Purely Business (Tagalog) - COMPLETED

CHAPTER THREE

Sunod-sunod na pag-iling ang ginawa ni Art nang ihain ni Jazmine sa kaniya ang suhestyon nitong kumuha siya ng female Executive Assistant. The last time he had one was three years ago, but unfortunately, Jazmine had to fire her because she started gossiping about his personal life.

“No! I told you, I need a male assistant!” pinal niyang sambit hindi pa man nababasa ang resume ng applikanteng inire-recommend ng kapatid.

“Ilan na ang na-interview ko and they do not fit to the job. Look at me, Art. Do you really think that I could juggle my two jobs now in my situation? A month or so from now, I will file for maternity leave. My team could handle the HR while I’m on leave pero ikaw, paano ka? Worst case scenario, we’ll pull out a junior staff, mapababae man o lalaki, and you know I can’t trust any of those girls to come near you dahil sigurado akong wala silang ibang gagawin kundi titigan ka maghapon,” sambit ni Jazmine, it was exaggerating but partly true. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman niya na kulang na lang ay hubaran siya ng tingin ng mga babaeng staff nila sa tuwing dadaan o kakausapin niya ang mga ito.

“And how well do you know that girl? Are you sure na hindi rin siya mafo-fall sa akin?” biro niya.

“Well, first, she’s no longer a girl but a woman. Second, she’s got good work experience and good feedback from her previous boss. I think, she’s the one you really need,” pahayag nito saka ngumiti sa kaniya nang makahulugan.

“I need for work or for—”

“Don’t even go there, Art,” putol nito saka siya pinandilatan. “Anyway, she’s at my office for the interview. You may come and observe if you want,” imporma nito saka tumayo.

Hindi na siya nakatanggi pa. Knowing his older sister, she has a good eye if someone has potential and she knows what she’s doing. Napalingon siya sa resume na nasa ibabaw ng table niya, curiosity struck him and drawn him towards the paper. He read her resume and was actually impressed by her credentials.

“Elizabeth Reyes… Elizabeth Reyes…” basa niya sa pangalan ng aplikante. Her name sounds familiar. She looked at the photo then smirked. “Just what I thought. No way. Ano ba naman ang iniisip mo? That name is common!” kastigo niya sa sarili nang saglit na may maalala.

He let go a deep sigh then smiled. He’s got to see for himself what his sister saw on this girl before he agrees.

“Who’s inside?” bungad-tanong niya sa sekretarya ni Jazmine na tila ba natulala pagkakita sa kaniya.

“Ahm… a-applicant, Sir Art,” sagot nito saka sumunod sa kaniya.

“It’s fine. Go back to your table, I need to attend the interview anyway,” nakangiting pigil niya rito.

Tumango lang ito at tumigil sa pagsunod sa kaniya. He did not even knock. Basta na lang niya binuksan ang pinto ng opisina at pumasok. Kaagad na lumipad ang tingin niya sa babaeng kasalukuyang nakaharap kay Jazmine at nakatalikod sa kaniya. She just glanced at him then looked back at Jazmine kaya’t hindi niya masyadong nasipat ang hitsura nito. As he observed from a distance, he can’t help but get mesmerized by her aura. Hindi pa man ay malakas na ang dating nito sa kaniya.

Mayamaya’y panandaliang tumayo si Jazmine saka ibinigay sa kaniya ang folder containing the personal information and work experience of the applicant.

“I told you, her credentials are impeccable, plus, she really looked great in person,” bulong ni Jazmine saka ngumiti sa kaniya, “Unfortunately for you, she’s off limits,” alaska nito.

Wala sa loob siyang napatikhim saka umiling. Natatawang bumalik si Jazmine sa upuan nito at siya naman ay umahon sa kinauupuan. He has to judge her for himself once and for all.

He sat at the other chair in front of Jazmine’s table, just opposite the applicant’s. He continued reading her resume before raising his head to look at her. And my, oh, my, she really is beautiful. Pinilit niyang hamigin ang sarili saka sinalubong ang nagtatanong nitong tingin.

“Hi, I’m Art,” pakilala niya rito.

She looked surprised but eventually forced a smile then looked at Jazmine.

“Ah, I’m sorry, silly me. Ms. Reyes, he is Arthur Montecillo, the CEO of the Bubblegum & Talents Company,” pakilala sa kaniya ng kapatid niya.

