Chapter 3
931 Words
ALI
I'm seething with anger right now. How could he treat my assistant like that? It's been weeks since I took on the job of finding a wife for Sancho Rodrigo de la Vega, and ever since, it's been nothing but trouble. My assistant just returned from Hacienda de la Vega, and she came back empty-handed. I had instructed her to approach Sancho and inquire about the specifics of the women he's interested in marrying—the typical details about his preferences and dislikes. This is our standard procedure to streamline the process of finding candidates who align with our clients' tastes. In my case, dealing with Sancho has become a major headache.
"So, what went down, Christi? Share the details," I asked her irritably. My frustration with Sancho was spilling over onto his assistant.
"Sorry, ma'am, but he didn't even acknowledge me or engage in a conversation. He simply glanced at me and promptly left. I only spoke with his secretary," my assistant replied nervously.
"And?" I impatiently inquired.
"He inquired why I was there. According to the company, you were supposed to be the one in charge of the project. They felt offended because, instead of you, your assistant was the one you sent," she explained with a trembling voice.
Unbelievable! Now, is this all my fault? Is it my fault that I don't want to lay eyes on that demon? This marked the third time my assistant had been dispatched to their hacienda, yet we still haven't managed to have a meaningful conversation with him.
"What do they want?" I raised my voice at that moment.
I couldn't help but let my frustration show. My assistant was doing everything in her power to avoid him, but he was making it extremely challenging. She had no choice now but to confront him, although that was the last thing on her mind.
"Mr. Dela Vega wants to have a personal conversation with you and handle this project himself. He wants you to handpick the woman who will be candidates to be his wife."
"Really now, huh?" I managed to utter. Can you sense the irony in this situation? The ex-girlfriend is now tasked with selecting the future wife for her ex-boyfriend. Argh! Can this day get any more exhausting?
While pondering how to resolve this predicament, I heard Christi's phone ring.
"Yes, hello...?" I swiftly answered the call.
"Okay, I'll convey the message and call you back with further information. Goodbye, and thank you," Christi said before hanging up and turning to me.
"Ma'am, I just received a word that Mr. Dela Vega is currently in Manhattan and wishes to meet you in person. He wants you to come to his office at 3 p.m."
"Argh! Could this day get any worse? I don't want to lay eyes on his face ever again!" I couldn't help but toss a book from my desk in frustration. My assistant appeared visibly shocked by my actions.
"What should I tell them, ma'am?" She inquired, her voice tinged with fear.
"Tell him I'm busy. I can't meet with him right now," was my straightforward response. I wasn't prepared to face him just yet.
"Understood, ma'am," and with that, Christi left my office.
Despite my intense dislike for the guy, I can't ignore the fact that I need to complete this job, or I'll end up in dire straits. It was just 30 minutes before 3 when Christi knocked on my door.
"Ma'am, Mr. Dela Vega is on the phone right now, and he wants to speak with you personally," Christi emphasized with the word "personally."
"Put him through to my line," I instructed. I had little choice at this point.
I took a deep breath before finally reaching for the receiver.
"Ms. Martinez, allow me to remind you that I, too, lead an exceptionally busy life. I manage a ranch, two multimillion-dollar companies, and I'm involved in numerous business ventures in Manhattan. So, don't attempt to rationalize that you're too busy to come to my office. Essentially, I have a lot more on my plate than you, and yet I've made time to meet you. Are we on the same page?" He spoke with emphasis, exuding authority.
There was palpable anger in his voice. I could sense it, and I had no desire to cross that line. I'd witnessed his fury before, and I had no desire to experience it again.
"Yes," was all I managed to utter, surprised that I could even speak at that moment.
"Very well. Now, I expect you in my office immediately, or there will be consequences," he calmly added, although a hint of threat lingered in his tone. Before I could respond, the call was disconnected.
I knew he wasn't making an idle threat. If I didn't go to his office, it could spell disaster. I was well aware of what he was capable of, so I decided it was best to face him. Besides, I didn't have much of a choice. I picked up the phone and asked Christi to come to my office. I needed to finish this job as soon as possible. The sooner, the better, as I didn't want to be around him for an extended period. His demeanour screamed danger, and I couldn't afford to put myself in harm's way again because of him.
"Christi, I need you to do something for me. Gather photos of all the potential candidates for Mr. Dela Vega. I want the finest candidates from our pool. I need to complete this job as swiftly as possible."
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- Writer
