THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE BABYSITS ME (R18+)

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ADAM MEADOWS

THERE'S a bead of sweat forming on the forehead of the man sitting in front of me, despite the chilly temperature in my office. I should put him out of his misery, but instead, I continue to stare him down.

"I... the fund... we we're so grateful for your continued investment," he stammered.

Dapat lang naman. I've got billions invested throughout the world, a far from insignificant portion of it in his firm. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. My face serious. "I never said I'd continue investing in you," I said, my voice is firm, devoid of any kindness.

Nagsimulang gumalaw ang isa niyang paa sa sahig, dinig ko ang pag-tap ng sapatos niya roon and I watched the bead of sweat run down his face, his breathing accelerating by the second.

"H-Hindi ka ba... satisfied sa performance ng company? Our share price increased by twenty percent this year."

Sasagot pa lang sana ako sa kaniya nang mag-vibrate ang mobile phone ko sa ibabaw ng mesa. A text message from Jazzlene.

FROM JAZZLENE:

Adam, pasundo naman, oh? Uwian na namin at masama pakiramdam ko. Dito ako sa coffee shop tabi ng university.

My secretary, Ezra, walks in right at that moment at agad ko siyang sinenyasan na lumapit. Dinukot ko ang susi ng sasakyan sa bulsa ko and I handed it to him. "Pick up Jazzlene. Tabi ng coffee shop ng university."

Tumango siya at agad nang lumabas ng aking opisina. Ibinalik ko uli ang tingin kay Mr. Ellie Bueno and I tipped my head toward the document on my desk. "Your share price increased by twenty percent, but your company's profit tanked this year. Care to explain?"

Ellie's chest expands as he breathes in deeply, almost as though he's bracing himself for the verbal battle we're about to engage in. How perfectly adorable. "That would be because... we chose to... to invest heavily into research and development this year."

Bakit masama pakiramdam niya?

"We're creating some products that will..."

Kung masama pakiramdam niya, dapat hindi na lang siya pumasok. Tigas ng bungo.

"...revolutionize the finance industry as you know it."

I picked up my phone and send a quick message to Ezra. Sinabi kong tanungin niya si Jazzlene kung kailangan nito ng gamot at kung sa palagay niya ay kailangan nitong dalhin sa ospital, doon niya ideretso.

"Mr. Meadows?" Ellie snapped.

"Yeah?" I set my jaw and refocused on the topic, pushing all thoughts of Jazzlene out of my head. Nasan'n na ba kami? "Oh. You mean, the whole industry?" He nods vehemently, the gaze that is meant to look reassuring reeking of desperation instead. Dinampot ko ang file na nasa harap ko at in-scan 'yon ng tingin. "The figures in your annual report were lower than they were last year. So, I'm not sure I understand."

"Oh. That's because... because..."

"Because?" I repeated. Noong hindi na siya nakasagot, napabuntonghininga ako. "I think we're done talking, Mr. Bueno. I'm pulling out my entire investment dahil hindi ako basta lang nakikipaglaro sa inyo."

"Mr. Meadows, if you do that, we... we'd go bankrupt." His face is full of anxiety.

"Not my problem, Mr. Bueno. Kayo lang ang dapat sisihin d'yan." I rise to my feet.

He reluctantly rises too, his gaze pleading. "Adam..."

"I have somewhere to be. If you'll excuse me." Humakbang ako palabas sa opisina ko kahit na alam kong hindi pa nakababalik si Ezra dahil ilang minuto lang naman ang layo ng university rito at wala namang isang oras kung ihahatid niya si Jazz sa bahay nito.