AGS 1: The Love Investment (PUBLISHED)

71. The Dardennes

The Annual Business Summit speaks grandest when it comes to people who attended this event. Wala akong makitang mukhang napadaan lang. Even the staff and the servers, naka-formal suits, or casual formal. The hall was occupied by more or less four hundred attendees. May space sa gitna na inilaan para sa mga table. Sa left and right side ng lugar, doon nakahilera ang mga business stall na nagpo-promote ng products nila. Gusto kong maglibot later para makita ang ibang business stalls, in case may makita akong magandang product.

The summit was a two-day event, at last day na kami um-attend ni Rico. Sheila and Erwin of Rico's Cebu branch were here yesterday kasama ang Cebu staff for exposure. Kami ang humawak sa last day.

I must say, sobrang daming pumunta sa last day ng event. Malamang kasi may awarding.

Since kinuha ako ni Rico sa original table ko sa gitna, nakapuwesto kami sa bandang gilid. Nasa middle area pa rin naman pero hindi sa gitnang-gitna.

The tables were covered in red and gold cloth, with a red and yellow flower in a round vase as the centerpiece. Naka-ready na ang tubig paglapit namin doon dahil sinisimulan na ng mga server magbigay ng refreshments sa mga nasa mesa.

For six person ang table at puro lalaki ang kasama ko. They were all wearing suits and ties, at magiging biased ako dahil si Rico talaga ang apple of the eye ko sa mesa.

Ang apat na kasama namin, naglalaro ang edad sa early 30s and early 50s. They didn't look older than their ages, and I could tell that they were businessmen. May certain aura kasi talaga ang mga tao sa summit na oozing with professional vibe kaya mapapataas ka na lang din ng mukha para makisabay sa confidence nila.

Paglapit namin ni Rico, nakangiting mga mukha nila ang sumalubong sa amin.

"Mr. Dardenne! Nice to meet you again!"

They offered Rico a handshake, and after that, they scanned me from head to toe, gaya ng mga tingin ng kilala kong mga lalaki kapag nakakakita sila ng mga babaeng naka-bikini. And I hated those kind of look na parang may tangay-tangay si Rico na call girl. Hindi naman nandidiri ang tingin, pero alam kong malagkit.

"Who's your date tonight, Mr. Dardenne?" the man with sincere eyes asked. And he looked like a doctor to me. But for sure, hindi siya doctor. Isa siya sa mukhang bata sa apat, and his voice was calm and soothing.

"This is Jaesie Rosenthal," Rico introduced. "She's a coffee shop owner."

"Lovely. Good evening, Miss Rosenthal."

Nag-alok din sila ng handshake sa akin, and I could feel the firm grips and the fake smiles. Ang tingin kasi nila sa akin, klase ng tingin na hindi tanggap ang sagot na coffee shop owner ako. Klase ng tingin na mukha akong potential escort na puwedeng bayaran for a one-night service.

"Jae, please sit down," alok ni Rico at ipinag-urong na ako ng upuan na bahagyang nakaharap sa stage. Naupo naman siya sa kaliwang upuan ko. Nagsiupuan na rin ang apat naming kasama sa mesa.

The man on my right side was Mr. Quentin. Next to him was Mr. Yran. And across from me was Mr. So. And beside Rico was Mr. Bonaobra. Businessman silang lahat, and all of them were investors din gaya ni Rico.

"You're beautiful, Miss Rosenthal," Mr. Quentin said, 'yong mukhang doktor na naunang magpakilala sa akin.

"Thank you, Mr. Quentin."

"You can call me Gil."

Tumango na lang ako. "Gil, okay." Nginitian ko na lang siya at sumulyap sa stage habang inaakyat ang mga plaque.

"Are you into modeling or beauty pageants? You're tall and you walk gracefully."

Pinilit kong ngumiti nang maayos kahit ayoko talagang pag-usapan ang tungkol sa modeling dahil para lang naman kay Myles kaya ako pumapasok sa fashion shows.