A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 9

EMERSON SIGHED DEEPLY when he saw the person who entered his office. He gave that person a deadpan and looked as if seeing him was bad luck. Anong ginagawa niya rito? Tanong ni Emerson sa sarili. Hindi ko naman maalala kung inimbita ko siya.

“Don’t look at me like that, bud.” Pangiti-ngiting wika ni Jefferson, ang matalik na kaibigan ni Emerson.

“Anong ginagawa mo rito?” tanong ni Emerson habang nakakunot ang nuo.

“You’re getting married. Where’s my invitation?” tanong ni Jefferson o mas kilala sa tawag na Jeff. Inilahad niya ang kamay at umupo kahit hindi pa siya sinasabihan na umupo. Hindi mo ‘yon mahihintay na sabihin ni Emerson.

“Kanino mo naman nalaman?”

“From your sister.”

Emerson frowned. “Pwede bang huwag mong masyadong lapitan ang kapatid ko?”

Kumunot naman ang nuo ni Jefferson. “Bakit kung lalapitan ko ang kapatid mo? Wala naman akong gagawin sa kaniya.”

Emerson clicked his tongue. “Basta huwag mong masyadong lapitan ang kapatid ko.” Aniya. May kinuha siya sa drawer at inilagay ito sa harapan ni Jefferson.

Jefferson’s face brightened. “For me?”

“Ay hindi. Para sa akin.” Pamimilosopo ni Emerson. “Malamang para sa ‘yo. Alangan namang bibigyan ko ng imbitasyon ang sarili ko.”

Hindi pinansin ni Jefferson ang pamimilosopo ng kaibigan at binuksan ang wedding invitation. He was actually surprised when he saw his name under the best man. “I’m your best man.”

“Bakit? Ayaw mo? Then I will make Austin my best man.”

“Don’t,” pigil ni Jefferson at itinuro ang sarili. “I’m your best friend. Ako lang ang nagtitiis sa sama ng ugali mo. I should be your best man. Don’t make Austin your best man. I’m going to disown you as your best friend.”

Umikot ang mata ni Emerson. “At sino ang tinakot mo?”

Jefferson sulked. “Right, you don’t fear anything. Even if I die in front of you, you won’t shed a tear.”

“Talagang hindi ako iiyak. Sino ka ba para iyakan ko.”

“Ang sama talaga ng ugali mo.” Wala ng pag-asa na maging mabait ang kaibigan niya. Masama na talaga ang ugali nito.

“Matagal na. Bakit? Ngayon mo lang nalaman?” kapagkuwan kumunot ang nuo ni Emerson. “What’s with you and your drama? Bakit? Break na kayo ng girlfriend mo?”

Jefferson sighed deeply. “Don’t mention it.”

That pique Emerson’s interest. “Talagang naghiwalay kayo?” medyo nagulat niyang tanong. Binibiro lang naman niya si Jefferson pero hindi niya alam na totoo pala ang sinasabi niya.

Sumandal si Jefferson sa kinauupuan. “She broke up with me.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Emerson. “What happened?”

Inilagay ni Jefferson ang wedding invitation sa loob bulsa ng suot niyang coat saka tinignan ang kaibigan. “The other day, I went to the restaurant and I saw her having meals with her friends. Hindi niya ako napansin. And I happened to hear their conversation.”

“And?”

“And I heard that she was humiliating me in front of her friends and she was just with me because I am willing to support her.”

Mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin si Emerson. “So?” That’s impossible. Charles Jefferson Hamilton's family business was one of the wealthiest businesses in the world.

“So… Bud, I was disappointed. Nagpapanggap lang pala siya na mahal niya ako.”

“She just loves your money,” Emerson said. “Then it was a good thing you two broke up. Nalayo ka sa kapamahakan. Plano mo pa yatang pakasalan siya.”

“That was before. I still didn’t know her true color. Pero hindi na ngayon.” Kumuyom ang kamay ni Jefferson.

Napailing naman si Emerson. “Kung wala ka ng sasabihin, umalis ka na. Marami pa akong trabaho.”

“You’re driving me away?”

“Hindi ba obvious?”

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Jefferson saka tumayo. “Then I’m looking forward to your wedding.”

“Don’t forget to bring your wedding gift.”

Lumingon si Jefferson sa kaibigan. He showed an ‘okay’ sign before grinning. “Don’t worry, I will give you a generous wedding gift.”

“I don’t like your smile, Jeff. I won’t go easy on you if you dare to bully my future wife.”

“I’m not planning anything, especially for your future wife,” Jefferson said and left.

Tumunog ang cellphone niya na nakalagay sa ibabaw ng kaniyang lamesa. He answered the call.

“What is it?” Emerson asked as he opened a folder.

“Boss, Young Lady went to her part-time job again.”

Napatigil si Emerson. I clearly told her not to go to her part-time job anymore and just study.

Emerson just sighed. “Just let her and escort her home. Her safety was a priority.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Emerson ended the call. He closed the folder in his hand. “Audrey, why are you still working hard? Don’t you want to spend my money?”

NATIGILAN si Audrey nang makita niya si Freya na pumasok sa loob ng convenience store kasama ang mga alipores nito. Mabuti na lamang at walang masyadong tao dahil alam niyang mangugulo lamang ito.

“You already have a rich fiancé. Why are you still working here?” Freya asked, mocking Audrey.

