THE MAFIA PRINCE'S PRINCESS

Chapter 5 - Her Benefactor

Halos hindi magkamayaw ang hiyaw ng mga nanood nang magsimula na ang fashion show. Ang original na theme nila ay pinalitan.

So instead of she's going to wear sunny dresses, napunta siya sa sexy swimwear, which is not a problem to her.

Abby has a gorgeous skin, and sexy hour glass body. And with a height of 5'9, bagay na bagay sa kanya ang swimwear na nirarampa. Ang problema lang ay may mga male models din silang kasabay. Kaya habang eksperto siyang rumarampa sa Runways ay galit na kinakausap naman ng kanyang benefactor ang kanyang agent.

"I told you, she can't be in bikinis! And I didn't agreed about her modeling with a male model! Are you trying to piss me, Maycee?!" said Donald said in rage.

"What can I do? the sponsors demanded to put her there!"

"Oh, really? Don't tell me that crap, you can say No. You're her agent! I guess you don't know me, or maybe you want me to remind you who I am, and what I can do."

Abby's agent, Maycee, felt petrified. She knows Donald. She witnessed how cruel and merciless he became when it comes to Abby. The last time she disobeyed him, he set the venue on fire, then destroyed her car.

“No! I'll find a way. Just give me ten minutes.”

“Five minutes, I'll give you five minutes. Dragged her out from the catwalk. And we're good.”

Umupo si Donald sa swivel chair, at agad na hinilot ang kanyang sentido.

"Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo ng babaeng iyon! s**t, sumasakit ang ulo ko sa kanya!"

Inis niyang isinampa ang kanyang paa sa lamesa ni Maycee. Bago tinignan ang kanyang relos sa pulsuhan.

Tatayo na sana siya nang biglang lumitaw si Maycee sa pintuan.

"She's already at the sunny dresses fitting area," she said, and stands before him. "What is she really to you? Why are you so fussy when it comes to her?"

"None of your business. So, what did you tell her?" he asked curiously, and eyed her suspectiously.

“What would I tell her? Would she believe me if I told her that her benefactor doesn't want her wearing a bikini,” Maycee said sarcastically, but when Donald' eyes looked at her like daggers, she went pale and instantly cleared her throat. “I informed her that the manager wanted her and Megan on the stage together.”

"Good. Keep her away from male models, and we'll have no problem."

"I'll try. You know the sponsors. They always choose Abigail and Megan for billboards, bikinis, and advertisements."

“She can do billboards, print and advertisements as long her photographer, event coordinator, stylish, assistant are all female."

"You're impossible! Why are you middling with her career?" she groaned, and suddenly stopped.

Donald just laughed wickedly. "I have every right to be. She's my future wife. I need to protect her interest."

"You're a bastard for making things harder for her and me!" Maycee glared at him.

"Oh, I'm more than that, so beware, I'm her Prince of Hell."

Laking pasasalamat ni Maycee na inalis ni Donald ang paa nito sa kanyang lamesa, at dagling tumayo. Ngunit kinabahan siya nang tinignan siya nito nang taimtim.

“I am warning you, Maycee, you better don't make any hasty move if you would rather not get on my bad side!”

Mabilis na tumango lang si Maycee, at nang tuluyan ng makaalis si Donald ay saka niya pinakawalan ang hininga na kanina pa niya pinipigilan.

"Damn, that was close," sabi niya, at pinunasan pawis sa kanyang noo.

"I told you not to pair her with males. You didn't listen," giit ng isang boses na kilala niya.

"Your friend is an ass, very ugly ass," walang kapreno-prenong sabi ni Maycee, at umupo sa kanyang upuan. "I don't know what to do anymore!"

“Then, don't do things that he dislikes. Simple. He's an ass. But we both know… that ass can terrify you down to your spine,” seryosong sabi ni Vladimir, at napaismid. “Donald has high tolerance with women, but he can be very nasty once you provoke and disobey him. Better keep Abigail away from men, so you have nothing to worry about.”

Maycee touched her forehead. “My head is hurting. He doesn't understand the trend of modeling. What can I do if the clients themselves want to match her with our male models? Can I say no? Abigail is very in demand with sponsors. Can I refuse the request of the owner of the modeling industry who hired her? How can I say that she cannot be matched with any male model because Donald will be angry?!”

Napaupo si Vladimir sa visitor's chair. "Just do what you can do. I'll try to help you."

"Just make sure. Cause I don't know how to explain this to Abigail."

"Don't tell her unless she asks. Is that difficult?"

Walang nagawa si Maycee kundi ang pakinggan ang payo ni Vladimir. Alam niyang sa sarili niya na mahirap kalabanin o sulungatin ang isang katulad ni Donald. Natatakot siya na kung ipagpilitan niya, buhay niya ang katapat.

SAMANTALA banas na umupo si Abigail sa swivel chair na nasa fitting room.

"Kainis. Hindi ko maisip kung sino ang lokong nagpa-pull out sa akin sa project na ito. Kung sino man siya ay humanda siya. Hindi lang sampal ang aabutin niya sa akin," mahina niyang sabi, at iniunat ang kanyang leeg habang ang kanyang dalawang kamay ay parehong magkapatong sa kanyang ulo.

