The Billionaire I Married By Mistake [Filipino]

6. PLANS

|Katherine|

“The death toll from a collapsed under construction multi story building of Lopez Builders Corporation rose to eight as search...”

I immediately turned off the television as soon as the news played. Pakiramdam ko kapag patuloy ko pa ‘yong pinanood, talagang masisiraan na ako ng bait sa sobrang stress. No wonder Granpda suddenly had a heart attack after what happened!

Napasulyap ako kay grandpa na hindi pa rin nagigising simula ng i-admit siya dito sa hospital. I’ve been here with him for the past three days. And every passing hours, I couldn’t help but feel fear for his well being.

The doctors, though, continue to check on his vitals and keeps on feeding me good news that he’s stable, that there’s a great chance he will wake up sooner. Pero kahit na maganda naman ang naririnig ko sa mga doctor, I couldn’t help but still feel restless.

I shut my eyes tight and leaned my back against the backrest of the sofa. Napahilot ako sa sentido habang iniisip ang mga nangyayari ngayon.

The company’s under-construction project had collapsed. Our company, engineers and everyone who was involved with the construction are now under investigation. And in the past three days, Noel and our lawyers have been handling the media and the government officials. Because I don’t think I could even handle the situation if it was me. Dahil…ano ba ang isasagot ko sa kanila kapag tinanong ako sa mga nangyari?

The sudden news of my grandpa having a heart attack and the news of our crumbling company is too much for me. Hindi ko alam ang uunahin. Should I focus on my grandfather’s health or should I try to help our company?

Pero ano naman ang maitutulong ko sa kompanya namin? I barely know how to handle our business! Will my expertise in shopping, party and travel solve the case we are facing? Of course not, right?

I haven’t involved myself with our business ever since I graduated and took my license as an architect. Because to be honest…I don’t really need to. Grandpa is doing good in his job and he has his trusted employees to do the work. Kaya, hindi rin talaga ako nagkaroon ng interest na magtrabaho pa. Though, I know I will lead our company someday, pero…hindi pa ako handang iwan ang social life ko!

But will I still have my social life with everything happening in my life right now?

I exhaled a loud sigh of frustration. Pakiramdam ko, biglang bumagsak ang isang napakalaking problema sa akin! I can’t handle this! I wish grandpa would soon wake up so he would know how to handle the situation!

I straightened my back as I gently reached for my grandfather’s hand. It was warm and rough. Hinawakan ko iyon gamit ang dalawang kamay. Then I gently kissed it as I looked at my grandfather’s face.

“Please wake up grandpa,” I whispered. Dahil alam kong magiging maayos ang lahat kapag tuluyan na siyang nagising.

I was holding on from the doctor’s opinion about my father’s welfare. Malaki ang paniniwala ko na magigising siya sa mga susunod na araw. At kapag nagising siya, tuluyan nang mareresolba ang problema na kinakaharap namin.

I believed that.

On the fourth day since my grandfather was admitted in the hospital, pinanood ko ang press conference na hinahandle nina Noel at ng mga lawyers namin. Noel told me that there’s no need for me to be present at the conference. He and the lawyers could handle the situation. Though, before they attended the press conference, of course they informed me of what would happen and what they will do. Since sila din naman ang expert sa larangan nila, I found their explanations and plans good kahit wala akong masyadong naiintindihan.

And so, throughout the duration of the conference, I couldn’t help but feel awe to Noel and our lawyers. I also feel awe for my grandfather. Kasi sa kabila ng sitwasyon niya, he has a secretary like Noel who did everything on his stead. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nahanap ang isang tulad ni Noel who shows loyalty toward him.

I suddenly wanted someone like him if ever I finally lead our company. It's…comforting to know that you have someone you trust by your side.

The conference lasted for almost three hours before it ended. It’s only the first part though, since the president of the company must be present at the next conference. And Noel and our lawyers advise that I should attend the next and I should prepare for it.

Hindi ko maiwasang kabahan kapag naiisip ko na kailangang nasa next press conference na ako. Sana naman…gumising na si grandpa para kahit paano, alam ko ang mga gagawin.

And after a couple more hours, Noel arrived back in the hospital, looking stressed and tired.

“Noel, thank you for what you did back there,” bungad ko sa kanya as soon as he sat on the sofa across mine. Noel then smiled at me. I put down a cup of coffee in front of him before I settled on my seat. Nagsalamat naman siya sa ginawa ko.

“Hindi mo kailangang magpasalamat, Miss Kat. Trabaho ko ito,” he said and I could hear the exhaustion in his voice. I’ll tell grandpa that he should give Noel a raise.

“I’m happy that grandpa has someone like you, Noel,” I said genuinely. Sumimsim muna siya sa kanyang kape bago ngumiti sa akin. The wrinkles on his eyes showed me how long he has been my grandpa’s secretary.

Simula nang nagkamuwang na ako, siya na ang sekretarya ni grandpa. Kaya kahit paano, ay naging malapit na rin si Noel sa amin.

Nag-usap kami ng ilang saglit tungkol sa mga nangyari sa conference. I told him that I watched it though. Kaya naman, pinagsabihan at pinaalalahanan niya muli ako na rin ako na kailangan kong maghanda sa susunod na conference. Our lawyer will also help me and draft some questions and answers para mapa-practice ko.

Silence stretched between us after that. Noel shifted on his seat, as if he was testing the water between us before diving into the main reason why he was here.

“Handa ka na ba, Miss Kat?” tanong niya. I swallowed hard and slowly nodded my head as I looked directly at him.

“Yes,” I replied with a serious tone. He straightened his back, his hands resting on his thighs.

“Nasabi na niya sa akin ang mga plano niya para masalba ang kompanya, Miss Kat, bago pa man siya atakihin sa puso.” paninimula niya. I nodded my head once again, silently telling him to continue.

“Hindi ko nga lang alam kung may karapatan ba ako na sabihin ito sayo. Pero dahil napamahal na rin ako sa kompanya at ayokong makita pa itong mas lalong bumabagsak, siguro ay mas mabuting malaman mo ang mga plano ni sir Anton para mapag-isipan mo,” he continued.

“Alright, what is it?” I asked right away.

“Ang dahilan kung bakit ka niya pinapauwi dito, sa simula pa lang, ay para sabihin sa'yo ang estado ng kompanya.”

I inhaled a sharp deep breath. Somehow, I have known that ever since I got in here and saw the news of our project collapsing. My grandfather demanded that I come home countless times. He also continued telling me that our company is in a rocky state. I refused to believe it because it sounds impossible.

But now…

Things really happen unexpectedly.

Tinitigan ko si Noel dahil bigla siyang tumahimik. My brows furrowed, suddenly sensing his hesitation. “What's next, Noel?”

He looked at me wearily. Pagkatapos ay nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga bago nagpatuloy.

“Ang sabi niya, may paraan daw para maisalba mo ang kompanya. At ikaw lang daw ang makakatulong sa pagsalba nito,”

“At ano iyon?” I asked eagerly. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagkabuo ang loob dahil sa sinabi niya. Ako lang daw ang makakatulong sa pagsalba ng kompanya. My grandpa believes in me. I suddenly felt useful for him despite our situation. I will do my best despite my small knowledge on how to handle it.

Though…I wonder what kind help he is referring to?

“Ang sabi ni Sir Anton, para maisalba ang inyong kompanya, kailangan mo daw pakasalanan…ang lalaking napili niya para sa'yo.” he dropped like a bomb at napaawang ang bibig ko ng marinig iyon.