V: His Move

Natapos man ang meeting, ngunit naririnig pa rin ni Aiden ang sinabi ni Chloe. Paulit-ulit ito sa kanyang isipan.

Challenge accepted, Mr. Ramirez.

Aiden watched her leave, diretso ang lakad at kalkukado ang kilos bago lumabas ng nasabing conference room. He couldn't help but smile. Inaasahan niyang parang maamong tupa na tatahimik lamang ang dalaga, to shrink under the pressure of his demands, but instead, she had risen to the occassion. Sinikap niyang maging propesyonal sa harapan ni Chloe, treating her like a blank canvas, pero iba ang babaeng ito. She had played the game perfectly, meeting his cold professionalism with a quiet fire of her own.

Tinungo niya ang kanyang desk at pinagmasdan ang project folder. He had to admit, the corporate campus project was exciting, pero hindi ito ang tunay na dahilan bakit isinali niya si Chloe dito. May mapagkakatiwalaan siyang architects na maaaring mag-takeover sa project na ito. Mga architect na kaya ring gumawa ng blueprint para sa kanya. 

Ang talagang kailangan niya ay isang partner sa mas sensitibong operasyon. Aiden had discovered some troubking incosistencies  within his company's latest acquisition, at ang tanging paraan na naiisip niya para malaman ang puno't dulo nito ay ang gumawa ng secret investigation sa kabila ng isang malaking proyekto.

The man looked at the city light twinkling below. Nakita na niya ang hinahanap niya, ngunit kailangan niyang masigurado na sasamahan siya nito sa kanyang mga plano. He didn't want to just offer her a job. He wanted offer her a challenge she couldn't refuse.

Isang linggo makalipas ang kanilang encounter, naging normal na ulit ang isipan ng dalaga.  She was neck-deep in different project, her mind fully focused on her work. Nagawa nyang kalimutan saglit si Aiden at ilagay ito sa isang sulok ng kanyang isip. Akala niya ay tapos na siya sa lalaking ito, pero nagkakamali pala siya.

Aiden leaned back in his chair, he smiled when a sudden thought hit him. He wasn't going to email jsut email her the details. Masyadong pormal kapag email, mabilis matatapos ang usapan. He picked up his phone, scrolled through his contacts hanggang sa mahanap niya ang pakay. He dialed the number, a receptionist answered, at sandali siyang pinaghintay nito sa kabilang linya.

"Ms. Villanueva's line, this is  Chloe speaking." ang boses nito ay propesyonal pa rin, ngunit isang tugtugin para sa kanyang pandinig.

He took a slow breath, letting the moment hang in the air before he spoke. "Chloe, it's Aiden. Aiden Ramirez."

Isang nakabibinging katahimikan ang natanggap niya matapos sabihin ang kanyang pangalan. Yet it is the most satisfying sound he had heard all day. Nakikinita niya sa kanyang imahinasyon ang kunot nitong noo dala ng pagkalito or ang pamumula ng mga pisngi nito every time he shift his gaze on her way.

"Oh, Mr. Ramirez, hmm.." she said finally, mababakas sa tinig nito ang pagkalito na hindi niya maayos na naitago. "Is there an issue with the project?"

He waved his hand in the air, "No, no issue at all," sambit naman ng binata. "By the way, I'm calling to propose a discussion.. a more informal one." Tumikhim muna si Aiden bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. "The project has some sensitive elements I'd prefer not to discuss over email. Will a dinner with me be okay, to discuss over the details?"

Chloe's mind, which had just started to find its equilibrium, was snow spinning out of control- again.

Dinner? Isang salita, pero parang delikado para sa kanya. Isang paanyaya na muling burahin ang linya na kanyang nilagay sa pagitan nila ng binata. Sa kanyang imahinasyon, she pictured him sitting across from her but in a dim lit restaurant, his eyes holding that intense dark gaze she remembered from the bar.

"Ahm uhm, di ako sigurado kung iyan ba ay talagang kailangan." her professional instincts were screaming for a reason. "Maybe we can discuss everything in a meeting." Kumuha pa ito ng sticky note at ballpen upang mag-jot ng details. "What date and time are we g----"

"We could," he interrupted. "But my schedule is rather.. demanding. At alam kong alam mo iyon. You'll find this a much more efficient use of our time. Because we both do not want to waste time, if I remembered it correctly."

"But, Mr. Ramirez, we c---"

He cut her off again as if telling that her opinions doesn't really matter this time around.

"You told me, it's a key part of the project, Ms. Villanueva. I wouldn't ask if it weren't."

The silence stretched out again like an invisible line that only the two of them could feel.

Aiden had made his move, and the ball was in Chloe's court. Kalkulado ng lalaki ang lahat ng kanyang galaw, na parang ang lahat ng tungkol sa kanya ay alam nito.

He wasn't just offering a dinner, but an exclusive sneek peek into his world- a strategic opportunity that no ambitious architect could refuse.

Hindi ba't ito naman ang gusto mo, Chloe? Ang makilala siya? Eh, bakit nagdadalawang-isip ka pa? Sinabunutan pa ng dalaga ang sariling buhok dahil sa labis na kalituhan. Hindi pa ito nakontento sa ginawa at pinisil pa niya ang sariling pisngi upang magising kung sakaling siya man ay nananaginip.

Her logical mind wanted to decline, to keep things strictly professional between them. Pero iba ang sinasabi ng ambisyon niya, at isa itong pwersa na lumulukob sa buong pagkatao niya. It told her to take the chance. Think of it as a business decision. That's all it was.

"Alright," sagot ng dalaga matapos ang mahabang katahimikan, isang desisyon ang nabuo. "I'll accept your invitation, Mr. Ramirez. Send me the details."

Aiden's smile was slow and triumphant. " Sige." at pinutol na ang tawag. Natapos ang kanilang pag-uusap sa simpleng palitan ng email. 

Tinitigan pa ni Chloe ang hawak niyang telephone, sapagkat ang puso niya ay nagwawala sa kanyang rib cage.

Tama ba itong pinasok ko? Bakit iba ang pakiramdam ko? bulong ng dalaga sa sarili.

Pumayag siya.  She had accepted the challenge, and she knew, isang kasiguraduhan na sagad hanggang buto- that she walked right into his game.