Fated To Love

Kabanata 15

"Marie, make me some coffee. Thanks!" utos niya habang nakasunod ito sa kanya pabalik sa kanyang opisina.

The board meeting had just ended and her blood was still boiling over what the board of directors was telling her. How dare them! They have the courage to question her ability to lead now that her father can no longer guide her. Ang kakapal ng mga mukha!

"Yes, ma'am."

Pagkapasok ni Rivi sa loob ng kanyang opisina, pasalampak siyang umupo sa kanyang swivel chair. Napahilot na lamang siya sa kanyang sentido. After a while she heard a knock and Marie entered.

"Here's your coffee, ma'am."

"Thanks, Marie. What's my next schedule?"

"Lunch meeting po, ma'am, at eleven o'clock."

"With whom?"

"With Mr. Zero Fe-ayos lang po ba kayo, Ma'am Rivi?"

"Shit! Ang init!" bulalas niya nang masamid sa iniinom na kape at napaso. "Cancel it."

"Po?" Marie's hand that was holding a tissue stopped in the air, so she took it from her and wiped her mouth.

"I said cancel my meeting with Mr. Federova." She didn't want to see his face now. Not now na marami siyang iniisip dito sa kompanya. Mamaya din ay kailangan niyang bisitahin ang warehouse nila.

"I will, ma'am." Yumuko 'to saka lumabas ng kanyang opisina.

After her secretary came out, she looked through the folders on her desk one by one. She signed what was supposed to be signed after reading it and found nothing wrong with it. Rivi's full attention was focused on the proposal that Marie gave him from a steel company when the door suddenly opened.

"It's time for lunch, Ms. Montreal." He held up two paper bags with the restaurant's name on them.

Tiningnan ni Rivi ang suot na wristwatch at nakitang mag-aalas dose na pala ng tanghali. Sa dami ng mga papeles na dapat niyang aprobahan at suriin, pati ang pinadala sa kanyang email ng isa pang kompanya nila, tuloy hindi na niya namalayan ang oras.

"Didn't my secretary tell you, Mr. Federova?"

"She did but you know, I don't want rejection from you, Ms. Montreal. If you can't, then I will do it for you," balewala nitong sagot, inisa-isang nilabas ang mga naka-box na pagkain.

Rivi sighed then walked closer to his place. What else could she do if he was here already? Advantage na rin sa kanya iyon dahil ito na mismo ang lumalapit sa kanya. Umupo siya sa sofa at tiningnan ang mga pagkain na binili nito. And now her favorite traditional Cantonese dishes were bought again. Dim sum shrimp dumplings, choy sum in oyster sauce, soy sauce chicken, shrimp egg-fried rice, and steamed pork buns. Ang dami!

"Where's your pantry?"

"Mag-uutos na lang-"

"Let me. Just stay here." At ito na nga ang lumabas.

"Left side, Zero!" pahabol niya bago sumara ang pinto.

Kung kanina hindi niya naramdaman ang gutom, ngayon habang naamoy niya ang nakakatakam na amoy ng mga pagkain sa kanyang harapan ay unti-unting kumalam ang kanyang sikmura. Bumalik si Zero na may dalang dalawang plato at mga kubyertos. Akmang kukunin niya ang isang plato rito nang iiwas nito iyon.

Kinakabahang sinundan niya 'to ng tingin nang umupo sa kanyang harapan at nagsimulang kumuha ng pagkain. Oh, my God! Here he is again.

"That's enough, Zero!" Mabilis niyang nahawakan ang kamay nito, pumipigil.