"Don't wait for me, Faye. May susundo sa akin. You can leave now and rest," ani ni Henrietta pagkababa sa kotse sa tapat ng Vanderbilt Conglomerate. .
"Sige po. Salamat Miss," Faye replied.
Tumingin si Henrietta sa mataas na gusali ng kompanya. Hindi madali ang pinagdaanan nito para maabot ang tuktok. She's really proud of her lola. Nagsumikap ito at pinakita na kaya din ng babae ang magpatakbo ng kompanya, that women can stand among the men's world, that a woman can build her own empire and legacy. Isinuot ni Henrietta ang BVLGARI sunglasses niya before entering the company. She's wearing a VERSACE Double-Breasted Crepe Mini Dress na pinaresan niya ng SAINT LAURENT Betty Pumps in Patent Leather heels, and her BURBERRY Small Quilted Check Lambskin Lola Bag.
"Good morning, Miss Henrietta," bati ng security guard. Tumango lang siya dito at dumiretso sa isang private elevator. Dahil hindi masyadong nagpupunta si Henrietta sa kumpanya ng lola niya ay hindi siya kilala ng karamihan ng empleyado. One of the employee stops her from getting inside the elevator.
"I'm sorry Ma'am. Only the president can enter this elevator," ani nito.
Tumingin si Henrietta dito. The employee felt that this woman is not just any ordinary guest or visitor ramdam niya ang kakaibang aura nito. Pustura pa lang ay masasabi n'yang isa itong noble woman from a wealthy family.
'Excuse me Miss, pero hindi ka pwede d'yan hindi ka naman Presidente, 'di ba?" mataray na sambit ng kadarating din na employee. "Feelingera," bulong pa nito. Medyo nakakakuha na sila ng atensyon ng naroon.
"Is that how you treat your guests here?" tanong ni Henrietta na hindi pa rin umaalis sa harap ng elevator.
Natahimik ang babae. Hindi niya inaasahan na sasagot ang babaeng 'to. She knows na kapag nakaabot sa management ang ganitong pagtatrato niya sa bisita ay siguradong paalisin siya. Pero ginagawa niya lang ang trabaho niya.
"I'm just doing my job, Ma'am," sagot ng empleyado.
"I know that. Pero kasama ba sa trabaho mo ang magtaray? Next time, mind how you speak to other people. Nakakabad vibes ka," ani ni Henrietta at sakto naman na bumukas ang elevator sa likod niya.
The person inside went to her side and bow, "Miss, kanina pa po kayo hinihintay ni President," imporma ng babaeng sekretarya ni Helen. Na-notify na siya kanina na sunduin ito sa baba pag-nandito na ang dalaga. Na-late nga siya dahil may tinatapos s'yang presentation para sa meeting bukas. It seems may nangyari dahil kita niya ang bawat tingin ng empleyado kay Henrietta at sa dalawang empleyado sa harap.
Tila naman nagpantig ang pandinig ng isang empleyado sa narinig mula sa sekretarya. Ang babaeng 'to ay bisita ng presidente? Damn it! Henrietta is about to walk inside the elevator when the employee grabs her arm to stop her.
"M-ma'am p-pasensya na po. Hindi ko po sinasadya," pagpaumanhin nito habang nakayuko.
"Let go," utos ni Henrietta sa malamig na boses. She doesn't like it when people touch her, especially strangers. Ngunit hindi bumitaw ang babae sa pagkakahawak sa braso niya. Henrietta look at the secretary at napatango naman ito.
"Guards!" sigaw nito at mula sa likod dalawang naka black-suit ang lumabas at inalis ang kamay ng babae sa pagkakahawak kay Henrietta. Malalaki ang katawang ng dalawang guards at hindi lang ito basta basta. They are retired military officers and not just ordinary.
"Pasok na po kayo, Miss. Kanina pa po naghihintay ang lola niyo." The secretary opens the door of the President's Office. Tinanggal ni Henrietta ang sunglasses bago pumunta sa kinaroroonan ng kanyang lola.
"Grandma," she greeted, then sat at the single sofa in front of her lola's table office.
"Apo." Helen smiles at her granddaughter. She's a woman now and she can sense that there is something about her that changed.
"How are you?" tanong ni Helen sa apo pagkatapos umupo sa tabi nito.
"I'm okay, grandma. Kayo po dapat ang tinatanong ko n'yan. You're not young anymore and you should have been resting at our mansion," ani ni Henrietta at ngumiti ng simple dito. Pagkaharap niya ang lola ay nag-iiba talaga s'ya. Sure she is a bitch outside but this bitch has a soft spot for her one and only family, her grandma.
"My birthday is coming. Gusto kong nando'n ka, okay? I want my beloved apo to be by my side."
Yes, her grandma's birthday is coming. She remembers that time her stepsister spiked her drinks in order to catch her having another man in a room. Undeniably, isa din sa nagplano doon ay ang fiancé niya at ina. Funny. Oh! She will turn the table for this coming event. Henrietta Vanderbilt is not someone who is easy to defeat.
"I will, grandma. Hindi dapat mawawala ang totoong apo ng pamilyang Vanderbilt," Henrietta replied then smiled slyly. May alam ang lola niya pero ang hindi nito sure ay ang namamagitan kina Santi at Luciel. Luciel is such a jerk! He's a fake man.
"Alright! Sabayan mo na akong kumain mamaya ng dinner, okay?"
Tumango lang si Henrietta sa lola niya at inilabas ang laptop para i-continue ang ginagawang kwento na sinusulat niya ngayon. She writes so many books and it was sold out quickly. Maraming fans si Henrietta as Miss V.
"Oh! Before I forgot..." Henrietta looked at her grandma who was grinning ear to ear. Napataas ang kilay niya.
"I want you to meet someone important to me," Helen said then went back to her swivel chair. Henrietta creases her forehead. An important person? May importante pa bukod sa kanya? She got curious but shook her head. She will know it soon at her grandma's birthday.
-----
Isang Roll Royce-Ghost ang pumarada sa tapat ng isang building. A man dressed in a black three-piece suit stepped out with slender legs. His face was emotionless, and his eyes were an icy blue. He wasn't a model but he should have been. He had black hair that he meticulously groomed. Handsome is an underrated way to describe this man. He possessed power and always walked with purpose and authority.
"Mr. De Luca," bati ng security personnel doon at yumuko.
Hindi iyon pinansin ng lalaki at dumiretso sa private elevator.
"Did you receive the invitation?" He asked in a baritone voice, his hand in his pocket.
"Yes, Sir. Mrs. Helen Vanderbilt notified me," the assistant replied.
The man didn't reply. He smirks, remembering that old woman. He can't wait to see her on her birthday.
-----
© _eysteambun
BINABASA MO ANG
Henrietta's Blade
Romance"Divide your enemy so you can reign approach." Upon rebirth, she returned to the time when she was twenty-four years old. As she recalled the torture she had through, memories filled her head. Smarter, feistier, and more daring! She became the cold...
