Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 41: Protect you

“Hang in there. You can do it. I’ll be with you. Don’t worry.

Both Jarred and Verno were not home when Cassandra and Jelo had arrived home.

“Ate, nasaan sina Kuya Jarred at Verno? “ Tinanong ni Jelo ang isa sa mga kasambahay na naglilinis ng sala.

“May emergency meeting po si Sir Jarred, sir. Si Kuya Verno niyo naman po ay may pinuntahan.”

Tinanguan lang ni Jelo ang kasambahay, pagkatapos ay bumalik na rin ang kasambahay sa ginagawa.

Jelo turned to her. “Li, punta ka raw ng opisina. Kailangan ka raw ni Kuya Jarred. He called me kanina. I almost forgot. Ipapahatid na lang kita roon.” Nilabas nito ang cellphone at tinawagan ang driver.

Hinintay niya ang driver sa harap ng mansiyon na maghahatid sa kanya.

Habang nasa sasakyan ay panay ang pasasalamat niya na wala roon sina Sebastian at Victoria upang pagalitan siya sa pagsama niya sa Lameria without asking permission from his employers. Well, si Jarred naman ang may pakana no’n. Amo niya rin naman ito.

Bakit kaya hindi siya mismo ang tinawagan ni Jarred na sumunod dito sa opisina? She took her keypad phote out of her shoulder bag. Patay ang telepono niya. Kanina pa siguro ito lowbat kaya naman pala.

Nang papasok na sana siya ng building ay hinarang siya ng guard. “ID mo, miss? Anong ginagawa mo rito? May transaction ka ba? “

Bakit kaya extra strict ang CPM ngayon?

Pinakita niya ang pekeng ID na hindi naman napaghalataan ng guard. Nagpakilala na rin siya.

Pinapasok siya ng guard. Dumiritso na siya sa elevator paakyat sa floor kung nasaan matatagpuan ang opisina ni Jarred.

She passed through a hallway toward his office. Sa labas ay may mga security.

She tilted her head and thought of what was going on. Bakit parang alert ang lahat?

She was expecting the securities to block her way and verify her but they just stood there and let her in without investigating her.

Pagpasok ay dumapo agad ang tingin niya kay Jarred na nakaupo sa office table nito.

May iba pang apat na tao na naroon. Dalawa ay babae na nakasoot ng formal dress at ang dalawa naman ay lalaki na nakasoot ng formal suit.

Jarred stood when he entered at umikot ito papunta sa harap ng lamesa nito. “Oli, come here.” He nodded at her.

She smiled and walked toward him.

Jarred placed his hand on her back and led her towards the direction of the four people in there who were standing in front of them.

“They are the heads of different departments in the office.”

All four of them nodded at her.

Her brows furrowed. What was happening? She was puzzled. She nodded back at them.

She turned to Jarred at binigyan niya ito ng nagtatanong na tingin.

“Meet my girl friend, Olivia Libara.”

Her eyes widened. Bigla siyang nanigas sa kinatatayuan niya. She couldn’t even move her finger.

“I hope you are on my side, ma’am and sir.” Jarred bowed.

She was finally able to move. The first thing she wanted to check was the expression of the four heads of offices.

It was awesome of them to maintain a straight look on their faces.

She turned to Jarred. He was looking at her. She wanted to speak but Jarred blinked at her.

The four heads sat on the couch. An employeed served them coffees.

Jarred held her hand at iginiya siya sa loob ng conference room nito.

Right, people outside can’t hear what they are talking inside. But they could see their faces and actions, so she had to remain calm despite Jarred’s revelation.

Tumayo siya ng nakatalikod sa glass wall para hindi makita ang expression ng mukha niya.

Jarred faced her.

“Ano ‘yon, Jarred?”

“Trust me. Just trust me.” He breathed heavily.

“How am I going to trust you if I don’t know what’s going on? Explain.” She brushed her hair back.

“One of our board of directors is Andrea’s grandfather. Oli, I had no idea. Hindi ko talaga alam. I gave statement at the police. If I don’t protect you, you might get killed. Sir Remos holds majority of our board of directors, if he applies petition to remove me from my position, no one will vote for me to stay. Let’s help each other. Please, Oli. Please help me.”

She swallowed the lump on her throat. Tumango-tango siya.

Jarred blew air from his cheeks.

“Jar, how about Jasmine? She’s your real girl friend. Do you think those will believe you? Na girl friend mo ang kasambahay niyo? This is absurd.” She shook her head.

“Trust me.” He reached for her hand.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa magkahawak nilang kamay. Agad niya itong binawi at nag-iwas ng tingin.

“Sir Remos will be here any minute. Just don’t say anything. I will protect you.”

“Jar, why would you protect me? You don’t know me. It’s your chance to get rid of me without committing a crime.” She maintained eye contact.

“Oli? Naririnig mo ba ang sinasabi mo? You are my friend.” Pumungay ang mga mata nito.

