Clea Mair Azaria’s Pov
Geez!
I can’t believe this! Kung kailan may importante akong meeting sa araw na ito ay tsaka pa ako tinanghali ng gising!
Seriously, Clea Mair?
Pinaghandaan kong mabuti ang lahat ng materials na gagamitin ko para sa magiging meeting na ito dahil crucial moment ito para sa JFCC tapos magpapa-late lang pala ako?
Grabe!
Sana lang ay umabot pa ako. Siguradong isang malaking kahihiyan sa kumpanya na pinagtatrabahuhan ko kapag hindi ko magawang makuha ang deal na ito.
Aba, para ko na ring sinabi na hindi ko deserve ang ilang beses kong promotion dahil lang sa pagkaka-late ko sa importanteng meeting na ito.
Napatingin ako sa phone na ginagamit ko para sa trabaho ko nang mag-ring ito.
The number was a bit familiar. Kaya naman agad kong sinuot ang bluetooth earphone ko at sinagot ang tawag.
“This is Clea Mair, JFCC Commissary Manager,” pakilala ko sa caller. “How may I help you?”
“Hi, Miss Mair,” bati ng nasa kabilang linya. “I am Leon, Mister Henan’s secretary.”
Bahagya akong kinabahan nang marinig iyon at agad na ipinark ang sasakyan ko sa gilid ng kalsada. s**t! Late na ba ako?Are they going to cancel my appointment to their president?
“Hi.” I tried my best to sound okay. “Is… is there something wrong? Am I already late for my appointment?”
“Oh, no,” mabilis niyang sagot na ikinahinga ko ng maluwag. “Actually, I called to tell you that your meeting with Mister Henan was moved to another location.”
Kumunot ang noo ko. “What?”
“I am sorry for the inconvenience, Miss,” apologetic niyang sabi. “It is our fault so please don’t worry even if you arrive there late. Mister Henan assured me that he will entertain your presentation no matter what happens.”
“R-really?” Oh god! I guess I am still lucky even though I almost blew this opportunity for our company.
“Yes, Miss,” he said. “Mister Henan has an urgent meeting at Yain City and he is expecting you to meet him there. He will wait for you at the store named SweetHeart.”
Shit! Yain City? “That was on the other side of the country.”
“You are right, Miss,” sabi niya. “Sorry po talaga sa biglaang isyu na ito. Pero huwag po kayong mag-alala. Ipinahanda na po ni Sir Andrel ang sasakyan niyo. Dumeretso na lang po kayo dito sa office dahil naghihintay na po ang helicopter na magdadala sa inyo sa Yain City.”
“Oh.” Well, I guess I don’t have to worry about that. “Okay, thank you so much.”
At least sila na ang gumawa ng paraan para makarating ako sa Yain City nang hindi na kinakailangan pang mag-book ng flight.
“I will be there in ten minutes, thank you.” Pinatay ko ang tawag at muling pinaandar ang sinasakyan ko. I still need to show them that I am desperate to get this deal. Kaya naman kailangan ko nang bilisan ang pagpunta doon.
As I said, I arrived in front of Henan Shipping Company. I parked my car and gave the key to one of their staff that was waiting for me and followed another one that guided me to their helipad.
And I was greeted by a man in a suit as he smiled at me. “Hello, Miss Mair.” Inilahad nito ang kanyang kamay sa harap ko. “I am Leon, the one that you speak to on the phone.”
I accepted his hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you, Mister Leon.”
He chuckled and let go of my hand. “Please, just call me Leon,” he said. “Anyway, the pilot is already here. Maaari ka nang sumakay. May naghihintay ng company car sa lalapagan ng chopper sa Yain City. Ito ang maghahatid sayo kay Mister Henan.”
I smiled and nodded. “Noted, Leon. Thank you so much for this.”
“No worries, Miss.” Tinulungan niya akong makasakay ng chopper at bahagya na lamang nag-bow bago tuluyang lumayo dahil hindi ko na din naman siya maririnig sa ingay ng helicopter.
At ilang sandali pa ay nagsimula nang tumaas ang helicopter hanggang sa maging steady ang taas nito at tahakin ang himpapawid patungo sa Yain City.
Doon ko sinimulang i-review ang presentation ko.
We are going to meet in a public place so I had to focus on remembering every detail of my presentation to make sure that I will be able to convey everything to Mister Henan.
Muntik ko nang mapakawalan ang pagkakataon na ito dahil sa pagiging pabaya ko kaya naman kailangan kong masiguro na hindi na ako papalpak pa.
Halos tatlong oras din ang tinagal ng byahe namin sa himpapawid. Medyo natagalan pa sa paglanding dahil hindi pala private area ang landing zone dito at marami din ang gumagamit ng helicopter papasok at palabas ng syudad na ito.
At tulad ng sinabi ni Leon, isang kotse ang naghihintay sa pagdating ko para dalhin sa lugar kung nasaan na si Mister Henan ngayon. At inabot pa ng additional two hours ang byahe namin hanggang sa makarating kami sa pastry shop na nagngangalang SweetHeart.
I know this shop.
Ilang buwan pa lang ang nakakalipas nang maging sikat ito dahil sa mga kakaibang pasty product na mayroon sila. At naging matunog ang kanilang pangalan dahil sa tulong ng isang sikat na influencer na aksidente lamang na na-discover ang shop.
But sad to say, they only serve their product around this city.
Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago tuluyang pumasok sa shop. Iginala ko ang tingin at agad kong nakita ang nag-iisang lalaki na nakaupo sa pinakadulong bahagi ng shop.
I have already seen him in news and magazines, which is why I am aware of Mister Andrel Henan’s looks.
With his good looks, a lot of women are doing their best to get his attention. They were even trying to include the Henan Shipping Company to their schemes just to talk to him and others were ready to set him up on different blind dates.
But none of them succeed.
Imbes na sila ang makakontrol kay Mister Henan, sila pa itong nakokontrol ng lalaki sa mga bagay na gusto nitong ipagawa sa kanila.
Lumapit ako sa kinauupuan niya at agad naman siyang tumayo at ngumiti nang makita ako. “It is good to finally meet you, Miss Clea Mair,”