“Oh…” napamaang ito na tila ba hindi makapaniwala saka muling bumaling sa kaniya, “N-Nice meeting you, Sir,” alanganing sambit ng babae ngunit hindi naman nag-angat ng kamay para makipagkamay sa kaniya.

He flashed a sincere smile then raised his hand for a handshake.

“It’s Art…” pagtatama niya saka bahagyang pinisil ang kamay nito, “Nice meeting you as well, Miss?” patuloy niya. Now that she’s so closer to him, he found her rather so familiar. Then, he felt a sudden race on his heart beat as he remembered that lovely girl back in high school as he stared at those deep expressive eyes in front of him. Kaagad niyang ipinilig ang ulo niya. Ayon na naman siya, trying to find Ms. Piggy through other girls he meet.

“Ahm, it’s… it’s Liz,” anito nang patanong siyang tumingin dito.

Nagpasalit-salit ang tingin ni Jazmine sa kanila saka tumikhim nang hindi pa niya binitawan ang kamay ng dalaga. Napilitan siyang pakawalan ang kamay ng babae nang bawiin nito ang kamay mula sa pagkakahawak niya.

“Well, to be honest, Jazmine here is way better than me in conducting an interview and analyzing people. So, when she said you fit the job, basically, it’s 99.9% accurate,” saad niya saka tumingin sa kapatid na amused na nakatingin sa kanila.

Marahil ay hindi kaagad rumehistro sa babae ang mga sinabi niya dahil tila nagtataka itong tumingin sa kanilang magkapatid.

“He meant, you are hired, Ms. Reyes,” nakangiting paglilinaw ni Jazmine dito.

“Ahm, there’s no practical test or trial?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito.

Jazmine chuckled then stood up.

“With your impressive resume and over-the-top recommendations, we do not need one. Besides, there will be a probationary period of six months, so, we have plenty of time to see if you will be the right girl for Art—”

“Ah, I’m sorry, what?” Liz interrupted.

“Sorry, I mean, if you are the right person to be Art’s Executive Assistant,” pagtatama ni Jazmine.

Hindi niya namalayang nakangiti na pala siya habang matamang nakatitig sa babae. Kung hindi pa tumikhim si Jazmine ay hindi siya matatauhan.

“Welcome aboard,” bati na lang niya rito para hindi mahalatang panandalian siyang nawala sa sarili niya just by the nearness of this new woman in his life… his business life.

***

HALOS marindi si Liz sa lakas ng pagdagundong ng dibdib niya. Ilang ulit na siyang nagpakawala nang malalalim na hininga ngunit hindi pa rin mabawasan ang kaba sa dibdib niya. She tried so hard to control herself while in front of Art and Jazmine but the moment she reached the bathroom, noon niya naramdaman ang panlalamig at panginginig ng katawan niya.

What on earth just happened? How in the world did they meet again? Okay, maliit lang ang Pilipinas but how did she end up applying in his company? How?

‘Serendipity,’ kabig ng isang bahagi ng isip niya.

She shook her head out of disbelief. No way! And why did she even agree to work there? She’ll be in big trouble. Her heart will be in big trouble. Alam na alam niya kung gaano kahina ang puso niya pagdating sa lalaking dahilan ng first heartbreak niya.

He obviously did not recognize her, something na hindi naman imposibleng mangyari dahil she was basically invisible back in high school. Kahit pa nga ilang beses din nagsanga ang landas nila noon, imposibleng maalala siya ng lalaki. May kudlit na sakit ang katotohanang iyon but somehow, she felt relieved dahil hindi niya alam ang gagawin kapag nagkataong nakilala siya nito. Marahil, umalis na siya agad-agad dahil sa pinaghalong galit at kahihiyan.

Lampas limang minuto yata ang itinagal niya sa loob ng banyo bago nagpasyang lumabas. She almost screamed when Art suddenly appeared in front of the bathroom’s door out of nowhere.

“There you are,” he greeted then smiled.

Umiwas siya ng tingin dito dahil kung hindi ay malamang na mapatanga na naman siya sa harapan nito dahil iyon ang kahinaan niya noon. A teasing smile with that boy-next-door good looking face, makapal na kilay, mahabang pilikmata, matangos na ilong. The signature smile of Uno that makes Jenna’s heartbeat go wild!

