Cold As Ice

Chapter 1

Avery POV

"Babe, you have an offer to be the face of a famous Hotel Chain and I already Accepted the deal." Bungad sa kanya ng kanyang handler at bestfriend niya.

"Babe, can we just cancel the deal. Actually I'm about to tell that I decided to go back to Philippines to manage our Restaurant there." Sabi ko.

"One year lang naman yon babe, at isa pa matatapos na rin naman ang contract natin sa agency and I'm also planning to go back to Philippines for good to start my own Agency. And guess what babe, sa Philippines ang main Branch nila at doon gaganapin ang Photo shoot kaya, magagawa mo munang pag aralan ang pasikot sikot sa business nyo at the same time matatapos natin ang contract mo sa Emerald Hotel at sa Agency natin." Pangungumbinsi ni Amber.

"At isa pa babe, sa Pilipinas ang naman ang location kaya makakaiwas ka na sa mga inggeterang palaka dito sa Paris. Sigina babe pumayag ka na please." Nagpapacute pa niyang sabi.

"Okay, fine. But wait hindi ba ang sabi mo wala ka na ring pamilya sa Philippines, bakit uuwi ka na gayong nandito sa Paris ang career mo?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Hello, babe nag stay lang ako dito dahil sayo. Alam mo namang ikaw lang ang pamilya kong maituturing kaya kung nasaan ka dapat nandoon din ako. Sapat na rin naman ang ipon ko para magtayo ng maliit na modeling agency sa Pilipinas at lahat naman ng iyon ay dahil din sayo. Kaya hindi ko magagawang pabayaan ka nalang na umuwi ng mag isa doon." Paliwanag nito.

"Thank you babe, mabuti nalang talaga nagkaroon ako ng bestfriend na kagaya mo." Sabi ko.

"Ano ka ba, ako ang mas maswerte dahil kung hindi mo ako tinulungan noong nagaaral pa tayo ay hindi ko rin naman maaabot ang pisiyon ko bilang handler/assistant mo." Sabi pa nito.

"Okay, we will fly back to Philippines once na maayos natin lahat ng kailangang ayusin dito sa Paris. We have to stay in a Hotel for a while pag-uwi natin sa Pilipinas. Ipapalinis ko muna yung bahay namin bago tayo umuwi doon, matagal ding walang nakatira doon at once a month lang kung malinisan ng inuupahan ni lolo na mangalaga sa bahay." Wika ko.

"No problem with that bff, kahit saan mo ako patulugin game ako dyan. So let's go to the Madam Letizia's office for now to discuss your decision at para mapirmahan mo na din yung contract natin sa Emerald Hotel. I'm sure matutuwa ang mga inggeterang palaka kapag nalaman nilang hindi ka na magrerenew ng kontrata dito sa agency." Wika niya.

Nagtungo kami sa Office ni madam Letizia para makapag-paalam din ako ng maayos sa management.

"Are you sure that you are going to give up your career Avery. You're still young and It's so early to give up your modeling career. You know that you are the Most precious Gem of our company. It is hard for us to let you go but if that's your decision, we will support you. Remember that our agency is always open whenever you want to come back. Your position as our Top model is always available for you." Wika ng aming CEO at dati ko ring manager na si Miss Letizia.

"Thank you Madam Letizia, I know you can produce a better model than I am. You have a lot of good trainees, and in your guidance they will be more famous than me in the future." Sabi ko.

"I wish you good luck. I will visit you in the Philippines once we have a commitment there. And by the way I will remind you again and again, don't call me madam. It's auntie Zia and I will love it if you call me mama." Wika niya.

"Okay Auntie Zia." Sagot ko.

"You still have one year contract right? And since your contract with Emerald Hotel has been approved I will also send you to the Ellite Fashion Show in the Philippines to be our Representative. Take it as your final walk in a runway as our top model." Wika niya.

"Thank you Madam Letizia. I mean Auntie Zia." Pasasalamat ko sa kanya. Siya na rin kase ang tumayong ina sa akin mula ng pasukin ko ang pagmomodelo kaya napakalaki ng utang na loob ko sa kanya.

"You will fly back to Philippines in a week. Don't worry i will take care of everything including your The place where you will Stay. I actually bought a condo at Emerald Tower, that will be my gift for you." Dagdag pa niya. Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit bago ako kami lumabas ng conference room.

"I have a house in Manila Auntie Zia. But thank you so much for your gift." Pasasalamat ko sa kanya.

"Amber, take care of you best friend. Take care of our Runway Queen." Bilin niya kay Amber.

"Sure madam. Don't worry I will take care of her." Paniniguro naman ni Amber.

Paglabas namin ng office ay naabutan naman namin sina Lauren at Clair na naghihimtay sa labas dahil ipinatawag rin sila ni Madam Letizia.

"At Last you will be out of this Company, did mama Letizia fired you already?" Maarteng wika ni Clair na kinainis naman ni Amber.

"Oh, of course the most echoserang palaka in the Universe will Celebrate now that you won't renew your contract anymore." Sarkastikong wika ni Amber.

"Excuse me, what's echoserang palaka means?" Maarteng tanong ni Lauren.

"Why not search in google. Hello it's 21th century already. You can search everything in the internet." Wika ni Amber.

"And FYI Madam Letizia didn't fired Avery, because Avery is the one who ask Madam Letizia not to renew her contract. Oh, and guess what before her contract ends. She got the biggest project this year but don't worry you can have other minor project lined up for Avery that she declined already." Pangaasar niya sa mga ito. Gigil namang tinalikuran kami ng dalawa at pumasok na sa office ni madam Letizia.

