Alabang Boys Series #1
Jaesie Rosenthal knows what she brings to the table, and love is just another luxury she doesn't have any plan to buy. But a multi-million-peso agreement is something she will consider when it comes to business.
When Rico Dard...
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RICO AND I spent lunch time together inside my office. Dahil kung doon siya sa labas, kada papasok na customer, sasalubungin talaga niya kahit pa kumakain siya.
I didn't want to say that he was a hard worker, but it looked like it. Glad that he was, but he already did everything properly para hindi namin masabing kailangan pa niya ng training. He knew management better than I did, he cooked better than I could, and he worked better than my people.
I began to wonder what his real reason for working in my cafe was, other than to create his routine sa sarili niyang branch.
Masyadong mababa sa center table kaya sa office table kami kumain ng ipinahanda kong seafood paella and buttered tuna. And Rico looked satisfied with his meal because he kept on praising the palatable dish I asked for us kahit na hindi kami resto.
"This is really good. Puwede ko bang kunin ang chef mo?"
I glared at Rico as I stopped mixing my rice. "Maghanap ka ng chef mo."
"Suplada," sabi niya sabay balik sa kinakain pero nakangisi naman doon.
I deleted Clark's TG chat and put him on mute for eight hours. Yes, he was in his dramatic mode, as if Rico had just invaded the whole of Europe. His messages were in all caps and asked for my identification. Sobrang daldal ni Clark kaya malamang na makakarating sa mama ni Rico ang balita—and probably not only on Rico's mother but the whole barkada na makikita namin ni Rico sa weekend. Great.
"Bothered ako sa mga Tanciongco," parinig ko sa kanya dahil hindi pala business meeting ang dapat na pupuntahan niya kundi isang date for her potential fiancée planned by her malevolent mum.
"I told you I canceled the meeting."
"Hindi ba sila importante?"
Huminto siya sa pagkain, at pag-angat ko ng tingin, nakatitig lang siya sa akin. Walang something sa mga mata niya na mababasa ko. Not curious, not happy or sad. Wala.
"Rico."
"I don't usually cancel my meetings, Jae. So let me work here for the rest of the week." Nginitian niya ako pero wala ang natural na kinang sa mga mata niya kapag masaya siya. Bumalik na siya sa pagkain niya kaya lalo akong kinabahan.
He was supposed to meet some lady I have no idea about today. I should be glad that he was here, but what if he went there? What if kung hindi today, ma-reschedule sa ibang araw gaya ng sinabi ni Clark?
"Kailan mo sasabihin sa family mo ang tungkol sa kasal natin?" tanong ko, at ayokong iparinig ang takot sa tono ko kasi, legally, hindi pa talaga kami kasal. "Kailan ang civil wedding?"
"I called Ma'am Heidi, ngayong Thursday daw sana. I'm working with our schedule that day. Don't worry about it."
Nagpatuloy siya sa pagkain. Ako naman ang napahinto. Hindi niya sinagot ang una kong tanong. "I was asking about your family, Rico."
