What the hell? Pakiramdam ko ay hindi pumasok ng maayos ang sinabi nila sa tenga ko. Tumayo ako at ibinagsak ko ang kamay ko sa mesa ko.

"What the hell happened!? I just left the country for a week, ganito na nangyare?" I was fuming mad right now. Pilit kong pinapakalma ang sarili ko but I just can't. Taas baba ang dibdib ko dahil sa pagkokontrol ng paghinga.

Nakita ko ang takot sa mata ng board members. Umupo ako muli sa aking upuan at kinalma ang sarili ko. Minasahe ko ang sentido ko at bumuntong hininga.

Gather your shits together, Trish. Be calm. Just, be calm.

"Mr. Revalles, can you briefly discuss to me what happened at biglaang bumaba ang sales natin ng ganyan? For the fucking's sake, ngayon lang to nangyare sa loob ng apat taon." I asked coldly but madly sa aking CFO.

"Trish, calm d-"

"How can I Sophia?! Tell me!" I shouted at her. I hate this. I can't control myself.

"May magagawa ba iyang init ng ulo mo? Wala diba? And hindi naman sa CFO ang problema dito!" She shouted back. I bit my lower lip and breathed.

"Then what the hell is my company's problem?" I asked in a low and calmer tone.

"There's a new company trying to compete with us. They easily boomed. In just a span of one month, they boomed." Tumaas ang kilay ko kay Sophia. She is the marketing head of this company so I'm sure she knows how the hell that happened.

"What company?"

"Capris Lohun. A company of real estates, hotels and resorts." Tumaas ang kilay ko lalo.

"What's with them?" Tanong ko. Itinuro ni Sophia ang secretary ko. I look at him and waited for an explanation.

"Ma'am Adornado, nagback out po ang major supplier natin ng gamit sa resort and hotels. Nalugi sila dahil sa isang sumisikat ngayong supplier din. They were not just suppliers from Philippines but also internationally." Napakagat ako ng labi sa sinabi niya. Hinilot ko ang sentido ko nung mapagkunekta ko na ang mga pangyayare. I should have known, ako mismo ang nagsabi noon na ayoko ng contractual pagdating sa partnerships. I'm too confident na hindi sila ang magtatali sa akin. What the hell...

Fuck? How come...Oh my god, this can't continue for the next months or else babagsak ako. No, not now. Not now that I need to prove something.

"So what's your plan?" Dinig kong tanong ng isang board member.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that question? Of course find another supplier!" Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang tanong ko.

"But you don't want the lists of suppliers I gave you. Remember? You dismissed all of them. Ito ngang huli ay napilitan ka pa." Sabi ng isa sa mga board. Napapikit ako ng mariin. Of course! This is business. I can't just get anything for these. Pinaghirapan ko itong kumpanya ko. It's natural to want what's best for this company.

"Ideas, board?" I asked.

"The only idea I got is to find different suppliers. Hindi iyong set na. Yun nga lang, mas mapapamahal ka. You have to cash out big." Napailing ako. Hindi pupwede iyon. It's too risky. I won't risk this. I have to find another way.

Until an idea popped in my mind.

"Can you give me the name of that fucking company's supplier who's trying to compete me?" I asked.

"I think.... it's the Salazar Incorporation. When I attended one meeting with our major stock holders, narinig ko iyon. Though I'm not sure of that." Tumango ako sa kanila. Well, maybe I'll check that. Kung kakayanin ng company ko, I'll offer them to be my supplier.

"How many months do I have to fix this until we'll run out of supplies?"

"3 months."

Pag kauwing pagkauwi ko sa bahay, agad akong nagresearch about that Salazar Incorporation. Nagulat ako sa mga lumabas dito. True that, mukha nga silang magaling. They were originally from Canada but they decided to transfer their main branch here in Manila. Bwisit, bakit pa sila lumipat?

Nakita ko rin kung sinong owner ng kumpanyang iyon. Someone named Ezekiel Salazar. One of the hottest bachelor pa nga ang description dito. I have to set a meeting.

Agad kong tinawagan ang sekretarya nito. Scheduled. After two weeks.

Dumaing ako sa ginawa nitong kaharap ko. He kissed and sucked my neck at dahil doon, nasabunutan ko siya. I'm on top of him and I feel our sweat merging. He's hot okay. We're near to end nung biglang nagring ang aking phone. What the fuck? 3 am really?

He gave me one last kiss and laid beside me.

"Go answer your phone." He said. I reached for the bed sheet and covered my body.

Unregistered number pa ang tumatawag. The heck! I accepted the call but I didn't said a word.

"Good morning Ma'am Adornado. Sorry for calling this early." Buti naman alam mong early talaga! Still I didn't talk. Nakikiliti ako sa ginagawa niya sakin, he is drawing circles on my back.

