Together but Separate

Chapter 40: After Two Weeks

Kate R. Ferragni

"Ma'am Nadia approved the dish, ma'am. She agreed to move to the next step."

Napangiti ako. "That's great."

I was glad na nagustuhan din niya sa wakas. After we signed the contract, we were busy coming up with a dish that she would like for the last two weeks. We kept on modifying the ingredients to capture the taste she wanted. Since Kris was the head chef, he was able to come up with a recipe based on Ma'am Nadia's liking. Since we market to Filipinos, she wanted us to make something that would capture their tastebuds. We had to brainstorm on how to make a dish that used both my company and the Superfoods' company recipes.

"Tell our illustrators in the creative department to start making three or more designs for the packaging. I want to give Ma'am Nadia few options to choose from. Tell them to be sure to put the exact name and amount of ingredients in the label."

"Noted, ma'am."

Tumango ako saka binalik sa kanya ang folder na pinakita niya sa akin. I walked around my desk papunta sa swivel chair ko para maupo.

"May sasabihin pa po ba kayo, Ma'am Kate?" tanong ni Linda.

I yawned. Inaantok na naman ako. I hadn't slept well for the last two weeks because I was so occupied by work. I kept myself busy  with the project. It helped na hindi ko masyadong maalala na wala si Nicko. But at the end of the day, na aalala ko pa rin na wala siya bago ako matulog.

"Can you bring me coffee?" I yawned again. "I really need to sleep longer tonight."

"Gawan ko na lang po kayo ng tea, ma'am. Mas maganda po 'yon para makatulog kayo ng maayos pag-uwi niyo."

"You're right. We're done in an hour anyways."

Tumango siya. "Opo. Sige, ma'am, babalik po ako. Kukunin ko lang po ang tea ninyo."

Linda made me a tea and came back few minutes later while I was finishing my work. I sipped my tea from time to time. At five in the afternoon, I closed my laptop and grabbed my purse. I got up and walked to the door.

"Mauna na ako, Linda. Thanks for the tea. It makes me feel better."

"You're welcome, ma'am. Ingat po kayo pauwi," nakangiti na sabi niya.

"Thank you. Ikaw din."

Kuya Cris was waiting for me in front of the car. Alam niya ang oras ng alis ko lalo na at sinasabihan siya ni Linda kapag pababa na ako para makapaghanda siya.

The moment I sat in the car, pumikit na agad ako at nakatulog. I woke up na nasa kwarto na ako at nakahiga sa kama. Nicko's bodyguards probably carried me to my bed. Sa lakas ba naman nila ay kaya nila akong buhatin.

I checked the time, and it was only two in the morning. Mahaba na rin ang natulog ko simula pa kanina sa kotse. I got up and went to the bathroom to change into my sleepwear. Naka-office clothes pa kasi ako.

After taking a shower and changing clothes, bumaba ako at dumiretso sa kitchen. Naghanap ako ng pagkain sa ref dahil gutom ako. I didn't have dinner. There were many leftovers but wala akong nakita sa ref na nagustuhan ko. So, I decided to just cook.

I made a new recipe. Pinaghalo ko lahat ng gusto kong kainin. When I was satisfied, I scoop the food from the pan to my plate saka naupo sa bar stool na nasa counter.

I was eating while scrolling through my phone. I kept myself updated about the launching. There were a lot of good reports regarding Nicko's launching events. It was so successful that they had sold all the limited edition luxury cars for only three days, which earned them millions. They had to do a bidding because there were a lot of wealthy people fighting over to buy the cars.