Recuerdo De Amor Island 3: I'm Yours, Now and Forever

Chapter 2

RAFAEL

As expected, media was already in front of Velasquez Empire building waiting for my family to show up. Mabuti na lang may way papuntang parking lot, kaya doon na lang ako dumaan papunta sa opisina ko na nasa top floor ng building.

"Good morning Sir Rafael!" agad na bati ng mga personal employees ko. Tango lang ang sinagot ko sa kanila.

"Mrs. Ty, Elliott be in my office after 10 minutes. " I didn't wait for them to reply, I continue walking inside my office. Agad kong binasa ang documento na hindi ko natapos ko kagabi.

After 10 minutes dumating ang dalawang executive assistant ko. Mrs, Emily Ty, is been working in this company since my father build the Luisa Airlines. Walang nagbago sa position n'ya, but this time medyo magaan na lang ang trabaho na nakaatang sa kanya. More on supervising my 3 secretaries for different companies I'm managing, and receiving important documents and my private calls.

While Elliott Domingo is like my right hand. I grow up with him in the Recuerdo De Amor Island and start working with me after he finish college with the help of company foundation. His parents few of first island settler that my parent been with. Now his parent are the caretaker of Villa Luisa kasama ang iba pa, and his sister is my trusted employee in the island. Where ever I go Elliott always travel with me. He arrange my schedule and sometimes deal with my meetings in my behalf. I trust them.

"Have a seat guys. I have somtheing to tell you both..." I sighed and continue, "...Tita I'm leaving to Spain tomorrow kasama si Elliott. Family issue. And I need to check the company branch there. Kaya doon muna kami ng magulang ko hanggat masolusyonan ang problema doon. You have the authority to attend any meetings here in my behalf together with the financial manager and report everything to me, hanggat hindi pa makarating si Ethan Sy dito bilang pansamantalang kapalit ko."

Ethan Sy is our family business partner. Sy own 20 percent stock share of Luisa Airlines. Ethan is one of RdA members too but he's working in China in their family company. Sigurading matutuwa 'yon kapag pakiusapan ko na s'ya muna ang mamahala dito sa Pilipinas ng Luisa Airlines. He always want to escape on his father dominant management. "And Tita, I want you announce an emergency meeting after lunch, to all higher employees. Gusto ko silang makausap sa biglaang pag-alis namin. Also call my 6 brothers tita for tomorrow's lunch, kailangan ko rin silang kausapin. Please tell them, it's urgent. Nagfile na ba nang resignation n'ya ang Operation Manager ng isla?"

"Wala pa akong nareceive na report galing sa HR eh," Tita Emily replied.

"Please check Tita and send her resignation to Christian. S'ya na ang bahalang maghanap nang magiging kapalit n'ya sa isla. I made a mistake assigning her."

Hindi ko maiwasang mapaismid sa huling sinabi ko. Her performance at work was outstanding but outside she was major turn off. Seducing a RdA member continuesly just because she like him wass against the rules in the island. She knew that rule but she choose to ignored it. So I fired her. Buti nga I've been considerate to make her file a resignation to save her reputation.

"I'll let you know Rafael. If you don't mind I'll ask, may kinalaman ba ito sa balitang nakabuntis ang pinsan mo?" Tita Emily asked.

I nod. "Yes tita. That dimwit can't zip his pant off kaya ito ang nangyari. Naapektuhan na ang kompanya doon dahil sa balita. Ako na naman yata ang aatasang linisin ang gulo n'ya."

"He wants that hijo, the attention and to piss you off. And I heard in the news today, his fiance leave Spain too at walang nakakaalaman kung saan s'ya pumunta," kwento ni Tita Emily.

I frown but I understand her for doing it. "Hindi na ako magtataka sa nangyari tita. She doesn't want this arrangement too. She took the opportunity to run off and hide, for sure."

Tita Emily simple nod to agree. Si Elliott naman ang binalingan ko.

"Prepare yourself Elliott. Doon muna tayo sa Spain magtatrabaho, I'm not sure kung hanggang kailan. You have to change all my schedule except my appearance in Abu Dhabi. We still need to watch the racing competition doon kahit anung mangyari. Pass all my meetings to Tita Emily and help her sort it. That all guys, let's get everything done."

Tumango lang si Elliott at nagpaalam na silang bumalik sa kanilang mesa. I face my work once again. Quick, fast but surely, I read all the report and proposal that I need to sign.

I let Elliott deliver my lunch meal in my office at doon na kumain. After that ipinaalam ko mga empleyado ang gagawin. I confidence leaving them my company here, I trust them to keep their work the way it is. Alam nila kung anu ang kaya kong gawin kapag may gagawin sila under the table and behind my back.

"Rafael a certain Mr. Dwight Hendrix Romanov wants to talk to you. He said he came all the way from Russia to personally deliver something for you," Tita Emily announced, as she enter my office to put the files I need, in my table.

