Near Yet Distant (Billionaire: SPG- R-18)(COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 11

Ilang beses nang tumawag si Annika sa sekretarya ni Mr. Cordero ngunit hindi ito sumasagot. Tanaw niya pa ang kanyang boss na naiinip na sa kinauupuan nito. 9am ang kanilang usapan ngunit, 10am na ay wala pa ang ka-meeting.

For the last time, muling nag-dial si Annika. After 6 rings ay may sumagot.

"Hello, this is Mr. Cordero's secretary. I'm sorry, that we are late, but we are almost there."

"That's fine. Just tell Mr. Cordero, that Mr. Oscar Navarro is still here. Thank you."

Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot sa kabilang linya. Mabilis siyang naglakad palapit sa boss.

She can see that Oscar is not in the mood. He is in his poker face.

"Sir, malapit na raw po sila," mahinahon niyang sabi.

Tumango lamang si Oscar na halata mong nagpipigil ng galit. She sat down facing him. Busy ang lalaki sa paggamit ng telepono. Kaya malaya niya itong napagmasdan.

'That night. You were the sweetest guy I meet. You were drunk, but you never hurt me. The way you touched my face that very moment. The way you apologized, everytime you move yourself inside me. The way you told me how beautiful I am that night. Oh Oscar! I missed you like crazy!'

Napatunghay si Oscar at nakita niya ang matamang pagtitig sa kanya ni Annika.

He can see something in her eyes! It's like admiration. Then he remembered her little moan again. They were just staring at each other. No one wants to blink.

"Good morning, Mr. Navarro."

Nagulat pa si Annika ng may magsalita sa kanyang likuran.

Mabilis tumayo si Annika. Kilala na niya ang sekretarya dahil ito ang madalas humarap sa kanila ni Miss De Villa. Ngunit ngayon lang niya nakita si Mr. Cordero.

"This is Mr. Jose Cordero," the secretary introduced.

Yumukod nang bahagya si Annika upang magbigay galang.

"Good morning, sir. I am Annika Salvador, Miss De Villa's secretary. She is not here today, but her older son is here to represent our deal." Tinignan ni Annika si Oscar na hindi man lang tumayo sa pagkakaupo. Mataman lang itong nakatingin sa kanila. He is staring them with cold emotions.

"If I only knew that Miss De Villa has a stunning secretary. I would never let her wait for me that long," Mr. Cordero said.

It's obvious that he admires her beauty.

Kinuha nito ng kusa ang kanyang kanang kamay at ito ay hinalikan.

"Nice to meet you, beautiful," dugtong pa nito.

Naiilang niyang binawi ang kamay. Hindi pa naman katandaan ang lalaki ngunit nakakaramdam ng kilabot si Annika sa paraan ng pagtingin nito sa kanya.

Akmang uupo na sana si Mr. Cordero nang tumayo si Oscar.

"You are one hour, and ten minutes late. Do you expect me to continue this meeting?"

Nagulat si Annika sa tinuran nito. This is very important meeting. Nakasalalay dito ang malaking investment.

Mr. Cordero laugh a bit.

"Your mother doesn't care about it. So, no big deal."

"Maybe for her, but not for me," mahina ngunit madiin na sagot ni Oscar.

"Do you know how much investment am I willing to give up? Do you know how important these meetings are?"

Oscar smiled enimagtic way.

"I don't care how much of an investement we are talking here, and if you think this meeting is important, then why are you late? "...I am very strict when it comes to time management, and, for whatever reason you have right now, for me, it's not valid!"

Oscar buttoned his coat.

"If you excuse us..." Oscar grab Annika's arm.

Nagpahinuhod si Annika sa paghila sa kanya ni Oscar. Ang laki nang hakbang nito at halos matapilok siya sa paraan ng paghila sa kanya.

"S-sir, wait lang po."

Oscar stopped and faced her.

"Sir, importante po ang meeting na ito. Your mom is looking forward for this, for like a year. Ngayon lang nagpaunlak si Mr. Cordero na makipag-meeting in person."

"I know people like him, Annika. Sila ang mga taong mapagsamantala sa kapangyarihan. Alam niya kung gaano niyo siya kailangan kaya nagpapa-importante siya."

"But this is important, sir!" tumaas ang boses ni Annika. She can't believe it, na binastos lang ni Oscar si Mr. Cordero.

"Hey! Woman. Don't raise your voice at me..." mahina ngunit may authority na sambit ni Oscar.

Bigla naman nahimasmasan si Annika at napatungo sa hiya.

"...listen to me. This meeting is adjourned. Let them call you and make their own appointment with us."

Tumango lamang si Annika ngunit hindi pa rin mawala sa kanya ang panghihinayang.

"...And I'm warning you. Don't you ever call them to apologize. Do you understand?"

Tumango lang ulit si Annika at nanatiling nakatungo.

"Look at me."

Napapikit si Annika sa lalim ng boses ng kanyang boss. He said it with low-deep voice. Iniangat niya ang ulo at tinignan ang lalaki.

Oscar is waiting for Annika's eyes to meet his. He took a deep breath. Napakapungay talaga ng mata ng dalaga.

"I'm sorry that, I grabbed your arm so tight. I was just mad."

Halos makalimutan ni Annika ang paghinga sa paraan ng pakikipag-usap sa kanya ni Oscar. She missed this sweet voice of him.

DUMERETSO lang muli sila sa opisina. Maraming meetings ang lalaki na naka schedule today sa kanilang office. Kaya't halos hindi niya ito makausap.

Nakatungo lamang siya sa kanyang table ng tumunog ang phone office.

She answered it.

"Hi, this is Miss De Villa's secretary. How may I help?"

"Annika, this is Lea. Sabi ni Mr. Cordero, mapapalampas daw niya ang nangyari kanina kung makikipag meeting ka raw ngayon sa kanya."

"Naku, Lea. Busy na si Sir Oscar. Hindi na siya pwede today."

"Ikaw lang naman, hindi kasama ang boss mo. Dalhin mo raw ang pipirmahan and Mr. Cordero will sign it."

"Really? Is that for real, Lea?"

"Yes. I'll text the time and location."

"Okay, thank you!"

Annika is so happy! Mukhang aminado ang mga ito na sila ang may kasalanan kaya bumawi agad.

Agad niyang kinuha ang personal phone at tinext si Miss De Villa about sa meeting na mangyayari. Matutuwa ito! Dahil kanina nang masabi niya ang nangyari between Oscar and Mr. Cordero ay nadismaya ito.

Maya-maya pa ay tumunog ang kanyang phone.

From Lea: 5pm at Luxuria Grande Hotel

It's already 3pm, kailangan na pala niyang umalis dahil malayo-layo ang hotel na ito. It's one of finest 5 star hotel in Asia.

She recieved another text message.

From Miss De Villa:

Sure, Annika. Please take care and update me as soon as he signed the papers.

To Miss De Villa:

Yes, ma'am. I'm going now. I'll meet them at Luxuria Grande Hotel. Enjoy your vacation, madamme!

Hindi na siya nagpaalam pa kay Oscar. Dahil ang kanyang boss naman talaga, ay si Miss. De Villa. Pumayag ito, kaya hindi na kailangan na ipaalam pa ang kanyang lakad sa lalaki. At isa pa, hindi rin ito papayag!