Chasing Fire

CHAPTER 20

"Here are your clothes that I asked Mirreia to buy," he gestured the bag on the table. "Now, I'll be leaving for the meeting. I hope you'll be fine here."

"Of course I will be, Abiz. You should go now. They're waiting," ani ko dahil mukha itong walang gana na pumunta sa hall kahit na nagpapaalam na.

Instead of attending to what I said, he faced Mirreia.

"Mirreia, tell the people from Sahaia Holdings to wait for me here when they arrive. No one from the company will accommodate them since you will be with me throughout the meeting with the boards."

"Noted, Mr. Almere. Is that all?"

Ang kaninang nagbibirong ekspresyon sa mukha ni Mirreia ay naging seryoso na ngayon.

"Tell Danica to accommodate them instead. Ang resort na muna ang bahala sa kanila. I don't know yet how long the meeting will last."

"Copy," iyon lang ang tanging naisagot ni Mirreia bago siya bilinan ni Abiz na mauna na sa hall.

His arm suddenly enveloped my shoulder habang abala ako sa pagbabalik ng mga damit sa loob ng duffel bag. Nilingon ko siya.

"I think you should go, too. Kami na ni Danica ang bahala rito," I assured him and even fixed his collar.

He planted a soft kiss on my forehead before leaving.

"Ami ikaw ha! Si bossing pala ha!"

Halos mapatalon ako nang biglang magsalita si Jopet at sinundot pa nito ng bahagya ang braso ko. The heck. I thought he already left.

"You're watching too much Jopet. At saka huwag kang makikinig sa usapan ng may usapan!" Halos pagalit na ang boses ko para lang mabawasan ang kung ano mang nararamdaman ko.

Kinuha ko ang duffel bag at bumalik sa main nang umiiling-iling.

Jopet is really still young.

Ginugol ko ang buong oras sa trabaho. Kung wala ako sa kainan ay nasa tanggapan naman ako ng resort. Mangilan-ngilan din ang mga walk in guests na dumarating.

Hindi pa naman napupuno ang mga hotel suites ng Isla de Almere ngunit kung magpapatuloy ito ay kailangan naming magkaroon ng cut off. We cannot accommodate everyone given na under renovations pa ang ibang rooms.

Some are also already checking out. Pero hindi talaga nauubos ang guests ng Isla de Almere. Ang sabi pa ni Danica kanina ay may celebration daw dito bukas ang Mayor ng barangay.

She let me review the proposal first before approving it. I immediately sign it dahil hindi rin naman sila mag-aavail ng suites. But they want the eatery near the shore exclusive for them and since it's a short notice, they have to pay a little more.

Mabilis namin iyong inayos ni Danica. The mayor sent his secretary. Malaki rin ang perang maipapasok noon sa resort so why decline it. They will just have a day here since tomorrow will be the Mayor's 50th birthday.

Ang full service celebration ang inoffer namin sa kanila. Right after we settled everything, the secretary left. I guess we will be very busy again.

"Maganda na rin na itong resort natin ang pinili ni Mayor," ani Danica nang itipon ang mga staff, "One of our advantage is the possibility that we will be featured. It's the mayor, of course."

Danica's right. Additionally, another advantage that we can get is the digits. This is a business afterall.

Nagkaroon kami ng meeting patungkol sa mga dapat naming gawin bukas.

I handed Ruel the menu of foods that the Mayor's secretary approved. I gave the place a visit. May iilang mga kumakain doon kaya binilinan ko na si Rochelle na isara na iyon. The place will be exclusive tomorrow until dawn and it needs to be cleaned later.