CORDIVILLA: Breathless

Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Kababa ko pa lamang ng telepono ay bumukas na ang pintuan. Pumasok si Chrissy na nakangiti pero nang makita ang posisyon namin ni Stan ay bahagyang napawi ito. Well, we're not touchy but close enough.

Nakatayo pa rin sa gilid ko si Stan at bahagyang nakayuko, malapit nang pumantay ang ulo niya sa akin. Suminghap ako at bahagyang lumayo.

"Mr. Orodio has arrived. Along with his daughter and a group of Architects and Engineers." Chrissy said.

Tumikhim ako at mabilis na tumayo. Stan slowly fixed his posture, his eyes lingering on me. Umiwas ako ng tingin at hinagilap ang mga kailangan ko.

"We can now start the meeting, then." I said.

Tumango si Chrissy at bumaling kay Stan. "Let's go, Sir." Aniya.

Kumunot ang noo ko at nanliit ang mga mata. Hindi ba ay ako dapat ang tinatawag niya? Ako ang pansamantalang boss niya, hindi kung sino man! Not even this irritatingly gorgeous man here!

Nang sumulyap ako kay Stan ay nakatalikod na siya sa akin at naglalakad palabas ng opisina. Pinagmasdan ko siya hanggang sa siya'y makalabas. Nilingon ako ni Chrissy at nginitian.

"Sunod ka na, Ma'am." She said and went out of the door too.

Aba't! Pumikit ako ng mariin at hinilot ang sentido. Mas lalo akong naiirita dahil sa inaasta ng sekretaryang iyon! Oh, God! Don't tell me I am jealous?! No! Masama lang ang pakiramdam ko kaya mabilis uminit ang aking ulo!

I brought my laptop and my phone and some files when I went to the meeting room. When I went in some are giving their greetings. Mr. Jovan Orodio smiled when he saw me. Hindi ko agad nahagod ng tingin ang malakaw na meeting room dahil lumapit kaagad siya.

"Good morning, Veil. Your mother told me about this beforehand." Pauna niyang sinabi.

Ngumiti ako at tumango. "It's a pleasure to work with you, Sir. I hope we can establish a good partnership between the two companies."

Tumango siya at iwinagayway ang kamay. Nang bumaling ako sa pahabang lamesa ay agad dumapo ang mata ko kay Stan na nakaupo at nakaharap sa akin. He was watching us with those eagle eyes of him. Suminghap ako at ibinaling ang tingin sa katabi niya. No other than Angelica... his cousin. Tumikhim ako at muling tinignan si Mr. Orodio.

"My daughter and I need to go back to the States. My nephew will be left behind to work on the project. I hope you can get along with him. After this meeting, we will go directly to the Airport for our flight." He smiled.

He's really Mr. Orodio's nephew, huh? But how? How come I didn't know he's related to one of the prominent people in the business world, or even considered to be in the whole wide world? How come?

Pero ano raw? Uuwi sila at si Stan lang ang maiiwan? Nahigit ko ang malalim na hininga. Does that mean I will be working with him alone? Napa-iling ako. I will be just here for two days. No need to worry!

"I didn't know about that Sir, but I wish you had a good time here. Have a safe flight later, Sir." Ngumiti ako at muling sumulyap sa direksyon nina Stan.

My heart jumped when I saw him still watching me... us. Nakasandal siya sa kaniyang upuan at seryoso kaming pinagmamasdan. He licked his lips when he saw me watching him. Kumabog ang aking dibdib at umiwas ng tingin.

"Oh, I had a good time and I will surely be back! Maybe after the project. For now, I am entrusting it to my nephew since he will inherit this business soon. Shall we?" Aniya at inilahad ang kamay.

Tumango ako at hindi na sumagot dahil abala ako sa pagpapakalma ng aking puso. Bumati ang iilang kakilala sa akin. Hindi ko kilala iyong mga Engineers at ibang Architects na naroon. Umupo ako sa tabi ng isang lalaking Engineer. Tiningnan ko ang pangalan niyang nasa lamesa.