The Perks Of Being Annabeth Petrova

Chapter Nineteen - Know Them More

BUMABA KAMI SA BENTLEY AND WAS WARMLY WELCOMED BY THE EMPLOYEES OF MMB BUILDING. We went to their private elevator and Maria pressed the button of the top floor. Tumunog ang elevator hudyat na narito na kami sa top floor. The metal doors opened and was greeted a good morning by the MBB Boys' secretaries with weird names. Names derived from flowers like Rose, Violet, Lily, Hyacinth, and Dandelion. They are all 12 secretaries but I do not bother to know them. Only those I've encountered oftentimes.

I was about to open the door when Maria stopped me. She opened it and dodge the incoming dart thrown by Eugene, of course. What's new.

"Oops." Usal ni Eugene na sinuklian naman ni Maria ng dagger looks at Mia na kumaway- kaway pa. Psh. Childish.

I entered only to find the complete, I mean, almost complete members of Michaelis Billionaire Bachelors since wala pa 'siya'. Si Vince. Yes. Vince Anton Salvatore of Salvatore Group of Companies. I am the only one calling him 'Vince' which ayaw niya. Ewan ko kung bakit. Ganoon din naman siya sa'kin ah. He won't stop calling me 'Isabella'. It was strange of me talaga na pinabayaan ko siyang tawagin ako by that name of mine. Well, nasanay na siguro ako sa kanya. Or something deeper I cannot name.

May dagdag na lima sa group which kakikilala ko palang last week dahil on a business trip sila while may nagaganap dito sa Pilipinas.

Sila ay sina:

Damon Josh Andrade- certified rich playboy

Andrew Simon Loyola- extremely Casanova

Carl Stephen Capistrano- totoong playboy na napilitan lang mamahala ng company nila dahil sa pag-iwas sa mga babae

Mikael Finn Stroem- seryoso sa pinaka- seryoso

Niklaus Elijah Michaelson- a man of few words, may sarilin mundo

When they saw me, tumayo sila at nagkiss sa cheeks ko dahil close kami agad.

"You are still beautiful as ever mula ng last time kitang nakita." Saad ni Damon.

Napairap naman si Maria dito. "You just met last week and that was the last time you saw her." Ismid nito. Mia giggled with Maria's reactions. Minsan, nakukunsumi na'ko sa dalawang ito. Parang cats and dogs magtalo. Hamakin mo, isang moody versus isang lively. Ang gandang combination.

Umupo kami sa tapat ng conference table habang sine- set up ng 12 secretaries ang mga laptop ng MBB Boys. Maria set up mine. Umandar naman ang pagka-playboy ng mga binata dahil pati sekretarya ay fini- flirt nila. Kaya nadi- distaract.

"You know what, Maria, we are so lucky because our boss doesn't flirt us." Saad ni Mia ng may kalakasan. Napatingin ang lahat sa kanya at tinawanan siya.

"What?" inosenteng pahayag nito.

My eyes widen with what she said. Nagpipigil naman ng galit si Maria at sinabat ito.

"Mia, Miss Annabeth wouldn't flirt with us since she is a female like us."

"Oh." Tumango ito na parang naiintindihan niya na.

"but what if our boss is Sir Stefan?" tanong niya.

My head turned to her mentioning my twin's name.

"No doubt." Bored na sagot naman ng assistant ko sa isa.

It was 5 minutes late from the said time the meeting should start.

"I think we should wait." Sabi ni Jaime. Sumang-ayon naman ang lahat while sila Niklaus at Rolf ay parang nagko- contest sa pagiging pinaka-tahimik.

7 minutes, 21 seconds and 3 milliseconds past 11:30 a.m. ng pumasok 'siya'.

"You're late." Sabi ni Mikael. Tinapunan lang siya ng seryosong tingin ni Vince at dumiretso sa upuan niya.

Nagtama ang mga tingin namin. Ako ang unang nagbawi at pinagtuonan ng pansin ang discussion ni Tristan sa may projector.

With his laser pen, tinuro niya ang mga objectives ng powerpoint presentation regarding the Volcoffh-Michaelis partnership. At times, nase- sense kong tumitingin sa akin si Vince. I feel uneasy with his stares kaya di ko naagapan ng sagot ang question ni Rolf na ngayon ay nagpe- present sa harap.

"The Michaelis will be one of Volcoffh Group of Companies' biggest supplier of dry goods mainly tea and coffee. Not only in the Philippines but also in all the branches of supermarkets worldwide under VGC. What do you think, Ms. Petrova?" pormal na pahayag niya sa akin. Nagnakaw ako ng tingin kay Vince who's still staring at me and thank goodness, walang nakakapansin.

Thank you for reading!!! ^_^