The CEO's Temporary Bride

Chapter 45: Unwarranted Suspicions

Agad na napansin ni Tamara ang bakanteng mesa at upuan sa opisina nang siya'y bumalik. Subalit, agad niyang nakita na hindi ito ang bagong mesa at upuang ipinangako ni Chad para sa kanya. Kitang-kita ang mga gasgas at mantsa sa mesa na nagpapahiwatig ng mahabang panahong paggamit. Lumapit siya sa isang kasamahan upang magtanong, "May I ask where the new table and chairs was?"

Ang kanyang kausap ay saglit lang siyang tiningnan at hindi sumagot. Si Blaire, na abala sa kanyang gawain at hindi tumitingin kay Tamara, ang sumagot, "the new set of table and chair was given to the older employee."

Bumuntong-hininga si Tamara bago muli nagtanong, , "well then, may I ask how I can report this broken chair to the maintenance department?"

Nang marinig ito, malakas na tumawa si Blaire bago hinarap si Tamara. "Don't make a fuss, Tamara. The maintenance team has more important issues to address than your chair. Just make do with what you have."

Kahit labis ang pagkadismaya ay pinili na lamang ni Tamara na manatiling kalmado. Ngunit nang umupo siya at maranasan ang pagkakalog ng upuan, hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili dahil dumagdag pa ang tawanan nina Andrea at Blaire.

"Why are you looking at us?" tanong ni Andrea nang may halong pangungutya.

"I was just wondering why I was given this broken chair. I was told that I would be provided with a new table and chair," matatag ang tinig ni Tamara habang nakikipagtitigan sa kanila.

Lalo pang lumakas ang tawanan nina Andrea at Blaire. "What do you think of yourself? Important? Don't act like a diva!"sabi ni Andrea na may diin.

Ayaw na sana niyang patulan si Andrea pero dahil halata sa asal nito na sinusubukan ang kanyang pasensya, kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone at sa harap ng nakatawa pang si Andrea ay tinawagan niya si Chad.

Kalmado ngunit matatag na tono niyang kinausap si Chad sa wikang Ingles upang maintindihan siya ng mga kasamahan niya, "Hello, Chad. Didn't you tell me you ordered a new table and chair for me? I just arrived at the office, and I've been given an old table and a broken chair."

Agad niyang naramdaman ang tensyon sa opisina matapos niyang tawagan si Chad. Pero mapagwagi siyang ngumiti dahil kitang-kita niya ang inis sa mga mukha nina Andrea, Blaire, at Cheeee.

"Really, Tamara?" mataray na sabi ni Blaire habang pinagkrus ang mga braso, "Do you always need to stir up drama on your first day? Wait until Chad finds out what kind of person you really are!"

Napatitig si Tamara kay Blaire, at sa tono nitong puno ng pang-uuyam, alam niyang kailangan niyang manindigan. "I'm not sure what you mean. I was simply asking for what was promised to me."

Umismid si Blaire saka muling nagsalita, "Oh, come off it, Tamara! We all know your game. Flirting your way to get what you want, making calls in front of everyone to put on a show. You think you're being subtle, but it's painfully obvious."

Sa puntong ito ay nakisali na rin si Andrea, "Yeah, Tamara, playing the helpless newbie isn't going to work here. We're not fools."

Sumambit naman si Cheezee na kanina pang tahimik na nanonood, "And it's not just about the chair, is it? It's about setting a precedent. You want us to see you as someone special from day one."

Naramdaman ni Tamara ang bugso ng frustrasyon ngunit pinilit niyang manatiling kalmado habang sinasabing, "This isn't about being special or manipulating anyone. It's about having a proper workspace. I was assured by Chad that the office would be ready. I don't see how expecting that is wrong."

Lumapit si Blaire at mataray na sinabing, "It's about respect, Tamara. You coming in and making demands, you're disrespecting all of us who've dealt with much worse without complaining. You're not better than anyone here."