Chapter 4
2471 Words
BAKAS ang ngiti sa labi ni Jude nang tahakin niya ang daan papasok ng office building. It was indeed a nice field work experience. As usual, his secretary was at the lobby, waiting for him to arrive.
“May naghanap ba sa akin?” bungad niyang tanong kay Nova. Magkapanabay silang naglakad patungo sa elevator. Pagkabukas noon ay agad silang sumakay. Magbibihis lang siya, manananghalian saglit, at aalis na muli para sa isang mahalagang business meeting.
“Meron, sir. Mr. Ricardo called and told me that instead of meeting him at Café Viaje del Cielo, he wants to meet you at La Diva Art Gallery, same hour. No secretary, just you.”
Business meeting in an art museum? Not bad. “He’s kind of demanding, huh. Have you prepared all the papers?”
Few days ago, he sent an investment proposal to Mr. Milosa to express his interest on buying additional shares of Viajero Travel and Tours, one of the businesses owned by this influential business tycoon.
“Yes, sir. Everything you need is on your table,” sagot ni Nova.
“Good, then. What else?”
“Miss Eliza called. She was asking for a return call. Tine-text ka raw niya at tinatawagan pero hindi n’yo raw po sinasagot.”
She’s pertaining to one of the women he had slept with. Nakilala niya ito sa isa sa mga party na napuntahan niya last week. He thought she was demure. But when they get into bed, she became a wh*re. It was a great hot night indeed, but he had no plans of doing it again with her.
“Kapag tumawag uli, sabihin mong I’m with my wife.” That’s the usual alibi na pinapasabi niya sa secretary niya kapag may mga naghahabol sa kanyang babae.
“Tinikmang babae lang pala siya. Akala ko ka-deal mo sa business, sir,” comment into.
“Hey, she offered herself to me. Pinagbigyan ko lang. You know, we have to be generous to people especially to women,” natatawang reply niya. Sumimangot lang si Nova.
His secretary was against womanizers like him. Aminado naman si Jude na babaero siya. He loved women in all aspect. And whenever they offered themselves to him, he never said no. It was a fun thing being untied to anyone and he was enjoying it so much. He was indeed a player. Relationship, commitment, and love were just nonsensical words for him.
“Miss Paviella also called and asked if you can meet her tonight. Tinikmang babae rin po ba siya, sir?”
“Wow, judgmental ka.” The elevator door opened and they went out. Pinauna niya si Nova na lumabas ng elevator bago siya sumunod.
He remembered a glimpse of a hot night with Paviella. This woman was a tactless and loved cursing bad words. She wasn’t a Jude type but those bad words became lovely when she used them out of pleasure. But for him, her friend Eliza moaned better. Yes, they were friends; another reason not to do second time with them. Ang mga ganitong babae ay pampasaya lang kay Jude. Wala siyang planong maka-close ang dalawang ito.
“If she called again, tell her that I’m happily married,” he said as he opened the door of his office.
Napangiwi ang secretary niya kaya napatawa siya lalo. “Hay naku, Boss Jude. Makatatagpo ka rin ng babaeng magpapahinto sa ’yo sa pambababae mo. Magkatotoo na sana ang hula ng ninang mo sa ’yo.”
Nova was like a friend to him kaya okay lang sa kanya na nagbibigay ito ng mga gano’ng klase ng opinion. She was also a fan of fortunetelling kaya masaya ito ’pag dinadalaw siya ng Ninang Aurea niya sa office. Nakalilibre kasi ito ng hula. Maybe, naikuwento rin ng ninang niya rito ang tungkol sa so-called babaeng nakatakda raw magpatino sa kanya. He didn’t believe that the kind woman would exist though.
“Hindi mangyayari iyan, pustahan pa tayo. You know it. Nanay ko nga hindi ako napahinto, isang babae pa kaya?”
“Do not underestimate the power of love, sir. Mai-in love ka rin at ngayon taon na raw iyon. Itataya ko ang OT ko ng tatlong buwan. Mag-overtime ako nang free kapag ’di nagkatotoo.”
Tumawa siya. “Okay. Kapag na-in love ako for real within the year gaya nang hula sa akin ni Ninang Aurea, bibigyan kita ng sampung libo.”
Ngumiti ito. “It sounds like music to me! Ten thousand. Ihanda mo na iyan! Alin kaya ang mauuna? Ang hula na magkaka-jowa ako ng bilyonaryo o ang ma-in love ka?”
Papasok na si Jude sa banyo nang lingunin niya ito. “’Wag ka ring umasa sa hula sa ’yo!” pang-aasar niya.
“Boss Jude!” hirit into.
