Between Hate and Love

Chapter 11

Mr. Aziz was one of the major shareholders that kept Khal in his position. Although the project was Khal’s and he proposed the possibility of having a local branch of an international oil company, there were still people higher than him. These higher people allowed him to have the company by supporting him. They were the ones that were directly related to the international directional oil company situated in Saudi Arabia.

“You see, among other countries, I love coming here. You’re making me come here more often,” Mr. Aziz stated to Khal, smiling at him.

I thought Mr. Aziz was an Arab, but judging what he was wearing, he wasn’t. And upon reading his profile, I figured he was one of those rich people that travels from one country to another and invests his money, making him richer day by day.

Nag-uusap sila habang nakikinig lamang ako. I was jatting down notes earlier, pero pinagalitan ako ni Khal at sinabihan ako na kumain at makinig na lamang. Notes were not necessary, but still, sinusulat ko pa rin kapag may impormasyon ako’ng naririnig na sa tingin ko ay mahalaga.

Mr. Aziz kept gazing at me. From what I’ve learned, he was a rich multibillionaire man. He had no wife, just children outside of marriage. He was supporting a lot of charities all over the world, including the Philippines.

Bakit kaya hindi siya nag-aasawa? Some men would often think of having a wife by their side and have children with them, so they would have an heir. But he seemed different. Mukhang gusto niya lang ng tagapag-mana, hindi ng asawa.

Their conversation went from about the company that Khal was handling, to the possibility of opening up another gas refilling station around Visayas.

I had enough of the Chinese cuisine. Isa pa, hindi rin ako makakain nang maayos dahil sa titig ni Mr. Aziz. I had a bad feeling about him, pero sinusubukan ko’ng isiksik sa utak ko na he had done a lot of charity work so he was a good person and I was just a judgemental one.

“Do you mind if I ask your assistant, how old is she?” Mr. Aziz asked Khal.

Khal looked at me as if getting my opinion if he should state my age or not.

“I’m, twenty-eight, Sir,” I replied to Mr. Aziz.

“I see. Is Mr. Ejercito treating you right as his assistant? Because if not, I would certainly take you. You seemed a good woman and you’re doing a great job as an assistant,” Mr. Aziz complimented me. I didn’t know how he said that, but I just nodded. “And you’re beautiful as well. It would be a waste to let you go, isn’t that right, Mr. Ejercito.”

Nakita ko’ng kumuyom ang palad ni Khal sa ilalim ng mesa.

Another thing, Khal didn’t actually like Mr. Aziz that much. He had a reputation for being cheeky and presumptuous around women. But that was often discredited because he was doing a lot of charities.

“I believe we’re here to discuss about the lots we’ll buy in Visayas, Mr. Aziz. Let us not stray away from that conversation,” Khal said in the most polite way possible.

Mr. Aziz chuckled. “Come on, be a bit light Mr. Ejercito. I’m just praising your assistant,” he said, chuckling, and then he looked at me. “Isn’t that right, Ms. Reyes?”

I did not speak. My eyes landed on my plate which still had unfinished food.

“Your performance is getting good and good, Mr. Ejercito. Since last week, your presentation in the board meeting was really astounding. It convinced a lot of the members to make me meet you for this. I guess that’s what a great assistant does to a great man like you.”

My forehead creased.

“I mean, if I’m with a woman as beautiful as her, I would be taking a lot of time in the office. Surely, I would have done far greater things like you do, Mr. Ejercito. But remember, women… They do you no good in the long run.”

Hindi sumagot si Khal. Patuloy lang sa pagsasalita si Mr. Aziz, at kung kanina may katiting na respeto pa ako para sa kanya, ngayon ay wala na.

“Women… They are after money. Women would only choose you if you have money and then they’ll love your money more than you. You see, that’s why I am not married. But I do have my heirs, and it is only them that have a rightful place in my life and my money. Women are… good for your needs, good for satisfaction, and for showing the world that you are a man. But they would always want something more from you. They are viscous… ambitious! And most of all, they take away things from you by offering a little bit of themselves.”

Ang sakit sa tainga ng matigas niyang ingles at mga pananaw niyang hindi umaayon sa utak ko. Siguro nasaktan na siya dati dahil sa isang babae, pero parang hindi gano’n. Sino siya para mag-generalize? Hindi porque tumutulong siya sa charities, feeling niya valid na lahat ng opinion niya sa mundo.

"I believe that viewing women's ambition as a negative trait is misguided. It's interesting, Mr. Aziz, how if a man pursues his goals, even aggressively, it's often seen as natural. However, when a woman exhibits the same drive, suddenly it's met with scrutiny and suspicion as if it's somehow against the norm," I remarked, then paused, tightening my lips in contemplation.

There was a long silence and I saw how Mr. Aziz’s eyes glimmered. Then he chuckled out loud, enough to be heard at every corner of the Chinese restaurant.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” he said, pointing his fingers at Khal. “She’s doing a good job right now, Mr. Ejercito! She’s amusing me. I guess all the women I’ve met were no par to her, keep her in your arms or else… I would gladly take her.”

Mr. Aziz had said a lot more things about women and his experiences in the past. Marami pa siyang sinabi na mga non-sense, kaya naman tumayo ako. “Excue me, Mr. Ejercito, Mr. Aziz. I’ll just go to the comfort room.”

Hindi ko sila hinintay magsalita.

Naglakad ako diretso sa kotse ni Khal, hindi sa comfort room. Buti na lamang ay inabot niya sa’kin ‘yung susi kanina.

Naiinis ako dahil sa titig ni Mr. Aziz. Balak pa niya na hawakan ang kamay ko kanina habang kumakain, but I stopped eating and rested my hands on my legs. Ramdam ko rin ang ilang beses niyang pagtangka na hawakan ako sa ilalim ng mesa, kasabay ng mga hirit niya na hindi nakatutuwa.

Maya-maya pa, I saw Khal being dragged out of the restaurant. Agad ako’ng bumaba ng sasakyan at sinalubong siya.

“What happened to you?”

He looked like he had a brawl with someone. Medyo nagkakagulo pa sa loob ng restaurant na iniwanan niya.

“He’s an asshole,” Khal muttered. Hinila niya ako pabalik sa sasakyan niya. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at saka ako pinasakay agad-agad. Nang makapasok na siya sa sasakyan ay tiningnan niya ako. “Are you alright?”

I slowly nodded. He looked distressed. Magulo na ang suit niya at may bakas ng dugo roon. Putok rin ang kanan niyang kilay at ang gilid ng labi niya.

“What happened, Sir?”

Hindi siya sumagot agad, but he started the engine. Bago siya makapag-drive, nakita ko pa na lumabas ng entrance si Mr. Aziz kasama ang tatlo niyang body guards.

Mr. Aziz was holding an ice pack on his face and looked very dissatisfied. Nang nasa harap na niya ang isang itim na kotse ay sumakay sila agad.

Humarurot ang sasakyan ni Mr. Aziz. Pinanood namin iyon ni Khal bago niya paandarin ang sasakyan. He also muttered a lot of curses before stepping on the gas pedal. Seeing his reddened fist, I had a bit of an idea what happened after I left.