I simple nod. "Send him here tita. I know him well. At maari na kayong umuwi tita, it's past 5pm na. Kami na ang bahala dito. See you tomorrow. "

"Okey then. See you tomorrow Rafael. Send my regards to your parent. I have to go."

"I will Tita," I said softly. Lumabas na ito sa opisina ko.

I waited for few minutes for Dwight's arrival in my floor. Narinig ko ang pagbati nito sa 3 kong secretary at kay Elliott. Naglakad ako sa pintuan para personal s'yang pinagbuksan ng pinto.

"Well, well, well! Finally, I got to come here in the Philippines, and one word I can describe so far is " traffic". We stuck in the road coming here for almost an hour," he uttered in annoyance.

I smirk hearing his complain. Nakipagbrother hug ako dito at fist bump. We settle in the sofa bago ako nagsalita.

"I warned you before. Mabuti na 'yong masanay ka sa traffc dito. Your mom will be happy to know you are brave to come here. Better learn fast of our language and agree already to join us in RdA, so you can have vacation place here and investment too."

He snort and glared at me. He's a fruit of a broken family. 2 years old pa lang s'ya nang maghiwalay ang magulang nito. Dwight mother is half Filipina/Spanish, once married to his Russian father, a business tycoon in field of jewelry. May sariling gold mining company na pinag-aaralang patakbuhin ni Dwight as the eldest heir. His parents have nasty divorce that make his father prohibited him to come here in the Philippines, where now his mother simple living with her second family.

"She still don't know I'm here but I planned to stay for a month to meet her family. I understand tagalog bro but it's still hard to speak them, my tongue twisted all the time. And about your request, I'm joining after I'll speak to my parents about the past, so that no more hindrance in my way and peace of mind too." He's worried at the same time anxious sa sitwasyon n'ya ngayon. I can't blame him, kahit palagi silang nag-uusap ng mama nito sa telephone, iba pa rin ang personal na pag-uusap. Siguradong hindi alam ng ama nito na nandito s'ya sa Pilipinas.

"It's okay Bro. I leave a place for you in the island. Just let me know if you are ready. You already know the drill. It's done already?" I asked.

Ngumisi ito. Alam na nito ang tinutukoy ko. Agad nitong pinatong sa gitna ng mesa ang hindi ko napansins suitcase na dala n'ya. He opened it and show me the seven velvet small boxes inside the case. All of them have names on top, I find mine and eagerly open it.

Tumambad sa'kin ang magandang kwentas na pinagawa namin sa kanya. The RdA Necklace, the symbol of our love, fidelity and ownership to the woman we are going to love someday. I can't help but to admire the beautiful creation, perfectly copied the necklace design.

"Thank you Dwight, hindi ako nagkamali na sa inyo ipagawa ito. Ang ganda," I uttered habang binabalik ang kwentas sa kahon.

He chuckle. "My pleasure. That were worth a lot of millions to us so we are happy making them. The RdA members Necklace will release soon. We already made 15 finish products but it's better to wait, until we make the rest and give it to you altogether."

I nod. "Sounds good to me. I'm sure the members can wait that. Until now, noone kiss the frog that can turn into princess."

"It's very difficult to find that special frogs now a days dude so patience is virtue." He's grinning. I can't argee more.

"Let's get out of here already. Isama kita sa bar ni Levi, 'yon ang tambayan nang iba nating kaibigan. They will be thrilled once they see you. And be prepare... I'm sure they'll use tagalog to speak with you. Alam mo naman kung gaano kaalaskador ang mga 'yon," paalala ko sa kanya.

He's my distant relative in my father side. His mom and my father are 3rd cousin. Halos lahat ng RdA founders and members are his friends too. I brought my friends in Russia once, we spend a week there, since then nagclick s'ya sa grupo and keep in touch with us in social media. Months ago, nang maisipan naming magpagawa ng RdA founder necklaces sa kanya, sinadya kong pumunta sa Russia to give the designs and pursued him to join us.

"That's why I'm here Bro. And I want to see the Island so better give me the approval to enter there."

I nod. "Sure. You can stay in the Villa, bring your mom and her family there if you want. But I can't assist you Dwight, I'm leaving tomorrow to Spain."

"Its ok," he uttered with understanding. "It's all over the news and social media Bro. I just hope they won't get you involve on this."

"I hope not too. I won't let them manipulate me though. Being their puppet with a string is not part of my vocabulary anyway."

"That's good to hear."

We talk random things that happened in our lives. Somehow, I can relate on what's happening in his life dahil may kapareho ang nagaganap sa'min ngunit determenadong manalo sa huli. Our enemy? Family beliefs and manipulation. They did that before to my dad, I'm sure they are going to do it also with me. I'm already ready to face the consequences if they push it through. For me, I only gonna follow one thing in my life. My heart.