“N-Nagpaalam po ako kay Ms. Jazmine, Sir Art,” aniya saka sumunod dito nang lumakad na ito pabalik sa HR Office.

“I told you to drop the po, Sir and Mr., it’s just Art and yeah, I know that you went to the loo, kaya nga kita sinundan, eh,” anito, dahilan para mapaangat ang tingin niya rito. “Ahm… but I need to go somewhere by 2 P.M.”

Tumango siya saka alangang ngumiti rito.

“I understand. I could come back kapag ready na ang contract or Ms. Jazmine could even send it to me by email,” aniya.

“Well, I already asked her to prepare it so I could sign it before I leave,” wika nito saka siya pinagbuksan ng pintuan nang papasok na sila sa opisina ni Jazmine, “Hey, Jaz, ready?” tanong nito saka dumiretso sa lamesa ng kapatid at doon mismo umupo nang tumayo si Jazmine. Siya naman ay iginiya ni Jazmine na maupo sa sofa.

“Just go through the contract, Art, and I will give these to her,” wika ni Jazmine saka ibinigay kay Art ang contract niya na ibinigay ng HR Secretary sa babae. Pagkuwa’y lumapit sa kaniya si Jazmine at ibinigay naman ang ilang dokumento para basahin niya.

“Okay,” sagot ng lalaki saka nagsimulang basahin ang nilalaman ng kontrata.

She read the documents Jazmine gave her that includes her job description, other related information about the company and it’s rules and regulations.

Matapos pirmahan ni Art ang kontrata ay tumayo na ito at naglakad papunta sa kinauupuan niya saka diretsong iniabot sa kaniya ang kontrata. She read it through. Everything seemed perfect, it was actually beyond her expectation. Then, she finally signed the contract.

“That’s good,” wika ni Art sa masiglang tinig habang nakapamulsa. “So, you’re starting today, right?” anito.

“W-Wait, what? I-I’m sorry pero, I thought—”

“I’m just joking. You could start on Monday,” tumatawang sambit ng lalaki.

Alanganin siyang ngumiti saka nakahinga nang maluwag.

“Again, welcome aboard, Liz,” bati nito at muli siyang kinamayan.

“Thank you,” sagot niya.

“I’ll see you at dinner?” baling nito sa kapatid na tinanguan lang ng babae.

Nang umalis na ang lalaki ay nakangiting lumapit sa kaniya si Jazmine saka umupo sa sofa. Pumihit naman siya para humarap dito.

“As discussed, you’ll have two days orientation tomorrow and on Friday from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.. You’ll have an in-depth departmental orientation with me and Art starting Monday. If you have any questions, ask away. You have Art’s and my business card. Call us anytime kung may gusto kang linawin, if ever,” sambit nito.

“I guess the contract is clear and so the job description.”

“That’s great, then.”

Tumango lang siya saka ibinaling ang atensyon sa hawak na mga papel.

“If you don’t have any more questions, you may go for now and we’ll see you tomorrow at 1 P.M.” wika nito nang mapansing tapos na siya sa pagbabasa.

Tumayo na siya at nagpaalam.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Jazmine,” aniya saka ito kinamayan.

“Likewise. Thank you for accepting the job immediately,” anito saka siya inihatid sa labas ng HR Office.

Saglit siyang tumigil sa paglalakad para ayusin ang gamit niya. Panandalian siyang umupo sa reception area saka wala sa loob na nabaling ang tingin niya sa babaeng lumabas sa elevator. She has an obviously revealing outfit, idagdag pa ang mala-modelo nitong make-up na akala mo’y rarampa. Tumigil ito sa reception.

“Hi, is Art here?” Mukhang madalas ito roon dahil kaagad itong in-entertain ng receptionist.

“Sir Art will be with you in a minute, Ma’am Diana,” nakangiting imporma ng receptionist dito matapos tumawag sa telepono.

‘Same old habits. Mahilig pa rin sa maganda at sexy ang kumag,’ bulong niya sa sarili nang maalala kung paano ito palibutan ng mga magagandang estudyante noon highschool sila. ‘You are here to work, Liz. No more, no less,’ diin niya sa sarili niya.

Tumayo na lang siya at nagpatiuna nang sumakay ng elevator pababa bago pa niya makita ang paglalampungan ng dalawa. Kahit wala siyang karapatan, baka masaktan na naman siya.