Lead Me To You

Kabanata XXII

Monica

Recompense

I couldn't hide it anymore. The more he's getting curious, the more it's hard for me to keep it to myself.

And I am always asking, what could happen if he realized I am not the owner anymore?

"Yeah, I have a job in the company. It's just an entry-level." I keep on sulking at my chest.

"Entry level? Do you even need that? I mean, it's Carluccio's. Derived from your last name. You should have aimed for a higher position." He said.

"I always wanted to start from the bottom. That way, I can learn the work of all the departments we have."

I can't believe that he actually bought that excuse. Kahit naman siguro ako ay hindi ko agad papaniwalaan dahil the company should be mine in the first place. We are having our night conversation on the veranda of my bedroom while having a few sips of wine. It gets in my system to actually help me sleep faster and better. Sitting next to others while looking out at other houses in front of ours.

"That's nice thinking though," I heard him say. Sipping his wine after.

"Yeah, you're right. It was my father's idea, actually. Like letting a regent take over until the heir is ready to manage." Iyon na lamang ang aking sinabi dahil sa totoo lamang ay nauubusan na rin ako ng palusot para lamang paniwalaan niya ako.

"And you're fine with that?" He asked.

No. Definitely not.

"It's my Papa's will. I have to obey it." I said.

How can I be okay with that? Without knowing if that regent will give it back to me. I tried and I didn't succeed. I might need to talk to him again and maybe use my sympathetic state, just maybe... he will give in.

Parang hindi na naman ako nasanay sa dami ng mga maskuladong tao ang pumapalibot sa akin. Imbis na maramdaman ko ang seguridad ay lalo lamang akong nainis. It will draw too much attention in the office. This just too much for me to handle.

Pagbaba ko ng hagdan ay naghilera na sila at naghihintay sa aking pagalis. Kabilinbilinan ni Paris na silang lahat ang maghahatid sa akin sa opisina dahil nauna na siya roon. Naalala ko nga pala ang text message sa akin ni Matteo na siya ang susundo sa akin ngayon. I dismissed them all kahit na utos naman ni Paris ang kanilang sinusunod.

I waited for Matteo's car to be parked in our driveway before I enter the shotgun door and forcefully closed it.

"Good morning, sweet cupcake. How was the first night together?" Matteo sarcastically greeted.

"Don't even start with me. I am literally in hell. I don't want to go because I don't have the face to show them!" I exclaimed.

I am still embarrassed by the idea that my husband, the second biggest investor in Carluccio's was now here and is attending the meeting at the office. At the same time, his wife is just working as a secretary. Other shareholders will be there and there might be a chance they will talk about me. I cannot pull myself down any further.

"Well, you don't need to be there. You have to go straight to Francis' office. He has something to tell you." My cousin said while hitting the road.

"What now? Is he going to fire me then?" Because of what I have done to him last time?

"I don't know. He just told me."

I am so sick of people telling me what I should do. Hindi naman ako nagpunta dito sa Pilipinas para lamang utusan ng mga lalaking nakapaligid sa akin.

We are now pulling off the driveway and going to the parking of the building. Hindi naman masyado mabigat ang trapiko dahil maaga pa lang naman. Paalala palagi ni Matteo na magdiretso ako sa opisina ni Francis. Nauna na ito sa meeting room kung saan naroon na ang mga board of directors at ilan pang investors mula sa iba't ibang branches ng kumana all over the world.

Pumasok na nga ako sa opisina ni Francis at naabutan itong nakaupo sa kanyang swivel chair habang nagubuklat ng mga papel.

"You sent for me?" I asked to break the silence in his room.

"Yes," he said. Tumayo ito sa kanyang upuan at itinabi ang mga binubuklat na papel. Naglakad ito palapit sa akin. "I cannot give you the Carluccio's," and said this.

I can't help but scoffed to his words. Wala namang pinagbago mula noong huli naming pagkikita at paguusap. He still can't give in.

"You don't have to repeat it in front of me. Alam ko na. Alam ko nang hindi na mababago pa ang isip mo. I tried in a normal way of begging, but I failed. I tried to seduce you so you will give what I want, but i still failed. Lumuhod na ako sa harap mo at umasang maaawa ka sa kalagayan ko, but the f**k! I still failed." I had to sigh really long. Hiningal ako sa aking litanya pero wala na akong pakialam. Gusto ko na sanang tanggapin na hanggang dito na lamang ako at kailangan ko nang tanggapin ito.

"You don't have to say that all over again. I know and I freaking engraved that in my mind already!" I exclaimed.

I looked at him but he was still serious. No facial expression was visible. I just couldn't read this man.

