Bridgetine Heirs | Via

Chapter 1

CJ

"See you later?" Annette asked.

"I don't know yet. I'll call you." sabi ko sa kanya. Fil-Am si Annette at walang label ang relasyon namin. Kapag nandito s'ya sa California ay nagkikita kami. At kapag wala s'ya -- well, there are other fishes in the sea. 

Inihatid ko s'ya hanggang pintuan ng opisina ko pero hindi ko inakala na hahalikan nya ako ng marubdob. It was one of those highly erotic kisses. Tinapos n'ya ang halik at narinig ko pa ang mahina pero malandi n'yang pagtawa bago nagpatuloy ng paglakad papunta sa elevator. I was about to go back inside my office when I caught a glimpse of a tall woman in a long black dress. She was standing at the visitor's lounge and browsing through her phone.  Napangiwi ako ng mapansin ang kanyang suot. Turtle neck, three quarter sleeves at hanggang kalahating binti ang bestidang suot n'ya. Maganda na sana, kakaiba lang manamit. I like my women showing a little bit of skin.

As far as I can remember, nasa California pa rin naman ako. At summer dito ngayon, eh bakit ganito ang suot ng babaeng ito? But her clothes didn't make a difference from my aching loins, I am getting hard by the second. Ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng ganito katinding epekto sa isang babae at halos wala s'yang ipinakitang balat. What's happening to me?

"Sir, your meeting for two o'clock is here. Should I send her in?" sabi ng sekretarya ko. 

Tumango ako. "Sure. I am free now." Nagmamadali akong pumunta sa washroom ng opisina at naghilamos. Pinilit kong kalmahin ang sarili ko. But when I got out, guess who's meeting me at two? It's the lady in black. 

"Good afternoon, Sir." Bati n'ya sa akin. Hindi ngumiti pero maaliwalas naman ang kanyang mukha. Unlike other women, she doesn't seem to swoon upon seeing me. She didn't even bother taking a seat either. Baka hinihintay nya akong paupuin s'ya.

"Good afternoon. Have a seat please." Naglakad ako papunta sa silya ko at naupo. She sat down as well. Saglit ko s'yang pinagmasdan. "Have we met before?" Nakita ko ang bahagyang pagtaas ng isang kilay n'ya. Binuksan ko ang folder sa harap ko at tumambad sa akin ang pangalan n'ya. "You're Via??" Hindi ako makapaniwala.

"Octavia Russo, Sir." She was very formal and business like. 

"But you're Via, right? Auntie Liv's daughter?"

"Yes."

"What are you doing here?" May firm sila sa New York. She can do her training there. Ano ang naisipan n'ya at dito sa California pa napiling mag-OJT?

"I wanted to do my internship here and it was approved."

"By who?" Kunot noo kong tanong sa kanya.

Ang likod n'ya ay tuwid na tuwid at punong puno s'ya ng kumpyansa. "By you."

"What?" Bahagya akong nagulat sa sinabi n'ya. Bakit ko naman gagawin 'yon? Saglit kong tinawagan ang sekretarya ko para kumpirmahin. "Jenny, when did you give me Via's file?"

"Who is Via?" Nagtatakang tanong nito.

"Octavia Russo."

"Oh, Miss Russo. A month ago, Sir. You were talking to Miss Anette Villamor on the phone when I gave it to you. You signed for it. Why?"

"Nothing. Thank you." I closed her file and clasp my hands. I can't believe Via is all grown up. I think the last time I saw her, she was in grade school. I just finished university at the time and then I got busy and never had a chance to visit them again. Sina Daddy lang ang madalas magpunta ng New York kasama ang mga kapatid ko. "How long is your training here?"

She smirked then frowned. "You don't remember what you signed?"

Napamura ako sa isip ko. She has a sassy mouth. "I am waiting for an answer."

"Six months."

"Okay. What do you want to learn?"

"Everything your firm can offer me. I admire Auntie Chloe's work. It is similar to my parents but at the same time, she has her own touch."

It's nice to know she appreciates my mother's work. "She's on vacation for the next three months. You can train with her when she returns. I am sure she will be delighted."

"Oh! Okay, I can train with one of her team members. That's no problem." I haven't seen her smile one bit. What's wrong with her?

Lorenzo is the second in command in my mother's team when she's away. Just thinking she would be spending a lot of time with him makes me uneasy already. I don't like it one bit. "No."

"No? Why? I am sure I won't be a cause of delay. I am a fast learner."

"You will be training with me." Ako man ay nagulat sa desisyon ko. Wala na nga akong oras para sa iba kong gawain ay nagdagdag pa ako ng isa.

"Pardon me?" Mukhang s'ya naman ang nagulat.

"What? You don't want me to train you? Do I make you feel uncomfortable?"

Saglit n'ya akong tinitigan. "No. I feel perfectly fine." I was a little disappointed that she didn't even flinch. I mean, kahit konting paghanga sa akin -- wala?? 

"Not the least bit uncomfortable?"

Kumunot ang noo n'ya. "Should I be?"

"I don't know. Most women can't wait to work with me. Some feel nervous and wants to back out because they think I'm a perfectionist."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hindi maalis ang gatla n'ya sa noo.

"I am saying you don't look excited to work with me. You also don't feel nervous."

"Oh."

"Oh? That's all you have to say?" Naiinis na ako. Walang epekto ang charms ko sa kanya? 

"I got nothing to say. Besides, you are the boss. What you say goes."

"You got that right. So when do you start? Wait, where are you staying?"

"I can start anytime you want me to. As for where I live, I'm renting an apartment not too far from here."

"Why didn't you ask Dad to stay with them? The house is big enough."

Umiling ito. "No, I don't want to intrude. Besides, I like being on my own. Thank you though."

Beautiful, smart, independent with a sassy mouth. She's going to be a piece of work. "Have you had lunch?"

Tumango ito. "I had lunch before I came here."

"Then have dinner with me." Have dinner with me? What the f*ck?

Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi n'ya. "No, thank you." 

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to?"

"You are setting a record here."

"Why?"

"No one has said no to me before."

She snorted. "Oh."

"Is that all you're going to say? You keep saying oh. It's irritating."

"Oh?" She chuckled.  Halatang inaasar n'ya ako at tuluyan ng nalukot ang mukha ko. "What time do you want me to start tomorrow?"

"Be here at nine in the morning. Sharp."

"Okay. Is that all?"

"Wear something colorful. I don't like black." Wala pa akong taong sinabihan kung ano ang dapat nilang isuot. Lalo na sa mga empleyado ko. I feel like I'm possessed today and it's all because of this young woman. Sh*t! She's only what? Twenty? Twenty one?

I heard her sigh. "With all due respect, Sir -- I believe what I wear is none of your business . If I want to wear black -- I will wear black. What I wear as long as it is provocative -- does not affect my work." Diniinan n'ya ang salitang will. "Have a good day and see you tomorrow." 

Napatanga ako at hindi na nakapagsalita. Ang papalayong bulto na lang n'ya ang nakita kong lumabas ng opisina ko. 

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