Pursuing My Nemesis

Eleven

Chapter 11

IF THIS WAS his way of telling me that he doesn't want me inside the board room with him, then I can say the same thing to him. Para namang ginusto ko na nandito ako at nakikinig sa mga pinagsasasabi niya habang panaka-nakang tinatapunan ako ng matatalim na mga tingin.

He was the one who wanted me here. He was the one who pleaded. He was the one who manipulated the things that should be done to me.

Kaya bakit parang siya pa ang galit na nakikita niya ako ngayon?

"If you have some questions, feel free to ask now that we still have time," he said after his presentation.

As usual, it was a well-presented plan. The details, the goals, and even the budget were well discussed. Wala naman na dapat linawin dahil nasabi naman na yata lahat sa presentation ni Aniel.

Napatingin ako sa katabi ko nang itaas niya ang kanyang kamay. I saw Aniel's hard face turned towards Triton.

"Do we have to stay on the site?" he asked, absentmindedly poking the side of his lips using the edge of the pen.

"Yes. We're going to stay in," Aniel replied and then glanced at me. "Except for you, Miss Salvacion."

I parted my lips. "What? Why? You want me to drive at almost three hours everyday?"

He pursed his lips. "It's just a short drive. Hindi ka naman laging kailangan sa site."

"Or you can stay in with us after the main building is finished. Para hindi mo kailangang makipagsiksikan sa barracks," Triton suggested.

"But how about my designs? Shouldn't I be needing the clients' opinion about those?"

"You can do that via conference call," Aniel said.

"But I don't want a conference call." I glared at him. "I want them to see the designs, the details in person. All that are necessary in the project."

"Ganito na lang," singit na naman ni Triton. And by the looks of it, parang ayaw yatang naririnig ni Aniel ang boses ng lalaki. "You can start drafting some designs and ideas from the references that they had given us. And then, once the main building is done, you can come and stay with us at the site. Para maka-usap mo rin doon ang mga kliyente."

I nodded at him and smiled. His idea was brilliant. Bakit kaya hindi siya ang naging head ng project na 'to?

A loud thud from the front made us lookover. Aniel placed a folder on the top of the table and then glared at me even more. I arched my brow at him.

Ano ba'ng problema niya? Kanina pa siya ganyan. Wala naman akong maalalang mali na ginawa ko. I was actually a good workmate to him today. Tinanggap ko ang offer niya, maaga akong pumasok, at hindi ako na-late sa meeting namin.

Kaya anong tini-tingin-tingin niya nang masama riyan?

"Any other concerns?" malamig ang tonong tanong niya.

Tahimik ang lahat. Triton was glancing at me over his shoulder. He grinned before leaning over.

"Lunch? My treat."

I narrowed my eyes at him. He's so persistent on taking me out to eat. Kanina, party. Ngayon, lunch.

"Let me check my schedule."

He chuckled. Napatingin tuloy sa kanya ang mga kasamahan namin, including Aniel na kaunti na lang ay mukhang puputok na sa inis.

"Come on. It's not like we're not working under a single company. Iisa lang naman ang oras ng break natin," he urged.