KALMIA Series 1: Kiel's Story - Hotelier of Mine

CHAPTER 12

“WELCOME back, Ms. Louise Margaret,” sabi ni Sam sa kanya. Ang usapan kasi nila as soon as bumalik siya ay trabaho na ulit siya. Kahit isang buwan at kalahati lang siya doon sa ‘Pinas ay hindi na siya sanay na tawagin siyang Louise Margaret. Actually, she hates being called that again. She sighed and tried to smile at Sam. Wala naman itong kasalanan. “Sorry ulit, Ms. Louise,” malungkot ulit na sabi nito.

“It’s fine,” tipid na turan niya dito at naglakad na sa sasakyang naghihintay sa kanila. “It’s not that late yet, sure akong bukas pa ang office natin. Gusto kong linisin itong gulong ginawa ko. Sam, pakidala na lang yung mga bagahe ko sa bahay. I want to go straight to work and give them a piece of me,” sabi niya sa napaka-kalmadong paraan. She knew Sam was nervous about her calmness and quietness pero alam niya din na di siya nito pipigilan.

Idinaan na muna niya si Sam sa bahay nila and went straight to the company that hired her. Maganda ang mga ngiti ng mga guwardia na bumati sa kanya pero hindi niya na magawa pang ngumiti. All her negative emotions was resurfacing and she can’t even stop her emotions. She doesn’t need too dahil nawala na sa kanya ang lalaking mahal na mahal niya. ‘No reservations’ ika nga.

She went straight to her editor’s office which took her work without permission. She would do everything to make this guy suffer like she’s feeling right now. Bumuntong-hininga siya para naman makalama siya ng maayos. Naalala niya kasi kung ano ang nangyari noon sa kanya kaya siya nagkaroon ng problemang ganito. She composed herself before knocking.

Narinig niyang nagsalita ang lalaki sa loob. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at nakita niyang nag-angat na ito ng paningin sa ginagawa. Nakita niya tuloy and pagkagulat sa mukha nito. She even saw him averted his eyes on her. Kung sa ibang pagkakataon lang ay matatawa siya dahil halatang guilty ang mokong na kano na ito. She walked towards her desk and took something out on her pocket. Isang maliit na tinuping papel iyon. She opened it for the man and slid it in front of him.

“What is this, Louise Margaret?” takang tanong nito.

“This is my resignation letter. I wrote it when I was in the plane. I really hate to leave this place but I can’t work with people who knows how to steal my works,” diretsang sabi niya.

“I did it—“

“Stop it. I heard everything from my secretary and don’t you ever denying of stealing without her permission. It’s not my job to give you anything if I am on vacation. I even gave you my official vacation slip. If I remembered it right, vacation means no work for me, so no article but what did you do? Instead of looking for somebody to cover Elise’s work, you stole mine because I wasn’t here. It’s easy that way, right?” sabi niya na ginawa ang lahat para hindi siya magwala.

“Louise, I’m sorry...please let this one slide. I was panicking when the boss told me to get another article because Elise fucked up and knowing you, I knew you have some reserved article but your secretary told me no. I was desperate,” sabi ng Kano at tumayo ito para lapitan siya. Pinigilan niya itong makalapit at umurong pa nga siya palayo dito baka kasi masapak niya pa ito.

“The damage was done, Mr. Cromwell and my trust in you was destroyed. We both need to make sacrifices...and it was your choice to sacrifice my trust,” sabi niya at tumalikod na. “By the way, Mr. Cromwell, I will be having a press conference about this article and tell them the real story. Have a good evening,” yun lang at tuluy-tuloy na siyang lumabas. She took her phone out and dialed Sam’s number.

“Sam, please arrange a press conference as soon as possible. I need to clear this as soon as possible,” sabi niya dito.

“Sigurado ka ba, Aann?” nagulat siya at Aann ang itinawag nito dito. “Magiging delikado ang gagawin mo. Maraming malalaking tao ang naging kaaway ni Louise Margaret dahil na rin sa mga isinulat mo,” sabi pa nito sa kanya. She knew that well pero desidido na siya. Ito ang sinasabi niyang sakripisyo kanina. By hurting Kiel that much, she atleast need to reveal who she was para maintindihan nito kung bakit niya naisulat ang ganoong article tungkol sa Hotel ng ama nito.