Chapter 6: Meeting the King

IT TOOK me three days before I decided to go at the Blaquier Holdings. Isa iyong napakataas na gusali na may unique na architectural design. The designer seemed to incorporate green engineering, because of the greeneries on the facade from the ground up to the highest floor.

As an architect, I couldn’t help myself but admire the design. Isa na rin iyon sa paraan ko para libangin ang sarili habang naglalakad ako papasok sa loob ng gusali.

My heart was full of anticipation. Paano ba ako magre-react sa muling pagkikita namin ni Hugo? Would it be awkward?

‘Bahala na. For sure, with his caliber he might not even remember a nobody like me. So what, if we had a one-night stand?’

Lumapit ako sa reception kung saan may dalawang magandang unipormadong babae ang nakatayo.

“Hello, good morning. I need to see Mr. Hugo Blaquier. Where can I find him? He told me to report to him directly as I’m an applicant to be his secretary,” I asked politely.

Nagkatinginan ang dalawang babae at muli ay tumingin sa akin. They even scrutinized me from head to foot. Na para bang hindi kumbinsido ang mga ito.

“Applying for a secretary? I think you are mistaken Miss. There’s no vacant for that position, besides the boss won’t choose someone like…” muli akong pinasadhan ng tingin ng isa sa mga ito bago nagpatuloy, “I mean everyone knows how strict he is when it comes with employees.”

Bigla akong naguluhan. Ayaw ko mang aminin pero medyo hindi maganda ang vibe ko sa dalawang babaeng ito. I knew, meeting Hugo Blaquier wouldn’t be easy. Baka nakalimutan na nito ang tungkol sa offer sa akin.

Nagsalita naman ang isa pang receptionist. “Miss, if I were you, don’t push your luck. Hindi na namin halos mabilang ang mga babaeng pumunta rito sa parehong rason. All of them just want to be close with the CEO.”

“But, I was really told to report to him because he needed a secretary,” wika ko. Totoo naman kasi ang sinabi ko. Pero hindi ko inaasahan na ganito kahigpit papasok sa loob ng opisina nito. Paano ko makukumbinsi ang dalawa na nagsasabi ako nang totoo?

“Our apologies, Miss. We can’t let you in without an appointment,” anang babae.

Nagkatinginan ulit ang dalawa na parang nanandya. I didn’t want to think they were bullying me. Na sadyang ayaw lang nila akong tulungang makapasok. On the other hand, I understood they were just doing their job.

“Well, just tell me where his office is, I will see him myself.” Humakbang ako papasok pero mabilis ang dalawa na hinarang ako.

“Stop right there!”

Nagulat ako dahil itinulak ako ng isa. I wore a high heeled sandal, so I was out of balance. Bumagsak ako sa sahig. Mabuti na lang at naagapan ko iyon kaya hindi ko masyadong ininda ang sakit. But there were small cuts on my knees.

Iyon nga lang, marami na ang mga matang nakatuon sa akin na para bang ako ang kontrabida roon.

Mabuti na lang ay may isang lalaking lumapit at tinulungan akong makatayo. He wore a gray business suit with a tablet at hand.

“What the hell is going on here?” tanong ng lalaki sa dalawang babae. Matapos ay bumaling ito sa akin. “Are you all right, Miss?”

Tumango ako.

“I didn’t mean to push her, Sir Bryan. Nagpupumilit kasi siyang makita si Sir. Wala naman siyang appointment. She even insisted she’s applying for a secretary, we all know that you are the only president’s secretary.” Paliwanag ng babae.

Bryan glared at the two receptionists. “You can’t resort to violence either. The next time you do this, you’ll be fired.”

Tila naman biglang natakot ang dalawa. Yumuko ang mga ito at ilang ulit na humingi ng pasensya.

“What’s your name?” Bryan asked me.

“I’m Hiraya Alcaraz,” I smiled meekly.

Biglang nanlaki ang mata ni Bryan. His expression even softened.

“It’s you! I’m Bryan, by the way. Come with me, the boss has been waiting for you for days. My bad, it slipped my mind to tell the receptionists about you,” apologetic na saad ni Bryan sabay yakag sa akin.

Sumama ako kay Bryan at iniwan namin ang dalawang receptionist na laglag ang mga panga.

Kahit ramdam ako ang pagkirot ng tuhod ko ay deretso akong naglakad sa malawak na hallway putungo sa opisina ni Hugo habang nasa unahan ko si Bryan.

“Come in!” Anyaya nito.

In fairness, Bryan seemed friendly. Dali-dali nitong binuksan ang pinto at agad na bumungad sa akin ang malawak na opisina sa loob.

“Boss, here she is,” Bryan announced. "There was a minor inconvenience, it's my fault forgetting the appointment."

Ilang ulit akong huminga nang malalim. At a distance, I saw Hugo’s back sitting on his swivel chair. Agad itong pumihit paharap nang marinig ang sinabi ni Bryan.

Our eyes met. There was something in his gaze that seemed to pierce my soul. Bumaba ang tingin nito sa aking tuhod.

“Bryan, get the first aid kit. Quick!”

“Yes, boss!” Mabilis namang sumunod si Bryan.

Tumayo si Hugo at lumapit sa akin. Iginiya niya ako sa receiving couch malapit sa mesa nito.

“Have seat. Does your knees hurt?” tanong ng binata.

I sat down awkwardly while having an internal struggle of what to do. Bakit ba ako natataranta sa harap ni Hugo? Kung tutuusin naman ay nagsalo kami ng isang mainit na gabi at wala na akong maitatago pa rito.

I averted my gaze. Especially when Hugo went down his knees to check my minor injury.

Saka naman dumating si Bryan dala ang first aid kit. Dali-daling kumuha si Hugo ng cotton at nilagyan iyon ng antiseptic solution at ipinunas sa maliliit na sugat ko.

Akma kong igagalaw palayo ang tuhod ko pero hinawakan iyon ni Hugo. Nakita ko pa ang panlalaki ng mata ni Bryan wari ay nagulat ito kaya tumalikod na lang.

“Stay put, this will be over.” Utos ni Hugo.

I was dumbfounded when he leaned in and blew on my knees trying to dry up the solution. Then he put a bandage.

“There you go.” Saka ito tumayo.

“T-Thanks,” I lowered my head.