“What?”
“’Wag kang kontrabida sa love life ko. Your lunch is ready at the pantry. All documents you need for your meeting is on your table. Inulit ko lang for emphasis. Your meeting with Mr. Milosa is at 2 p.m. Mag-lunch na rin po muna ako at baka nasa cafeteria ang bilyonaryong bibihag sa beauty ko!”
Hindi na siya nakatugon dahil dali-dali itong lumabas ng office niya. Naiiling na pumasok siya sa banyo para makapag-quick shower. Nang hubarin niya ang polo ay nalaglag ang isang calling card. Pinulot niya iyon at muling binasa ang detalyeng naroon. Agad siyang napangiti nang maaala si Jibelle. It was really obvious na type siya nito.
Why do I feel so connected to her?
Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman. It was like there’s unexplainable invisible string that made the two of them connected. And he thought, he should find the reason behind that connection. Itinabi niya ang calling card at saka nag-shower. Afterwards, he wore his suit again and ate his lunch at the pantry. Binuksan niya ang TV sa pantry area para hindi siya ma-bore sa katahimikan ng paligid.
Isang lunch news show sa HBH Network PH ang bumungad sa kanya. It was something about the African Swine Flu. Nasa isang malaking piggery ang news anchor. Hindi naman siya masyadong interesado sa swine flu dahil hindi naman makaaapekto iyon sa negosyo niya. But he just let the TV on para may iba siyang ingay na naririnig habang kumakain siya.
“Miss Jibelle, ano ang ginagawa ninyong safety precautions ngayong muling kumakalat ang ASF sa Pilipinas?”
Napaangat mula sa pagkain ang paningin niya. Nang mapunta sa flat screen TV ang mata niya, ang imahe ng babaeng nakilala niya sa bus kanina ang bumungad sa kanya. The caption below her image confirmed it. ‘Jibelle Arella, CEO of Arella Meat Market Corporation’ ang nakalagay roon. Jude once again felt the connection he felt towards her a while ago.
What the hell is this feeling?!
“We guaranteed that all our hogs and other animals here in Arella’s are well taken care of. Lahat ng alaga namin dito, kompleto sa immunizations and boosters. We also have our own veterinarians here to ensure the health of our animals. At siyempre importante na malinis ang facilities 24/7. We have to be responsible at all times and make sure that we follow the regulations. Way back roughly three years ago, we were able to beat ASF that time. Here in AMMC, we are confident that we can beat ASF again now. Mananatiling ligtas kainin ang mga products namin . . .”
Napatitig na lang sa screen si Jude. Parang ibang tao ang nagsasalita sa TV, malayo sa babaeng bumabanat ng punch lines sa bus kanina. The one speaking on TV was a smart leader one. The Jibelle he met on a bus ride was simply jolly and cute.
May ganito palang klase ng babae. Fascinating!
Naistorbo ng alarm sa cell phone niya ang kanyang panonood. It’s time for him to leave for an important meeting. Sa huling sandali ay tinapunan niya ng tingin ang TV nang nakangiti bago pinindot ang power off button.
***
JUDE couldn’t help but praise this woman in front of him. Pagkarating niya sa La Diva Art Gallery, isang napakaganda at napaka-sexy na babae ang sumalubong sa kanya.
“Mr. Celerio, I am Ladine Ilustre. Mr. Milosa is waiting for you in his office.” She had a captivating voice—no. The way she spoke that simple lines was too sexy. Her bluish grey eyes were hypnotizing him. Not to mention that this woman had perfect curves. Everything in her turned him on.
Ricardo is lucky!
Mapang-akit siyang nginitian nito. “This way, please.” She left her another sexy grin before she turned around and walk. Sumunod lang siya rito habang pinagmamasdan ang paggalaw ng butt nito habang naglalakad.
Bigla itong lumingon. Mabilis din niyang ibinaling sa mga naka-display na painting ang mata niya. Good thing he was expert of not being caught.
“Enjoying what you see, sir?” tanong nito.
Hindi siya sigurado kung double meaning ba iyon or not. But he just answered, “I’m not an art enthusiast but my mom is. You got a nice place here.” Tinatahak nila ang kalawakan ng art museum. Puti ang pintura ng walls na may mga nakasabit na iba’t ibang uri ng paintings from abstract to impressionism to surrealism to modernism. Yes, he had a little knowledge about it. He once dated a painter.
Pagkaakyat nila sa second floor ay pumasok sila sa isang double-door entrance. Isang mahabang pasilyo na may pulang haligi ang bumungad sa kanila. Sa dulo noon ay may isa pa uling double-door entrance. As they walked by, Jude noticed the paintings hung on the walls; mostly ay mga bare naked images ng babae. Expressionism ang uri ng ganitong paintings. And those paintings reminded him that women—in all aspect—were delightful blessings to men.
