Tempting Mr. Perfect (PUBLISHED UNDER PRECIOUS PAGES)

Sixteen

6 o' clock, Monday, I woke up when Ivan called me. "Hmmm, Ivan?" My voice still groggy from lack of sleep.

"Can you come early today sa office? We have a problem." Ani niya.

Napabangon ako agad, I rubbed my eyes. "Problem? Ano?"

"Mr. Ongpauco moved the deadline for Seduce today."

Napatayo ako agad, next next week pa ang deadling nito ha! Pa-opening palang yung isang account ko ngayong Wednesday tapos deadline na ng Seduce ngayon?! Wala pa kaming ipre-present.

Nakarating ako sa opisina mga bandang quarter to 7. Nadatnan kong magulo ang opisina ni Ivan. He has everything all over the place.

"We can't do this Tonie. Wala tayong maiprepresent." Halata mong kabado siya. "This is the first time na naipit ako ng ganito sa deadline. What the hell is Mr. Ongpauco thinking?!" He hissed under his breath.

I held his shaking hand, napatingin siya sa akin. "Hey, calm down. Kaya natin 'to. We will present whatever we can present sa harap ng board."

Nakatitig lang siya sa akin tapos bigla niya akong hinalikan. Ang bagal ng halik na iyon. When he pulled back, his face was apologetic. "I-Im s-sorry." Ani niya.

Napahawak ako sa labi ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. "S-sorry. I was caught in the moment." He said.

I just shrugged my shoulders, "O-okay l-lang, let's just agree of not making things awkward after this."

Pagtunton namin ng conference hall, andun na ang board of directors. Kasama si Heath na nakapalumbaba at mukhang iritang irita. Lalong lalo na nung nakita niyang pumasok kami ni Ivan ng sabay.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa harap kami ng board of directors magprepresent.

"Start." Utos ni Heath habang inaayos palang yung projector. Nanginginig na sa takot yung team ko.

I inhaled deep before I started talking. Ang dami kong sinasabi when Heath cut me short, "Stop making things unnecessarily long. Go straight to the point Ms. Lastimosa." He said while tapped his pen on the table.

I cleared my throat. Magsasalita na sana ako pero nagsalita nanaman siya, "No wait. Stop talking. You, I want you to present this account." Sabi niya sabay turo kay Ivan gamit yung ballpen niya.

Hindi ko na kaya ang mood swings ni Heath. Konting-konti na lang susuko na ako sa kanya.

"M-me?" Sagot ni Ivan sabay turo sa sarili niya.

"Yes, you. Wala namang ibang itinuturo itong ballpen ko diba?" He said sarcastically.

Lumapit sa akin si Ivan, ipinasa ko sa kanya ang remote, then I tapped his shoulder. "You can do this." I whispered.

Tumayo ako kung saan nakatayo si Ivan kanina. Sinundan ako ng tingin ni Heath. "For Seduce, we're using a different type of campaign. Besides the 7 magazine spread we agreed to. Tonie, thought of launching the product with a promo film."

Napatango ang iba sa board. "But the budget? I don't think aabot ang acquired budget niyo especially na nasa peak ng kasikatan ang gagamiting niyong artista." Sabi ng Finance Director.

"I agree." Sagot ng Senior Marketing Director sabay tingin sa budget na nasa kapiraso ng papel na hawak niya. Nakikita kong napapangisi na si Heath dahil hindi makasagot si Ivan, pero nasa akin parin ang titig niya.

"We are planning on cutting the edges of the budget sa print ads po." I answered. Lahat sila napalingon sa akin. "This account is not yet done pero we can present the new proposal po after 48 hrs."

Inilipat nilang lahat yung folders na hawak nila sa page kung nasaan ang breakdown ng budgets. Napatango yung iba samantalang yung iba mukhang hindi kumbinsido. "What can you say Mr. Ongpauco?" Tanong nung isang member ng board sa kanya.

He's still tapping his pen on the table while all his attention are drawn to me. "48 hrs? Do you think you can do that Antoinette?" He is again running his long fingers on his chin. Napatingin naman sa akin ang lahat ng tao sa conference hall when he called me by my  first name.

"Y-yes Sir." Napasimangot siya agad nung narinig niyang tinawag ko siya noon.

"Then this meeting is done." He said with authority. Nagsitayuan naman lahat ng tao doon and started exiting the hall. Si Heath nakaupo pa rin at nakatitig lang sa akin at dahil doon napako nanaman ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Tonie we did it!" Mahinang sabi ni Ivan sabay hawak sa magkabilang kamay ko. "We did it!" He again said sabay akap sakin at halik sa pisngi ko na kinagulat ko.

Wala naman nakapansin sa ginawa ni Ivan sa akin, kaso biglang tumayo si Heath at kinaladkad ako palabas ng conference hall.