"This was just an insult to me, Francis. I shouldn't have listened to my cousin when he told me that you have something to tell me." I am ready to leave this suffocating room but he grabbed my arm and pulled me gently. Causing me to forcefully face him with only an inch distance between our lips. I don't know about me but I have this urge of kissing those luscious lips. My heart was beating so fast I could faint. And I do not need to worry about falling because I know that h will catch me. His arm was around me like a protective barrier from the ground.

I feel like my face is slowly moving forward to his. I am focused on his lips that I couldn't think straight anymore. What is this? For God's sake, my husband is just around this building somewhere! He wanted to get away but I held him tight. Holding the hem of his suit to prevent him from moving.

"It is true that I have something to tell you. If you could just listen and prevent yourself from reacting without knowing what it is, you could have known by now." He whispered in my face. His breath was minty and hot which made me close my eyes for a short time.

Why am I feeling so hot all of the sudden?

He guided me to sit on the sofa. He went back to his table and get the brown envelope under the file organizer at the side. He then walked towards me to hand over the brown envelope to me.

"What is that?" I asked. I reached for it but I didn't open it yet.

"You said that the reason you wanted to claim back the Carluccio's is that the company will provide you safety. From who, Monica? Why would you believe that having this big responsibility will save you?"

I put the envelope on my lap and looked up at him intently. "Have you ever felt like fighting for yourself with nothing to back you on? Have you ever dreamt of doing something you really want, for a long time, but you just can't because you feel so empty?"

I sighed.

"You see, Francis... My Papa always says that Carluccio's is our family's legacy. Carluccio's is the foundation of our wealth and influence. I want to claim it back not because of money. My family's safety is on the line. They could have been targeting me all this time, but what about my grandparents? They are old and alone, far away from me." I cannot help but tear up a little at the last sentence I spoke.

I am known to be a carefree girl who's living a lavish life in the rich city of Florence, Italy. I have spent all my life not worrying about money. Thanks to my father for working so hard to provide for me. But without Carluccio's, I am nothing. The honour and respect we once had are gone. And it was painful to bear every day.

"I promised Nonno that I will go home once I have Carluccio's under our care again. And I will never come back here. If I should die... if my whole family was to die, we will all die together. In one place. We will bury Carluccio's with us. Until it remains, someone would be in danger. Because of how greedy people could be. We will end it, until the last breath of the last Carluccio."

I felt that he was becoming uneasy while listening to me. Yes, I have decided to end this line with me.

I stood up. Walked towards him. Stopped when I was in front of him, twelve inches away in distance.

"If you succeeded in claiming it back, you will not come back here?" I heard him ask.

"Kahit saan man ako magpunta, susundan nila ako. Hindi sila titigil hangga't hindi namamatay ang kahuli-huliang Carluccio, at ako iyon. At kung kailangan ko na talagang mawala, I will die... far away from here. I have friends that's starting their own family. And it's not possible na hindi sila madamay sa gulo ng pamilya ko."

"I don't want Matteo to involve here. And I don't want you to risk your life protecting me..."

Hindi na talaga napigilan ng aking mga luha na pumaatak pa. Walang hikbi ngunit ramdam na ramdam ko ang lunkot at sakit.

Tinaas ko ang envelope na aking hawak hanggang sa aking dibdib. Taimtim na ito ay tinitigan habang kumakalap ng lakas ng loob na magbitaw pa ng mga salita.

"If this envelope will be the answer to all my pleas, I will be forever in debt to you," I said, almost whispering.

"See for yourself," he said.

My hands were shaking, my knees were trembling. Lahat ng emosyon ay ibinuhos ko sa konbersasyong ito. Nawawalan na ako ng lakas lalo pa na naiisip kong narito si Paris. Hindi ko rin makalimutan ang sinabi niya sa akin. Paano na lang magiging buhay ko pagkatapos ng anim na buwan?

The papers are stapled cleanly but if I will count it in my mind, it's just three-page papers. I pulled it out and was stunned when I saw that this is a job offer.

"What- I- Is this- Is this for me?" I stammered.

"Will you be my Vice President?" He proposed.

Is he seriously giving me a higher position at Carluccio's?

I don't know how to react in this moment. Nakatulala lamang ako sa kanya na kitang kita ang pagkakagulat sa aking mukha.

"It's not that much compared to what you really want. But I can guarantee that you can have protection as well as your grandparents." He said and I just nodded. "You gotta start somewhere small, right?"

Small? Vice President of al Operations in Carluccio's is not small.

I can't believe it. It is not what I anticipated but it's close to what I want. He will surely give it to me.

