Red String of Fate

Chapter 8: Leverage

Alexa unlocked her father's office door and scrambled inside. She frantically fumbled with the latch and sighed with relief when it clicked into place. After their elevator incident two days ago, she has been dreading the idea of seeing him again and fortunately for her Alexander was busy with the cases he's handling. Still, she cannot help but feel paranoid when she rides the elevator and anxiety only leaves her when she's safely inside her office.

"Bwisit sa buhay ko talaga yung lalaking yun! Di na lang sya magbigti! Para tuloy akong tanga!" She grumbled to herself as she adjusted her business suit. She looked around her father's office for the first time and smiled. She was given a new office which was chic, large, functional and impersonal. Alexa hated it at first sight and the two days she spent confined it its walls were the most boring days of her life. Her father must have felt her discomfort and discreetly suggested that she can take over his office if she likes. Alexa immediately said yes. "Nice." She murmured. Kung yung opisina ng mga Sandoval napaka-manly ng feel yung office ng Daddy nya homey. The walls were decorated with pictures of her and her sisters. Even her Harvard graduation photo earned a place among the numerous photographs hanging on the wall. She walked towards his large, oak office table and touched its smooth, shiny surface. Sana nakita kitang nakaupo dito dati, Daddy. She whispered. Her father was scheduled to leave for treatment in a few days and the thought of not seeing his cheerful face everday made her sad. The phone rang interrupting her musings and she picked it up. "Hello?" She said.

"Atty. Carbonel, this is Eunice po. Sabi po ni Atty. Montemayor tawagan ko po kayo just in case you need help in your new office."

"Hi, Eunice. Thanks for the offer. Hindi na kailangan." Alexa replied. She likes Eunice, napakamasayahin nya at isang taon lang ang tanda nito sa kanya.

"Okay po. Your father called in advance to have his office cleaned and the files you need readied. I hope, Ma'am everything's to your liking."

"Oo. Thank you. I appreciate the fresh flowers."

"You're welcome po, Atty. Carbonel! Request po yan ng Daddy nyo. Kung gusto nyo po, I'll ask one of the secretaries to assist you."

"No, I'll be fine. I will only be going over some company files just like what I've been doing these past two days but again, thank you." She said smiling.

"Okay po. Just in case you need me my local is 6217."

"I know but thanks for the reminder." She replied. "Okay, bye."

"Bye po, Atty. Carbonel." Eunice answered before Alexa heard a click signaling the end of the phone call. She took her blazer off and started reading the files detailing the assets and liabilities of their businesses. She was in the middle of studying the documents when someone knocked.

"Come in." She absentmindedly said forgetting that she locked the door.

"It's locked." Someone replied and she stood up to open the door and stopped. Baka yung manyakis to! Clearing her throat, she spoke.

"Sino yan?"

"The man of your dreams." Came the reply and she felt her pulse race.  Man of my dreams?! Baka man of my nightmares! She huffed ignoring the delicious tremor she felt upon hearing his voice.

"Wala sya umalis." She answered before she went back to her table. There was a chuckle but she ignored him and proceeded to read the files. Minutes later someone knocked again and Alexa frowned at the door. "Itong manyakis na unggoy na to sumpa talaga sa buhay ko!" She murmured to herself.

"Atty. Carbonel?" A woman's voice asked and Alexa ran to the door.

"Eunice?" She asked.

"Opo."