"I told you find another decent job," pilyong sabi ni Vladimir na ikinaiinis ni Abby.

"Hey, umalis ka! I'm not in the mood! Baka masakal kita diyan," supladitang sabi niya. "Bumalik ka na nga sa France. Feeling ko ikaw ang malas sa akin eh!"

Isang mahinang halakhak lang ang itinugon ni Vladimir. "As if you can. Sige nga, tawagan mo si Tito Howell. Tell him, you're sending me home."

Abby rolled her eyes. "As if naman papayag siya," sarkastikong sabi nito, at inirapan si Vladimir. "Ano naman kasi naiisip ng tanders na iyon para ipadala ka dito?"

"He cares for you. That's the reason. Have you forgotten that you're not a commoner. You're a princess."

"Shut up, Vladimir!"

"Bakit ka ba masyadong atat magtrabaho ha? You don't need to work your ass off. May pera ka naman."

"Here we go again," sabi niya, at inis na tinignan si Vladimir. "Malapit ng bumukas ang school. Kailangan ko ng pera para maibigay ko ang pangako ko kay Mother Superior. And besides, I don't like asking my parents for money. I want to be an independent person, what's wrong with that?”

"Being independent sometimes is not helping," sabi ni Vladimir.

Magsasalita pa sana si Vladimir ngunit hindi niya na nagawa dahil bigla na lang sumulpot si Maycee.

"Oh, you're just here. I've been looking for you," Maycee pretended that she was looking for Abby. "Let's go, put on that summer dress. The set will begin in ten minutes. You're needed backstage."

Tumingin siya ng diretso kay Maycee. "Teka, akala ko ba hindi na ako kasali?"

"Wala akong sinabing ganyan. Ang sabi ko gusto kang makita ng sponsor na naka-summer dress." iyon ay isang kalahating kasinungalingan, kalahating katotohanan.

"Marunong kang mag-Tagalog?" gitlang tanong ni Vladimir sa kay Maycee.

"Oo naman. I've been doing business for Abby for almost a year. Madali naman matutunan ang Tagalog. Saka magaling ang tagapagturo ko."

Pailing-iling na lang si Vladimir. "Ay naku, tama nga ang sabi nila, minsan madadali ka sa maling akala."

Hinarap ni Maycee si Abby. "Halikana. Ayos na iyang mukha mo," sabi niya nang mapansin na nag-aatubiling sumama sa kanya si Abby. "Mamaya ka na mag-retouch. Saka 'wag ka ngang ganyan, you are beautiful even without make up."

Walang nagawa si Abby kundi ang sumunod. Pagkarating niya sa backstage ay nandoon na si Megan, at ang kanyang mga kasama.

"Akala ko hindi ka na babalik?" nakangiting sabi ni Megan. "Ano ba talaga ang nangyari? Bakit bigla kang pi-nul-out ni Maycee sa stage ha?"

"Papa doesn't want me in my bikinis," sabi niya.

"Parang hindi naman ganoon si Tito Howell," sabi ni Megan. "Matagal na tayong nasa kalakarang ito."

"Parang hindi mo naman kilala si Papa. One minute, he's okey, then next moment, he changes his mind. Kaya nga madalas silang magtalo ni Mama. Mas mabilis pa siyang magpalit ng desisyon kesa kay Mama."

"Sabagay," sabi ni Megan, at napahagikhik na lang.

Buo ang paniniwala ni Abby na ang lahat ng iyon ay pakana ng kanyang ama. Ni walang bakas ng pagdududa sa mga mata niya.

"Abby." tinawag bigla ang kanyang pangalan ng kanyang stylish. "Come closer, let me retouch your make up," sabi ng kanyang stylish. "Stay still, you'll be the last to walk down the Runways."

Lumapit siya gaya ng sinabi nito. Hindi niya napansin na mala-agila siyang pinagmamasdan ni Donald sa malayo. Puno ng pananabik ang mga mata nito.

"Paano kayo magkakaayos niyan kung hanggang tingin ka na lang lagi."

"Oh, shut up, Vladimir. 'Wag ako, okey," sungit na sabi nito. "Naayos ko na ang silid na paghihingaan nila. Siguraduhin mo lang na tatanggapin niya ang bulaklak na ipadala ko, at pagkain."

"Madali lang iyon. I think, Maycee can come up with something,' nakangising sabi ni Vladimir, at tinitigan siya nang matagal. "Why are you torturing yourself, eh pwede mo naman siyang lapitan."

"It's not that easy. You don't really know her. Do you know that she is worse than a tiger when she's angry? Saka palagay ko hindi pa napapanahon."

"You, and your crazy reasons. Bahala ka na nga," sabi ni Vladimir, at basta na lang umalis.

Napatingin muli si Donald sa may backstage, at agad na inayos ang kanyang sumbrero bago ngumisi.

"I think it's time to go. Don't worry, we will meet soon, my beautiful Cara!"