Those Memories

Fifty-Seven - Drink

"Ms. Carrie, how about this?" said Mae, her assistant. "These figures doesn't seem right."

"Give me that," saad niya. Iniabot naman nito ang hawak na papeles sa kanya.

Inusisa niya ang mga iyon. Tumayo siya at nagpalakad-lakad sa loob ng kanyang opisina habang inaalisa ang mga datos. Naupo ulit siya sa sofa at inilapag ang mga papel sa mesa.

"Okay. Give me the annual operations budget for the last five years," sabi niya ulit dito. Agad naman nitong sinunod ang utos niya.

Dalawang araw bago ang special board meeting sa darating na Biyernes ay naroon sila sa loob ng kanyang opisina. Makikita ang tambak na mga papel sa paligid ng silid.

"Ms. Carrie, here is the data you requested yesterday. It's about the recent sale of shares of Mr. Gonzo and Mr. Hernandez," sambit ni Mae at iniharap sa kanya ang laptop nito. "The details of the purchase are indicated here."

"As I gathered more information," Mae continued, "I found out that DM Securities and PKM Finance, the companies that bought those shares, are now fully-owned subsidiaries of Frontera Financials, Inc."

"Frontera? That's..."

"Yes, Ms. Carrie. About that company na pina-check niyo po last week. I already confirmed it. It's also tied with the investors who bought our minority shareholders' shares."

Napailing siya.

"So I've already been set up this whole time?" mahina niyang usal. Napasintido siya.

"Okay, please continue," saad niya habang pino-proseso ang mga detalye sa kanyang isipan.

Mae cleared her throat before speaking. "So, about that company you told me to gather more information, GK Investment Holdings, formerly known as the GK Financial Services Corporation.

It has been established for 15 years but haven't made a name until 6 years ago. The company has been bombarded with mismanagement issues until it was taken over before anything unfortunate happens. Changes in its ownership and top management composition lead to the changes in its business strategy, from debt financing services to financing mergers and acquisitions.

Around 3 years after the management change, it has been noted that GK's recent purchases include companies previously owned by the Fuentabella Group of Companies, which went down almost 2 decades ago. 15 out of 16 former FGC subsidiaries were already acquired, including the Basileus Plaza Hotel 1 year ago, the recent purchase of the Frontera Financials and the Goldwest Fields School, an elite high school.

With the recent purchase of GWFS, it has been speculated that the mysterious figure behind the success of GK Investment Holdings is Jaime Fuentabella's grandson, Kyle Fuentabella."

Dahan-dahang nalinawan si Carrie sa lahat ng katanungan na gumugulo sa kanya. Iniabot naman sa kanya ni Mae ang isang folder. Binuksan niya iyon.

"That speculation will be confirmed by the GK Group themselves. It will be revealed through this," nagpatuloy si Mae. "This is an unpublished news article about Director Fuentabella, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GK Investment. It's written here that he rose up the corporate ladder by showing exceptional skills in various business matters. He started from its Los Angeles office and paved his way to the top. He bought the majority of its shares after the mismanagement issue and became the Board Chairman."

"Where did you get this article?"

"Galing po 'yan sa MBH News. Luckily, one of my college friends holds a high position there. GK mismo ang pumili sa kanila to publish the article. This will be released on this Friday's issue."