Until I Chase No More

Prolouge

"I'm not going to accept their investments. Having connections with known drug lords is the least things I would do"

I composed myself in front of the board members. Kita ko kung paano umawang ang kanilang mga labi at agarang pag tutol sa sinabi ko ngayon lang. But none of them would make my mind change. I know what I'm doing. They even whispered to each other like I wasn't in front of them.

Mga walang respeto!

"What!? How could you waste the good opportunity they're offering to us!" Agad kumulo ang dugo ko nang taasan ako ng boses ni Mr. Yu.

As much as I want to punch him for disrespecting me as a CEO in my own company, hindi ko ginawa. I know how to calm myself in this trying times. How dare that old hag!

"Ilang porsyento ang shares mo sa kompanya ko, Mr. Yu?"

The whole board members became quite nang pabagsak kong inilapag ang ballpen ko sa babasaging lamesa. Kita ko ang pag-awang ng labi ni Mr. Yu at agad namang naka bawi.

"15 percent, Ms. CEO" I laughed and everyone in this room remained quiet. I mocked him trying to pissed him off. Alam na alam ko ang galawan ng mga matatanda.

Mr. Yu bowed his head like he is scared. Pero alam kong hind. Malakas ang loob ng matandang 'to para magkalat sa kompanya ko and I heard, he's acting like he owned my workers and my building. The audacity!

"You can pull out your shares if you can't accept my decisions. After all, I owned 70 percent of this company" I had a hard time trying to stop my laughter because of his stupidity.

Everyone else bowed and did not even tried lifting their heads up. Malaking kawalan sa kanila kung aalisin nila ang investments nila sa kompanya ko.

"Dismissed!"

My company is independent. I can make my company the way it is without their investments and shares. And besides, I know what's right and wrong for my own company. And having those drug lords inside my premises? There's no way I would allow it!

The meeting ended earlier than I thought. Mainit ang ulo ko kaya my secretary told everybody to leave. Umpisa pa lang, ayoko nang maka trabaho si Mr. Yu. He's been in my company when my daddy was still the CEO.

At ngayong ako na ang may-ari ng kompanya, I would kick investors and share holders that would do something against my will.

"You still have meeting with the President of Hellioz Corporation"

I sighed trying to hide my tiredness. Gusto ko mang i-cancell, hindi pwede. They're my biggest investors that really help my company to grow. Isa sila sa mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan ko para sa aking kompanya.

My secretary told my driver our destination. Isang oras pa ang byahe kaya nagpahinga muna ako at pinikit ang mata.

"I bought this, ma'am. Your favourite coffee flavor" Kaela really knows how to remove my stress. I just thank her for buying me coffee and took a sip.

Good thing, nawala ang pagka antok ko.

"Meeting will be quik. Buy foods or anything you want and come back here after one hour manong" I handed the card to manong para na rin maka bili siya ng kailangan niya. I know hindi pa siya nanananghalian dahil pinaghintay ko siya kanina bago matapos ang meeting.

He smiled at me and took the card and thank me endlessly saka kami dumiretso ni Kaela sa kilalang restaurant na venue ng meeting namin ngayon.

I trusted kuya Gill, he never abused my kindness kahit na limpak-limpak na pera ang hinahayaan kong ipahawak sa kanya. Binibili lang niya ang totoong kailangan niya. Every first day and end of the month ko pinapahawak ang sa kanya ang credit card to thank him for staying with me. He's like a dad to me.

"Good afternoon, ma'am" the guard greeted me and opened the door for us. Thank God hindi crowded ang restaurant. Sasakit lang ang ulo ko pag nagkataon.

Si Kaela na ang nakipag-usap sa babaeng na approach sa'mi kanina to guide us to our reserved table. Nasa second floor pa daw ang table namin kaya napahawak ulit ako sa sentido ko to calm myself.

Napagod na nga ako kanina, aakyat na naman ako. The hell with this day!

Sumunod na lang ako sa kanila nang walang imik. Baka may masabi pa ako at ipasara 'tong buong restaurant na'to.

Naka focus lang ako sa sapatos ko nang tawagin ako ni Kaela para i-introduce kay Mr. Jackson. I was about to lend my hand para makipag kamay when my heart stops beating. Causing me to feel numb for a second. I remained quite as I stared the man that ruined everything of me.

I thought si Mr. Jackson ang ka meeting ko ngayon. If I know na hindi siya, i ka-cancel ko to avoid this wrecker douchebag.

"G-Good afternoon" he greeted formally and eyed me from head to foot.

Gusto ko mang umalis ngayon, magtataka si Kaela sa magiging asal ko at magtatanong na naman 'yon ng marami.

I inhale large amout of oxygen to calm myself. I used to feel weak when I fee his presence. Pero ngayon? Kulang na lang patayuan ko ng rebulto ang sarili ko dahil wala na akong naramdaman nang makita siya. Siguro galit lang. But that doesn't mean that I wasn't fully healed yet.

"You're probably not Mr. Jackson" walang emosyong saad ko and turned on my intimidating mode.

Pagod na ako ngayong araw at mas lalo ata akong napagod nang makita ko ang lalaking 'to.

"Mr. Jackson sent me here as a proxy" he doesn't seems bothered by my presence. Ganyan talaga yata ka kapal ang mga manloloko. Kaya pa ring makipag harapan kahit sandamakmak na kasalanan ng nagawa niya sa isang tao.

"Then tell your boss that I don't want a proxy. Sinasayang ko lang ang isang oras ko papunta dito"

And with that, I turned my back at him and called Kaela na kanina pa pabaling-baling ang tingin sa'ming dalawa. Good thing, agad naman siyang sumunod sa'kin.

Nang maka ilang hakbang ako, I heard him calling my name.

"Georgina!"

Napahinto si Kaela kaya hinila ko siya para magpatuloy sa paglalakad.

"We can have our meeting. Sayang naman at nandito ka na, hindi pa natin itutuloy"

How dare him calling me Georgina. Pati na rin si Kaela nabigla nang tawagin niya ako sa panggalan ko.

I stopped walking and face him. Kita ko kung paano siya natigilan sa expression ng mukha ko. I am doing my best to avoid him seeing again. Lalo na't kakauwi ko lang galing Canada for almost 3 years.

"Be a boss first" he was like insulted with what I just said to him right in his face. Pati na rin si Kaela kita ang pag tutol sa sinabi ko.

He's hurt. I know. Pero sana hindi.

Pero bibilangin ko pa ba kung ilang beses niya akong sinaktan para lamang ipamukha sa kanya na he deserve hearing those words?

"Sorry"

And with that, tuluyan na kaming umalis sa pesteng lugar na 'yon na sana hindi ko na lang pinuntahan. Nasira pa lalo ang araw ko dahil sa kanya.

His sorry doesn't make things fixed. He can't remove my scars na hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin mabura sa katawan at kaluluwa ko. He stained my name.

And that's enough reason for me not to forgive him.

I won't ever fall for your trap again, Hansel McGregor.