Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 42: Declaring War

Then, don’t be Olivia anymore.



Cassandra joined the board of directors inside the conference room.

Nakatayo si Jarred sa harap nilang lahat. A big monitor was in front of him.

Nakaupo naman siya sa malapit kay Jarred. On the opposite side of her was Remos na kanina pa na nakikita mula sa kanyang peripheral vision ang masama nitong tingin sa kanya. She didn’t give a damn. She was not scared even a little.

Mamaya ay tatawagan niya si Tony para kausapin ito ng tungkol kay Remos.

Nag-umpisa na si Jarred sa business proposal nito. She could understand well all the jargon and his points. She was into business too. Hindi totoo ang sinabi ni Tony na wala siyang alam tungkol sa negosyo. Hindi niya lang kabisado lahat ng mga pagmamay-ari niya. Pero hindi lalago ang mga negosyo niya kung wala siyang alam sa business.

Pagkatapos ng business proposal ni Jarred ay pumalakpak ang apat na heads of offices dito, while the others remain silent until Remos spoke.

Tinapunan siya nito ng iba’t-ibang tanong. Sa totoo lang ay some of Remos’s questions did not make any sense. Pinepersonal na ni Remos si Jarred.

Ang pinakanagpahanga sa kanya ay kung paano napanatili ni Jarred ang pagiging-professional sa pagsagot ng mga tanong ni Remos. Jarred could handle his temper very well, which was her exact opposite. Because she couldn’t handle her temper very well.

“Mr. Guzman. Your proposal in incompetent. I am afraid you are still not good at your work, “ Kalmadong sinabi ni Remos.

Jarred’s proposal was good actually. But no matter how good it was, bibigyan at bibigysn ito ni Remos ng butas because of personal grudge.

One of the four heads of offices raise her hand. She explained how good the proposal was and even elaborated it to the board. But all the board member just remained poker face.

This was exactly what Jarred had thought it would be. She knew Jarred was prepared for this.

Natapos ang proposal. If most of the board members voted to decline Jarred’s proposal, it would call for a petition for his removal as CEO.

Pinalabas sila ni Jarred ng conference hall because the board of member would be talking about his proposal and later on, boboto na ang mga ito.

Tumuloy sila ni Jarred sa roof deck. There were securities outside the roof deck guarding them.

She looked above the clouds. Nagiging kulay kahel na ang ulap dahil sa papalubog na araw.

Pinanood lang niya si Jarred while he was pacing back and forth. Hindi ito mapalagay. She was totally aware kung gaano binibigay ni Jarred lahat sa ginagawa nito. He loved his job so much. Hindi niya maiwasang ma-guilty.

“Jar, calm down.” She bit her lower lip.

Huminto si Jarred at lumapit ito sa kanya. “Oli, why don’t you just go back to your real self? I am very worried about you.”

She was stunned. Akala niya hindi ito mapalagay dahil sa magiging husga ng board of directors. All this time, he was thinking about her safety.

She felt angry all of a sudden. Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya nagagalit.

“Jarred, could you please stop caring about me? Hindi ko kailangan ng care mo. Ang isipin mo ang sarili mo.” Her face flushed.

Jarred swallowed. “I was just concern about you.”

“No! Don’t be concerned about me. From now on, sarili mo lang ang iisipin mo.” She breathed heavily.

Jarred seemed confused. “Why? Why are you this mad? Fine! Kung gusto mo na si Kuya Verno lang ang mag-care sa’yo, well, to make your heart flutter, siya na ulit ang fiance ni Jasmine. You know how much Kuya Verno hated Jasmine, pero para sa’yo ginawa niya ‘yon. Congratulations, I think your feeling has been reciprocated.”

What were all these revelations? Bakit ginawa ni Verno ‘yon? What would she going to do about all this?

She looked above while stroking her nape. “I can’t believe this.”

She heard Verno laughed in a sarcastic way. “You can’t believe na may gusto rin sa’yo si Kuya? “

She looked him in the eyes. “Verno told me na pustahan lang ‘yon.”

“He just said that para hindi mo siya layuan. Now, don’t tell me not to protect you. I have to protect the girl my brother liked.” Nag-iwas ito ng tingin.

She was disappointed. She thought Jarred was protecting her dahil nag-aalala ito para sa kanya bilang siya, hindi bilang babaeng gusto ng kapatid nito.

At that disappointment, a vague thing became clear to her.

She stared at Jarred. He was not looking. She wanted him to look at her.

She badly wanted him to look at her.

“TONY! “ Veronne yelled nang makapasok na ito sa mansiyon ni Tony.

She threw herself in the couch.

Tony hurriedly went to see her. He emerged from the kitchen, nakasoot pa ito ng apron.

Veronne crossed her legs. “I’m so disappointed in you. Didn’t we talk about Cassandra? That you are supposed to tell me everything about her. My daughter is doomed, Tony. Do you know Remos? He’s a leader of a drug gang.”

