Chapter 3

Sumandal sa kaniyang swivel chair si Savannah. It's been two months after the company was transferred to her name. Being the new CEO is tiring. Bukod sa marami siyang kinausap na head ng bawat department ay may nalaman rin siyang sobrang ikinainit ng kaniyang ulo.

"What do you mean, Savannah? are you accusing me of stealing money?"

That was his uncle's question when she asked him about the biggest problem recently. Hindi naman niya ito inakusahan. Gusto lang niyang malaman kung alam ba ng Uncle niya na malaking pera ang nawawala sa kumpanya. Pero ang tanong ay ganoon agad.

Like, he is guilty.

Savannah shook her head. Napakaraming kalokohan ang nangyayari sa Williamson Company kaya't ano ang sinasabi ng kaniyang Uncle na ginawa nito ang lahat para sa kapakanan ng kanilang kumpanya?

Also, his grandfather knows that people are stealing money from them but he's just being quiet. Nang sabihin niya kung gaano kalaki ang nawawalang pera buwan-buwan sa kanila ay tumawa lamang ang kaniyang lolo. Parang hindi naman ito apektado unlike her!

Lalo na at hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi nito.

"I never thought that you could really find out the problems in the company in just a week. Indeed, the Williamson's Company is in good hands."

Savannah's lips parted when she heard what her grandfather said. It's not just hundred of thousands! it's a hundred million every month and she fckn' wants to find out the culprit.

"Lolo! I am serious!"

Napahawak siya sa kaniyang noo nang maalala ang usapan nila ng kaniyang lolo. She became busy monitoring the financial department, nagpadala rin siya ng tao para tingnan ng palihim ang trabaho ng mga naroon. Hindi sa wala siyang tiwala, but she needs to know who is stealing from the company.

And it seems like his grandfather was being easy to evryone. He just agreed every decision, kaya pala ito kinagigiliwan ng marami. But that would just make people to deceive him more! iyon ang sigaw ng isipan ni Savannah.

Paano ba naman? pati na ang mga mahahalagang dokumento na dumadating na kailangan ng pirma ay diretsahan lang pa lang sinasign ng lolo niya at hindi binabasa, and his reason? tiwala na ito sa mga empleyado ng kumpanya nila.

"Because of your trust, buwan-buwan nawawalan ng pera ang kumpanya, lolo."

At muli itong tumawa sa kaniya.

"In order to catch the big fish you must invest to great equipments, Savannnah."

Pero magkaiba sila ng paniniwala. Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang fountain pen at kinatok-katok iyon sa lamesa niya. I will fckn' skin them alive when I find out who is stealing from the company.

Ang hinala niya ay alam ng mga magnanakaw sa kumpanya na hindi nag babasa ng mga dokumento na kailangan ng pirma ang kaniyang lolo noon kaya't nakakapagnakaw ng malaking pera lalo ang mga ito.

Iyon ang hindi magagawa ng mga empleyadong iyon sa kaniya dahil talagang bubusisiin niya lahat, at kahit pa nasa libo-libo ang empleyado ng Williamson group of companies ay wala siyang pakialam.

She doesn't care if the employees call her evil, or she will always stay late to finish her work. Savannah will make sure that no one else will deceive her grandfather. Sisiguruhin niya na sa mga susunod na buwan wala nang makakalusot na pera.

"Marina, I am going to have an early lunch. Can you buy food for me now?" sabi niya sa intercom.

"Okay po, ma'am."

Si Marina ang sekretarya niya simula nang maging CEO siya. She was a new employee vhosen by her. Nakita naman niya na masipag ito at attentive sa mga utos at sinasabi niya. At ito pa nga. Her uncle recommended someone to be her secretary, she right away decline dahil gusto niya na siya mismo ang mag-assess at kumilatis sa makakasama niya.

Sinasabi niya na bago pa lang ako sa business at gusto niya lang akong tulungan but honestly, he just wanted to control me. It's so obvious.

Sa nakalipas na dalawang buwan na iyon, hindi man maganda ang relasyon nila ng uncle niya at ng asawa nito ay umaayon naman ang lahat sa kaniya. Board members are respecting her now, ang tatlong hindi sumang-ayon sa kaniya noong una ay alam niyang mga pilit dahil walang maibabato sa kaniya na problema. She's working smoothly, she's a monster in the business field. Iyon ang tawag sa kaniya ng ibang mga board members.

Madalang siyang dumalo ng mga meetings sa tuwing maraming mga tao. She's just attending online habang ang mga ito ay magkakasama. No one complain since complaining on her will not do good. Siya pa rin ang masusunod.

Savannah took her phone to call Marina. Nais niyang magpadagdag ng bibilhin. Hindi naman nagtagal ay nakasagot naman ito kaagad.

"Ma'am? nandito na po ako sa foodcourt."

Ayon at sakto lang naman pala ang pagtawag niya.

"Sorry, may ipadaragdag sana ako na bilhin. Can you also buy pineapple juice?"

Pakiramdam niya ay tumaas ang presyon niya sa pag-alala sa mga nakaraang kaganapan nang makaupo na siya sa posisyon bilang CEO.

"Okay po, Ma'am Savannah. Mayroon pa po bang iba?"

