~Mr.M~
Elizabeth's POV
"Good morning ma'am."
"Have a good day ma'am."
"Good day ma'am."
"Happy morning ma'am."
I received so many greets as I entered my company. Simple 'good morning, too' and a sweet smile is my answer to their greets. Di ako snob, 'no. Mabait din naman ako kahit papaano.
Time check. Hmm, it's already 8:00 in the morning, so I just only have 15 minutes to ready myself for my meeting with Mr. M. Ngayon ang meeting ko kay Mr. M na pa-mysterious. 9 AM ang meting and, 8 AM na, babyahe pa ako kaya, 15 minutes is enough to ready myself.
"Good morning ma'am, here's your schedule for this day." My secretary greeted as I reached my office.
"Okay, spill it out," I commanded. She cleared her trout before spilling something, "Okay. This coming 9:00 in the morning you have a with Mr. M, from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon you're going to think and plan for your upcoming build-up of our restaurant. 12:00 to 1:00 pm is your time to rest and lunch also, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm you have a surprise visit to our dress and shoe stores. And at 3:00 pm is our board meeting that will be joining of Mr. M." Mahaba nyang pahayag. Hmm, so I have a surprise visit huh?
"Ma'am you have to get ready because it's already 8:05 and 39 sec. in the morning. Dark Demon Restaurant will be the meeting place and it's 13 meters far from here." she reminds, I forgot the time. s**t! I don't want to be late for my meeting. Pero grabe ha, detailed na detailed e. I wonder, 'di ba nahihirapan ang mga secretary sa kakasalita nang salita?
Ngumiti naman ako nang bahagya, "okay, Thanks." After thanking my secretary I get my bag, car key and some important document about our meeting. Hindi naman pwedeng magdala ako ng unnecessary na gamit at iwanan ang importante.
"Good morning ma'am." Greet the guard as I entered the restaurant. It's beautiful, this is the first time that I got here. So, humor is the truth.
Nilibot ko ang mata ko sa paligid masasabi kong maganda nga talaga rito. Tamang tama sa pangalan ng restaurant. Dark Demon Restaurant. Madilim talaga sya pero may ilaw din tapos ang design sa paligid ay magpapakita ng kademonyohan. Simple but elegant. Cool~ Ang romantic rin. May nakikita pa nga akonv nagde-date eh.
I supposed to ask the crew but I felt that my phone vibrate.
You've got a message from 09*********
From: 09*********
8:57 am
Go straight. At the end of the hallway, you'll see the double door. Enter that room, I'm there. This is Mr. M, mon amour~
Huh? Where did he get my number? I can't remember what I've given my number to strangers. Ang creepy, gosh! Nevermind! I just followed the direction that given to me according to the text message that I've received. Wala naman akong balak magpaka-ligaw dito, ano.
Men in black are waiting outside the double-doored room but when they saw me they walk towards me.
"Good morning, Lady Myla." They greeted me as they guard me toward the room. Mga tauhan siguro ito ni Mr. M pero, kilala nila ako? Without even asking kung ako nga.
He opened the door so I entered there then I saw the mysterious business man facing the wall. Bale nakatalikod sya sa akin. Kaya di ko makita yung mukha nya. Gwapo kaya? Mukhang gurang? Kulobot kaya mukha? Maputi kaya? Di ko kase makita kase nga nakatalikod sya sa akin, nasabi ko na diba? Tapos naka-business suit sya na blue na sa tingin ko hanggang pulsohan nya, I think lang.
Narinig ko syang tumikhim, "are you going to stand there forever? But I prefer you to stand at my side forever," he said still not facing me. Sa tingin ko namula ako sa sinabi nya, may matanda bang bumabanat parin? Sabagay, ganon din naman si Dad Kay Mom. May paganon si mayor.
Pero ano daw? Stand at his side forever?
"So-sorry." I apologized and walk towards the chair in front of him without looking at him. Nahihiya parin ako sa kanya. Saka, bakit ba ako nahihiya e, wala namang kahiya-hiya diba?
Tama, tama! Pero, di parin naman ako nag-aangat ng tingin, paki nyo ba?
Bahagya akong tumikhim, "good morning Mr. M, I'm already here so we can start our business meeting," I suggested while still not glancing on him.
"Raise your head. We can't start our business meeting, let's just eat first. I bet you haven't eaten your breakfast." Hmm, he's right I should eat first. I raised my head so I finally saw him. I'm shocked. I think his age is not so far from mine. But sadly, he's wearing a mask. Pa-mysterious nga sya! Mukha namang taon o dalawa lang ang lamang ng edad nya mula sa edad ko.
Nakakunot noo akong nakatingin sa kanya, "why are you wearing a mask?" I asked curiously.