Napag-alaman kasi ni Veronne mula sa isang kaibigang abogado ang tungkol sa naganap sa Lameria. Ang pagdakip sa serial killer na si Andrea was trending and all over the news. Nang malaman ni Veronne that her daughter almost became a victim of a serial killing ay hinimatay ito. She didn’t call Cassandra yet pero mamaya ay papagalitan niya ito dahil hindi ito nag-ingat ng mabuti.

Tony removed his apron. “Mommy, do you know Cassandra? She is Cassandra Bernardo.”

Veronne glared at him. “Tony, I am not joking! “

“I am not joking either, Mommy.” He chuckled.

Tony sat beside Veronne and hugged her. “Just trust Cassandra, My. She knows what she’s doing.”

Veronne clenched her fists. “I am going to kill that Sebastian and all who did wrong to my brother para matapos na lang lahat. Am I just going to wait na mapahamak si Cassandra, Tony?”

Tony hugged her tighter. “Please, My. Don’t even think of doing that. Cassandra has her plans. Just trust her. “

CASSANDRA told herself that she could not feel that way towards him. How about all her hard work? All would go down in drain if that feeling deepened.

“Let’s go back there. They are probably done.”

Tinanguan lang siya ni Jarred at nauna na itong naglakad.

She watched him while he walked ahead. Kung ano-ano na ang pumapasok sa isip niya. Paano kapag lumalim ang pagtingin niya kay Jarred? Sa ngayon ay attracted pa lang siya rito. Kumbaga ay nasa point pa lang siya na mas gusto niya pa itong mas kilalanin pa. But she couldn’t. Habang maaga ay gagawan niya na ng paraan ang nararamdaman.

Pumasok na sila ng conference room.

People inside were all silent.

One of the board of members stood in front. Nag-umpisa na itong buksan isa-isa ang mga maliliit na nakarolyong papel kung saan ng mga voter sinulat ang boto nila. Yes or No lamang ang nakasulat sa mga papel.

May 9 na boboto. Jarred was sure na apat sa mga ito ay nasa panig niya. Ngunit lima sa mga ito ang nasa panig ni Remos. Pero hindi siya nakakasigurado, baka swertehen siya at may pumanig sa kanya mula sa panig ni Remos.

So far ay nakaka-apat na “Yes” na si Jarred at apat ding “No”. Isang boto na lang ang inaabangan.

Dahan-dahang binuksan ng board member na nasa harap ang panghuling boto.

Napalunok si Jarred. She was looking at his face simula kanina sa unang boto.

“Last vote is a No. “

Kitang-kita niya ang pagbagsak ng mga balikat ni Jarred at biglaang pagkatulala nito. He said to her, he worked for that project for a couple of years. It wasn’t a joke. But because of a personal grudge ay nabasura ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ni Jarred.

She clenched her fists. She felt angry just watching Jarred’s pitiful face. He was depressed.

Mas lalo lang siyang nagngitngit nang dumapo ang tingin niya kay Remos na abot tenga ang ngiti.

She took a pen at sinaksak ito sa mahaba at parehabang glass na lamesa. She completely lost it.

Napatalon sa kinauupuan ng mga ang mga walang hiyang board members.

Remos aggressively stood. “Crazy woman.”

Hinawakan siya ni Jarred sa braso. “Oli. That’s enough.”

She didn’t listen to him and continued giving death stare at Remos. “Crazy is an understatement. I am more than brutal than your psychopath granddaughter. The only difference is O don’t harm innocent people. “

Remos glared at her.

“How dare you compare yourself to my precious granddaughter?” Remos clenched his hands.

She looked at Remos’s note. She leaned towards it at dinungisan ito gamit ang hawak na ballpen.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng mga naroon.

Remos laughed.

Dinuro niya ang mga naroon. “You! Shame on you, puppets!”

“Oli! “ Jarred grabbed her hand at iginiya siya nito palabas ng conference hall.

Iwinasiwas niya ang kamay ni Jarred paglabas nila ng opisina. Nasa hallway sila at ang mga security ay hindi nakatingin sa kanila.

“Why did you do that?” Napahilot si Jarred ng sentido nito.

“How could you just let them do that to you?” She raised her voice.

“Because I was trying to protect you! Oli, you know what you did? You just declared war.” Hinilamos nito ang mga palad.

Tinitigan niya ito sa mata. “Just like what you’ve always told me, Jarred. You don’t know me.”

“Well, go back to your real self. Para hindi ka mapapahamak.” Nanggigigil na ito.

“I am not afraid of those people.” She shook her head.

“You’re just saying that. But you will regret it once they get rid of you.” He raised his voice.

She took a deep breath and looked away. She was gathering all her thoughts.

“From now on, hindi ka na pwedeng lumabas ng mansiyon kapag hindi mo ako kasama.” Binasag nito ang katahimikan.

She turned to him, scowling. “You can’t do that. “

“Then, don’t be Olivia anymore. That’s your only option.” He maintained eye contact.