The Billionaire's Star

GALLARDO 2

It's almost 2:30 in the afternoon and still no one was sent to call me here and ask me to go to the conference room. I was fidgeting in my seat when I saw Mhariel walking so fast with her posture looking so tensed.

"Mhariel!" I yelled her name to catch her attention. Some of our officemates turned their heads towards me but Mhariel just kept on walking like she heard nothing.

I jogged my way towards her and grabbed her arm. "I just want to ask you about the--" I stopped when I felt like something's not right.

Her body is shaking and cold sweats were all over her.

She looked up to me with a guilty face and eyes misting with tears.

"Girl, what happened?" I asked as I cupped her face.

She bursted crying and hugged me. "God, I'm so sorry Star."

I let her hug me as I rub her back. "Tell me what happened." I said.

"I-I'm really sorry..." She sobbed.

"Shhh.. Calm down and tell me what happened." I said with a calm voice.

"I-I did nothing wrong but I feel so guilty..." She cried out. ".. after telling you that you won, Mr. Peres called me and told me not to tell anyone about the result of the contest, I said yes to him even though I know I already told you." She stopped and I guided her towards my cubicle.

Mhariel wiped her tears with her handkerchief and blew her nose.

"I thought it was just nothing.. I-I thought he just wanted it to be a big surprise for the winners but when the papers was sent to me. I saw that your name wasn't there anymore." She sobbed and I frowned with what I heard. My name was not there anymore? "I tried to ask Mr. Peres and he said you weren't even supposed to be in that contest, he said you're a hard headed girl and if he only knew you didn't follow him he would have told the judges not to consider your work--"

"Get to the point Mhariel! Stop torturing me." I said cutting her off.

She stared at me for a few seconds before opening her mouth. "To make the long story short.. Her daughter was also in the contest, he knows that that's why he doesn't want you to join. Maybe he knows that you can beat his daughter. You were in the first place and she's in second and now that your name's out of the picture, her daughter was now the first placer."

My hands were shaking before she even finished. I felt my eyes misted with tears and my lips were quivering because I'm trying to fight the tears that was about to fall.

"I-I'm sorry.." Mhariel sobbed and started bawling her eyes again. "I'm really sorry.." She said again.

"You don't have anything to do with this." I tried to comfort her but the words came out too cold. I smiled bitterly.. What about Aly? I felt my cold tears running down my cheeks.

"I-I know.. But I called Summer..." I know many of our officemates are now looking at us weirdly but I don't give a damn at this moment. "I told her you won the contest but before I could tell her what Mr. Peres did and ask for help on how to tell you, she squealled and started telling a-about the condition of your daughter.." She hugged me. "...and the money that you needed for the s-surgery."

"Shh.. Stop now." I whispered and smiled.

"I feel so guilty.." She said slowly as she look me in the eyes.

"Tsk, don't worry too much.. I'll talk to Mr. Peres." I said.

She nodded and gave me a half smile. Her face was now flushed from crying and her eyes were a bit swollen