PARADISE OF THE DEVIL (GONCALVES 1)

Chapter 40

I still invited Jair to join us for lunch. I was in a good mood and the other man was just giving bad vibes, gladly he left. He didn't look like he was interested so I didn't feel obliged to entertain him. He might be Jair's friend but that didn't mean I should be considerate.

I didn't want to talk with Jair about what I heard so I was giving him a cold shoulder but still civil. In the afternoon, I let Vanessa and the others go back to the studio while I stayed with Isla at the store with our 2 staff.

Jair eventually left to attend a board meeting. The next day at the studio, I was busy receiving some gifts from people I knew. I was surprised! Lilia, Madam, Charly, and my previous clients didn't have to send me these!

Madam Goncalves sent me some imported health supplements and herbal medicine like ginseng and some I didn't know the name of. On the card was written I should take these every day so I wouldn't get sick of working so hard.

Hindi ko na muna tinignan isa-isa ang mga gifts dahil may trabaho. Bukas ay may appointment ako agad sa isang previous client. Nililigpit ko sa gilid ang mga gifts nang pumasok si Jair. Sobrang aga nya naman yata.

"Ano ang ginagawa mo dito?" gulat na tanong ko sabay tayo para harapin sya.

"Idadaan ko lang to," aniya at ipinakita sa akin ang dala nyang paperbag. "About yesterday," he added.

Tinanggap ko ang paper bag at nakita ang isang cup ng matcha. Napairap ako sa hangin atsaka inilapag ito sa lamesa ko. Wala naman akong hinanakit sa sinabi nya kahapon. Naiintindihan ko naman ang side nya.

Wala namang lugi sa amin. We were taking advantage of each other and that was what business should be and our relationship. I was just a bit pissed off because of that man. He didn't know me and I didn't know him so I didn't think he had any opinions.

"I'm confident with this business. I forgot about it already," I said to dismiss the topic.

"Are you sure?" paninigurado nya.

"Oo naman," sagot ko.

"That man. We were not really friends. His father is our business partner and he's acting like he owns his father's business which he doesn't," he badmouthed.

I shrugged. "I'm not interested in the man. I forgot about his face already."

"So are we really okay?" he asked.

"I didn't hold anything against you," I meant.

"But... what I said was really mean," he implied.

"The metaphor you used was mean but I totally get it. And it's not like I'm an actual animal or this business's path is going down. You sheltered us very well and it resulted in a very successful start. It's fine," I assured him.

He looked convinced by what I said so I felt relief. Mukhang nabaliktad at ako yung kailangang mag-explain sa kanya na okay lang talaga imbes na sya yung magworry na naoffend ako sa narinig ko.

"You've got a lot of gifts," he said to open another conversation.

"Yea. I even received one from your mother."

"Really?" He was surprised.

He might have not expected his mother to be so thoughtful of me, and so did I. I had always looked up to Madam Goncalves and I really couldn't see her as a friend. She was too intimidating for me, unlike Lilia.

"She gifted me some imported and expensive health supplements," I stressed.

"Oh, they are good for you. I take a lot of vitamins and herbs because of her and mostly I forget to take them. You can have mine, I'll bring it here next time."