The Last Petal-COMPLETED (UNEDITED)

Kabanata 19

Kabanata 19

Meeting

“Ma'am, your meeting with the La Merande's C.E.O will be start at 9:30am,” paalala ni July sa akin habang inaayos ko ang mga papeles na pinipermahan.

“Where will be the place?”

“Sa main building po ng La Merande, Ma'am.”

I sigh as I took a glance inmy wristwatch. I still have an hour to go, kaya tinanguhan ko nalang si July bago ito lumabas.

I'm busy with our company and more of that are the meetings that I haven't attended when we're in Australia. I need to double my time to be an effective C.E.O of our company. Walang exemption lalo na pag ikaw ang nagdala sa sarili niyong kompanya. It's a big responsibility. But at my young age, I am able to manage it, tho, I'm having a hard time with it, but at least.

I haven't mourn that much for losing Cleo because of my tight schedule. Dahil pagdating sa bahay ay agad akong nakakatulog dahil sa pagod at puyat nitong mga nakaraan.

Dalawang linggo pa man ang nakakalipas matapos malibing si Cleo ay ganito na agad ako ka busy.

I almost hold my breath when I saw who is the man in front of me, that happened to be na ka-meeting ko. No other than, Horace Kale Merande.

He's just seriously sitting there, waiting for me to get closer. I swallow as I slowly took a step towards the swivel chair in the conference room. May babae itong katabi at may kinukolikot sa laptop kaya di nito napansin ang pagdating ko. I was about to clear my throat to get her attention, pero nagsalita ito.

“I can set our date in this restau, it has a nice view, what do you think, Babe?”

Para akong natulos sa narinig. I stared at the woman beside Race and look at him again. Pero agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin dahil sa mariing titig nito sa akin. I cleared my throat, dahilan ng bahagyang pag-angat ng tingin ng katabi.

“Oh! Magsisimula na ba ang meeting niyo? I will wait you in your office, then.” A woman look at me once more before she face Race and kiss him bago ito tumango at naglakad palabas ng conference room. I almost choke from holding my breath if I haven't blow it loudly.

“So... shall we start?”

I crumpled the hanky in my hand, napansin ko lang ang higpit ng pagkakahawak ko no’n nang dumapo roon ang mata ni Race. Agad akong naupo sa isa sa mga swivel chairs doon. At may pumasok na isang babae at isang lalaki na may bitbit na laptop.

The meeting goes smoothly. Miminsang kinikwestiyon ni Race ang mga taong nag pe-present sa harapan namin tungkol sa mga designs ng mga ito. Iyon ’yong collaboration ng Montaños Business Park View Company at La Merande, which is, Race’s company. Ganyan na siya ka tanyag sa industriyang ito at nakapagpatayo ng sariling kompanya.

“Thank you, Ma'am.” I nod at the woman after I shake her in hand, congratulating for their successful proposal.

Agad naman akong tumayo at nag-ayos na sa gamit para makaalis na. I still need to go to the cemetery, I will visit Cleo. That man. I really miss him!

My phone vibrate and lights on for the text message sa kalagitnaan ng pag-aayos ko sa gamit ko. Kaya agad kong tiningnan iyon. A small smile formed on my lips while reading Ynona's long sweet message. Napawi lang ang ngiti ko nang tumikhim si Race na nakatayo pala sa harapan ko.

I stand straight and put my phone back in my bag. Sinundan iyon ng tingin ni Race, kaya napatikhim ako. I arch my brows to ask him what at di na nag-abala pang magsalita.

“Can we have a lunch?”

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𝑮𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒀𝒐𝒐𝒐🍀