Ladine opened the door and let him enter. “This is Mr. Milosa’s office.”
“Thank you,” simpleng sagot niya.
The woman just nodded. She left him a sweet smile and he gave her a seductive grin. Sinundan pa niya ito ng tingin bago tuluyang pumasok ng opisina.
“Isn’t she a Jude type?” tanong ng pakay niya. Ricardo was sitting in his throne grinning.
He was wearing a black suit and there’s a red bandana on his head. Mailap sa publiko itong Brazilian businessman na ito. Kaya nang malaman ni Jude na nasa Manila ito ay agad siyang nagpa-set ng appointment.
Jude knew what he was thinking. Minsan na silang nagkayayaan ni Ricardo na mag-bar habang pinag-uusapan ang negosyo. Masasabing pareho sila: they love women. But, Ricardo was way a master. “Yeah, but I think, she’s perilous.”
Tumawa ito sa opinion niya. “It’s up to you to know,” he said. “I won’t mind.”
Umiling siya. “Maybe, next time. I’m here for business.”
Tumayo si Ricardo mula sa kanyang swivel chair. At isinama siya sa kaliwang side ng opisina. “Have a sit then.”
Magkatapat silang umupo sa sofa. Nagsalin si Ricardo ng brandy sa dalawang baso at ibinigay sa kanya ang isa.
“Thank you,” sambit niya bago tinungga ang alak. “So, what’s your decision?” he asked directly. Sa mga tulad nilang negosyante, wala silang oras sa paligoy-ligoy.
He offered Fifteen Million U.S. Dollar worth of investment for Viajero Travel and Tours in exchange for higher number of shares of the company. May initial investment na siya sa company na ito at na-reach na niya ang maximum number of shares offered for third party investment. But the thing was, he wanted more.
“My friend, I know how good you are in business but I can’t. You are asking more than my company can offer and I really wonder why,” makahulugan nitong tanong sabay sandal sa back rest ng sofa habang nakatingin sa kanya.
He grinned. Alam niya ang iniisip nito. “Nothing much. I just projected the great potential of Viajero Travel and Tours to grow and I want my money to be in there.”
“If I let you invest more, I’ll be giving you the license to steal my company. I know the game you want to play, Jude.” Indeed, ’pag tumaas pa ang shares of stocks niya sa Viajero, puwede na siyang maiboto as president of the board and that meant a possibility of taking over Ricardo’s position. Pero totoong wala siyang plano. Running a company was difficult. He didn’t have any plans of running two companies all at the same time. Mawawalan siya ng oras sa mga babae. That would be too boring. He really only wanted to grow his money.
“You think too much, my friend. I’m just after return on investment; nothing else,” he assured him.
Tumawa ito at makahulugang tiningnan siya. “I still can’t give you what you want unless you give me something worthy of the risk.”
Such a business player! “How much do you need?” hamon niya.
“My friend, money is not an issue here. I don’t need your money. I already had a lot of it.” Humalukipkip ito.
“So, what do you want for me to get what I want? Lay down your proposition,” he said firmly.
Seryosong tiningnan siya nito. “Be part of my business gem—the RnJ Services.”
He sensed a positivity in this negotiation so he kept going. “I never heard about RnJ Services. What does it have to be tagged as your business gem?”
Sa halip na sagutin siya isang black folder ang ipinatong nito sa center table sa pagitan nila. Ipinatong nito roon ang isang sign pen. Kunot-noong kinuha ni Jude ang folder at binuklat. Isang waiver ang document na naroon, merely stating that whatever information he would know about RnJ Services should remain a secret that he would bring down to his grave.
Tiningnan niya nang may pagdududa ang kaharap. “Is this an illegal business?” Hindi na siya nasurpresa nang tawanan lang siya nito. “I hope you’re not selling prohibited drugs. I don’t do dirty business.”
Lalong lumakas ang tawa nito. “Don’t worry, my friend. I’m not selling drugs.”
“So, why do I need to sign a waiver?” he asked still in doubt.
“I need to be sure. RnJ is not just a business. It’s a treasure. All information that you are about to know shall be kept under your pants.”
His curiosity led him to grab the pen. Tinapunan niya muna ng tingin si Ricardo bago siya umaktong pumirma sa document. Then he closed the folder and placed it well on the table.
“Now, tell me what’s with this RnJ Services of yours.”
He grinned. “Husband for hire.”
Napakunot ang noo niya sa sinabi nito.
- Writer
