****
“Mommy, gusto ko po ng love and attention niyo,” bungad ni Peyton sa opisina ni Irene, dala ang isang pinggan ng niluto niyang pagkain.
Napaangat ng mga tingin ang ginang. Nagliwanag ang mukha niya pagkakita sa anak. Isinantabi niya ang pangtrabahong gawain at malugod na ngumiti sa dalaga.
“Ano yang niluto mo? Bakit mag-aasawa ka na ba at nagtataste testing tayo rito?”
“Damag nga sinigud,” ingus ni Peyton.
“Natural, I’m a lawyer,” mahina ang sabi ni Irene. “Gusto mo ba umuwi ng Baguio? Pasama ka sa dad mo or call Adi to come with ya,” dagdag niya.
Naghain si Peyton ng pagkain sa harap ni Irene.
“I am doing fine, thank you. I will probably go with dad. I would be happy to have you too, can you come, ma?”
“When was the last time we had a family bonding?”
“February 14, 2020. Eighteenth birthday. It is because you and Dad go out alone together,” nagtatampong aniya.
“It is because your presence was at the university. Your Dad takes me to dinner dates and you’re still up at 8:00 pm to the UP, or even later at night,” wika ni Irene habang ginagaya ang anak.
“I engage in interdisciplinary competitions, in a business case competition, to be precise. I also participated in the UP Debate Society.” Naupo sa harap ni Irene si Peyton, nakadekuwatro habang pinapanood ang ina na kanina lamang ay nasasarapan sa kanyang kinakain na ngayon nagseryoso ng mukha.
“Two weeks ago, Armani Corporation assigned us a thesis project on car base oil lubricants. My father-in-law gave me the failed pilot production runs to review with Enrico Sy and Keith Marcos, fellow MBB students at UP. You two seemed to have a personal and profound relationship, hence the documents provided, hence the CEO expects me to also do a pilot production run.”
“Father-in-law? Do you like Wil? Peyton, we will discuss your disclosures separately.”
“So may kapatid siyang lalaki? Older or younger?”
“Well, Vivienne has an older brother, William Caesar, a COO. So, Armani Corporation, a group company, has provided you with several unsuccessful small-scale car lubricant trials, correct?”
“Actually, there are three. One of these is a potential scarcity in base oil production, which the finance department would never permit. As part of the legal team, will you?”
“By whom? Vincenzo Armani?”
“Yes, Mr. Vincenzo Armani. He also ran a background check of my academic records, due to that he will rely on my capacity for a successful production. I might as well visit the corporation on weekends, depending on my schedule, or maybe during weekdays.”
“He did not issue me about this, anak,” amin ni Irene.
“Nasa jurisdiction mo ba ang mag-decide pagdating sa mga production?”
“Almost everything.”
“Why did you present yourself to be a part of Armani’s legal team?”
