The Depth Within

Chapter 55

"ANDY, what brings you here all of a sudden?"

She flashed a nonchalant smile before having her seat on the couch inside Albert's office. Pagkalipas ng isang araw ay napagdesisyunan niyang umalis na sa mansyon para asikasuhin ang ilan pang mga bagay-bagay bago bumalik sa mga naiwan niyang kaibigan sa probinsya. Sa kasalukuyan ay tumungo muna siya sa publishing company na nasa ilalim ng pamamahala ng isa sa pinagkakatiwalaan niyang tao.

"Ano'ng gusto mong inumin?" tanong sa kaniya ni Albert matapos siya nitong pagmasdan.

"Just plain water," she replied in prim manner.

Muli siya nitong pinagmasdan bago siya tinalikuran at tinungo ang kinalalagyan ng intercom. He spoke to his secretary, after that he let out a deep, long sigh before walking back to her direction. He sat on the opposite side of the couch.

"Kumusta? Gusto ko sanang pumunta sa burol ng lolo mo pero sinabi mo na huwag na. So. . ." He clasped his hands together. "How are you?" usisa nito sa kaniya.

"I'm fine, Albert," sagot niya. "How was the company doing?"

Ngumiti ito. "Great. We have new signed-in writers and editors. And the sales. . ." he clapped his hands, "are doing good."

She stares at him blankly.

Albert gave a soft chuckle before raising both of his hands as a sign of surrender. "Okay!" Binagsak nito ang dalawang palad sa hita nito bago sinabing, "We're not that good. Pero bumabawi naman ang overall sales. It is just that . . . we're having a minor conflict."

"And that is. . .?" she asked, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Investors, Andy," he replied. "We need more investors."

She blinked twice before looking away from him. Saglit na nilihis niya ang kaniyang atensyon at tinutok ang mga mata sa inuukopang executive table ni Albert. She remembers how she can easily barge into his office without any notice and sat on his chair, forcing him to give way for her. Iyon kadalasan ang tagpong naabutan ng sekretarya o ng iba pang empleyado ng kompanya kaya nagkaroon ng tsismis na under niya ang presidente; iyon din ang pinakamalaking dahilan kung bakit siya nabigyan ng titulo na reyna ng kanilang publishing company.

While it's true na under niya si Albert—dahil siya naman talaga ang totoong may-ari ng kompanya— she respects him. Because he's not her puppet, and she's no puppeteer. She appreciates everything that he had done to the company and to their friendship.

Her lips curved into a bitter smile when the memory of her last visit there in his office flooded her mind, him nagging about her undone manuscripts.

"I will take care of the investors," aniya. Bumaling siya ng tingin kay Albert na tumuwid bigla ng upo. "Ako na ang bahala roon, Albert. And one more thing . . ." she trailed.

"What, Andy?" he asked, waiting for her to continue.

"Ipagkakatiwala ko na rin sa iyo nang lubusan ang buong kompanya. It's fully yours," she announced.

"Andy," sambit ni Albert sa pangalan niya. "Are you being serious right now?"

Kumibit-balikat siya. "Mukha bang hindi?" She smirked. "From the very start ay ikaw naman talaga ang namamahala nito, Albert, at isa lamang akong ordinaryong empleyado. You have done so much just to lift this company up—"

"And you?"

"I am who I am."

Nalilitong tinitigan siya ni Albert. Pinilig nito ang ulo bago nagpakawala ng isang marahas na buntong-hininga. "May problema ba, Andy?"

"Wala," sagot niya. "Naisip ko lang, hindi ba ako nagiging unfair sa 'yo? You should take every single compliment there is to be given, you don't have to think of me."