Chapter 35

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"Miss Montanez? Any updates with Mr. Escarra?"

Napaigtad ako sa gulat nang makarinig ng boses. I was spacing out in my desk, inside my office, when a shadow fell over me. It revealed the slim figure of our EIC, staring at me with strict eyes.

"He's the only one who hasn't been contacted yet. What's going on?"

I swallowed hard. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin! Siya nalang ang kulang sa roster namin tapos kasama ko pa natulog kagabi! I got so distracted that I didn't even got the chance to persuade him again.

"I'm on it, Ma'am," magalang kong wika sa kaniya.

"Please, hurry. We have a deadline to catch, Miss Montanez."

Nang makaaalis na siya sa opisina, nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntong-hininga. Pinangako ko sa sarili kanina habang awkward kaming mag-aagahan na hinding-hindi na ako magpapakita ulit sa kaniya sa matinding kahihiyan tapos ngayon, kailangan ko ulit siyang makita.

Gusto ko nalang lunurin ang sarili ko sa dagat. If I can't handle him like a professional, what made me think that I deserve this position at Social Synergy?

Grunting, I pulled my drawer to retouch my makeup inside the office and stood. Kinuha ko ang nakasabit na coat sa likuran at isinuot ito saka lumabas, dala-dala ang bag.

"Going out, Miss Montanez?" tanong sa akin ni Kaye. I just smiled at her.

Dali-dali akong bumaba at pinatunog ang sasakyan. I set up my phone for directions bound to Manila. Alam ko naman na ang daan, pero natatakot pa rin akong maligaw lalo na ngayong ako lang mag-isa ang magda-drive.

Dumaan muna ako sa apartment ko para kuhanin ang gusto kong ibigay sa kaniya mamaya. Pagkatapos, nagsimula na akong mag-drive patungong Manila.

It was an exhausting drive for a beginner like me. I think I stopped twice to get some coffee in the middle of the day to fuel myself. Nang sa wakas ay makarating na ako sa Manila, doon pa ako naligaw kakahanap sa kompanya ni Ivo.

When at last I found it – a tall building erected proudly in the heart of the city, as if to claim its place as the leading developer in Asia – I let out a tired sigh. Lumabas ako sa kotse at ibinigay sa lumapit na valet ang susi ng kotse ko. Tinitigan ko ang matayog na building. There should be at least 60 floors in it and Ivo... is on top of it all?

Napailing ako. Ang layo na talaga ng narating niya. Sinong mag-aakala na ang ang CEO ng kompanyang ito ay mahilig kumain ng kwek-kwek, Betamax, isaw, at kikiam? People would kill for his high school photos. Girls would swoon at the sight of him gracing our magazine's cover in his board shorts, surfing. This could be big. I need this story.

Pumasok ako sa lobby ng kompanya. There's a different entrance for visitors and guests. Binigyan ako ng gate pass ng guard at hinalughog nang husto ang bag ko bago ako pinapasok. Minata pa niya ako nang makitang mga ulam at kanin ang laman ng mga tupperware na dala ko. I smiled at him and went to the receptionist.

"Hi, I'm looking for Ivo—" I cleared my throat. "For Primitivo Escarra."

"Name, please?"

"Sereia Montanez." Nag-aalangan kong wika. I looked around, getting conscious. I was wearing a pair of muted gray slacks and a white tank top inside my oversized gray coat. The only jewelry I wore is a simple chain choker necklace to complete the look. Pero yung nararamdaman ko noong una akong dinala ni Ivo sa mundo niyang ibang-iba sa akin, nararamdaman ko pa rin ngayon.

"Do you have any appointments with the CEO?"

"Uh... no." I admitted.

"Sorry, Miss Montanez. I'm afraid I can't cater you. Mr. Escarra has back-to-back meetings today and a conference to attend later this evening. I can't disclose all of his schedule but best believe me when I say it's full and he's unavailable."

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