로그인Hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos kagabi dahil sa sinabi ni Kaitlyn. Because someone had been asking about the old financial records I was reviewing.Hindi ko alam kung simpleng curiosity lang iyon o may taong nagsisimula nang maghinala sa ginagawa ko. Pero isang bagay ang sigurado ako. I couldn't let my investigation be exposed this early.Kailangan kong malaman kung may naglalabas ng information mula sa loob ng Ramos Company. At kung mayroon man, gusto kong malaman kung sino.Pagdating ko sa office, agad kong tinawag si Kaitlyn. “I want you to prepare a separate report for one of the archived transactions,” sabi ko nang pumasok siya.“Which transaction, ma’am?” nakakunot ang noo na tanong niya. Ipinakita ko agad sa kanya ang isang document na hindi naman konektado sa pangunahing investigation ko. Isa itong lumang supplier payment na wala namang malaking problema, pero sapat para magamit ko sa plano ko.“Prepare a summary stating that we're reviewing this transaction again. Include a
Me: How did you know?Kairos: You sound like someone who wants to throw a stapler at another person.Napailing ako, pero hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti.Me: You're not helping.Kairos: I can come over and provide emotional support.Me: I'll pass.Kairos: Cold-hearted woman.Bago pa ako makapag-reply, may sumunod siyang message.Kairos: Seriously, Martha. If there's anything you need, just tell me.Napahinto ako sa pagbabasa. Alam kong may connections si Kairos sa business world, pero hindi din ako sigurado since his work is personal bodyguard, maka mga dating employer niya iyon o mga nakilala niya habang nasa misyon. He had already offered to introduce me to Bernard Cole, and that alone could help with my investigation.Pero hindi ibig sabihin na dapat kong ibigay sa kanya ang lahat ng problema ko. I've learned that accepting help without understanding its price could put me in a difficult position.Me: I appreciate the offer, but I can handle my own problems.Kairos: I know you can. I
“Ma’am, Mr. Ramos is here to see you.”Napatingin ako kay Kaitlyn nang marinig ko iyon. Hindi ko na kailangang itanong kung sinong Mr. Ramos ang tinutukoy niya.Wilbert.“What does he want?” Tanong ko, simula nong lagi siyang pumasok sa opisina ko para lang makipag away, kaya mahigpit kong ibinilin kay Kaitlyn na hindi magpapasok hanggat walang pahintulot ko. “He said it's about the money you asked him to return.”Napangiti ako nang walang saya. Finally, naalala rin niya ang utang niya. “Let him in.”Ilang segundo lang, bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Wilbert. Maayos ang suot niyang suit, pero halatang hindi maganda ang mood niya.“Can we talk?” tanong niya habang nakatingin sa akin.“I'm listening.” Walang paki na sagot ko. Isinara niya ang pinto bago lumapit sa desk ko. “About the five million pesos you want me to return.”Ipinatong ko ang ballpen ko sa desk. “What about it?”“Martha, you know the company's situation. Hindi ganoon kadaling maglabas ng ganyang kalaking halaga ngayo
Kinabukasan ay maaga akong dumating sa office. Hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko ang offer ni Kairos, lalo na ang business contact na gusto niyang ipakilala sa akin sa masquerade ball.Hindi naman porke nirekomenda niya ang lalaki ay basta na lang akong magtitiwala rito. Kung may connections ito sa mga investment firm na kinakausap ni Bianca, kailangan ko munang i-verify ang background niya.Binuksan ko sa laptop ang profile na ipinadala ni Kairos.Bernard Cole ang pangalan niya. Nasa fifties na ito at may connections sa ilang investment firms. Sa unang tingin, malinis ang business record niya. Pero may ilang previous partnerships siyang gusto kong masuri nang mabuti.Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinawagan si Kaitlyn. “Can you verify Bernard Cole’s background? Check his business affiliations and kung may connections siya sa mga investor na gustong kausapin ni Bianca.”“Of course, ma’am. Should I contact his office?”“No. Huwag kang makipag-ugnayan sa kanya o sa kahit sino sa circle niya. Gu
I stared at the financial records displayed on my laptop, comparing the names of Bianca’s proposed investors with the companies that had previous dealings with Ramos Company.Something wasn’t right.A few companies had provided financial assistance to businesses connected to Ramos Company, but the details were incomplete. Some transactions were recorded under different categories, while others had documents missing from the files.It wasn’t enough to accuse anyone of wrongdoing, but it was enough to make me suspicious.“Any updates?” I asked my assistant, who stood beside my desk with a folder in her hands. I already asked Kaitlyn to investigate them. Alam kong maasahan ko ang isa ko pang assistant sa mean company ko, pero kailangan ko din pagalawin si Kaitlyn. “Not yet, ma’am. We’re still checking the investors’ backgrounds and their connections to those companies.”“Good. Continue investigating, but keep it discreet. I don’t want anyone knowing what we’re looking into.”“Yes, ma’am
Hindi ako sumagot, kaya nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita. "You were married for seven years, weren't you? That's a long time to spend with someone.""Yes, it is," sagot ko"And now you're living separately." she said while looking at me. "That's right." Muling sagot ko at tinignan ang dokumento sa harap. Sandali siyang tumigil, marahil ay umaasa na magpaliwanag ako kung bakit kami nagkahiwalay ni Wilbert. Pero hindi ako nagsasalita. Dahil wala akong obligasyong ipaliwanag sa kanya ang mga problemang matagal ko nang kinakaharap sa pagsasama namin ng asawa ko.Nang mapansing hindi ako magkukuwento, bahagya siyang yumuko at inilapit ang sarili sa mesa. "Don't you think there's still a chance to fix things?"Diretso ko siyang tiningnan. "Why are you asking?"Hindi nawala ang ngiti niya, pero may bahagyang pagbabago sa kanyang mga mata. "I'm just concerned about Wilbert. He's under a lot of pressure right now, and I know he values the people who stand by him."Aba, heto na.Hindi man niya







