7

"Drive away quickly!" nagmamadali at hinihingal na sabi ni Rhianne habang nagsusuot ng seatbelt at hawak ang sandal sa kamay.

Natataranta namang pinaandar agad ni Mars ang sasakyan.

"Why? Why? Did you see him?"

"No, he saw me. We just didn't see each other but we also stared for a couple of seconds."

"What?! Oh my God! You are really lucky today." sabi ni Mars.

Huminga ng malalim si Rhianne.

"Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na mukhang mali ata ang desisyon kong magtrabaho dito."

"I told you. Why did you even accept the offer from Chris?"

"Mars your husband didn't know anything and also he already referred me to the new director of the PhWright which is his friend before when Philfav wasn't bought yet from Wright Ways. And also your husband didn't know anything about Greg."

"Are you sure?"

"What do you mean? Did you tell him too?"

"No. I mean, you worked with him together for so long. He must've known already that there is no other man that named Matthias Greg Azarcon Wright as your husband."

"Oh... right." sabi niya kasabay ng pagtampal sa kanyang noo.

"But you know what? I am sorry for saying this but why do I find this so funny? You are hiding from your husband that doesn't even know that he is still your husband."

"Oh shut up. It's not funny at all." sabi niya saka sumandal sa upuan pagkatapos isuot ang kanyang sandal at inayos ang folder na kanyang hawak.

------

"Sir what happened–"

"Did you already check all the employees' names?"

"Ah, yes sir... but there is no Haller Rhianne."

Malakas na ibinagsak ni Greg ang duguang kamay sa mesa at hinanap din sa nakabukas na laptop ang mga lista ng mga pangalan ng mga empleyado pero totoo ngang wala ito dito.

"Did she change her name?"

"Ah... Sir your hands–"

"F*ck!" mura ni Greg at malakas ulit na hinampas ang mesa na kinaigtad ni Ronie sa sobrang gulat.

"Come with me to the security department." sabi niya kay Ronie at malalaki ang hakbang na lumabas ng kanyang opisina. Lahat ng tao ay nakatingin sa kanya at sa duguan niyang mga kamay. Habang sinesenyasan naman ni Ronie ang mga ito na magpatuloy sa kanilang ginagawa.

"I am looking for the woman that dress in a color black and white body-con long sleeve dress. There! There! On the ninetenth floor. Zoom it to that woman." utos niya sa lalaki saka bahagya itong tinulak at siya na ang gumawa nyon.

He clenched his jaw and his fist as soon as he confirmed that it was really her.

"Oh? Isn't she Mrs. Wright?" sabi ni Ronie nang makilala niya ito.

"Not anymore. Why is she here when she is not working in the company?" tanong niya sa sarili saka tiningnan nang mabuti ang pagkuha ng sandal ni Rhianne at mabilis na tumakbo palabas nang magsarado ang p***o ng elevator hanggang sa isang pamilyar na auto sa labas.

Galit siyang napangisi. Ngayon alam na niya ang dahilan ng pagtakbo ng babae kanina sa labas ng parking lot ng paaralan. They wore the same dress.

"So you moved back here? What's your intention of coming back here?" tanong ulit niya sa sarili at kumunot ang noo sa folder na nahulog sa sahig na binalikan nito at mabilis na pinulot. He paused the video and zoom in to the folder.

Mas lalo siyang nagalit dahil hindi niya masyadong makita ang logo sa folder at malakas na sinuntok ang mesa na kinagulat ng lahat.

"Is this the best hight tech camera you have? F*cking useless! It can't even read a f*cking logo on the folder!"

Tumikhim si Ronie nang galit na mapahilamos si Greg na dahilan nang pagpahid ng mga dugo sa mukha nito.

"She came here to get the file from the finance department."

Lumipad ang tingin ni Greg kay Ronie.

"What did you say?"

Tumikhim ulit si Ronie.

"Mrs. Wright is the new designer that Director Fabian from Philfav– I mean PhWright was talking to."

"Mrs. Wright? She's not Mrs. Wright anymore."

"But uhmm... she is really Mrs. Wright. I heard Mrs. Sauber called her that."

"Give me her personal informations." sabi niya kay Ronie at naglakad palabas sa kwarto.

Bumalik sila sa kanyang opisina at ibinigay naman agad ni Ronie ang lista ng pangalan ng mga empleyado sa kanya.

"These are the list of the employees of the PhWright. Director Chris Hüber is a friend of Director Fabian. He was the one who referred her to work in that small clothing company. She is married with three kids."

"Why you didn't tell me?"

"Sir, at first I didn't know that she was the woman you are looking for. The photo you have is a bit ... Different from what she... she look like now–I mean in person."

Hindi sumagot si Greg at galit na nilamukos ang papel ni Rhianne nang makita ang dala nitong apelyido.

"How dare she marry a man with the same last name as mine?" galit niyang sabi saka galit na itinapon sa sahig ang mga gamit niya sa mesa.

"Prepare the car. I am going to the PhWright."

"But sir... you have a meeting with the board of directors today."

"Cancel it."

