The Perfect Tandem

Kabanata 32

#ThePerfectTandemWP | 32

"Ma'am, pwede na daw po bang magpa-receive ng confidential papers?" the receptionist on the other line told me.

"Sure, paakyatin mo na." Binaba ko ang tawag at nag-unat. Something na hindi tinuturo sa school: organization of files. It's simple but it's so taxing. I'm so glad I have a boss who appreciates this kind of work.

I sighed. "What snacks do you want, Nero? Break muna." Tumayo ako at balak pumunta ng pantry.

"Hot choco na lang, ma'am." Dumiretso ako sa pantry at kumuha ng snacks na gusto ko. Being pregnant really makes me baboy. I don't eat this much unlike before.

Nang matapos ay bumalik ako at umupo na ako sabay inabot kay Nero ang request niya. 

"Thank you, Ma'am." He murmured. "Wag niyo po masyado pagurin ang sarili niyo, Ma'am. Nandito naman ako para umako niyan."

I smiled gratefully. "Thanks for reminding me. I tend to overwork sometimes."

We heard a knock on my office door. Ako ang nagbukas dahil may pinapatapos pa ako kay Nero.

"Mrs. Aleera Natividad, po?"

"That's me, kuya."

"Pa-receive na lang, ma'am."  Mabilis akong pumirma. The delivery man made his goodbye.

Hindi man ako artista pero masasabi kong mas kalat ang pirma ko sa kanila. Nakakaloka, di yata bababa sa pito ang mga binibigyan ko ng autograph. Char.

"Nero," he lifted his head, "These are the confidential papers. Usually legal papers siya tapos urgent. Hmm, let me see." Inisa-isa kong tignan iyon. Ang isa doon ay mula sa isang abogado at may nakalagay na 'urgent'. 

"Like this one. Pa-receive mo agad sa legal department. Keri ba na balikan mo na lang 'yan?"

"Sige po," he clicked some things to close his files.

He went on and I categorized the remaining ones. Napatigil ako nang may makitang hindi pamilyar.

They were documents about the island. Weird.

I scanned them. What the fuck?

The first one is a contract saying that the island was owned by Thanatos's grandfather several years ago.

Attached was also a photocopy of his will saying that his grandson would inherit the island after having another Ambrosia child.

Naging mabilis ang paglipat ko ng mga pahina, bawat segundo ay parang hindi ako makahiga.

On the last pages, I saw an annulment contract.

A sharp thing caught my hand. May nakaipit doon sa ilalim.

It was... a picture of Thanatos and Claire Herrera kissing.

I heard the office door opening. I saw Nero.

Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Mabilis kong tinago ito palayo sa ibang mga papel.

"Ma'am, I'm finally done with the file. Sir Ambrosia needs this for the meeting today. Will you be okay here po?"

"Ah, yeah, yeah. Go ahead." He went to his PC and saved his files on the flashdrive.

Inantay ko siyang matapos. "Ma'am?" he caught my attention. I probably look disoriented. I can't stop thinking about the contents of the mail.

Does that mean everything is a lie?

Did he lie to me from the everyone?

Did he use me?