"Nothing, let's just eat." He coldly said that makes him hotter kahit may maskara sya. I just nod at him and start eating my food that already prepared. Nanayo nga ata ang balahibo ko dahil sa lamig ng boses nya.
Napansin ko na puro paborito kong pagkain ang nakahain. Favorite nya rin kaya ito? So, same kami ng gusto sa pagkain. Pero, malay mo, ako lang ang may paborito at alam nya lang?
Ashumera ka, Elizabeth!
Habang nakain ako nakaramdam ako ng titig kaya tiningnan ko si Mr. M na nakatingin sa akin kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya kase nakakailang. Alam mo yung tingin na parang sasauluhin nya ang itsura mo, isama mo na yung parang ang lalim ng tingin nya sayo? Ganun sya tumingin.
Nang matapos na akong kumain I looked at Mr. M and I saw him staring at me and already finished his food. Kinuha na rin ng waiter ang mga ginamit namin.
"Okay, we can start our meeting." He coldly said. Gosh! Nananayo talaga ang balahibo ko. What's with this man at nananayo ang balahibo ko?
Tumikhim ako, "yeah, so Mr. M I'm curious why would you like to invest in my company?" Tanong ko.
"As I said, I'd like to invest to your company cause I want to" Napa- face palm naman ako sa sagot nya. Nice answer, Mr.M! Kung pwede lang manapak e, baka nasapak ko na itong si Mr. M na magbunga ng pagka-alis ng masskara nya.
Ay, 'wag nalang pala. Masisira ang pa-mysterious effect nya.
Third Person's POV
"How can I be so sure that you can give your loyalty to me?" Tanong ni Elizabeth sa misteryosong lalaking makamaskara na nagngangalan daw na Mr. M. Bagama't naguguluhan parin si Elizabeth sa akto at itsura ng lalaki pero, ipinag-sawalang bahala nya na lamang ang isiping iyon.
Bakit kaya sya nakamaskara? Ayaw man nyang mangi-alam sa pam-personal na buhay ni Mr. M ngunit, hindi naman nya mapigilang mapa-isip kung bakit nga ba. Dahil baka ang pagiging kuryusidad nya sa mga bagay bagay ang sumira ng lahat.
"You can trust me to give all my loyalty to your company and promising that I won't betray you and I'm also willing to share my knowledge with you. And I won't do any movement that can make your company put in danger." Malamig at mahabang sagot ni Mr. M kay Elizabeth.
Nakaramdam na naman ng kung ano si Elizabeth. Kakaiba ang lalaki para Kay Elizabeth. 'Di nya mawari kung bakit nga ba ganito nalang ang epekto ng lalaki sa kanya at grabe ang hatid ng malamig na tinid nito sa kanyang sistema.
Ngumiti ng bahagya si Elizabeth, "I already signed your partnership contract, remember that this coming 3:00 pm we're going to have our first meeting as a business partner." Paalala ni Elizabeth sa lalaking ka- esyoso. Kailangan nyang labanan ang kuryusidad sa lahat ng oras para mapanatili ang magandang samahan.
"Okay, I get going I still have some meetings to attend. Thank you for your time." Paalam ni Mr. M kay Elizabeth bago ito ay tumayo. Si Elizabeth ay inalalayan na din nitong tumayo para sila ay magsabay na papalabas restawran.
"Thanks," pasalamat ni Elizabeth.
At doon sabay na silang lumabas ng silid kaya naman may nagtinginan na ibang tao sa restaurant dahil sa dalawang hot na tao na magkasama ngunit palaisipan nila kung sino ang lalaki dahil ito parin ay nakamaskara. Sino nga naman kasi ang hindi magtataka kung ikaw ay maglalaan ng atensyon para tingnan si Mr. M at ang kamisteryosohan nito.
Nang marating ni Elizabeth ang sasakyan nya, pala-isipan parin sa kanya kung bakit hindi parin umaalis sa tabi nya si Mr. M habang naglalakad.
Kaya, labis nalang ang pagkagulat nya nang nauna g kaunti si Mr. M para ito ay maunang buksan ang pinto ng sasakya ni Elizabeth para sa kanya.
Ngumiti si Elizabeth ng malaki, "Thanks." Pasasalamat ni Elizabeth.
"You're welcome, mon amour." Sabi ni Mr. M at saka walang paalam na umalis sa harapan ni Elizabeth na may naiwang pala-isipan sa kanya.
mon amour? Diba my love ang ibig sabihin non sa french? Bagama't alam nya nga ang kahulugan ng salitang banyagang lumabas mula sa bibig ni Mr. M, ito naman ay nag-iwan ng pala-isipan kay Elizabeth. Bakit naman sya tatawaging ganoon?
Are you really worthy of my trust Mr.M?