A Taste of Bliss (ɢxɢ) ✔️

CHAPTER 22

Maureen

"Madam Ricci," tawag sakin ng columnist at news reporter na si Agnes paglabas ko ng News studio.

"Yes?" sagot ko.

"May bisita ho kayo sa baba, it's Mr. Senator Julio Ibarra po."

Umangat isang kilay ko. "What the hell does he want?"

"Hindi ko alam madam, he said he wants to talk to the boss....sayo po."

I rolled my eyes and walked towards my office. "Tell him i'm not around, sabihin mo wala akong oras kausapin ang mga corrupt na taong tulad niya."

"But madam." habol sakin ni Agnes. "I already told him that you're here, kanina pa po siya naghihintay sayo."

Tumigil ako sa paglakad. "Where is he?"

"Nasa lobby na po, ini-entertain ni Dexter."

I sighed in annoyance. Damn politicians, I already guessed his intentions of coming here today. As much as possible ayokong makipag-negotiate sa mga tulad nitong corrupt na nga, kumunista pa. I have declined so many offers from the likes of him dahil ayokong mahaluan ng anumang pamumulitika ang RIBC.

Bumaba kami ni Agnes at tinungo ang kinaroroonan ng presidential candidate na si Sen. Julio Ibarra. Agad itong tumayo nang makita ako.

"Greetings, madam." masayang approached nito sakin.

"Mr. Senator Ibarra." ini-lahad ko ang isang kamay para makipag-shake hands. "Welcome to RIBC."

"The pleasure is mine." we shook each others hands before sitting down.

"Ano ang ipaglilingkod ko sa inyo, Mr. Senator?" pormal kong tanong.

Mr. Ibarra smiled wickedly. "I don't want our conversation to get long kaya hindi na ako mag paligoy-ligoy pa. I'm here because i want to conduct an interview to clear my name from the false allegation the current president has painted me."

See? Not surprising at all.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Senator but we won't conduct to any kinds of political interviews here in RIBC, especially to those who are running to become the next president." seryoso ko itong tinignan. "We are only involve to giving news updates, but individual interviews? We don't, my sincere apology."

Tinawag ni senator Ibarra ang tauhan nito para dalhin ang isang itim na attache case. Inilapig nito yun sa ibabaw ng lamesa at ngumiti.

"That's 100 million, miss Ricci." he said. "I think this is enough to clear my name from the eyes of the people. Ilabas nyo sa balita na hindi ako involve sa anumang anumalya o katiwaliang nangyayari sa gobyerno."

I gave him a sweet plastic smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Senator. Pero hindi po kayang bayaran ng anumang halaga ang integridad namin dito sa RIBC. Perhaps, other networks would like to accept the offer."

His mood changed to dissapointment. "O baka naman ayaw mong tanggapin kasi bias kayo sa ibang kandidato?"

Umiling ako. "Hindi po kami kumakampi sa alinmang tumatakbong presidente dito Mr. Senator, at hindi din po kami katulad ng ibang media dyan na kayang bayaran ng anumang halaga para lang gawing tama ang isang maling gawain."

"Are you saying that you agreed that i'm a corrupt politician?" he looked pissed.

"I'm not saying anything about that Mr. Senator, ang pinu-point ko lang ay hindi kami bayarang network. We stand on our ground on bringing superior and responsible, unbiased and timely delivery of accurate News and Information. So again, i'm sorry."