sumunod naman si Franchesca na hindi maipinta ang mukha. Nang makalabas na ang mga ito  ng cafe, huminto panandalian  sa paglalakad si Thomas pero hindi ito lumingon kay Franchesca.

"I have things to do.  The company driver  will take you back to your hotel," sabi nito bago  naglakad uli  pero hindi pa ito nakakadalawang hakbang nang magsalita si Franchesca .

"You know damn well we aren't done talking Thomas. You can't decide for both of us! Our fathers expect us to be together!" malamig pero matigas na sabi nito.

Without turning to her he said," I already decided and you have to accept that.  Just a warning,   don't do anything to stop the wedding tomorrow," banta nito bago tuluyang naglakad pabalik sa opisina nito. 

"You will not marry that woman!"  galit na sabi pa nito but  Thomas ignored her.

***

"So you see Kim, ganyan kaduming maglaro ang pinsan ko. I'm not into  bad-mouthing but I think he is being unfair to you and  Franchesca."

Na-absorb naman niya ang sinabi ni Derek pero ang hirap iproseso. Mas komplikado pala ang lahat.

"But I don't think saving Franchesca's family's shares is the only reason why they have that set-up. I believe as I have been a witness to it awhile ago,  Thomas doesn't do  things he does for you with Franchesca but definitely, they can satisfy each other in other ways. Hindi naman papayag ang pinsan ko sa gano'n kung wala siyang mapapala. Territorial pa naman ang babaeng yo'n," he said with a chuckle.

She sighed. Hindi na kailangang sabihin pa nito in detail  ang alam na naman niya. Mas masakit sa kurot ang naramdaman niya. Iba kasi ang naiisip o naiimagine mo lang sa may magsasabi sa'yo ng deretsahan.

"I'm sorry  Kim."

Umiling siya. "Don't apologize. Wala ka namang kasalanan. Thank you for telling me."

"Sir, ma'am your dessert," dinig nilang sabi ng waiter bago inilapag ang mga platito.

Sabay silang tumango at nagpasalamat.