"Wala na, iyon lang. And oh, bumili ka na rin ng pagkain mo at kung nagugutom ka na, sabayan mo na akong kumain."

"Sige po, Ma'am Savannah. Maraming salamat po!"

Pagkababa niya ng cellphone niya ay tumingin siya sa harapan ng laptop. She breathed deeply and set it aside. Napahawak ang kaniyang mga kamay sa noo niya nang makaramdam ng sandaling pagkahilo.

"It's still early, but I'm already feeling very tired."

Nang maisipan na tawagan ni Savannah ang kaniyang butler para magpasundo sana ng maaga at magpahinga na lang sa bahay ay idinial niya agad ang numero nito. Pero hindi pa man halos nagri-ring ay biglang napaangat ng tingin si Savannah nang makarinig siya ng fire alarm.

"What the? may inspection ba ngayon ng mga fire alarms?"

Tumayo siya at kaagad na binuksan ang pinto ng kaniyang opisina. Ang nasa isipan niya ay baka sinusubukan lang ang mga fire alarm dahil isa iyon sa mga iniutos niya, but when she looked outside and saw a lot of people running and panicking in the hall way ay nakaramdam siya ng kaba. Lalo 'yon tumindi nang makakita siya mismo ng suko sa dulong bahagi ng palapag kung nasaan ang opisina niya.

"Sht!"

Bumalik siya kaagad sa kaniyang table at nagpabalik-balik siya ng lakad. What is she going to do?! There is a fire inside the building!

Savannah stopped from walking when she saw smoke entering her office.

"O-Oh, God, no... was the fire near my office?"

Umahon ang matinding kaba sa kaniyang dibdib nang unti-unting mapuno ng usok ang kaniyang opisina. Napaupo siya sa takot. She covered her nose when the smoke filled her office. She's not going to die in here right?

Sinilip niya ang labas ng bintana. She's on the 50th floor of the Williamson's Company building! There's no other way out!

Savannah was coughing hard.

"S-Sht, am I going to die here?"

Thinking about what she will going to do Savannah felt a strong pair of hand hold her on her shoulder and before she could say a word the person put a wet blanket on her and guided her to the exit.

"W-Who are y-you?" she asked the person.

Hindi ito nagsalita at nang makalabas sila ng building ay napansin ni Savannah na nasa parking lot sila. No one was there. Dahan-dahan niyang tinanggal ang basang blanket sa kaniyang ulo at tiningnan ang taong nagligtas sa kaniya.

She swallowed when she saw a hot man in front of her. He was wearing a black tshirt, black pants and boots. He has a security earpiece and he has a gun on his belt! What the fck! Who is this man?!

Savannah was about to step back when she realised that this man saved her from the fire in her company.

"She's okay... yes, she's with me," sabi ng lalake at tumingin ito sa kaniya.

Wait! his voice is so deep! pero hindi lang 'yon ang napansin ni Savannah. Napalunok siya, the man is tall. He has light brown skin, dark eyes, thick eyebrows and his eyelashes are long! She doesn't want to mention his lips but she can't help because it was luscious! Okay, she's checking on him, but no, indeed, the man is good looking.

Nang muling tumingin sa kaniya ang lalake ay inilayo niya ang mga mata. Tumikhim siya.

"W-Who are you?"

Bumaba ang kamay ng lalake na nakahawak sa security earpiece nito at humarap sa kaniya. Yumuko ito sandali at nang bumalik ang mga mata sa kaniya ay nagsalita ito.

"I'm Ace, your personal bodyguard. My team and I have been secretly guarding you since you arrived in the Philippines," he said in a baritone voice.

A-Ano daw?! Since she came in the Philippines?! That was almost three months ago! May nagbabantay pala sa kaniya?

Bigla ay naalala niya ang sinabi ng kaniyang lolo. Naghanda nga ito.

H-hindi ko namalayan, m-may nagbabantay pala sa akin?

"I am not alone in guarding you, Ma'am. There are four bodyguards, and I am their leader. You won't meet them since it's not necessary. We all work in silence and are not allowed to come near you unless an emergency arises, like now."

Bigla ay nakaramdam siya ng panunuyo ng kaniyang lalamunan. Savannah swallowed again. How could such an attractive man be her bodyguard? What did he say? She was simply staring at his lips as he spoke!

Mas bagay sa kaniya maging isang artista! And also, he can pass as a model! He is tall, and his face...

"Do... you need anything, ma'am?" bigla ay tanong nito, siguro ay napansin na ang matagal na pagtitig niya. Doon na siya nakaramdam ng hiya.

Oh sht. I've been gazing at him for so long. Pull yourself together, Savannah! Don't let him see that you're mesmerized by his looks!

"I-I am sorry. I don't need anything. I just want to go home for now," she said.

Tumalikod siya at kinagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi. How can she act cool in front of that man? Napahawak siya sa kaniyang balikat. So, that was his broad chest where she was enveloped earlier. Damn.

"I'll get the car and drive you home, ma'am."

Humarap siya ngunit nakatalikod na si Ace. He was walking toward his car. Savannah's gaze followed his back, and then her eyes fixated on his butt. Sumilay ang pilyang ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi.

Sexy...

Ahhh... she never thought she would be so easily attracted. Pero talaga naman... iba ang karisma ng bodyguard na ito.