I Get What I Want

Kabanata 18

"I've already made an appointment with Mr. Lee this afternoon, Lea. We'll leave in ten minutes." Anunsyo ng sekretarya/assistant kong si Rorhy.

"Got it. Thank you, Rorh." Pagkasabi nun pinatay ko na rin ang aking laptop.

It has been a week since I came back to LA. Isang linggo simula nang iwan ko ang Calapan. Hindi na ako nakapag-paalam dahil nagkaroon ng emergency sa negosyo kaya kailangan ko'ng bumalik agad. The past week has been really busy. I went to see a lot of potential clients and investors na muntikan nang makuha ng mga competitor kong startup companies. Not that I am not confident na mapapanatili ko sila but in this industry, kailangan talaga na ipakita mo'ng angat ang kompanya mo sa iba.

At ngayon nga ay papunta kami sa isa sa mga biggest potential client namin na nagbabalak na magpatayo ng residential units dito sa LA.

Bitbit ang aking sling bag at laptop ay lumabas na ako ng opisina.

"Let's go." Tawag ko kay Rorhy na nasa telepono. Nilagpasan ko na ito at nauna na sa basement.

Nakasunod naman ito agad. "By the way, I received an e-mail from your brother. I presume you did not inform them that you're back in LA?"

"I didn't have the time. What did he say?"

"You should call him. I'll drive." Wala na akong nagawa nang pumasok na ito sa driver's seat.

I just rolled my eyes and went inside.

"My kuya can wait. Just don't mind him." I said while checking myself in the mirror. "It's a lunch meeting, right? Saang restaurant ba tayo pupunta?"

"Rocksugar. According to Mr. Lee's secretary, preferred daw ni Mr. Lee ang Asian fusion. Malapit lang naman yun dito." Paliwanag nito.

I just nodded and retouched my makeup.

Rorhy is Filipino-American. She was my classmate in UCLA. Pareho kaming nagtapos ng Arhitectural Studies. Although she is my secretary/assistant, she's also my business partner. Pareho naming tinaguyod ang kompanya from scratch. She did not let me get a secretary dahil ayun dito ay kaya naman na niya ang mga gawain ng secretary/assistant/partner. At hinayaan naman nito akong maging Managing Director.

Rorhy smoothly parked the car in front of a fine dining restaurant.

"You've been here?" I asked as I eyed the whole place.

"Not yet. I just searched it on the web. It has pretty good reviews." She said matter-of-factly.

"Maganda." Komento ko.

Agad kaming sinalubong ng isang staff pagpasok pa lang ng restaurant.

"Hi! We made a reservation under Rorhy Young." Rinig kong sabi nito sa nakangiting staff.

"This way, please."

We followed her to a private room na adjacent lang sa mga tables ng restaurant.

"Thank you." I smiled at the cheerful staff.

"Kasama ba ang secretary ni Mr. Lee sa meeting?" I asked her.

"Yes. She confirmed her attendance kanina. And I think, their lawyer will be here as well." Nakataas ang kilay nito sa huling sinabi.

"A lawyer? Bakit daw?"

Kibit-balikat lamang ang sagot nito. Maya-maya pa'y tumayo na ito nang makita ang hinihintay na kliyente. Tumayo na rin ako para salubungin ang mga ito.

"Good morning, Mr. Lee. Thank you for coming all the way here. This is an honor. By the way, I am Lea and this is my partner, Rorhy. " I smiled widely at the old businessman.