One Night with the Stranger

Kabanata 15

Kabanata 15

Axel POV

I am taking my business seriously, hindi ko mapapalago ang negosyo ko kung simula pa lang ay naglalaro na ako. I’m not the type of guy who likes to play. When it comes to business, I take things seriously.

“Mr. Romero I already proven to everyone here that I’m not playing around when it comes to business, this company stand by my management and I never let anyone of you down with every business transaction we had and all of our projects are successful,” seryosong sabi ko sa kan’ya.

He has no right to judge me when it comes on how I manage my business, I never bring them down. I always make sure to double check everything and make every project worth so that no one will say anything bad against our company.

My dad trained me to be serious when it comes to business. Noong sinimulan ko ang negosyo na ‘to at noong nagdesisyon ako na umalis sa poder ng ama ko, alam ko na sa sarili ko na hindi isang laro ang pinapasok ko kaya nga naabot ko ang kinaroroonan ko ngayon dahil sa pagiging seryoso ko sa ginagawa ko.

“We get the point of Mr. Romero, Mr. Davis. We just want this project to push through because the rival company is making their move and yet we’re still doing nothing!” sabi sa akin ni Mr. Salcedo.

“I’m not just sitting here doing nothing! I will make sure that the money you invest in this company and to that project will be paid off. The meeting is done!” I said then leave the room.

I don’t want to waste my time to all of them, they’re just wasting it for useless rants. Kung gusto nila talaga na magawa agad ang project na ‘yon edi sana sila ang gumawa ng paraan o tumulong man lang sila kesa nakaupo lang sila sa isang tabi at nag-iintay ng grasya kahit wala naman silang ginagawa matino dito sa kompanya.

I respect them but they should respect me too and they should trust me because I never let them down.

“Give me an update for the D project and set a meeting with the architects and engineers that assigned to that project today! I want the papers in my table now!” mariing sabi ko sa secretary ko at pumasok na ako sa opisina ko.

My head is throbbing in pain because of my f*****g hangover at eto pa ang ibubungad nila sa’kin na wala akong ginagawa. I know that I’m busy with my personal affairs this past few days, but I never neglect my obligation and responsibility in this company.

Bumukas ang pinto ng opisina ko at pumasok ang secretary ko.

“Sir eto na po lahat ng dokumento tungkol sa Project D at mamaya pong ala una ng hapon ang meeting n’yo sa mga architects at engineers na humahawak ng Project D,” sabi n’ya sa’kin.

“Okay you may leave!” sabi ko sa kan’ya at umalis na s’ya.

Isa-isa kong tiningnan ang lahat ng papeles sa lamesa ko at inaral lahat ‘yon. Wala naman problema sa project D at maayos ang lahat, I even sign the budget needed to that project that worth a billion pesos.

I will make sure that this project will make them shut up. They should not compare our project to the rival company because I know what I’m doing and sooner or later my father company will be in my hands and things will change for sure.

After I’m done reviewing all of the papers in my table and I don’t want to waste my time waiting for the meeting, so I went outside and found my secretary busy with the his computer encoding everything I need for the meeting next week for the new investor.

“Sir, do you need anything?” tanong n’ya sa’kin ng makita n’ya ‘ko.

“Move the meeting with the Architects and Engineers, I want to meet them now. I don’t want to waste my time so call them and tell them that they should be in the conference room within one hour!” sabi ko sa kan’ya na agad naman n’yang ginawa.

I want to know every detail of this project as soon as possible para kung may gusto akong ipabago ay magawa agad. There is no room for mistake as this moment, ayokong magkaroon ng problema ang proyektong ito na maaring maging sagabal sa mga plano ko.

Pumasok ulit ako sa loob ng opisina ko at bumalik ako sa pwesto ko kanina. Habang iniintay kong dumating ang ka-meeting ko, inasikaso ko naman ang iba pang trabaho na naiwan ko kahapon. Hindi lang naman ang project D ang dapat kong intindihin dahil marami pa kaming on-going project na inaasikaso pero pinakamalaki ang Project D kaya maiinit ang mata ng mga shareholders ‘don.

Napatingin ako sa cellphone ko ng bigla ‘yon tumunog at bumungad sa akin ang pangalan ni Caius kaya napabuntong hininga ako.

“What do you need?” tanong ko sa kan’ya ng sagutin ko ang tawag n’ya.

“I need the money,” sabi n’ya sa’kin.