Bumagsak ang mga balikat niya nang sinabi nitong itinuturing na siya nitong kaibigan.

She laughed. “Jarred, seryoso ka? We can’t be friends. You don’t know me. “

“You keep saying I don’t know you. Oli, aren’t you just simply my brother’s secret admirer? Bakit hindi kita pwedeng maging kaibigan? “ His voice raised. Mabuti na lang at kahit anong ingay nila sa loob ay hindi sila naririnig sa labas.

Wala siyang maisagot dito. She just couldn’t mislead him. ‘Yon naman dapat ang isipin nito, that she was Verno’s secret admirer.

But she felt sorry for Jarred. Tumatakbo ang oras, she must do something and she just found another way.

“Let’s go out now. They are coming “ Nilahad nito ang palad sa kanya.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin dito. “What? “

“Hold my hand. You’re my girl friend that I need to protect. “ He said with a straight face.

Napalunok siya. She didn’t like how her heart fluttered at that lie.

She put her hand on his.

Napalingon ang apat na mga head of offices sa kanilang dalawa na magkahawak kamay. Mabuti naman at wala siyang nakitang panghuhusga sa mga mukha nila. Those people were indeed on Jarred’s side.

She and Jarred sat at the opposite couch.

Ilang sandali pa ay bumukas na ang pinto. Five men in corporate attires entered Jarred’s office.

They all stood to welcome the visitors.

Isa-isang kinamayan ni Jarred ang mga bisitang dumating. Ang una nitong kinamayan ay si Remos, ang lolo ni Andrea.

Masama ang tingin nito kay Jarred at sa kanya.

“Sir Remos, meet my girl friend, Olivia Libara.” Pinakilala siya ni Jarred dito bilang kasintahan nito which was a big lie.

Tumawa si Remos. “Mr. Jarred Guzman, sa pagkakaalam ko ay engaged ka sa anak ng mga Daez.”

“Jasmine Daez is my older brother’s girl friend.” Jarred smiled.

Tumango-tango si Remos. Pagkatapos ay tiningnan siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa

“Paano ka naman nagkagusto sa babaeng ito. I heard she’s a maid. Look at her face.” Remos mocked her in front of everyone.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga.

“Don’t get too personal, Mr. Remos. “ Jarred faked a smile.

“Let’s proceed with our meeting. “ Remos said, glaring at her.

Sa loob ng opisinang iyon, ay siya ang pinakakinasusuklaman ni Remos.

“Please proceed to the conference room, sir.” Jarred gestured at the conference room.

Tumuloy na roon ang lahat. Silang dalawa na lang ni Jarred ang naiwan.

“Actually, I have a business proposal to the board I have been preparing for 2 years now, Oli. I could be declined because of Mr. Remos personal issues. Or worse he will find fault in this proposal of mine and petition for my removal in the position.” Jarred bit his lower lip at panay ang pag buntong-hininga nito.

She could see how stressed he was. She felt pity towards him.

“Hang in there. You can do it. I’ll be with you. Don’t worry.” She tried to lift his spirit.

Jarred looked at her, and he smiled.

Pinisil niya ang balikat nito.

“Jar, bakit noong pagpasok ko, parang alert ang buong kompanya? “ She frowned.

“I ordered my security to be extra cautious. Hindi natin alam kung gaano ka dangerous si Remos. Sa lahat ng board members ay ito ang pinaka mysterious, Oli. Sa totoo lang.”

“LOLO DADDY. Help me! “ Humagulgol si Andrea habang yakap-yakap ito ni Remos.

Dinalaw ni Remos ang apo sa kulungan nang malaman nito na naka pihit na sa kulungan ang apo.

“Sino ang may gawa sa’yo nito apo ko? “ Nagngingitngit siya sa galit.

“Tumawag sila ng pulis para ipahuli ako, Lolo.”

Agad na pumunta si Remos sa mga pulis para makakuha ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga nag-report sa kanyang apo.

Kasama si Eduardo na anak niya at kasalukuyang gobernador ng Lameria ay iginaya sila ng isang pulis sa opisina ng chief of police ng Lameria.

“Sino ang may gawa nito sa apo ko.” Remos put a gun on the table of the chief of police.

Namutla naman agad ang chief of police. “Sir, marami ho ang nagsampa ng kaso sa apo ninyo. Marami rin ho ang mga ebidensya na nagtuturo sa kanya sa iba’t-ibang murder cases.”

“Alam mo na ang kalalagyan mo kapag hindi mo sinabi kung sino ang nagbigay ng statement dito.” Pananakot ni Eduardo.

Sinira kasi agad ng mga tauhan ni Eduardo ang CCTV footage sa hacienda kaya hindi na rin nila nakita ang mga huling nakasama ni Andrea roon.

“Jarred Guzman. Ang kasamahan nitong babae ang naagrabyado ng anak ninyo, Governor,“ ani ng chief-of-police.

“Jarred Guzman? “ Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Remos.