The Billionaire and The Witch

He is...

Vince’s POV

“Congratulations, Mr. Fierro!” bati sa akin ni Mr. Kellerman, the corporate lawyer of the ZYT Corp.

I gladly accepted his handshake. Pati din ang pagbati ng mga kasamahan niya.

Mayamaya pa ay nagpaalam na ang grupo nila. Hindi na din ako nagtagal at pagkatapos bigyan ng instruction si Mina, my secretary, tungkol sa naganap na pirmahan ng kontrata, I headed out of the Manila Penn.

Media people are all over the lobby. Iba-iba ang get-up, with their specialized cameras. Binilisan ko ang paglalakad dahil nakita ko na ang isa sa kanila na papalapit sa akin.

“Mr. Fierro?” habol sa akin ng isang maliit na babae.

Hindi ko siya inintindi at tuluy-tuloy ako sa paglalakad.

"Sir, you are again listed by Astra magazine as one of the billionaires in this country. What can you say about that, Mr. Fierro?”

I exhaled sharply while stepping away from her. Sigurado akong baguhan siya. Dahil hindi niya alam na hindi ako nagpapa-interview lalo na ang ambush interview. Iniilagan ako ng mga mediamen kapag nakakasalubong nila ‘ko. Pero kahit takot sila sakin, hindi niyon matinag ang kuryusidad nila lalo na tungkol sa pribado kong buhay. And that’s what irritates me.

“And besides, you are one of the young billionaires who remained a bachelor. Sir?” Pagpapatuloy niya.“Or are the rumors true about you being engaged? Who’s the lucky woman, Sir?”

“Put down your camera young lady or I’ll make sure that this will be your last job." Madiin kong sabi at tinitigan siya ng seryoso.

Napaatras naman siya at hindi na ‘ko sinundan sa paglalakad.

Good.

Wala akong pakialam sa kung ano mang mga isinusulat sa akin ng press. Before the listing of the billionaires by that damn magazine for women, I've been tagged negatively. Honestly, I didn't give a care.

Yeah, my companies need promotion and advertisement of our products and services through them. And we pay a handsome amount for that and that is business. But never have they tried to interfere in my private life. Rumored fiancée, really? I wonder where that came from.

Kinuha ko ang susi ng kotse ko sa valet. I am going back to my office. It’s only 5:30pm at malapit ng mag-uwian ang mga empleyado. But first thing is first. As a businessman, hindi ko pinagpapabukas ang pwede kong gawin ngayon.

I PARKED MY CAR at tumapat sa elevator na ako lang ang gumagamit. Imbes na sa opisina ko sa 50th floor ako pumunta, sa 48th floor ang pinindot kong button, ang Finance Department.

I was greeted by my employees when I entered the floor and I felt that the atmosphere tensed.

Nakasalubong ko ang pakay ko na si Mrs. Almiran. The woman looks bothered. Good.

“G-Good evening, Sir. This is the a-annual financial report of VLF. I-I was about to take this in your office.”

Inabot ko ang binigay niyang folder.

“Really? Kahapon ko pa ito hinihintay, Mrs.Almiran. You know that I hate late reports.”

“S-Sorry, Sir kailangan ko pa kasing i-review ng maayos.”

I didn’t answer at tinitigan lang siya ng seryoso. At mayamaya ay, “Mrs. Almiran, you’re fired.” At tumalikod na 'ko.

Nang makabawi pa lang siya sa pagkagulat ay saka pa lang niya ako hinabol.“B-But Sir you can’t fire me dahil doon. T-That’s unfair!”

“You know that I don’t easily fire an employee for that crap, Mrs. Almiran. I terminate cheats.” And gave her a weak smile and went to my office.

Parang natatandaan ko pa kung paano siya namutla dahil sa huling sinabi ko. Of course, wala akong kwentang boss kung ite-terminate ko siya ng dahil sa late na pagpapasa ng report. I am not that irrational. I did that because I have learned that Mrs. Almiran commits a crime. Nagdispalko siya ng pera sa kompanya ko.And any businessman will not tolerate that.

Having an elite detective and security team which is composed of skilled men, madali lang sa akin ang malaman kung anu-anong kalokohan ang nangyayari sa mga negosyo ko. That’s how I work.

I loose my tie at nagsalin ng alak sa bar counter na nasa gilid ng opisina. Ni-review ko kung anu-anong nangyari sa buong hapon ko.

First, I closed a multi-million dollar deal with a well-known company over dinner. Second, I threatened a newbie media woman. Third, I fired an employee.

And the results of all that?

Another huge figure in my bank accounts. Building curiosity from irritating media. Admiration from women who will know that I’m a billionaire. Anger from an ex-employee.

At ang pagtibay ng paniniwalang ‘Vincent Laurel Fierro is the rudest and roughest businessman who walks on earth’.

Galing iyan sa taguri ng press sa akin. And hell if I care! Ang mga ganyang bagay ay karaniwan sa mundong ginagalawan ko. All I care about is the success of my empire. Ang paglago pa at pamamayagpag ng mga negosyo ko sa iba’t ibang industriya. Who wouldn't want that? I am at the prime of my life and business is doing damn good.

Yeah, who wouldn’t want that? I asked myself bitterly.

I just know someone who wouldn't want all of these… Ang babaeng hindi gustong maging parte ng lahat ng yamang ito.  Isang babae na maaari ko sanang makasama sa pagse-celebrate sa bawat tagumpay ko. The woman I can never have without that damn deal.

Napailing ako. Tinitigan ko ang alak na nasa baso and an image appeared on its reflection. A beautiful face of a woman wearing her mischievous smile.

Shit! Is that how fast alcohol can reach my brain in just three gulps?

Nilabas ko ang mobile ko at nag-dial ng numero. Operator lang ang sumagot. I tried once again. Pero ganoon pa din. Inulit ko ulit at operator pa din ang nasa kabilang linya.

Damn her!

Ni hindi man lang maalalang magdala ng cellphone kahit saan pumunta. I wonder kung naaalala niya din ako. O talagang kinalimutan niya na lahat ng konektado sa dati niyang buhay? But she cannot forget our deal, I will make sure of that.

Naka-labindalawa yata akong missed calls bago ko initsa ang cellphone sa ibabaw ng desk ko.

Well, what will I expect?

We both agreed on this kind of thing. Walang pakialamanan. I will just secure her protection until the time I give to her to do her craziness.

Isang bagay na nabuo dahil lang sa mababaw na kasunduan sa pagitan naming dalawa.

Nag-dial naman ako ng ibang numero.“Epin.”

“Sir?” sagot ng lalake sa kabilang linya.

“How’s your señorita?”

“Kauuwi lang sa bahay niya, Sir.”

“Ok, check the area before you leave. At magreport ka kaagad sakin kung may problema.”

“Copy, Sir.”

At pinutol ko na ang tawag. Inisang lagok ko ang natitirang alak sa goblet. At magsasalin pa sana ako pero nagbago ang isip ko. I’m not a habitual drinker. All I have to do now is go to bed, sleep and be ready for tomorrow’s routine. Paperworks…Meetings… Business transactions…

But who’s that señorita?

Well, she is the woman I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, Ameri Dea Montejo. A princess. An heiress. A woman who waged war against me to claim her independence. The woman who will never want to have me. And my fiancée.