Chapter 1

1813 Words
       “I won't promise you a happy ending. What I promise is a good ride along our journey.”      That's what Matt promised to all the women who came into his life.      One night stand happens almost every weekend after the cocktail parties he attends. Madalas, ito ay ang mga socialite girls na gustong makatikim lang sa kaniya. He make sure those girls are protected and healthy, mahirap na.       If only he could recount all those fiery nights – he can confidently claim that he already experienced the best and kinkiest adventures the female population has to offer.       They say his reputation as a playboy will tarnish his position as the CEO to the Vallejo Lines. Well, he doesn't think so. When it comes to his job, he is excellent. He can close a multimillion-dollar deal in one wink.       When he sat in his leather chair as the CEO eight years ago, overlooking the skyline of the city up to the sight of its pristine blue sea where their cruise ships are lined, Matthew ‘Matt’ Vallejo promised himself to leave a legacy.       That legacy is to make the Vallejo Cruise and Shipping Lines the best company in its category - to be an elite star brand of its own.      At nangyari na iyon; now he’s here, he has everything. At isang pitik lang ng daliri niya, nasa kandungan na niya ang babaeng pangarap lang ng mga kalalakihan.      The woman, a model was on his lap, riding on him as they playfully suck their lips and tongue together. Claire was a top runway model at ilang linggo narin niyang bedmate. Nilinaw niya mula umpisa na hanggang pisikal lang ang koneksyon nila. Wala siyang oras at enerhiya sa seryosong pakikipag-relasyon. Minsan ay sinasama niya ito sa mga deals at meeting as a companion.      Claire continued to ride on him as she was fully unclothed. She was a whooping ten, perfect breasts and ass that jiggle as she was seducing him. Wala na ring pang-itaas na blazer suit at polo si Matt ngunit naroon pa rin ang itim na slacks at leather shoes niya.      No worries as he has a secret button in his office, and he just has to press it to close his office from public view.      It was an early morning ten, and by eleven o’ clock, he has to attend a hospital appointment.      He continued to groan in low volume and he nuzzled his lips on her neck. She succeeded to unlock the clasp of his belt. Next thing they know, Claire was already clasping her own lips to suppress the moans she wanted to let out.      He had a protection already ready on his drawers and he sheathed himself before entering her.      “I love you, I love you Matt...” malambing na anas ng babae matapos ang pagniniig nila.      He only smiled. How can he reply? He can’t even utter those three words.        Nakita niya ang pagsimangot ng babae na umalis sa kandungan niya upang magbihis.      She entered the private rest room, and when she came back it was like nothing happened. Her full red lipstick was back. “I have a photoshoot later,” she quipped.      “I have some documents to finish, before I jump to my other appointment.”      “Oh well,” a sad mist crossed her eyes na nakatawag ng pansin niya.       “We discussed about this,” matiim niyang pahayag. “If you continue carelessly saying those words, I might stop seeing you.”      “You’re unfair,” she croaked. “When can we be more than this? You’re amazing and wonderful. I don’t want you to be with another woman, Matt. And I know that I sort of complete you.”      “But we’ve only been meeting for a few weeks. Don’t be ridiculous.”      “Please Matt. Didn’t you see how sexy we were? Aren’t you happy with me?”      “Stop calling me Matt,” he turned cold. “It was great, Claire, but-” bumuntong-hinginga siya. “I thought you were different from them.”      “Y-you’re really a playboy,” she wistfully said. “You were so traumatized by your first love that you have to be like this! That you can’t fall in love!”      “I didn’t play if our deal was clear from the start,” he pointed out. “And it’s my own decision not to mess up my life with love. So please leave.”      He saw Claire’s whole face blush, now with anger.      “I only wanted you to blush out of pleasure, nothing else,” paalala niya, wickedly grinning.      “Are you gonna have a new playmate if I don’t come again?” Mapanuya na sabi nito.      “It depends, as I might be busy. And yes, I have my needs, Claire, which I’m sure not only can you provide. Or I guess they can even provide better-“      “Asshole!” She hissed and stomped her way out. “You’re gonna have your karma I’m sure!”      Sinapo lang ni Matt ang pinsgi niya, napailing-iling.      He grabbed the phone and dialed an extension. “Limuel, just remember that woman who just exited my office. She’s blacklisted from entering the building.”      “Okay Sir,” listing sagot nang nasa kabilang linya. Mga isang buwan na niyang sekretarya ito.      