"This is the secretary of Mr. Salazar. I just want to inform you that your meeting with Mr. Salazar was moved this morning, 7 am." Pinanlakihan ako ng mata. What?! Bakit biglaan? Ugh! I'm out of Metro Manila!

"Can we move the date? I'm...currently in Pampanga." I asked.

"Iyon lang po ang free ni Mr. Salazar. The next free date is after 3 months pa po. Mr. Salazar will be out of the country for the next months. Will you take it?" Oh shit. 3 months? That's all I have!

"Yes yes! Sure. Thank you." Pagkababa ko ng tawag ay agad niyang hinalikan ang shoulders ko. Nag isip ako. How can I finish my proposal presentation in just 4 hours? Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Hey babe, I'm sorry, I have to go. May urgent meeting ako. But...can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure, always for you babe." Malambing niyang sabi.

"Drive for me to Manila."

Habang nasa sasakyan ay hindi ako magkanda ugaga sa pagtytype.

Biglang nagring ang phone ko kaya dinampot ko iyon agad.

"Trish!"

"What Sophia? Is that urgent?" Madali kong tanong sa kanya.

"Grabe ka naman! Kasama mo ba si Dal?" Napatingin ako sa katabi ko. Yeah?

"No? Why would I? Iba tong kasama ko." Sabi ko.

"Shet new fling? Grabe ka talaga."

"Yes. Anyway, bakit ka tumawag? Busy ako."

"Si Nina kasi, she's back."

"What? OH MY GOD!" Napasigaw ako sa sobrang excitement.

"Yes! Later, we'll have dinner at 7. Sa bahay na lang nila sa Tagaytay tayo." Tumango ako kahit hindi niya nakikita. Napakagat ako ng labi sa naalala.

"Alam na ba ni.." nagaalangan kong tanong.

"Hindi ko alam. I don't even know kung ipapaalam ba natin."

"Just let them be. We've done our part. Wala tayong kasalanan. Bahala na si Nina kung ipapaalam man niya kay Daniel or not." Sabi ko.

Dumating kami sa Salazar Incorporation. I winked at him and bid goodbye.

Taas noo akong pumasok sa building nila. This is huge. Hinarang ako ng guard kaya nagtaas kilay ako.

"May appointment po kayo maam?" He asked. I presented my I.D. He look at it for a while and let me entered.

I went on the right floor at sumalubong sakin ang isang babaeng naka formal skirt. She smiled at me so I did the same.

"Madam Adornado? I'm Mr. Salazar's secretary." She asked.

"Yes. Is everything ready?" I asked. She smiled widely and nodded.

"Yes ma'am. This way."

I followed her lead and we entered a conference hall. Maganda ang designing ng lugar. Very manly yet classy.

"Ma'am, I will just inform Mr. Salazar that you're here already." I smiled and nodded.

Naisipan kong iset up na ang powerpoint ko. I can't believe I'm this nervous. Well, nakakaintimidate ang itsura niya sa picture.

Naupo ako nung matapos ko na itong iset up. Nainip ako. Nakita kong isang oras na ang lumipas simula nung pumasok ako dito. The hell? Sana pala ay 8 na ko pumunta!

Mag teten na ng umaga nung may pumasok na lalaki. Natigilan ako sa nakikita ko. He's on his middle 20's too I guess. Feeling ko kasing edad ko lang siya. He has this serious and seductive look. His long eyelashes just fitted his brown eyes. Manipis ang kanyang labi at matangos ang ilong. He also have this strong jaw line. He looks like he is walking seductively towards his swivel chair in front of this projector.

"It's rude to stare at other people, don't you know that?" tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. Pagtaas ko ng kilay ay binigyan niya ko ng isang nakakakilabot na ngiti.

"Let's just start Ms. Adornado."

I started discussing my company. This is not my job, I believe. But since I have to secure this deal, I should be the one to do it. I continued about my discussion. Everything in it. Pati ang aking proposal sa kanya. Hindi na sya lugi dito. I'm one of the greatest and richest bachelorette of the country.

"That's it." Pagtatapos ko sa proposal ko. He placed his finger under his chin. Para bang may iniisip siya.

"It's impressive Ms. Adornado. But before I sign any contract... I need to know first who will be my allies." Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Know?

"What...do you mean?"

"I have a private investigator who followed you this past few days... what a playgirl huh?" Nagtaas ako lalo ng kilay ko. Hindi naman tago ang pagiging play girl ko. Everyone knows it. Pero hindi ko akalain na ipapasunod niya ko sa ilan niyang tauhan! Like...what the hell?

"Yes I am. Now, where is this topic going?" I impatiently asked.

"I wanna see how the playgirl play. I want...you."