"Grabe ka babe, bakit mo naman ginanun yung dalawa. Pulang pula tuloy sa sobrang galit." Paninita ko kay Amber.

"Umiral nanaman pagkamaldita mo Ambrocio." Pang aasar ko sa kanya. Yes she's a transgender. Hindi mo aakalaing bakla siya dahil pwede talaga syang maging model.

"Yuck, ilang beses ko bang sinabi sayo babe don't call me with that awful name. I'm Amber okay A-M-B-E-R. please lang babe kinikilabutan ako kapag tinatawag mo ako sa pangalang yan." Maarteng wika niya.

"Okay fine. Mabuti pa simulan na mo nang magayos ng mga gamit mo. Napakarami mong gamit sa bahay ko, meron pa sa apartment mo." Kantyaw ko sa kanya.

"Nagsalita ang kaunti ang gamit." Sagot ni Amber.

"I will donate some of my things to the homeless people, lalo na yung mga winter clothes. Masyadong bulky ang mga iyon." Sabi ko.

"That's better, para mapakinabangan pa ng iba." Dagdag ko pa.

Palabas na kami ng company building ng masalubong namin ang bagong trainee ni Madam Letiszia.

"Hi Miss Avery Miss Amber." Bati niya sa amin.

"Hello pretty." bati naman ni Amber sa kanya. At nginitian pa ng pagkatamis tamis ang dalagita dahil tinawag siyang Miss.

"Hello, you are Maddie right? May training ka ba today?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Opo, saka ipinatatawag din po ako ni madam Letizia. Kinakabahan nga po ako baka po matanggal ako sa line up para sa fashion show next month." Sagot niya.

"I doubt it Maddie, you better give your best kahit sa rehersals. Madam Letizia never eliminate a model unless that model never listen and follow he rules. Good luck to your modeling journey. I'm sure you'll be a famous model in the future." Pahayag ko.

"Thank you Miss Avery. Mas lalo po akong na inspired dahil sa mga sinabi nyo. Ang totoo po nyan kayo po ang role model ko." Wika niya.

"Really? Then you need to do your best para makilala ka bilang mahusay na model hindi lang dito sa Paris kundi sa buong mundo. I will cheer for you." Sabi ko saka ko siya niyakap.

"Oh, my God. Thank you po sa support nyo sa akin. Promise po lalo ko pang pagbubutihan. Hindi ko po kayo bibiguin." Wika niya.

"We will go ahead Maddie. Good luck." Paalam ko sa kanya. "Bye Pretty." Pagpapaalam din sa kanya ni Amber.

"Bye, po. Ingat po kayo." Wika niya bago masayang naglakad papunta sa elevator ng building.

"I think madam Letizia found her new Gem." Bulong ko kay Amber.

"Yeah, and I like her attitude. She's just like you babe. Hindi lang puro ganda, she is smart and have a good heart like you." Wika naman ni Amber.

"Yeah. We better go now we have a lot of things to do before we fly back to Philippines." Sabi ko bago kami sumakay sa aming sasakyan.

Isang araw bago ang nakatakdang pag-uwi namin sa Pilipinas ay ipinatawag muli kami ni Madam Letizia sa kanyang opisina.

"Here are your plane tickets and the key card for your condo unit. I also deposited your salary and bonuses from the brands you endorsed for the past six months." Wika ni madam Letizia.

"Isn't it to much Auntie Zia? You already give me a condo unit and now you deposited this huge amount in may account." Sabi ko.

"That's from our sponsors Avery and you deserve all of that. Your work hard for that." Wika naman niya.

"And for you Amber, I will be your partner in building your own model agency in the Philippines. I'm am not your boss anymore but your business partner instead." Sabi niya kay Amber.

"OMG, madam thank you so much." Naiiyak na wika ni Amber.

"You also deserve that Amber, I see how you take care of Avery and I know you will be good in managing a Modeling Agency." Wika niya.

"I won't disappoint you madam, that's a promise." Pangako ni Amber kay Madam Letizia.

"So, are you ready to go home? Your real home?" Tanong sa amin ni madam Letizia.

"Yes, auntie Zia. We will miss you." Sabi ko.

"Well, I won't say good bye to both of you. I wish you good luck to you new journey." Malambing na wika ni Madam Letizia.

"It is surely not a goodbye because we will visit you here once in a while." Sagot ko.

"Let's have a special dinner tonight. I will prepare a party for you since you flight is 6:00 pm, we still can party all night." Wika ni Auntie Zia.

"I love that idea Madam." Masayang sagot ni Amber.

"Martha, can you reserve a VIP room in our favorite bar. Were going to have a party tonight for Avery and Amber." Utos niya sa kanyang secretary.

"So, see you tonight? For now I have to finish my work." Wika ni Auntie Zia.

"See you tonight Auntie Zia. We'll go ahead. And thank you for the party." Wika ko bago kami umalis.

Buong gabi kami nag party at gaya ng inaasahan nalasing nanaman si Amber. This is the reason why I don't drink a lot when we go to a bar. Mabilis malasing si Amber, sobrang hina ng tolerance nya sa alcohol. Ihinatid ko muna si Amber sa bahay niya bago ako umuwi sa bahay ko. Mabilis akong naligo para bumaba ang effect ng alcohol sa akin bago ako matulog. Well this will be our last night here in Paris.