Elite Wars

Chapter 7

SANDRINE

I was so glad that I woke up without my self centered, jerk of a husband. I think I've never been this cheerful waking up alone in our bed. It's just like any other day. Sinimulan ko ang aking morning routine at hindi nag-tagal ay nag-tungo na din ako sa opisina.

"Sonly, we're going to the studio later. I don't want any distractions." Mabilis kong turan sa bodyguard ko nang hindi siya tinitingnan. Nahagip ng peripheral vision ko ang maagap niyang pag-tango.

Pinindot ni Sonly ang up button ng elevator at agad din iyong bumukas. Naiwan ang lima pang bodyguard sa basement ng building at si Sonly lang ang sumama sa akin paakyat. I don't need that much bodyguard anyways. One more thing, Sonly is professionally trained and I know he would risk his life to protect me. Siya lang ang kailangan ko upang maging ligtas.

"Madame, you have a visitor."

"Who?" Kunot noong tanong ko habang hinuhubad ang aking coat.

"Miss Charlotte." Aniya.

Tumango ako at mabilis na nag-martsa sa loob ng aking opisina. I saw Charlotte sitting on the couch, cross legged. She was sipping tea from a Versace tea cup. Nang marinig niya ang pag-bukas ng pinto ay agad na lumipad sa akin ang kanyang paningin. She smiled beamingly.

"Sandrine. Long time no see." Aniya.

"Charlotte. I'm so glad to see you. I've been pretty busy lately." Sabi ko.

Umupo ako sa katapat niyang couch at katulad niya ay ipinag krus din ang aking mga binti. Ibinaba niya ang teacup.

"I just came home from a business trip. I closed the deal with the Johnsons!" Masayang sabi niya.

"Congratulations." Bati ko naman.

When her father died, she handled all of the other businesses that his father left. Iyon din naman ang nakalagay sa will ni Arnulfo. The biggest one, which is DOMECO, is now part of Salguero Tropics. We were unstoppable since then.

"So? How's life?" Maingat na tanong ni Charlotte.

"Still the same, Charlotte. There's not much going on." I answered.

She looked at me reluctantly and I saw that she was about to say something but didn't do anyway.

People would think that Charlotte and I have a weird relationship. I was her step mother but I was only two years older than her. I treated her as a little sister instead. Tinanggap agad ako ni Charlotte. Arnulfo did a good job at parenting. Hindi katulad ng isang lalaking kilala ko.

"Sandrine, I have to say... You've changed so much." Napapailing na aniya. Mataman ang tingin niya sa akin na sumisigaw ng simpatya.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"That sparkle in your eyes when I first met you, it wasn't there anymore. It's like you're dead inside. It must have been hard huh?"

Kumurap ako at nilunok ang bara sa lalamunan ko. I somehow understood what she was talking about but I can't let myself to be weak anymore.

"What's hard?" Maang maangang tanong ko.

"You know, leading asia's number one energy company. I know it's hard and the pressure is real. You know I'm one call away, right?" Aniya.