“Naghihirap ka na bang gago ka at hindi mo kayang abunohan man lang ‘yon? Busy ako Caius alam mo ba ‘yon?” inis na tanong ko sa kaniya.

“I’m also a busy person Axel but because your using my unit and agree to my terms you should comply with it, wire the money to the account that I send to you so that everything will be good and don’t f*****g forget that you need to transfer the salary of the housekeeper every week and the budget for you own food!” sabi n’ya sa akin kaya napailing na lang ako.

“Okay, wait for it!” sabi ko sa kan’ya at pinatay na nag tawag.

Wala ako sa mood para makipag-usap ng matagal kay Caius dahil marami akong dapat asikasuhin ngayon kaya kahit masakit ang ulo hindi ako makapagpahinga!

Napatingin ako sa wristwatch ko, lagpas isang oras na kaya tumayo na ako sa swivel chair ko at lumabas ng opisina ko.

“Are they’re here?” tanong ko sa secretary ko.

“Yes po,” sabi n’ya sa akin.

Naglakad na ako papunta sa conference room at inabutan ko ‘don lahat ng engineer at architect na umaayos ng Project D. Tumayo sila ng makita ako at naglakad lang ako papunta sa pwesto ko.

“Sit down and explain the structure and the improvement of the building to me,” seryosong sabi ko sa kanila.

Tumayo naman ang head Engineer sa may projector at ipinaliwanag sa akin ang structure ng building, kasama n’yang magpaliwag ang Head Architect. Pinakinggan ko silang dalawa at tiningnan mabuti ang model ng building na asa harap ko.

“Are you sure that this building will be different and unique with the other design that we build?” tanong ko sa kanila.

“Yes sir, this building is one of the safest building in the world and we will make sure about that,” sabi sa akin ng Head Engineer.

 “Give me the estimate time that this building will be finish?” tanong ko sa kanila.

“The estimated year sir is about four to five years,” sabi n’ya sa akin.

“Do whatever it takes to finish it on time, I don’t want to rush things because it won’t be good so all of you do your best to build this building!” sabi ko sa kanila.

“Yes sir,” sabay-sabay na sabi nila.

I look at my secretary and give him the folder, “My secretary will explain some details to you, I’ll leave for now because I still have something to do,” sabi ko sa kanila at lumabas na ako ng conference room.

Bumalik ako sa opisina ko at pinagpatuloy lahat ng trabaho ko, hanggang sa hindi ko na namalayan na gabi na pala kaya naman lumabas na ako ng opisina ko at naabutan ko pa rin ang secretary ko paglabas ko na mukang iniintay ako.

“You can leave now,” sabi ko sa kaniya at tumango s’ya sa akin.

Nauna akong bumaba sa kan’ya at dumiretso na ako sa kotse ko para umalis, pagpasok ko sa loob ng kotse ay pinaandar ko na ‘yon at nagmaneho na ako pauwi sa unit ni Caius.

I am tired and hungry. I did not bother to eat lunch a while ago because of the tons of work I need to finish. When I arrive at the condominium, I went straight to the elevator and press the floor number where the unit of Caius is located. I waited for a few minutes to arrive at my designated floor. I went outside the elevator when it open.

Nang makalabas ako may isang babaeng nagmamadaling pumasok sa loob ang nakabangga sa akin dahil hindi niya tinitingnan ang dinadaanan n’ya. Napailing na lang ako sa kan’ya.

I look at her with my deadly stares.

“Pasensya na po, hindi ko sinasadya” she said and bow her head.

“Next time tingnan mo ang dinadaanan mo!” sabi ko sa kaniya.

“Pasenya na po talaga, nagmamadali po kasi ako” sabi n’ya sa akin.

Umismid lang ako sa kan’ya at tiningnan s’ya ng masama, “Tsk! Just move aside, you are on my way,” sabi ko sa kan’ya at tinalikuran na s’ya.

I’m not in my mood and even she is the women that I’ve been eyeing for these past few days I’m still not interested on her, and she is not good for me. My heart still belongs to Reah and I’m determined to get her back no matter what happen.

Naglakad na ako palayo sa kaniya at hindi ko na siya muling nilingon pa, pumasok na lang ako sa unit ni Caius at sumalubong sa akin ang pagkain na nahain sa lamesa. Kesa dumulog ako at kumain ay pumasok na lang ako sa loob ng kwarto.

I will eat later but for now I want to clean myself. I almost finish all my pending work in just a short period of time, and it gives me a f*****g headache.