Reckless Revenge (Completed)

Chapter 11

Unwind

Maaga ako nang isang oras nang makarating sa building ng mga Montello. Sinadya ko iyon para makapaghanda para sa presentation ng designs. I was thinking it was also urgent kaya kahit kasalanan ko naman na masyado akong maaga ay hindi ko pa rin naiwasan na ma-disappoint na kailangan ko pang maghintay. I just assumed they would send me immediately to Mr. Montello's office so we could talk about the designs already.

But again, it's not their fault that I came here early.

Kahit papaano naman ay pinaakyat ako sa palapag kung nasaan ang office ni Mr. Montello. Abala ang palapag na iyon dahil naroon din ang mga cubicles ng halos employee niya. Sa bagay ay tatlong palapag lang naman itong gusali.

I waited outside their floor and sat on the waiting table on the corner near the stairs. Halos mahilo ako sa kakatingin sa mga taong dumadaan kaya binuksan ko na lang ang dalang laptop at naghanda para sa presentation.

Our meeting was before lunch. Dahil sa abala ang lahat ay nangamba ako na baka abutan pa ako ng lunch break nila rito. I was thinking of coming back to the hotel after this.

Mabuti na lang at hindi naman iyon nangyari. Bago pa nga maubos ang isang oras kong paghihintay ay nilapitan na ako ng secretay ni Mr. Montello. She's wearing a white long sleeves and creamy pants. Her long hair tied in a low ponytail. Tipid siyang ngumiti kaya ganoon din naman ako bago tumayo. I was about to follow her, thinking she's here to assist me to Mr. Montello's office but I was wrong. Nagtataka ko siyang tiningnan nang hindi naman siya gumalaw sa kinatatayuan at habang tumatagal ay nagiging pilit na ang pagngiti.

"Is there something wrong?" I had to ask.

"I'm Irene." She held out a hand which I reluctantly accepted. Somehow, I felt something wrong about something. Her smile was genuine again as we shook hands, but it faded after she glanced through the mirror, behind the cubicles, and to the far corner where Mr. Montello's office was. "I'm Mr. Montello's assistant. Nasa loob siya ng office ngayon at alam n'ya na nandito ka..."

"Yeah? I have an appointment. We agreed to meet today because I'll present my designs to his team..." I trailed off when she looked down at the floor. "May problema ba? Kung busy pa siya, pwede naman akong bumalik mamayang hapon. Or we could just reschedule it. I just thought this was urgent, so..."

"Actually, hindi na namin kailangan ang designs mo."

"Ha?"

"Mr. Montello told me to tell not to wait. He canceled the meeting with you and your presentation. Our company is terminating our contract so—"

"Wait, what do you mean terminating? Hindi naman ako na-late, ha? I mean, I know this is urgent pero hindi naman ako nahuli ng pagpasa. I'm here to present now. Once na ma-approve 'to, pwede n'yo na kaagad ipakita sa clients. Why—"

"Miss Arquia," marahang putol niya sa pagpapanik ko. "Ang totoo n'yan, ang sabi ni Mr. Montello, sabihin ko raw na tanggal ka na para sa project na 'to. May... May nahanap na kaseng bago para sa project—pero sinabi naman niyang tatawagin ka na lang kapag kailangan ka ulit at..."

"Tatawagin? I don't understand. Why all of a sudden? Maayos naman ang pag-uusap namin kahapon. Nagmamadali siya dahil kailangan n'yo nang makita ang designs. I was late to show you the draft pero hindi pa rin naman late sa usapan namin kung kailan dapat maipakita sa client... kaya... hindi ko maintindihan."

"Sige na, Miss Arquia. Mr. Montello is willing to pay you for the time spent creating your designs pero kagaya ng sinabi ko, hindi na namin tatanggapin. Mr. Montello's just trying to be kind and—"

"Kind when he's trying to terminate me just like that? Wala man lang maayos na usapan? I don't care whether he will pay me for the hour I spent creating this..." I lifted my laptop bag a bit to show her. "But this would be my first project. He knows how much this means to me. I chose your company because you're among the best out there, but you're doing this to me now?"