Chapter 9:
The car ride back to the office was soundless, aside from the roaring of the car, there was nothing else. I just watched the scene outside the window, I was still bitter with what happened earlier. Hindi maalis sa isip ko ang imahe nilang dalawa, hindi pa ba talaga sila tapos magpahirap sa akin? Kailangan ko pang mag-adjust para sa aknilang dalawa, pati sa teritoryo ko ay hindi rin nila ako pinatawad.
“About what happened…I’m sorry”, I heard Gino said coldly. My eyes twitched at his voice. Ayokong naririnig syang humihingi ng tawad. Ayokong lumambot ang puso ko at magpakatanga na naman.
Sa halip na pansinin sya, inihilig ko ang likod at ulo sa sandalan bago ipinikit ang mga mata. I did not hear anything from them after that. I was thankful. Pagdating sa building, agad akong bumaba nang walang hinintay na kahit sino para pagbuksan ako ng pinto. The guard immediately opened the door for me, I was about to enter when Gino held the door. Inagawan pa nya ang gwardya nang trabaho. His team was also waiting for us. Some employees greeted me but I saw how their eyes fell to the man behind me. I did not greet anyone back.
Diretso sa elevator, walang lingon akong sumakay roon. As usual, no one was there, so it left Gino and me, just like when we were on the car. I stood at the center while he was just behind me. Sakto lang ang layo bilang bodyguard pero ramdam ko ang titig nya. Hinawi ko ang buhok ko gamit ang mga daliri at mula sa repleksyon sa salaming nasa unahan naming dalawa, nagtama ang aming mga mata. Pinagmasdan ko ang mga mata nya na tila may nais sabihin samantalang ang akin ay nakatitig lamang.
He opened his mouth and was about to voice out what his eyes couldn’t tell but decided against it later on.
“Next time keep your personal bullshits away from me. Ayokong napapahiya sa sarili kong opisina and don’t act like you are the boss of me. Kung hindi mo kayang gawin ‘yon, better quit the job, Gino”
“I am not quitting, Ma’am”, may diin nyang sagot.
“Why not? If you quit, you’ll have more time with your little damsel kaysa sa office ko kayo nagdedate”, I smirked to hide my again growing anger.
Gino’s face turned hard. “It will not happen again”
“It better not. You are only here because of Dad. Alam kong ayaw mo rin ng trabaho mo ngayon kaya hindi ko maintindihan bakit tinanggap mo pa. But I am telling you, the next time that happened, I will surely fire you. I can hire someone better than you”, pagmamalaki ko. I have a constant contact with Andra, and through the cousins of her husband, they offered me some good bodyguards under the Mercadejas.
“I will make sure to make no mistakes again, Ma’am”, he was back to his soldier self. The prim and proper.
“I am so disappointed. I thought you are professional but I guess I’m wrong”, I dramatically sighed. “I should consider bodyguards from the Mercadejas. I think they are way more reliable”
Bago pa sya makasagot ulit ay bumukas na ang pinto ng elevator at lumabas ako. Napatayo ang sekretaryo ko. I was about to walk past her when I thought of something. I made a stop right in front of her. Halos marinig ko ang paglunok nya sa kaba.
“Call the maintenance. Tell them to clean my office”, pasimpleng sumulyap ako sa aking gilid gamit ang peripheral vision ko.
“Y-Yes, Ma’am”, kitang-kita ang pagiging professional ni Janice. Dahil kahit natataranta sya ay nagawa nya nang maayos ang utos ko.
“Tell them I want it to be cleaned thoroughly from the ceiling to the floor”. May pagtataka man, hindi sya nagtangkang magtanong sa sinabi ko. gustong malinis iyon at walang kahit anong bakas ng pagdating ni Heather at pagtatagpo nila ni Gino doon. I even think the air there was also polluted. With that being said, I proceeded into the office.
I almost cringe at the sight of it, there was a scent from Heather’s perfume tinakpan ko ang ilong ko. I really hate everything about her.
“Stay outside. I’ll have a shower in my room”, I ordered Gino. I had a small room there, complete with everything I needed and could pass as a normal room. I showered and it seemed to cool me down. The tension left me and I felt better.
Naka-pencil cut na skirt na ako nang lumabas dahil iyon ang una kong nakita sa hilera ng damit ko doon, kulay itim ito at umabot sa gitna ng hita ko. Kung titingnan ay masyadong maikli pero sanay ako sa ganoon, pinartneran ko iyon ng maroon na sleeveless na itsurang pang office rin naman.
Paglabas ko nang maayos ang sarili ko, muntikan na akong matapilok sa gulat nang makita sa harap ng pintuan si Gino. He was guarding it like a dog.
“Di ba sabi ko sa labas ka lang?”, irita kong sita sa kanya. His back was on me and he was watching three men cleaning my office. He stepped aside when he heard me but said nothing. Inayos ko ang buhok ko at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad patungo sa upuan ko. My table was placed three steps higher than the other side. Naupo ako roon at tumayo lang si Gino sa gilid ko.
“You should be outside”, I told him but he remained silent and remained there. Nagsisimula akong magbasa ng mga reports pero naiilang ako dahil sa lalaki sa tabi ko. Kahit galit ako sa kanya ay hindi ko maikakaila ang pagkailang ko dahil baka binabasa nya rin ang hawak kong papel.
“Move away, please. I need privacy!”, inis kong saad, tumaas ang boses ko at napalingon sa amin ang tatlong lalaking naglilinis. And with that he did it but not before removing his coat and extending it to me.
“What now?”, kunot-noo kong tanong sa kanya. Tumingin sya sa akin, tumuloy iyon sa aking mga hita kaya napatingin rin ako. My legs were exposed, almost half of it because of the shortness of my skirt. Tumaas ang kilay ko sa kanya.
“So?”, parang hindi nya nagustuhan iyon at muling inilapit sa akin ang damit.
“Please, Ma’am”
“Walang titingin dyan”, ngunit nahuli ko ang isa sa mga naglilinis. Mukhang mas bata ito kaysa sa dalawang kasama. Kanina pa syang pabalik-balik ang tingin sa direksyon ko at akala nya siguro’y hindi ko napapansin. “At kung mayroon man, wala akong pakialam, remember? It’s just skin. Keep it. I don’t need it”, bumalik ako sa ginagawa.
He murmured something but I did not understand it. Later on, tumayo naman sya sa harap ng mesa ko at dahil doon ay natakloban ako ng katawan nya mula sa mata ng mga naroroon.
“Stupid”
My phone beeped for a message.
*Meet me at dinner, Ms. Lopez. I’ll be bringing my son. Wear something nice”—Mr. Gonzales.
Ibinagsak ko ang telepono ko at sumandal sa upuan.
"I will meet Mr. Gonzales at dinner", imporma ko kay Gino.
"Copy, Ma'am",simpleng sagot nya. And I was not sure why I feel nervous like something not good will happen.
