Ang Syota Kong Astig! (Published Under Summit/Pop Fiction)

[22] A Whole New Fight

                                                                                       

                                                                  *****

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE BLAKE!" namumula sa galit na sigaw ni Don Henry habang kinakausap ang apo sa kanyang personal office sa bahay.

"I'm sorry, I didn't expect things to turn out this way," mahinang sagot ng binata.

Maamong nakaupo lamang sa harap ng mesa ni Don Henry si Blake samantalang ang matandang lalaki naman ay hindi mapakali sa pagpaparoo't parito sa loob ng opisina.

"Nawala lang ako ng isang buwan tapos ganito na ang maabutan ko? A complete mess! Ano bang pumasok dyan sa kukote mo para gawin ang kalokohang ito?"

“I don't have an excuse for my actions. I admit my stupidity," mapagkumbabang wika ulit ni Blake.

"Blake do you have any idea if what's going on right now because of your controversy? Some of the directors are having a backdoor meeting to deny your appointment as a CEO. They are also recruiting directors from our side and they are using your personal issue to stain your credibility and degrade your name. At alam mo kung ano ang mas masamang nangyayari? They are starting to make a background check of the woman you're engage with. And they are pointing out Alex as your liability.”

Nagpormal ng mukha ang binata matapos marinig ang pangalan ng girlfriend. "Paano naman ho nakaladkad si Alex dito? And why is she my liability? I’m the one who’s making the mess here and not Alex.”

"Of course they can drag her! Ang mga ganid na taong kagaya nila ay may kakayahang kumalkal ng lahat ng kaliit-liitang baho ng isang taong gusto nilang pabagsakin. Didn't you realize why we are keeping your personal life very private and low profile? Because you're engage to a woman whom you're not supposed to get engage with. In a business world, Alex is your liability and that’s a fact!"

"L-Lolo how can you say things like that about Alex?” hirap maniwalang sambit ni Blake.

“I like Alex as much as you love her… but I’m a businessman Blake and I’m not blind to the reality of the situation of your relationship. I warned you to keep it guarded bago pa man ito masilip ng mga board of directors."

Tumigas ang mukha ni Blake. " Why would I care sa kung ano ang opinyon ng board sa babaeng pakakasalan ko?"

"You should care and you should know it best! Anong klaseng pag-aaral ang ginawa mo sa Amerika kung ang simpleng business insight na ito ay hindi mo makuha? You are soon to be the face of a multi-million dollar oil company. A bachelor like you should have a woman who can help you in the business or a woman who has grace, background and face to lure investors and business associates. Don't you understand why big businessmen's children were mostly engaged into arranged marriage? Dahil mas nauuna sa kanila ang negosyo kaysa sa personal nilang buhay!"