The Runaway Hearts

Chapter 5: Someone's Value

Red's P.O.V

NAGISING ako nang makarinig ako ng mga yabag sa labas ng kwarto ko. I live in a condo unit provided by the company because this is one of the perks of working as a manager at Cisco.

Alam ko naman kung sino ang nasa labas at kung sino ang magaabalang magpunta rito nang ganito kaaga. Kaya kinusot-kusot ko ang mga mata ko at naglakad palabas.

I saw Anikka preparing for breakfast. She cooked the usual ones we eat. Egg, bread and coffee. She's already on her office attire and probably just dropped by for a quick breakfast.

"Your alarm has been ringing a while ago. It's unusual you don't get up."

Agad naman nitong bungad sa akin nang makaupo ako. Lumapit siya saglit sa likoran ko and huggede for five seconds.

All the long week of work and we get to enjoy 5 seconds of hug.

"Thank you for waking me up..." I whispered to her and kissed her cheeks that is bumping against mine.

***

IT WAS the first time for me to personally visit and have been invited by the Chairman itself into his office. Hindi mo siya laging nakikita rito dahil mas busy siya sa business trips. One of the few reasons you could see him in his office is that there is a big project where in he is going to be a part of it. At na-announce nga ito last week nang magkaroon ng Management Assembly para sa mga bagong projects.

I was guided by the Chairman's secretary into his office and opened the door for me. It seemed like the Chairman has been expecting my arrival and he is already sitting on the couch with his ipad on his hand.

Pagpasok ko ay tumayo ito at ngumiti sa akin. Jayson Chun is a half Filipino-Chinese and Anikka really resembles him. Palangiti si Chairman at hindi mo aakalahing nasa 50s na ang edad nito dahil masigla at parang bata-bata pa ang hitsura.

"Nice to meet you finally, Red..."

Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting kaba nang maglahad siya ng kamay sa akin. Hindi naman ito ang na-visualize kong unang pagkikita namin dahil bibihira siyang makipagusap sa mga project managers.

"I wished I could have met you on a fancy dinner," aniya nito nang makaupo naman kaming dalawa.

"No. Sir, I'm honored to be called here..."

"Well, ayoko rin namang kumuha pa ng madami sa oras mo. Mukhang in-demand ka sa office," napatawa naman kaming dalawa sa kanyang biro.

"I called you here to talk about Project Titania. I heard that the client personally asked you to lead this. Even during our dinner with Mr. Drew, he said that the project should only be signed if it's you. Did you work with him previously?"

Napakurap naman ako dahil unang beses ko itong narinig. Marie only told me that I am the best one to handle the project because it's about Fraud Investigation which I am definitely good at.

"Nope. It's my first time working with Mr. Drew dahil mukhang sa competitor siya dati nagpapa-consult. Perhaps, it would be my experience on the project."

"Yeah, that is right. I heard you had exemplary projects about this kind of investigations. There is no doubt in that..." he smiled as he sipped onto his coffee that is already prepared along with mine when I entered the room.