Panay ang marahang pagdampi ni Charlie ng cold compress sa ulo niya. She’s now inside Room 324, the room she booked. Doon siya dumiretso kanina habang kinakausap ng management ng hotel sina Mr. and Mrs. De Vera, including Gael, dahil sa gulong nangyari. She had minor cuts on her face and her head still hurts like hell. But aside from that, she was fine. The doctor the hotel management called made sure of that. Well, her ego was a little hurt for what seemed like an initially brilliant plan she had turned out to be not brilliant at all. Muli niyang idinampi ang cold compress sa ulo niya at pinakatitigan ang mukha niya sa salamin. She can’t help but curse under her breath. She cannot go home like that. She looks like shit. Sigurado magtatanong ang mga kasama niya sa bahay—ang mga katulong at lalo na ang mga bodyguards niya. She bit the bottom of her lip and rein in her tears. She can’t help but pity herself. She looks like shit and she still hadn’t talk to Mr. Reyes. She felt like a
A sudden knock on her door made Charlie stopped fixing herself on the mirror. She glanced at the small clock on her bedside table and groaned inwardly. Late na siya ulit sa pagpasok sa opisina pero may umiistorbo na naman sa kanya. “Come in, the door’s open and I’m decent,” sabi niya, muling itinuloy ang pag-aayos. Madaling araw na siyang umuwi kanina mula sa Gold Hotel. After she was attacked last night and had another dreadful conversation with Gael, kinailangan niyang magkaroon ng oras para umiyak. She wanted to have time to be weak, to be vulnerable and to grieve for the things she might loss if she wouldn’t come up with a plan to save the cruise line. It was cut short though because she promised Levi that breakfast chat. After Levi finished his breakfast and went to the pre-school, she went ahead and cried again. She was a crying mess the whole night. She felt like she’s inadequate and incompetent to be the leader of SSL. She felt like every single plan, both serious and crazy
Pagod na umupo si Charlie sa executive chair sa opisina niya. She had been to three different banks just this morning, but all the same—they refused to consider her loan. Heck! They didn’t even gave her a chance to explain or hear out her plan on how will they pay the loan. They just rejected her outright like she’s some penniless start-up businesswoman who doesn’t have a penny on her name.She’s a Sandejas for goodness’ sake! She still owns the biggest shipping lines in the country! They’re experiencing a little setback now but still, she still has her name and money.How could they treat her like trash? Like she’s some kind of a leper who must be avoided at all times!She leaned on the back rest of the chair and closed her eyes, frustration, pity and worry drowning her all at once. Kanina pa niya gustong umiyak, pinipigilan lang niya. She knew if she’d allow herself to cry now, baka hindi na siya tumigil.The past two days had been too much. Idagdag pang ginigigil siya ni Gael sa n
Charlie was instantly greeted by Rancho Italianos staff when she arrived at the restaurant. The staff know her and her family well because the owners are a family friend. It was also their go-to restaurant since she and Caleb were kids kaya kilala sila ng mga staff doon. Maya-maya pa, iginiya na siya ng isa sa mga waiter sa hilera ng mga private rooms na naroon. The waiter stopped at the third door and gently opened the door for her. She took in a sharp breath before entering the room. Agad na bumungad sa kanya ang bulto ng isang lalaki na hindi nalalayo sa edad ng Daddy niya. He was sitting on one of the chairs facing the table set-up, drinking from his wine glass. He seemed lost in thought for a moment. But when he saw her, agad itong tumayo. “Y-you must be Ms. Charlize Sandejas,” anito, ngumiti. She forced a smile. “I am. And you must be Mr. Stanley Dominguez,” pormal na sagot niya. Lalomg lumawak ang ngiti ng lalaki. “Stanley. Just call me Stanley, Ms. Sandejas,” anito, humakb
“Hello! Hello!” singhal ni Gael sa kausap sa kabilang linya. Mabilis niyang tinignan ang cellphone niya. He quickly cursed when he realized na binabaan siya ni Charlize ng tawag!He dialed her number again but his call won’t go through. He did that twice, but the same, his call won’t go through. It seems like she blocked him off of her phone. He scoffed bago gigil na initsa ang cellphone niya sa office table niya.“The guts of that woman!” he said, cursing under his breath.Kanina nang malaman niya na kahapon pa na-aprrove ang request for payment extension ng SSL Cruise Line, he wanted to tear the whole office apart! He just knew that it was one of the board of directors who betrayed him. They are the only ones who has that power to manipulate things inside the bank. He knew it. He just fcking knew it!Noong unang board meeting pa lang nila, alam na niyang hindi siya tanggap ng mga ito. Bakit hindi, biglaan ang naging transaksyon nila ni Jones. He just knew that some stranger taking
Agad na nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Gael dahil sa sinabing pangalan ng lalaki. The name sounded familiar yet… His head throbbed, more painful this time. But he willed his logic not to falter. He briefly closed his eyes and tried to recall where did he hear that name.No. He didn’t hear it, he read the name somewhere.Right. He read that name from the investigation report about him.“Samaniego. You’re my former boss?” takang-tanong niya sa lalaki nang magmulat siya, naguguluhan pa rin.The man chuckled and murmured something he did not catch. “I’m not your former boss, Gael. My Dad was your former boss.”“Eric Samaniego?” sambit niya, frowning after.He didn’t know where it come from. He doesn’t recall much of the investigation report given to him. It says he doesn't have close friends that's why his focus were on the Sandejas family. Kaya naman maski siya nagulat when the name just popped inside his head!“That’s the name of my Dad,” anang lalaki.“And who you are to me?” he quickly
“What’s this?” takang-tanong ni Jasmine kay Charlie habang hawak ang isang envelope.“Why don’t you open it to find out,” ani Charlie, pilya pang ngumiti bago sumimsim sa baso ng juice na nakasilbi sa harap niya.She was at Jasmine and Gray’s house. After visiting the SSL Cruise, doon siya dumiretso. Ayaw na niya kasing patagalin pa ang surprise niya para kina Jasmine at Gray.She watched as Jasmine eased out the card from the envelope. Ilang sandali pa, malakas itong napasinghap at nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya.”T-this is a baby shower invitation… for my baby,” nanlalaki ang mga matang sabi ng matalik niyang kaibigan. “Binibigyan mo ng baby shower ang baby namin ni Gray?”Masigla siyang tumango. “Yes at hindi ka pwedeng tumanggi.” Tumayo siya mula sa garden set na kinauupuan niya sa lanai ta tumabi sa kaibigan. “Please indulge me, Jas. I never had one with Levi. At saka your baby girl needs all the love she could get. Allow me, us, to shower her with all gifts before she’s born. Plea
For a moment, Charlie’s mind was filled with haze. She cannot think of any logical explanation how the hell Gael ended up inside her fitting room… and has helped zipped her clothes up!Lalong nanlaki ang mata niya sa naisip.He zipped up my clothes, she thought. Oh my god!He just had a glimpse of her damn bare back! She didn’t even wear her brassiere that day, she just had he Nippies on. And Gael just…“Oh my, god!” she groaned in utter disbelief.She cannot believe she allowed Gael, her very own enemy, to have a partial free view of her naked body! Of course she had been naked in front of him before. But that was before. The Gael now doesn't!Mabilis niyang pinagkurus ang mga kamay sa kanyang dibdib. She felt so exposed!Shame and confusion washed over her again. But just after the shame, came the rage. Gigil niyang dinuro ang dibdib nito.“How dare you come in here, Gael! Are you out of your mind? Have you become a damn perv? Hindi ka man lang nahiya! Ano bang—“ Her next words we