Versailles Series Book 8: The Designer [COMPLETED]

PART II: CHAPTER 32

~ philip ~

I went to Manila for a quick trip because of an "emergency". I knew what that meant. I can put it off by not going at all but being in the entertainment and media industry meant that privacy is a luxury for us especially for the family. Fame is something my relatives feed off of. I wonder how my grandfather was able to live with these leeches.

I went down from my Mercedes to enter our headquarters. Philippine Broadcasting Corporation has one of the notable buildings in the metro. Thanks to me, I told Lolo Lito I wanted our buildings to also show how creative we are as a company. After all, we are in the entertainment industry. Creativity should be in our blood.

I waved at the security. "Good morning po Sir Gil." Bati ko sa guard.

"Boss! Alam ko ng mapapadaan ka ngayon." Natatawang sabi nito.

Napahilot ako sa sentido ko. "Kape tayo mamaya kapag natapos ako."

Sumaludo ito sa akin. I enjoy treating them to coffee because they have the most interesting stories. I needed the break from business meetings and I just want to hear something light and more conversational. Sometimes, they know more juicy stories about the company rather than the media people themselves. Dahil sa kanila kaya alam ko kung sinu-sinong mga empleyado rito ang may relasyon na pinagbabawal kahit nga ang mga empleyado na binebenta ang bigas na binibigay namin buwan-buwan.

Sabi nga nila ay nakuha ko iyon kay Lolo. People can see him just walking here and talking to whoever he wants. And that made the people here feel seen and valued. He looks past social classes. As long as the person can keep him entertained in a conversation, he'll be okay with them. And those people are usually the people in the background like the guards and cleaners.

I stood in the elevator going to my office when the doors opened and Irina Constantino, one of the most famous actresses in the country, came in. Her strong feminine perfume immediately filled in the elevator which intensified the headache that was already building up in my temples. It was far from Marceline's scent of faint perfume mixed with her natural scent. Letting people spray that amount of substance should be a crime. I could ask for a gas mask right now.

"Mr. Quintana..." she said in her sexiest voice.

I kept my eye straight and just acknowledged her with a nod. On all occasions that we've crossed paths, she has tried and tried to get my attention but I'm not interested. Especially now that I have my eyes on someone.

"Suplado ka pa rin. You know the offer still stands. I'm just a call away." She touched my arm and the instant I felt it, I wanted to flinch.

"I am not interested. And we have a non-fraternization rule in the company. Get your hands off me." I said in a deep voice. "I've heard your contract will end in a month. You better start looking for other agencies because we're not renewing your contract."

"Ano?! Pero humahakot ako ng pera!"

"And?"

"Anong and?!"

"You have been in countless scandals and the agency has been tired of cleaning your shit. So better take it somewhere else. We have more talents more deserving of your spot."

Pinindot ko ang open button ng elevator at tinignan ito. "Get out."

Pulang-pula ang mukha nito na lumabas ng elevator. I've had many indecent proposals from the talents here and not once did I entertain any. All of them are just pretty faces and sadly, they prove that they're nothing beyond that.