Embracing Every Bit of You

7- "Distracted."

“So, the main catch here is that the main enemy is the newly appointed Executive of the Lorenzos? ‘Yan ang ibig ninyong iparating?” she asked them.

“May naiisip ako…” The Product Manager lazily leaned his back on the rest of his executive chair, saying something suggestive rather than directly addressing and answering her question. “Why don’t you do what you often did the past few years back, Miss Mei?”

She seriously looked at the man who is now grinning with whatever he has in his mind. “Do what?”

“Come on, huwag ka nang magmaang-maangan. You know very well what I’m talking about, kaya nga ang taas at ang ganda ng performance sales natin nitong mga nakaraang taon, ‘di ba? And to think that most of our clients and purchasers crossed air and oceans just to have a glimpse of that beauty that Miss Meiryn Montevalle naturally has…”

She didn’t move but her eyebrow raised a bit, nakukuha na niya ang punto at ang nais nitong itumbok.

Hindi naman nakaligtas sa pandinig niya ang malalim na pagbuntong-hininga ni Austin na tahimik lamang usually sa mga ganitong meeting ngunit dahil sa isinu-suggest na strategy ngayon sa kanya to lure their current enemy ay halatang tutol itong Marketing Strategist niya.

“Right. You know, hija, you’re young, beautiful and innocent-looking but deep inside you're, actually, a wise business maiden. Why don’t you use your charm again gaya ng ginagawa mo to lure your enemies and to winning sales? I don’t know if it’s true but based from the articles I have read, the Executive Director of the Lorenzos is still bachelor, meaning still very available in the market, walang asawa kaya wala pang sabit. Hindi ka masyadong mahihirapan sa kanya kapag nagkataon,” said the CFO, who is now on full support with the idea that Product Manager started to suggest.

“It’s, maybe, the right time too, na makahanap na ng katapat niya ang Executive Director ng Lorenzo Group of Companies,” gatong pa ng DGM.

She’s starting to form a hint of grin on her lip dahil sa pinagsasasabi ng mga ito.

“Kumbaga, tuso sa tuso pagdating sa usaping negosyo…” patuloy pa nito habang nakangisi para magbiro. “At malay na rin natin pati rin pagdating usaping sa puso, hindi ba*”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea nowadays, or that’s even still applicable,” mariin namang pagtutol ni Austin. “Matagal nang iniwan ni Miss Montevalle ang ganyang gawain. Besides, maaari siyang mapahamak diyan*“

“Come on, Mr. Gomez. Maari mo namang i-set aside muna ang personal feelings mo for our CMO. After all, it’s for the company’s sake!” tatawa-tawang tugon ng Product Manager dito.

“Besides, nakita mo naman, hindi naman siya napahamak those years na ginagamit niya ang ganda niya for business purposes, hindi ba? That’s even a great strategy, and you should know that! You yourself is a Marketing Strategist, right?”

Austin just clenched his jaw sa inis at pagkabanas. He really despises ideas like these, na alam nitong si Mei ang nalalagay sa alanganin.

“Austin, relax. Alang-alang sa kompanya, let Meiryn do the work that we all know truly works!” si CFO.

“They’re right, Austin.” Mei finally spoke her mind. “Hindi naman siguro masama kung susubukan ko alang-alang sa ikaaangat ulit ng kompanya at negosyo.”

“But, Mei*“

“I’ll be fine,” she cut him reassuringly.

Austin sighed, wala nang magagawa. Si Mei na mismo nagsalita, eh!

“Bakit hindi na lang natin tanungin ang ama? People often say, ‘Mother knows best,’ then isn't it the time to say too that, ‘Father also knows best?’” CFO asked with a half-meant and a half-humor tone while still grinning, and then he turned to Mei’s father. “What can you say, Mr. President?”

President Romero Montevalle sighed a bit as he slightly touched the frame of his eyeglasses. “I knew how my daughter’s charm worked for business, pero tama din si Austin, maaaring mapahamak ang anak ko diyan. Mei’s my only daughter, my princess, someone that I only have now. Hindi ko yata maaatim na mapahamak siya.”

“But, Mr. President*“

Si Mei na mismo ang nag-address sa sarili niyang ama. “I’ll be fine, dad. Trust me.”

