Worship Me With Your Lips

Chapter Fifteen: Too Late

Chapter Fifteen: Too Late

"We will already be working on the department store next month, nabili naman na rin natin ang lupa sa Norvina, it will be the very first big department store to be built there."

Tango naman ako sa explanation ni Cerine, kahit ang ibang mga empleyado at investor sumangayon na rin sa mga sinabi niya. One of our family's companies is a department store, kakabukas noong mga 90s pa and I have been trying to built more branches in the other cities here in the country.

Complain din kasi nang complain si Norvina doon na she wants the people to get better access to more food brands, clothing brands, and more. Kaya e'to, e'to na talaga, na-inspired ako dahil sa mga complains niya.

"But let's be honest, Ms. Dixon... hindi papayag si Mrs. Cardoza na ibenta ang brand niya sa department store natin. She's never done it before."

"Doesn't mean that it's not possible. I'm sure she sells retail clothes from her brand as well. She will be open to the idea. We could at least try." Argue ko.

Five years ago, she released a collection for a much lower price, ang tagal na rin non, pero sabi niya nainspired daw siya sa sarili niya nung mga bata pa siya at 'di makabili nang bagong damit para sa klase o paglalabas siya.

"If she doesn't want it, she doesn't want the deal to sell her brand with us, then... no." Dagdag ko pa.

"And then we can talk to another local brand to work with us. Got it? Are we done for today's meeting?" Tingin agad ako kay Cerine dahil gutom ako pero kahit na gutom ako I still have to go somewhere, I still can't eat yet.

"We're good, thank you everyone."

That was a lot of work, a lot of talking. I have been working a lot lately, siguro mas motivated lang ako to make sure that everything is okay in the family business. I am still a bit upset about the deal with Mrs. Lee pero wala na 'kong magagawa don, 'di ba?

I have to move on so I have nothing to do but this.

"You okay?" Tanong ni Cerine paglabas namin sa conference room.

"Yes, let's get this over with. Sure ka ba na 'di ka makakapunta?" Tanong ko sa kanya naman.

"No, I have to do something. Sorry, sabihin mo na lang kay Norvina na kakausapin ko siya mamayang gabi."

Wala akong ideya kung anong gagawin ni Cerine, it's probably something personal dahil kapag negosyo o tungkol sa pamilya of course she would tell me immediately.

Bumalik ako sa loob ng opisina ko at sinimulan yung video call. I am going to call Norvina today, I do know she's busy doing things, like working a part-time job para lang makatulong sa probinsya at mga kapit-bahay niya, she's also working on building a resort at Norvina.

She really wants to improve the tourism in the city, she has a purpose, a goal, and I'm both proud and excited for her future.

"Ate! Ganda mo po!"

"Sus, nambobola ka, kailan mo pa nasimulang mambola, ha? Ikaw ha!"

Norvina is the youngest among us five siblings. Estudyante pa rin siya, usually she's stressed when it comes to work at college pero lagi naman siyang labas nang labas kasama mga kaibigan niya.

"Kamusta ka diyan? Malapit nanaman klase mo, ha."

"Wala pa naman ate. Okay naman ako, langoy lang po nang langoy."