CHAPTER 5

The words stayed in my head the entire morning.

You and Dominic have to negotiate together.

Hindi ko alam kung alin ang mas nakakainis.

Na kailangan kong makipagtrabaho sa kanya—

o na hindi naman pala ako ganoon ka-uncomfortable sa idea.

“Amara.”

Napatingin ako sa lawyer ko.

“Yes?”

“May scheduled meeting tayo with the Sinclair representatives this afternoon.”

“Representatives?”

He nodded.

“Dominic will be there.”

Of course.

I leaned back in my chair.

“Okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Bakit parang may choice ako?”

“Actually, you do. You can ask for another representative.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

“Then no.”

“Why?”

“Kung siya ang authorized representative sa agreement, mas okay na siya mismo ang kausap ko.”

Tumango ang lawyer ko.

“That makes sense.”

Hindi ko pinansin ang maliit na ngiti niya.

---

By three in the afternoon, nasa isang private conference room ako sa Sinclair Group.

This time, hindi ako simpleng bisita.

May pangalan ko sa folder sa harap ko.

JOINT SETTLEMENT DISCUSSION

I hated how official it looked.

Bumukas ang p***o.

Pumasok si Dominic.

Naka-dark suit siya, gaya ng dati, pero wala iyong usual intimidating expression.

Nang makita niya ako, bahagyang tumaas ang kilay niya.

“You're early.”

“You're late.”

“Two minutes.”

“Late.”

“Noted.”

Napangiti ako nang kaunti.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang mas madali siyang kausap ngayon.

Umupo siya sa kabilang side ng table.

Then his attention shifted to the documents.

Professional ulit.

At somehow, mas komportable ako roon.

---

Lumipas ang halos isang oras.

Property valuation.

Ownership records.

Business use.

Family claims.

Lahat pinag-usapan namin.

Pero sa pagkakataong iyon, may isang bagay akong napansin.

Hindi sinusubukan ni Dominic na manalo.

Hindi rin niya ako pinipilit na umatras.

Every time may proposal ang legal team niya na hindi ako komportable, tinitingnan niya muna ako.

“What's your concern?”

At kapag sinabi ko—

“I don't agree.”

Hindi niya ako kinukumbinsi agad.

He simply said—

“Then we'll revise it.”

Simple.

Parang normal lang ang pakikinig.

Hanggang sa dumating kami sa isang proposal na hindi ko talaga gusto.

“If we transfer partial ownership temporarily,” sabi ng isang representative niya, “the company can proceed without interruption.”

Umiling ako.

“No.”

Napatingin sa akin ang lahat.

“I won't agree to that.”

The representative started explaining.

“Ms. Velasco, it's only temporary—”

“I understand. Still no.”

Tahimik si Dominic.

Then he closed the folder.

“Remove it.”

Napatingin sa kanya ang representative.

“Sir?”

“I said remove it.”

“But the board—”

“Can hear the alternative.”

Natahimik ang buong room.

Tumingin siya sa akin.

“What would you agree to?”

Napaisip ako.

“Independent valuation first. Then both families negotiate based on the actual value, not assumptions.”

He nodded.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes.”

“You're not going to argue?”

“Should I?”

“Usually people like you do.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“People like me?”

“Rich. Powerful. Used to getting their way.”

For the first time that afternoon, may bahagyang ngiti sa mukha niya.

“Maybe you should stop assuming you know me.”

I crossed my arms.

“Maybe you should give me a reason not to.”

His expression changed.

Hindi offended.

Thoughtful.

“Fair.”

---

Pagkatapos ng meeting, isa-isa nang lumabas ang mga tao.

Naiwan kaming dalawa sa conference room.

I gathered my papers.

“I'm surprised.”

“About?”

“You actually listened.”

He looked at me.

“I told you before. I don't believe in forcing people into agreements they don't understand.”

“That's not what I mean.”

“Then what?”

“Most people in your position would want to win.”

He leaned against the table.

“I'm not trying to win against you, Amara.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

“Then what are you trying to do?”

“Find a solution.”

“Even if it doesn't favor your company?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

He was quiet for a moment.

Then—

“Because a solution that only benefits one side isn't a solution.”

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko.

Kaya inayos ko na lang ang papers ko.

“That's annoyingly reasonable.”

“I've been told.”

“By who?”

“My sister.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

“You have a sister?”

“Yes.”

“Bakit parang surprised ako?”

“Because you haven't asked much about my family.”

I smiled.

“Rule number five.”

His eyes met mine.

No asking about past relationships.

Hindi naman family ang sinabi sa rule.

Pero hindi na namin pinansin iyon.

Instead, kinuha niya ang folder niya.

“You should eat.”

Napakunot ang noo ko.

“Again?”

“You skipped lunch.”

“Paano mo alam?”

“You didn't touch the food.”

Napatingin ako sa conference table.

May natira pa ngang sandwich mula kanina.

“Observant ka nga.”

“I told you.”

“Or stalker.”

“That's getting old.”

Napatawa ako.

At siya rin.

Sandali lang.

Pero sapat para gumaan ang buong araw ko.

---

Paglabas ko ng building, napaisip ako sa nangyari.

Hindi pala mahirap makipagtrabaho kay Dominic.

Actually, mas madali kaysa sa inaasahan ko.

Hindi siya agree sa lahat ng sinasabi ko.

Hindi rin ako agree sa lahat ng sinasabi niya.

Pero kapag may disagreement, hindi niya ginagawang personal.

At iyon ang bagay na hindi ko inaasahan mula sa isang taong kagaya niya.

Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa sasakyan ko, nag-vibrate ang phone ko.

Message from Dominic.

> Did you get home safely?

Napatingin ako sa screen.

Maya-maya, may isa pang message.

> And eat dinner this time.

Napangiti ako.

Hindi ko dapat binibigyan ng kahulugan ang simpleng message na iyon.

Concern lang.

Responsibility.

Baka dahil magkasama kami sa isang legal agreement.

That's all.

I typed a short reply.

> I will. You too.

Napatigil ako bago ko pinindot ang send.

You too?

Bakit parang ang natural na noon?

Pinindot ko rin.

A few seconds later, nag-reply siya.

> I will.

I put my phone inside my bag.

At habang naglalakad ako papunta sa sasakyan, isang bagay lang ang ayaw mawala sa isip ko.

Hindi iyong property dispute.

Hindi iyong agreement.

Hindi rin iyong meeting.

Kundi ang simpleng katotohanan na—

sa unang pagkakataon, hindi ko na tinitingnan si Dominic Sinclair bilang lalaking nasa kabilang panig.

At hindi ko pa alam kung mabuti ba iyon.