Chapter 4- Suit

"Ok. Kung okay ka na tapusin mo na lang ang report at pagkatapos, i-email mo sa akin, then I'll go ahead. May rehearsal pa akong gagawin before the press conference." 

"Okay po," sagot naman ni Claire, na panay tingin sa cellphone.

"I believe everything is ready?" he asked and stepped into his room, closing the door behind him. Hindi niya na hinintay ang sagot nito.

"Yes, sir," sagot naman ni Claire at balik na ulit sa pagtitipa sa yellow na keyboard na binili ng amo.

Reluctantly, Luke left Claire to her work and returned to his own desk, occasionally looking up to find his assistant still busy in her chair. Luke wondered if she was really fine.

At half past two, Luke caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. Claire's head lifted, and she blinked several times again. He remained very still and quiet, hoping not to cause a distraction. After a moment, Claire's hands began to move, and he could hear her fingers tapping on the keyboard, picking up from where she left off. Deep inside his core, Luke churned, feeling himself hardening again. Claire continued to prepare the press release as if nothing had happened.

He fell back to his desk. He picked up his phone. Scrolling through his contacts, he found Doctor Sebastian's number and called.

*****

At three o'clock, Luke went to the conference hall at the ground floor alone.

Nakita niya ang pinsan niyang si Denmark na abala sa pagmamando sa mga tauhan nito. Today is the day na magkakaroon din sila ng sariling press conference na sasagot sa mga paratang ng kabilang company na nagsasabing, may mga produkto silang binebenta sa market kahit expired na ito. Obviously it was all rumors. Pero umani ito ng libo libong comments at dislike sa social media, at ang press release ng kabila ay sasagutin nila ngayon ng pasabog na alam niyang pag-uusapan din ng mga netizens.

Lumapit si Denmark kay Luke, "Man, the arrangement is almost over," sabi ng pinsan niyang half-Irish, half-Pinoy. Anak ito ng kapatid na bunso ng kanyang ama sa unang asawa, and they share the same surname.

"Good, you know how much I hate crowded places." Sagot ni Luke na inayos ang pagkaayos ng necktie ni Denmark. Ito lang yata sa buong ankan ng Watson ang walang pakialam sa sarili. In fact, he doesn't care about what other people think of him.

"Pinsan, you've been wearing the same necktie for a week now. Can you at least buy a new pair?" Tanong niya rito.

"I'm too busy."

"Come on, you have a secretary, you can—"

"Unlike you, Mr. CEO, sir, my secretary is not doing my shopping."

"Sus… It's her job, you know," Luke replied with a hint of annoyance.

"Yeah, yeah! Akyat kana sa nga sa stage. Let’s see if the angles are right or if we need to adjust the lighting." Saad naman ni Denmark at inignora ang turan ng pinsan niyang perfectionist.

Umakyat naman si Luke sa stage at in-adjust ang sarili.

"Oh hell, no!" Sagot ng isang tauhan na nag-aayos ng upuan sa baba ng stage. Napatingin naman si Denmark dito, at napataas ng kilay. Tumingin ito sa itinuturo ng tauhan.

"Oh,... Sh*t!" Sigaw naman ni Denmark sa technical staff sa gilid ng stage. "Mr. Watson's suits blend with the background."

Sa narinig, tiningnan ni Luke ang malaking screen sa likod nito at napakunot noo. Totoo nga, yung suit niya ay parang kasing kulay din ng background. He watched Denmark and the rest of his crew. "Do something, or I'll swear you'll be all transferred to the Cagayan De Oro branch," nananakot niya rito.

Everyone gasped.

Nataranta naman ang cleaning crew na umalis. Tila ba ayaw madamay sa init ng ulo ng amo.

"Sir, Denmark. Ano pong gagawin natin? Nakasimangot na si Big Boss," tanong ng isang tauhan nito, habang patingin-tingin sa background ng stage.

"Contact the IT now," sigaw naman ni Denmark.

"Eh—sir, yung video team po umalis na kanina, may team building workshop po sila sa Baguio."

"Lahat?"

"Opo. Isang helpdesk lang po ang natira."

"Sh*t! Is there anyone in the PR team who can fix the video?" Tanong ni Denmark na umiiwas mapatingin sa pinsang alam niyang umuusok na sa inis, pero halata namang kalmado ito.

"F*ck! We better do something. Reporters will start entering in fifteen minutes," dagdag utos niya sa mga tauhan.

Napabuntong hininga naman si Luke at kinalma ang sarili. Kinuha nito ang cellphone at nag-video call sa sekretarya.

Nataranta namang lumapit ang isang PR assistant kay Denmark. "Sir, don't you think Sir Luke looks way too calm? I’d be panicking in this situation."

"Why would he?" sagot naman ng isa.

"Kung meron mang mataranta ngayon, hindi si sir Luke yun. Susme! May bago pa ba? Tiyak, nginig tuhod na naman si Claire ngayon," dagdag naman ng isa pang PR personnel. "Tingnan mo oh." Turo nito sa gwapong CEO na nag-video call sa sekretarya nitong blanko ang mukha habang nililibot ang cellphone na hawak-hawak sa background ng stage. "Halatang pinapakita kay Claire ang hindi kaaya-aya niyang hitsura na nag-blend sa background."

Napahinto naman ang lahat nung nagsalita ito.

"You better bring me a new pair of suit, Miss Garcia. Or I swear, I'm going to ruin you," blankong sabi nito sabay off ng cellphone.

Nagsialisan naman ang mga PR team sa takot na mapagbuntungan ng galit ni Luke.

Napailing naman si Denmark: "Poor, Claire." Bulong nito sa sarili, habang lumapit sa mesang may mga listahan ng mga reporter na dadalo.

Nakasimangot namang lapit ni Luke kay Denmark habang abala ito sa listahan ng mga reporter. "So what do you think, cousin?" tanong nito.

"Ang alin ba?"

Luke smirked, "You know, about the press release that we have, do you think the press will buy this explosive information?"

"Don't worry, Luke; this is all mind games anyway. They will devour this information like a shark in the middle of the ocean. They were all hungry for it anyway," pahabang sagot nito.

"Well, I trust your mind games, Den."

"Good, all you have to do is read the paper I’ve prepared."

"Sure," sagot naman ni Luke habang nakatingin sa bukana ng VIP entrance, hinihintay ang sekretaryang alam niyang nagmumura na naman sa inis.