"Yes. You're right." I whispered. I gotta start somewhere. "A tempting offer. I must accept." A few words were only coming out of my mouth because of mixed emotions. But one thing is for sure, I couldn't contain my happiness at this news.

I hurriedly tiptoed and grab his weight on me for an embrace. I hugged his neck and shoulders very tight as a form of my gratitude. "Thank you," and whispered this through his ear. Tears were slowly forming and wanting to escape from my eyelids so I just buried my face into his neck. Ang mabango niyang leeg. Naramdaman ko na sinusuklian na niya ang aking yakap. Both of his hands were snaking on my back, but he didn't press them against my skin.

"I believe in you, Monica. Whatever your dream is, it will come true someday." Kinalas ko ang aking yakap mula sa kanya. Bumalik ako sa dati kong distansya na labing dalawang pulgada. "Dream takes time to fulfill. A lot of process has to be done. You need to be patient." He said.

I saw his pen laying flat on some papers. Umikot ako sa kanyang lamesa upang ito ay kuhanin. Pinatong ko ang aking kontrata sa kanyang lamesa at binuklat iyon sa ikahuling pahina. Walang pagaatubiling pinirmahan ito sa ibabaw ng aking pangalan. Pagkatapos ay inabot ko ang papel sa kanya.

"Good. You start today." Sabi niya pagkaabot nito sa papel.

"What?" Can't believe it and am confused.

"I already prepared your office. Do you need an assistant? I will appoint one for you. Do you prefer plants or plain colors? Would you like to have your own pantry-" I cut him off.

"Wait, hold on. The provided office is already enough. I can do my own redecoration. And I don't need my own pantry. I don't want any special treatment."

I sighed.

We heard a know through his door and seconds after it opened. Paris is peeping his head at the door.

"Francis, we are already complete in the conference hall. We should start the meeting." He said then turned his gaze to me. "Hi Amore, I didn't know you were here." He then entered the room.

I was so excited that I ran towards him. "I just got promoted!", and said this.

"Oh, wow." His only reaction.

Inayos ko ang aking buhok at damit. Propesyonal na humarap sa kanya at ngumiti.

"You are now looking at the new Vice President of all Operations in Carluccio's!" I announced myself as if I were in a game and one of the players.

"Wow! Congratulations! That means you will partake in this meeting too. You will have a seat at the table." Paris said.

I looked at Francis and he just nod to confirm what Paris have said. I looked again at Paris and excitingly nodded to him. He then presented his hand to me saying 'let me take you there' in his eyes. I accepted it and placed my hand on his.

"Let's go," I said.

Dinala na nga niya ako sa conference hall at laking gulat ko na ang buong floor ay nakalaan lamang sa kwartong ito. Malaki, pabilog ang lamesa at maraming upuan. Sakto sa lahat ng mga personnel na narito. Francis has invited the chief officers in each Carluccio's brand all over the world and I was just amazed that all of them are here.

Humiwalay sa akin sandali si Paris upang kausapin ang lalaking humila rito sa kung saan. I was shocked too when I saw Marco and Oliver in this hall. They approched me as soon as they noticed me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked them.

"We own a share of your stocks. We just got invited too by the Chairman." Oliver said.

"Wow! I didn't know that investors are here too."

Francis also invited local investors.

"Yeah. Gus is also here, he owns a share too. His restaurant is in charge of the food for later." Marco said.

"Wilder also bought shares recently. But he cannot attend because of his busy schedule." Oliver also said.

All of my male friends from High School are now investors and shareholders in Carluccio's.

"Thank you so much for trusting our company. I never had the time to visit the stock value of Carluccio's since last year."

"Oh well, the value is doing great. This year rise up to forty percent." Oliver seemed so proud while saying these.

"That's a lot!" I commented.

"Marco has the most shares among the four of us. Fifteen percent."

I turned to Marco and he just smiled. His family is known to be a billionaire if all their fortunes combined. His parents owned the largest petroleum company in the Philippines. He owned a carpentry business that got known nationwide in the span of two years. His other brothers have their own businesses while their youngest collaborated with high ends brands to create her own products. Car, tequila, clothing, perfume and cosmetics. The siblings are all self-made multi-millionaires without relying on their parents fortunes alone.

Hindi na ako magugulat kung malaki ang shares niya sa Carluccio's. He knows what he's doing.

Our conversation got interrupted when Paris snaked his arm on my back. This will be the first time they will know each other. So I made the move.

"Paris, these are my High School friends; Marco and Oliver." Then I turned to the two and said, "this is my husband."

Stunned didn't escape their eyes. They remain composed but I know that they are shocked.

"Hi. Nice to meet you all." Paris initiated handshakes with them.