“Kung ako ang tatanungin, sang-ayon ako sa daddy mo, Miss. May anak din akong babae, and I couldn’t imagine using her as possible bait just to succeed in business na alam kong maari siyang malagay sa alanganin,” the COO voiced out too.

“Mag-isip na lang kasi tayo ng ibang mas effective na strategy na hindi naman mapapahamak ‘yung kahit na sino sa atin,” it was the Chief Technology Officer. “Especially, our CMO who is the heiress and future President of this company.”

Natapos at nag-meeting adjourned na’t naiwan pa rin si Mei sa loob ng boardroom. Hindi na muna kasi niya sinama at pinatawag ngayon ang kanyang secretary since kararating lang niya kaya siya itong nagliligpit ng kanyang mga gamit. Her laptop and her notes.

Austin even presented na magpaiwan din para tulungan siya at sabay na silang lumabas ngunit pinauna na niya ang lalaki dahil bukod sa sobra-sobra na ang pagpapasundo niya rito mula sa airport kanina nang muli siyang lumapag sa Pilipinas at ipinag-drive pa siya hanggang dito sa kompanya ay alam din niyang marami pang gagawin at mga tatapusing trabaho ang boy best friend niya, so she reassured him she would be just fine and kaya na niya, hindi naman siya bulag, pipi, o lumpo, eh.

She was shutting her laptop down nang muling bumukas ang pinto nitong boardroom at iniluwa niyon ang tila sinadya pang bumalik na Deputy General Manager.

“Yes, Deputy Gen. Man.? Have you forgotten something?” she asked him without even bothering to look at him.

Lumapit ito sa kanya at may inilapag na timely magazine sa harapan niya. Napataas tuloy ang kilay niya nang mag-angat ng tingin dito.

“This is Mr. Lorenzo’s profiler. In case you’re interested and you’ll look forward to what almost the majority have suggested on you, you can take a look on that, Miss.”

Taas ang gilid ng labi nito nang sumibat na ulit.

Patamad niyang kinuha at binuklat ang magazine. Tingnan nga natin kung gaano ka ka-stress at a young age handling groups of companies that your family owns!

Ganoon na lamang ang pagkagulat niya nang imbes na makita ang isang mukha ng stress na bachelor at a young age because of his different responsibilities running giant business ay isang oozing man in his suit and tie ang tumambad sa kanya!

Nagmistulan pa itong male clothing model dahil sa ayos at sa tindi ng dating nito lalo na ng register nito sa camera. Totally a masterpiece! And Meiryn’s a hundred percent sure na hindi iilang babae ang nagtatapon ng mga sarili ng mga ito makuha lamang ang pansin at atensyon ng binata.

Grant Lorenzo. Twenty-seven. Single. A successful business tycoon at the age of twenty-five. Graduated on St. Mandimore University with a Degree on BS Architecture, affiliated and recognized as MVP for two years as being the Captain of their varsity in Basketball. He proceeded on his Master’s and self-studied how business works in the modern-day world. Passed the board exam for Architects with flying colors. Truly a successful businessman at a young age that every woman will drool over for.

Of course, Mei recognizes who this man exactly is! Aside from his profilers and affiliations circulating on every article made about him, alam niyang itong-ito ‘yung lalaking napag-alayan niya ng sarili five years ago! Ang lalaking naging dahilan kung kaya’t tuluyan niyang tinalikuran ang pangarap na pagma-Madre sa pandidiri sa kanyang sarili dahil tila pakawalang ipinagkaloob ang sarili sa estrangherong ito!

Naikuyom niya ang kanyang mga kamao. Hindi kaya ay panahon na rin talaga para muli silang magkita ng binatang ito?

Pinapangako niya sa kanyang sarili, pababagsakin niya si Grant Lorenzo at all cost para naman sa ikaaangat ng Montevalle business. Mananapak na kung mananapak, manlalamang na kung manlalamang, basta para sa kompanyang pinangalagaan ng daddy niya ng ilang taon ay gagawin niya lahat! Wala siyang pakialam kung sinuman ang mababangga o masasaktan niya basta umangat lamang at maging number one ulit ang Montevalle all over the Philippines!