Hindi sumagot si Audrey at nanatiling tahimik. Nginitian niya ang customer nang kinuha nito ang binili saka umalis na.

“Sa tingin ko hindi ka niya binigyan ng pera kaya nandito ka pa rin na nagtatrabaho.” Wika pa ni Freya.

“Baka naman kasi hindi niya kayang akitin ang fiancé niya. After all, the President of EM Technology is known for his ruthlessness,” saad naman ng isang kaibigan ni Freya.

“O baka naman akala ng fiancé niya gold digger siya kaya ayaw siyang bigyan ng pera.”

Nagtawanan ang tatlong babae.

Audrey sighed and looked at her sister. “Hindi ako katulad mo.” Kalmado niyang saad saka itinuro ang pinto. “Kung wala ka ng sasabihin, umalis na lang kayo. Pampamalas lamang kayo sa negosyo.”

Dinuro ni Freya si Audrey. “At marunong ka ng sumagot?”

“You taught me,” Audrey said.

“Freya, nagkaroon lang ng mayamang fiancé ang kapatid mo. Naging bastos na siya.”

Freya snorted and left. Her friends followed.

Nakahinga pa ng maluwang si Audrey nang umalis ang tatlo. Nagpatuloy siya sa kaniyang trabaho hanggang sa matapos ang oras ng shift niya. She changed her work uniform into her casual clothes and left the store. Agad niyang nakita si Mark.

Kumaway ang lalaki sa kaniya.

Audrey opened the door in the back seat and got into the car.

Nakita naman ni Freya si Audrey na sumakay sa isang magarang kotse. Then she noticed the driver. Hindi niya alam kung ito ba ang fiancé ng kapatid niya. After all, no one knows the appearance of Emerson Montenegro. He was such a private person.

But Freya had doubts. Audrey was just an insignificant person. Hindi ito pagtutunan ng pansin ng isang Emerson Montenegro. A ruthless man like Emerson Montenegro wouldn’t dote on a woman like Audrey, and he would not hire a driver for her so she could ride in a luxury car.

Freya took a picture of Audrey getting into the car. She planned to send it to Audrey’s fiancé. “Just wait, Audrey. Sa gagawin kong ‘to tignan natin kung hindi masisira ang reputasyon mo.” Nakangisi niyang saad.

It was so obvious that Freya hated Audrey, and she loved to see her sister suffer. Freya grinned evilly and posted the picture online.

AUDREY was tired and fell asleep in the car. Pero paggising niya nasa mismong kama na siya. Tinignan niya ang damit niyA, iyon pa rin ang suot niya. Did Mark carry me? She asked herself. Hindi naman malabong mangyari ‘yon dahil ito naman ang kasama niya.

“I should thank him later.”

Tinignan ni Audrey ang oras at mabilis na bumaba ng kama nang makita niyang alas syete na ng umaga. May klase pa siya ng alas otso. Inayos niya ang kama saka nagmamadaling hinanda ang susuotin niya. Then she went to the bathroom to take a bath. Pagkatapos niyang naligo, nagbihis at nag-ayos ng sarili, umalis na siya ng penthouse.

Mark was already waiting for her in front of the building.

“Good morning, Young Lady,” bati ni Mark nang makapasok si Audrey sa loob ng kotse.

“Morning,” Audrey greeted back. “By the way, maraming salamat kagabi.”

“Kagabi? Ano pong meron, Young Lady?”

Nagtaka si Audrey. “I fell asleep in the car, and you carried me up to the penthouse.”

“Oh,” Mark chuckled. “Young Lady, kapag ginawa ko ‘yon baka nawalan na ako ng mga braso. It was the boss who carried you to the penthouse last night.”

Napaawang ang labi ni Audrey. “Em?”

Tumango si Mark.

Napansandal si Audrey sa kinauupuan. “Wait…”

Mabilis na napapreno si Mark. “What is it, Young Lady?”

Audrey looked at Mark with wide eyes. Kapagkuwan napaisip siya. Mabilis siyang magising lalo na kapag hinawakan siya ng ibang tao. If it was Emerson who carried her last night, why didn't she wake up?

“Young Lady?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

Tumango si Mark saka minaneho ang kotse.

Habang patungo sila sa university, nakatanggap ng message si Audrey galing kay Mia.

‘Audrey, you’re viral.’

Then Audrey opened the link. It was a photo of her getting into the car. There were negative comments about her and some are defending her. Her face was visible, so everyone knew it was her.

“Who did this?”

Suddenly, Emerson’s name popped onto the screen. He was calling.

“Audrey, don’t go to school yet. I will remove your photo online. I will find the culprit and make him pay.” Seryosong sabi ni Emerson.

Wala ng ibang masabi si Audrey kundi, “salamat.”

Emerson ended the call.

“Boss,” Martin entered his office, “I have found out who posted the photo.”

“Who?”

“Freya Perez. The eldest daughter of the Perez Family. The Young Lady’s eldest sister.”

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Emerson. “She defamed my fiancée by using means of public opinion. I won’t let her off easily for what she did,” Aniya saka tinignan si Martin. “Tell the technical department to erase everything about the viral photos.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“And go to Audrey’s father. Warn him that if he can’t discipline his eldest daughter, I will take back my investment and let their company go bankrupt. As for Freya Perez, I will ask Audrey’s opinion first. After all, it was her sister.”

Yumukod si Martin saka sinunod ang sinabi ng amo.

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Emerson. He won’t let anyone harm Audrey.