Sweetest Arrangement

Chapter Seven – They Meet Again

NAKAUPO siya sa visitor’s chair sa harap ng table ng kanyang Lolo. Pumunta siya roon dahil sa bilin nito sa kanya kagabi. Mayroon daw itong sasabihin sa kanya. Pero sa halip na kausapin, lumapit ito sa pinto ng rest room at kinatok iyon.

Ilang saglit pa at lumabas na ang tinawag nito.

He saw a woman wearing a very tight fitting red dress. She looked uncomfortable, marahil sa suot nitong sapatos. Nakita niyang medyo hirap itong maglakad habang palapit sa kanyang Lolo.

Tumayo siya at lumapit na rin sa mga ito.

“Hija, I would like you to meet Jaime Lorenzo Montano, the head of our personnel department.”

The girl beside Don Eduardo raised her head and looked at him. He saw a familiar face. Although she looked mature now he could still recognize her. Kahit na makapal ang make-up sa mukha nito ay hindi niya ito maaring maipagkamali sa iba, because of her green eyes.

Ito ang babaeng nanghingi ng halik sa kanya limang taon na ang nakakalipas.

“What are you doing here?” Pagalit na tanong niya.

He heard her gasp and she looked genuinely shocked.

“Kilala ninyo ang isa’t isa?” Tanong ni Don Eduardo.

“Of course, how can I forget?” He answered sarcastically. “How have you been Katrina Graciella Gomez?”

Her face became pale.

“Hija, are you okay?” Don Eduardo asked with concern on his voice.

“Yes,” mahinang sagot ni Katrina. “We met once, Lolo.”

“Once?” Kunot noong ulit niya sa sinabi nito. “Isang beses lang ba iyon Ms. Gomez?

Or you’re referring to the kiss we had, iyon ang isang beses lang.”

Kung paanong bigla itong namutla ay ganoon din kabilis ang pamumula ng mukha nito ng banggitin niya ang namagitan sa kanilang halik.

“Jaime, stop it!” Maagap na saway ni Don Eduardo. “Those things you can discuss later. Hindi iyon ang dahilan ng pagpapatawag ko sa iyo. Katrina will be working here and I want you to personally train her.”

Lalong kumunot ang noo niya. “Bakit hindi si Ms. Bety, tutal siya naman ang magreretiro.” Tukoy niya sa may edad ng sekretarya ni Don Eduardo.

“She’s not here to replace Bety.” Don Eduardo walked to his chair and sat. “Siya ang napili kong pumalit sa posisyon ko.”

He was stunned yet he maintained his coolness. Balewala sa kanya kung hindi sa kanya ibigay ang pamamahal ng Imperial Group pero ang ibigay ito sa babaeng nasa kanyang harapan, sa isang taong hindi naman konektado sa kompanya.

He knew his Lolo’s policy. He wanted all his officers and managers to be well trained before they will be promoted. No officers came from other companies, lahat ay nagsimula sa mababang posisyon. Walang special treatment sa mga empleyadong related sa mga stock holders ng kompanya.

And all those rules he followed. He was thoroughly trained before he was promoted to his current position. He started as an accounting clerk and was assigned to other much lower position like waiters and lobby attendant. Recently he was introduced as the sole heir of Don Eduardo but everybody still treated him as a regular employee.

Kaya sino si Katrina Gracilla Gomez para baliin ni Don Eduardo ang sarili nitong batas sa kompanya?