Tempting Mr. Perfect (PUBLISHED UNDER PRECIOUS PAGES)

Twenty Four

A memo from Heath via email welcomed my morning. Sinasabi doon na inililipat na niya ako sa ibang team, sa ilalim ng ibang Marketing Director.

"Miss Tonie, please drop a call to Miss Montero raw po ASAP. Should I call her na po ba?" Tugon ni Karla pagkaupo ko pa lang sa shrivel chair ko.

"Yes please, thanks Karla."

Wala pang minuto nasa kabilang linya na ng intercom ang bago kong director.

"Miss Montero, this is Tonie of the Seduce Account. You gave an advice po na I should call?"

"Call me Tin na lang Tonie. Sinend naman na sa akin lahat ni Ivan 'yung kailangan kong makita sa account na hawak niyo so no need to come by my office. Pero I need you to polish the photoshoot and the short film so I can see kung may changes pa akong gustong gawin. Say Friday, i-send mo sa akin para makita ko na."

"Yes Miss Tin."

I finished what I can finish after calling Miss Tin. Syempre kailangan kong magpakitang gilas, sort of a validation for my girl pride regarding my job.

It was already lunch time when Heath texted me. He's busy with some new partners, but still has the time to text me. I shook my head in amused disbelief.

"Do you like your new Director? I hand picked her for you."
Heath
+639*********

Napangiti ako sa text niya, you never fail to amaze me love.

Yes, I like her.

I paused before I even hit send. I bit my lip before erasing my reply and replacing it with something just to tease my Mr. Perfect.

"Hand picked? Really Heath?"

Then my cellphone suddenly rang. I jumbled it with my hands because it caught me off guard. He's already calling! I instantly regret that message!

"Antoinette, please don't think crazy ideas about me and your new director. You got it all wrong and all mixed up. I did n-" He stopped speaking when I burst out laughing.

"Why are you laughing? What's so funny?" He asked, baffled.

"I was just messing with you love." Sagot ko sabay punas sa mga luhang lumandas sa gilid ng mata ko.

I heard him groan, "Antoinette, why are you doing this to me right now?"

"I was just kidding love. Sorry. I love you." I said oh-so-sweetly.

Then I heard murmurs, "Mr. Ongpauco should we continue?"

"Babe, where are you and what are you doing right now?" My laughter died. Baka nasa meeting pa siya, baka hindi pa sila nagla-lunch break.

"I'm in the middle of a very important business meeting with a group of foreign investors. Then you, my gorgeous but wicked girlfriend, decided to prank text me. So here I am, interupting a critical appointment just to explain myself to you." Samnit niya. Napahapo ako sa noo ko. Hindi ko naman inakala na walang pahinga ang meeting nila.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry. Ibababa ko na love you bye." Pagmamadaling sabi ko, hindi ko na hinintay sumagot.

Akala ko matatapos ang meeting ni Heath ng maaga. Pero bago pa matapos ang pasok ko, nagtext na siya na matatagalan pa ang pagpupulong na 'yun dahil marami-rami pa silang kailangang pag-usapan.

Buti na lang nag-aya itong si Karla at ang dati kong team na mag-chill sa malapit na bar. We're celebrating the success of the Blossoms account.

"Nako, Miss Tonie. Buti na lang pumayag kayo. Kundi baka hindi rin sumama si Sir Ivan." Impit na tili ang narinig ko kay Marian pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yun.

"Huy, ano ka ba! 'Wag mo ngang chinichismis si Miss Tonie. Pero Miss Tonie, anong meron sa inyo ni Mr. Ongpauco?" Hindi napigilang tanong ni Hazel.

Nakita kong nagsikuhan sila sa harap ko, "Boyfriend ko si Heath." I said with a smile. Sarap ng pakiramdam sa bibig na sabihing sa akin lang si Mr. Perfect.

"Kyaaaa!" Tili ni Joan sabay hampas sa dalawa niyang kasama. "Sabi ko na e! Iba talaga tumitig si Mr. Ongpauco sayo Miss Tonie! Ang swerte-swerte mo." Kilig na kilig siya habang niyuyugyog si Marian.

"Here are the drinks!" Sabay-sabay kaming napalingon ng tumawag na si Yohan.

Ivan immediately sat beside me, offering me a a bottle pf pale pilsen after. "Drink?"

Kinuha ko iyon, "So how are you and your new director?" Ang pait ng tono ng boses niya.

Natahimik lahat ng nasa mesa at napatingin sa akin. Usap-usapan kasi 'yun sa opisina, kung bakit daw bigla akong nalipat ng team at director.

"Miss Tin is good at what she does, wala akong masabi sa kanya." I safe answered.

Ivan snorted. "So I'm not good enough?"

I read between his lines. Why is he like this? Napapito na lang si Ruel ng sandaling tumahimik ang lahat.

"Ay, alam niyo ba? Nagka-raise itong si Karla! Iba ka na girl!" Pag-iiba ni Hazel sa usapan.

Nginitian ko si Karla para lang masalba ang pasira ko ng mood, "Congrats! Ikaw ha hindi mo ako sinabihan." I greeted. Pero ang totoo, alam ko. I was the one who recommended her to Heath. Nagpapa-aral pa kasi siya ng kapatid niya.

Namula siya ng bahagya bago nagkubli ng mukha. May isasagot sana siya kaso sinapawan siya ni Ivan.

"Eh bakit hindi niyo batiin si Tonie dahil may bago na siyang director?" Muli niyang tanong.

Wala nanamang sumagot sa kanya. Sana hindi na lang siya sumama dahil nakakasira lang siya ng mood!

Joan attempted to change tge topic but she closed her mouth immediately while looking pass at me. Actually, all of them are gaping.

I smelled a familiar perfume and without a doubt, I know who's approaching us. He possessively put his arms on my waist before kissing me on my temple. Hey love, ready to go home?"

Nakita kong nagpigil ng kilig sila Hazel. Napasinghap si Ivan bago nagsalita. "Hindi pa umiinit ang upuan sa pagkakaupo ni Tonie uuwi na kayo?" He asked without even looking at Heath. He should know that I'm the thin thread that't preventing my boyfriend from pounding him to dust.

Heath's grip tightened. Tumayo na ako at tumabi sa kanya bago pa niya magulpi itong si Ivan. "You're right, but my boyfriend needs me. So I need to go. Bye, catch you guys at work."

Kulang na pang ipamukha pa ni Heath kay Ivan ang sinabi ko. The smug grin he has was still intact when we exited the bar. "You should do that more often." He said.

"Do what?"

"Rub to his face that I'm your boyfriend."