Nag retiro na kasi si Sophia, ang matandang sekretarya niya na ilang taon rin niyang nakasama.      Sekretarya rin ito noon ng daddy niya bago suma-kabilang-buhay ang ama. Sophia helped him manage the business. She was strict and very organized. Matapos ng pagre-retiro ni Sophia ay sunod-sunod na ang pagpapalit niya ng babaeng sekretarya, kung hindi effective sa trabaho ay halos lahat naman ay nahuhulog ang loob sa kaniya at gustong mas higit pa ang relasyon nila. He can’t do that. Maybe Claire is right, he must be traumatised.      Sa kanilang tatlong magkakapatid na mga Vallejo, siya lang ang nakitaan ng business acuity kaya’t siya ang pinili ng board na pumalit sa posisyon ng ama niya noon. Si Carter na ikalawa ay isang modelo, si Logan naman na bunso nila ay isang professor.      He fought hard despite the criticisms before, kahit ang uncle Theo niya ang isa sa unang tumanggi sa desisyon na iyon. His uncle is a scheming devil.       Gusto nitong kunin ang oportuninad na imbarguhin ang kompanya dahil baon ito sa utang noon. But Matt worked hard like a horse to bring it from the ashes to the pedestal it belongs now.      An hour late after browsing through all proposals, his landline rang again. Limuel reminded him about his hospital appointment.   AFTER ONE WEEK LIMUEL      It seemed odd that his boss would invite him for a meeting out of all places, to the zoo.      Para itong mentor niya. Like a brother he never had. Panganay kasi si Limuel habang ang bunso naman nila ay si Chelsie. Bago pa lang si Limuel sa kompanya ngunit naging magaan na ang loob niya sa boss niya, maayos itong magtrabaho, kaya lang ay babaero talaga ito, pero in terms of work ay sobrang marami niyang natutunan kay Matt.      “What do you think is a man’s purpose in life, Limuel?” usal ni Matt.      Para naman itong Philosophy 101. “Ho? Did I hear it correctly, Sir?”      “Yes. I guess that’s what I asked.”      “Ano Sir, ah ‘eh,” bigla siyang napakamot sa ulo. Nanonood sila sa orangutan na nakalambitin sa puno. Seryoso ba talaga si Matt?      Mas matangkad ang boss niya ng ilang pulgada. Six footer ito. Kung hindi siya aminadong straight at may girlfriend ay baka na bakla na siya sa kagwapuhan ng boss niya. Kung hindiito CEO ngkompanya ay puwedeng-puwede itong artista, kahit sa Hollywood pa. Naiintidiha naman niya kung bakit nahuhumaling ang mga kababaihan dito.      “You don’t have to answer now. You can think a little for a few minutes.”      “Ah okay, Sir.” Napakamot siya ulit ng ulo.“Tinanong niyo na po ba ‘yan sa ibang tao?”      “I guess I did,” Matt pondered deeply. “You are right Limuel, I should ask more people.”      Nawe-werduhan na talaga siya sa boss niya. Nag-iisip na ba ito na palitan na siya? Kaya siya sinasalang sa Q&A portion? Na-realize ba nito na hindi siya karapat-dapat sa posisyon niya?      “Legacy po, lalo na para sa ating mga lalaki,” bigla na lang niyang na blurt out. Panic mode na siya. Buti na lang ay naalala niya ang usapan nila ni Chelsie.      “Come again?” ani Matt.      “Legacy,” ulit niya. “Sabi kasi ng kapatid ko, ma fu-fulfill mo lang ang purpose mo sa mundo kapag nakapag-iwan ka ng legacy. Hindi ibig sabihin ‘nun ay pera o kayamanan. Maaaring mabuting gawa, pamilya, kahit ano na tatatak sa mundo na ginawa mo.”      Napatango-tango si Matt. “That’s a very good answer, Limuel. May kapatid ka pala?”      “Oho, si Chelsie. Writer po iyon, kaya kung anu-anong naiisip. Pero may sense naman yung ilan.” Ewan ba niya kung ma pa-proud siya sa kapatid o hindi. Luka-loka kasi ‘yon. Pinagpatuloy niya nalang ang kuwento, “Alam niyo ba ang sabi niya? Na ang isa sa pinaka greatest legacy daw sa mundo ay isang kuwento o libro. Iyon ay hindi na kasi mabubura kahit ilang taon pa ang lumipas. Tulad na lang daw ng mga tao sa sinaunang panahon, naisulat sila kaya’t hanggang ngayon ay kilala natin sila, at natututo pa rin tayo sa mga kuwento at aral nila.”      “So it’s safe to say that our purpose is aligned to the legacy we want to leave?” Pag-digest ni Matt.      “Tumpak po iyon!” Ngiti ni Limuel. Parang nabunutan siya ng tinik. “Magka-match sila.”      Napatango-tango si Matt, he recalled that bleak moment in the white washed four corner clinic office of his old uncle, his mother’s only brother, a doctor, who everyone calls as Dr. Vee, short for Dr. Virgelio.      I am not in the position to fall in love or have a family with my health condition. I am dying, naisip niya. May mga charity namang tinutulungan ang kompanya namin. I already secured the company.      “I’m hiring a writer,” usal ni Matt.      “Ho?” Gulat na gulat ang sekretarya niya.      “Send me the best of the writers in this country, I’ll hire a writer starting tomorrow. Oh, and let your sister apply too.”
Free reading for new users
Scan code to download app
Facebookexpand_more
  • author-avatar
    Writer
  • chap_listContents
  • likeADD