CLOSER NEXT TO YOU (Completed)

Chapter 37

Chapter XXXVII: NEGOTIATION

B2 looked at his watch, thinking if Mr. Chikuze would come. Sana nga lang ay dumating ito. Gusto na niyang madaliin ang pag-aayos ng magulang niya. Hindi na niya kaya pang panoorin ang mga mahal niya sa buhay na nahihirapan.

Pero kung hindi naman, kailangan niyang humanap ng ibang paraan para maayos ang lahat.

Once more, he looked at his watch this time calling it a try. He pushed his chair to leave.

"Sorry," a voice came and he was relieved Mr. Chikuze didn't forget the appointment. "I have attended an emergency."

"Not at all, Sir," sabi niya saka naglahad ng kamay dito. Totoong ayaw niyang pinaghihintay at kung nahuli pa marahil ito ng ilang segundo ay baka umalis na talaga siya. "Ten minutes is nothing, Sir."

"So, let's order our food?" anyaya ni Mr. Chikuze na kanya namang sinang-ayunan. As Mr. Chikuze read on the menu he asked B2, "How's Aniston Group?"

"Good. Things are in control," he said in an instant, confident as he always was. "It's hard but I'm giving my best."

"Na siya namang dapat," replied Mr. Chikuze. "Aniston Group isn't a piece of periodical exam you can easily swallow."

"You're right," sang-ayon niya saka tumingin dito. "And I'm glad it wasn't."

If it became as easy as the school's exam he's worried he'd get bored.

Ibinalik nito ang kanyang ngiti.

The food arrived, abd B2 took his knife and fork to dig in. He didn't grab a snack earlier and he's hungry thinking how he'd twist things to his favor.

"Tell me, Sir," he said instead of taking the first slice to greet his stomach. "What do you know?"

Mr. Chikuze put down the fork, giving B2 a meaningful smirk. "Depends on what you want to hear."

B2 answered in a dark expression, losing the remaining patience he had from waiting. "About that woman who tries to destroy my parent's marriage."

Mr. Chikuze took the fork and sliced the steak. "You can have all the help you need" momentary pause, "provided you can give us also the help we want."

"So these are schemes right from the start," B2 concluded.

"Of course not," Mr. Chikuze said. "Someone wants to take Aniston down, obviously, but it's not us. We only grab this opportunity to strengthen our alliance with Aniston Group."

"If this is a way of forming a bond with Aniston Group, why asked for a payment?"

"Because if you won't accept our help it'll be a big disaster. And you know it." Mr.Chikuze continued, "Only us has the item you badly need, that explains why we're putting a high price on it."

"What is it?

Mr. Chikuze looked at him straightly, smiling like a winner in a bet. "Worry not, young man. You aren't losing here. You will, in fact, thank me for this doing this."

--
B2 stripped off his suit and changed into a hoodie and a cap. Tired as he was after the meeting with Mr. Chikuze, he wanted to see Chloe before going home. He waited for her outside.

"Chloe," tawag niya ng lumabas na ang dalaga ng pastry shop.

Nanlaki ang mata nito nang makita siya roon.

He smirked. "Missed me?"

Chloe just looked at him, hair brushing against her face as the cool Christmas air blew.