Part 3

Counter-Offer

Isang nakabibinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa boardroom. Para kay Celle, ang bawat segundo ay parang isang oras habang ang mga mata ng lahat ay nakatuon sa kanya, naghihintay ng kanyang sagot sa nakakainsultong tanong ni Percy Montefalco. Her teammates looked confused. Si Sir Mike naman ay halatang nag-aalala.

A wave of heat rushed to Celle's face, the same blush of humiliation she felt at the coffee shop. But this was different. This wasn't a random accident. This was her career. This was her pitch. At hindi siya papayag na sirain ito ng isang aroganteng CEO, gaano man ito kagwapo.

Huminga siya nang malalim, hinayaan ang adrenaline na patatagin ang kanyang boses. She looked him straight in the eye, from one end of the mahogany table to the other.

"Mr. Montefalco," she began, her voice surprisingly steady and clear. "You don't have to worry. I can assure you that unlike my coffee, my data is spill-proof and always hits the mark."

A flicker of surprise—and was that admiration?—crossed Percy's face. The slow, teasing smirk he wore transformed into a genuine, appreciative smile for a split second before disappearing. The other executives in the room subtly straightened up in their seats, their interest piqued. Sir Mike let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

"I'll hold you to that, Ms. Cruz," Percy replied, his tone now all business. He gestured towards the screen.

"Please, begin."

And with that, the battle began.

Nagsimula ang presentation. Sir Mike gave the opening remarks, but it was Celle's part—the core strategy, the market analysis, the numbers—that everyone was waiting for. When it was her turn, she stood up and took control of the room.

Nawala ang kaba. Nawala ang hiya. Ang natira ay ang marketing associate na puyat at pagod sa pag-aaral para sa proyektong ito. She presented with a confidence that surprised even herself. Her slides were clean, her points were sharp, and her arguments were backed by solid research.

Percy watched her intently. Hindi siya nakatingin sa malaking screen; ang mga mata niya ay nakatutok sa bawat galaw ni Celle. He was relentless. He would interrupt with sharp, challenging questions designed to throw her off.

"How can you guarantee a 15% market penetration in the first quarter with that digital ad spend?"

"Your target demographic seems too broad. How do you plan to convert aspirational buyers into actual sales?"

"What's your contingency plan if your primary competitor launches a counter-campaign?"

Sa bawat tanong, may handang sagot si Celle. Calmly, intelligently, she defended her strategy, parrying his every query with facts and figures. The tension in the room was electric. It wasn't just a presentation anymore; it was a high-stakes duel of wits. And Celle was holding her own.

Finally, she delivered her concluding statement. The room was silent for a moment before the other executives from Montefalco Holdings started clapping softly.

"Impressive," one of them commented to Sir Mike.

Pagkatapos ng Q&A, natapos din ang presentation. Sir Mike couldn't hide his pride. "Celle, that was brilliant! Grabe!" he whispered as they started packing their things. "Teka, anong connect niyo ni Mr. Montefalco? How did he know you?"

"Long story, Sir. Nagka-aksidente lang po sa coffee shop," sagot ni Celle, trying to downplay the entire thing. Gusto na lang niyang umalis at huminga.

Just as her team was about to walk out the door, lumapit ang assistant ni Percy na si Anna. "Excuse me, Sir Mike," she said politely. "Mr. Montefalco was very impressed with the pitch. He'd like a quick word with Ms. Cruz before she leaves. Privately."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Celle.

Naku, po. Ito na ba 'yung sesermonan ako dahil sa pagsagot ko kanina?

Sir Mike, oblivious to her inner panic, gave her a huge thumbs-up.

"Go on, Celle! This is a great sign!" Si Chloe naman ay binigyan siya ng isang tingin na nagsasabing,

"OMG, anong meron?! I-kwento mo sa'kin lahat mamaya!"

With a deep sense of dread, Celle walked back into the now-empty boardroom.

Nakatayo si Percy sa tabi ng floor-to-ceiling window, nakatalikod sa kanya habang nakatingin sa tanawin ng siyudad. The formidable CEO aura was still there, but without the audience, it felt less intimidating and more... personal.

He turned to face her. "Ms. Cruz. Celle."

"Mr. Montefalco," she replied, keeping a professional distance.

"That was an excellent presentation," he said, his voice softer than it was earlier.

"You really know your stuff. Spill-proof, indeed."

"Thank you, Sir. We worked hard on it."

He took a few steps closer. "I also appreciate that you can handle pressure. It's a rare quality." He paused, his gaze softening just a bit.

"About the other day... and my comment earlier. I apologize if I put you on the spot."

Nagulat si Celle. He was apologizing?

"It's... it's okay, sir," she stammered, caught off guard.

"No, it's not," he countered, a hint of a smile returning.

"It was unprofessional. But you, Ms. Cruz, are a walking disaster zone. I couldn't resist."

Natawa si Celle nang bahagya bago niya napigilan ang sarili. "I am not a disaster zone!"

"You spilled a large caramel macchiato on a ten-thousand-dollar suit. That's the very definition of a disaster," he teased. "Which brings me to my next point. I believe you still owe me."

Bumalik ang kaba ni Celle. "Right. The suit. Of course. Please, just tell me how much the dry cleaning is, or if I need to replace it..."

Percy closed the remaining distance between them, stopping just a foot away. The air suddenly felt thick, charged with an energy that had nothing to do with marketing strategies. His manly perfume-sandalwood and something sharp and masculine—filled her senses.

"Forget the suit," he said, his voice dropping to a low, intimate murmur. "The project is yours. Synergy is officially on board."

Celle's jaw dropped. "Talaga po? Sir, thank you! This is—"

"But," he cut her off, raising a finger. "I have one condition."

"Condition?"

His eyes locked onto hers, a playful, dangerous glint in them. "The payment for my suit. I don't want cash."

"Then... what do you want?" she asked, her heart hammering against her ribs.

A slow, confident smirk spread across his lips. The same smirk from the coffee shop, but this time, it held a clear invitation.

"Have dinner with me, Celle. Let's call it... collateral."