"I am sorry Sir but I can't." sabi ni Ronie saka kumuha ng medicine kit para simulang linisin ang sugat ni Greg sa kamay.

------

"Mr. Wright we cannot tolerate a discrimination like this. FW is a very popular brand and we cannot let it stepping your name."

Greg smirked.

"So you are saying that this small boutique that sells a popular brand in the western country is called Forever Wright?"

"Yes."

"And the the rumour said that the designer is a little kid?"

"Definitely!"

Greg smirked again and threw the folder loudly on the long table.

"Are you f*cking kidding me?! You believed the rumours? Just how the f*ck can a six year old kid design a popular brand?! Huh?! Tell me? Are you even in your right mind?!"

"Mr. Wright sa panahon ngayon ay hindi na bago yan. There are also rumours that the game that you bought for your own company, ClickWright is developed by children. And it is not just a game. It is a popular online adult game that made your company even more popular."

Nainsulto si Greg sa sinabi ni Director Yan. Lalo na dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya nakilala ang tunay na developer ng larong yon. The developer preferred to be unknown.

"Please let us all calm down. The brand is not yet that popular in the Philippines and it is just only a rumour. And I believed also that there is no such thing that a six year child can make her own popular clothing brand." Sabat ni President Wright na kanyang Tiyuhin.

"President Wright, the problem here is not because we believed the rumours but the name of the brand itself. It carries the same name as our company. It is a discrimination of us that we cannot tolerate especially now that Haller and the Bergers are after it."

"Greg they are right. What will you do?" tanong ng Uncle Bert niya sa kanya pagkatapos nitong bumuntong-hininga.

Huminga ng malalim si Greg at pilit na kinalma ang sarili.

"Find everything that you can from this brand and triple the amount that Haller and Bergers offered." sabi niya na kinagulat ng lahat at nagkanya-kanyang protesta.

"Mr. Greg this is not right!"

"Although this brand is very popular but it will also be a big lost to our company."

"You said that it is like a discrimination, right? So I am doing my best." sabi niya saka lumabas ng opisina.

"This is crazy."

"We cannot let him run the company like this."

"He does what he wants and is very irresponsible. I told him that buying Philfav is a very wrong decision. Now we have a big problem."

"And he is not even married yet until now. The Bergers will surpass us if Chairman Wang accepts their marriage proposal."

"President Wright, are you really going to stay quiet? You are also an heir of Wright. You may not be a Wright in blood but at least you are more responsible than him."

Ngumiti si Bert.

"Right? I told them too. But nah-ah. I better not. It's hassle." sabi ni Bert saka lumabas din sa opisina.

Nagulat pa siya nang mabungaran si Greg na nakaupong naninigarilyo sa kanyang opisina.

"I am still thirty-two and I feel like I am older than you. When are you going to take my position?"

"No thanks. I am happy, contented and grateful with my life. My life is already perfect with a beatiful kind wife and a smart cute son."

"Good for you."

"When are you going to build your own?"

"Ronie can't give me a child." sabi niya saka sumulyap kay Ronie na nanlaki ang mga mata.

"Oh stop it. You are sick. Stop dragging Ronie with this matter." sabi ni Bert saka umupo sa sofa at tiningnan ang kanyang kamay.

"What happened? I heard you went crazy this morning."

He clenched his jaw.

"She came back."

"C-came back? Who?"

Bumuntong-hininga si Greg at tumanaw lang sa malaking glass na bintana.

Bert looked at Ronie confusedly. Ronie and him are friends that's why Madame Wright doesn't like Ronie too.

Itinaas ni Ronie ang dalawang hintuturo sa kanyang dibdib at sumenyas.

"Ex."

Tumango-tango si Bert. Ngayon ay naiintindihan na niya kung bakit na lang biglang nabaliw si Greg kanina sa loob ng kompanya.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Why is she here?"

"I don't know. After seven years of searching for her she just came back here as a married woman with three kids. And what's funny is that she's even carrying the same last name as mine."

"What? Nang-aasar ba siya? After ka niyang iwan at sinaktan ay may gana siyang bumalik ngayon at magpakita sayo? Bakit ba kasi siya nandito? Anong ginagawa niya? Is she spying on us for their company?"

"I doubt it because she is working in PhWright."

"PhWright? Ah! Is she the designer that Director Fabian was talking about?"

Tumango si Ronie.

"What do you plan now? Are you going to get her back?"

"Are you crazy?! After she broke my heart and ran with away with our money?"

"Oh..." sabi ni Bert saka yumuko.

"You'll fire her?"

Hindi sumagot si Greg at naisip na magandang ideya nga yon. Gusto niyang makapaghiganti dito.

"Greg please, she have three kids."

"I am sure her stupid husband can protect her."

"Hayy... hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko. Kilala ko si Rhianne at para sa akin ay isa siyang mabait na bata. I always believed that there is a reason that she did that to you. Alam mo naman kung ano ang buhay nyo noon. Maraming humahadlang sa pagsasama ninyong dalawa at isa na doon si Ate at ang Daddy niya."

Hindi sumagot si Greg at tumiim-bagang lang.