Three Men Plus She (Completed)

8 - Fair Deal

Emily walks back and fort in her room after confirming that Don Jose is serious about submitting her story in the JACP Project. She is tasked to give her boss the pseudo name which she will use to hide her identity. Now she regrets telling the Chairman that she also writes romance stories.

But she could not deny the excitement on the thought of having her stories in paperback book. She thinks that there is nothing wrong if she will try to join the JACP contest for new authors. She loves to read books and her interest to write started when she was in high school. She was contented receiving good comments from her close friends about the stories she wrote. This opportunity to release her stories to a bigger market will be a fulfillment of her dream on becoming a writer. Before she dozed off, a decision has formed in her mind, she will try joining the JACP contest and promised herself to be hopeful but will not expect anything.

In the morning, only the Chairman is taking his breakfast at the garden. Emily wonders where the triplets are. "Good morning, Mr. Chairman," Emily greeted her boss.

"Good morning, hija. Halika at saluhan mo ako sa almusal," Don Jose uttered.

"Wala po yata ang triplets," she commented.

"Franco just arrived, matutulog muna daw sya, malamang sa lunch time na natin makasamang kumain yun. Yago is off for an out-of-town game, he will be back the day after tomorrow," Don Jose uttered.

"Si Boss Gab po, hindi pa bumababa?" Emily asked.

"He already left, may breakfast meeting daw. As if naman I believe in that lame alibi. I know nagtatampo pa rin sa akin ang panganay ng triplets dahil sa pakikialaman ko sa project ng JACP," Don Jose uttered.

"But you did not shelve it, Sir. You only suggested for improvement," Emily said.

"Gabriel knows what I said yesterday was not a suggestion, but a demand," Don Jose uttered.

"Nakakahiya po, Sir, baka na-offend si Boss Gab sa point of view ko," Emily commented.

"You worry too much on Gabriel, ganun lang talaga ang apo kong yun. Masasanay ka rin sa mood swings ni Gabriel," Don Jose meaningfully uttered, smiling as if teasing. "By the way, Grace will send us an email regarding the revised project details. Ready na ba ang story na isasali mo sa JACP contest?" he then asked.

"Wag na lang po kaya, Sir, nakakahiya kasi I am working as your employee," Emily uttered.

"I am not included in the judging team and I will not tell them na isa ka sa mga sumali sa contest. Just make sure that the pseudo name you will use will not give hunch on your identity. Have you thought of what pseudo name to use?" Don Jose asked.

"Wala pa po akong na-iisip," Emily replied.

"You should immediately decide on the pseudo name that you will use. Once I approve the revised details of the project, they will start announcing the contest," Don Jose said.

"I am having second thought about joining the contest, Sir. I like the idea of having my stories in paperback, but I don't have that much confidence sa stories na gawa ko," Emily uttered.

"There's no harm in trying, hija. I read your work and it is impressive for someone who does not have a formal training in creative writing," Don Jose uttered. "Your work is promising, hija, you will see its relevance if you share it to the world and JACP contest is a good start," he added.

"What contest are you talking about, Lolo?" they heard Franco asked.

"I thought matutulog ka muna," Don Jose said.

"I could not sleep, ang taas pa ng adrenaline ko, Lolo. Epekto yata ito nung ininom kong energy drink," Franco replied.

"Good morning, Sir Franco," Emily greeted the youngest of the triplets.