"No one will leave this room until I said so." Dad said.
Some of the officials na pumunta ay umuwi na. Hindi lang kasi isang tao ang sumisisgaw, yung babae lang ang nakapasok pero madami silang nasa labas.
"Dad what happened?" I asked.
Pero hindi na si Dad ang sumagot sa tanong ko. A police officer came to us and started explaining.
"Mr. Gonzalves, ang isang machine na gagamitin dapat para sa pag sira nang lupa ay sumabog, ang sabi sa amin nang mga nakasurvive ay mag difficulties daw ang machine at bigla nalang sumabog. Aware po ba kayo?"
"No, we checked all the machine by our head engineer, who happened to be in the accident too." Dad explained.
Shane is beside me making me comfortable. Lima lang kaming andito nang umalis na ang police. Dad sighed.
"No one will talk about this." Dad pointed us.
"Why? Wala naman akong alam." I defended myself.
"Greg make some phone calls so the families can receive an amount for their loss. And to keep them quiet." Dad ignored me.
My ears lingers when I heard it. Dad as usual, sabi ko naman. Natutunan ko ang masalimuot na parte nang pamilyang ito. Pera kapalit nang pananahimik nang tao. Para sakanya ganon lang kadali yon.
"Shane." I whispered.
"Not a word Shaznae." He threatened me.
Gabrielle on the other hand was just caressing my dad to calm down.
"We should talk to the media love." She said.
Dad looked at her and just nod. That easy.
"You have something to say Astrid?" Dad then looked at me.
"Apologize to the families rather than sucking them money to keep quiet." I bravely said.
Cause Dad held a prestigious image in the media he need to do it.
"I know. We're going home for now."
The media was reporting as the tv flashed the report.
"Almost 5 people was found dead and 10 more people fell on the accident. The police officers found out that the cause is the malfunction of one of the machine. It was then discovered that someone allegedly pull out some gears for the machine to malfunction and expload. As of now we are trying to get a word with the LGE CEO, Mr. Laurix Galvez we'll get back to you."
I leaned against Shane as I was listening to the reporter. Unang beses palang nangyare ito. In my knowledge eto pa lang ang unang accident na napublic. Some are sorted out privately.
"You are the new COO Astrid, kailangan mong sumama kay Dad sa harap nang media." Shane mentioned.
I know, I was just shocked. Dahil sa Lahat nang ito ay biglaan lang. but it's still business. You have to compromise to know that the people can still trust you. Laurix G. Empire still holds a great amount of businesses if one fails the other follows. Kaya dapat malinis pa din ang tingin nang mga tao sayo at sa kumpanya mo.
"Let's Go." Binalot saakin ni Shane ang kanyang coat at inalalayan palabas.
I can hear the sound of the shuttering cameras. Dad was escorted by a lot of bodyguards. I shrugged Shane's hand on my shoulders.
"I can walk." I told him.
Taas noo akong lumabas nang pinto at sunod sunod na pag flash nang camera ang tumutok sakin. Di ko kailangan yumuko dahil the company is not accountable in any cause. It's an accident.
I can't hear them clearly but reporters shouted our names para mainterview. Pagkapasok ko sa loob nang kotse ay nakahinga na ako nang onti.
"I saw Vien." I sighed.
"Yeah? What did he said?"
"I never gave him a chance to explain." Whispered.
Deep down on my wicked heart I know he doesn't deserve one. Bakit ko bibigyan nang pagkakataon magexplain ang isang taong niloko ako? Paano mo pa paniniwalaan kung una palang niloko kana? You see this is how everything works for other people.
You want them to give you chance, to change, to be better or to be deserving but in reality binibigyan mo lang sila nang isa pang chance para lokohin ka, gaguhin ka at pagmukhain kang tanga. So why bother giving them that chance to take advantage of your weakness?
He doesn't deserved to be given a chance to explain himself because he already did it.
"Maybe he has reasons you know..." Shane said.
Hindi ko alam kung paano nya nasasabi yan pero hindi naman sila magkaibigan ni Vien. He knows Vien through me. I introduced Vien to him.
"How will you know kuya? Kasi the lastest information I got. The girl who is banging him that day was the girl he is dating right now. What's the point of wasting my time for him."
Pagkadating namin sa tapat nang mansyon samo't saring media personnel ang humaharang sa gate namin.
We got through it by the help of oir guards. Nang makapasok na ko ay lahat kami nasa living room.
Greg turns on the TV.
"Magandang Gabi Kabayan, ngayon nga ho ay nandito tayo sa tapat nang Mansion nang mga Gonzalves and kanina lamang ay dumating na sila. Ito ay ukol sa nangyare kaninang hapon nang ala singko, kung saan sumabog ang isang makina na dapat gagamitin sa pag ground breaking kung tawagin. Nagtamo ito nang 10 na naaksidente at 5 ang patay. Kanina nga ho e naantala ang Engagement Party ni Mr. Laurix Gonzalves dahil sa pagprotesta nang isang kaanak nang namatay. Ngayon ay hinihintay na lamang natin ang kanilang pahayag."
We then looked at Daddy after hearing the news.
"Kauna unahang aksidente na nangyare. Paano nangyare yon?" I asked.
"Astrid, hayaan mo munang mag isip ang daddy mo." Gabrielle turned to me.
"Di ka pa parte nang pamilyang ito. Wala kang karapatan pagsabihan ako." Tinignan ko siya nang masama.
"Yes Dad? What are you gonna do now? Salpakan nang pers ang mga tao para manahimik. Para palabasin na aksidente lang lahat at wala kang kinalaman?" I raged in anger.
"Yes that's what I will do Shaznae! That's what we always do, right? Now shut the hell up and get ready ikaw ang haharap sa media bukas." Aalis na sana siya pero napatigil siya sa mga sinabi ko.
"You cannot shut me up Dad! This is the company's problem and this is a family problem also, you protected this for years and yes I will be the one to face the cameras tomorrow. Watch me."
Watch me face them and I will show you I deserve this company. I deserve this power and I deserve to sit on that throne of yours.
"Make me proud." He said one last time and go.
"Astrid, if you need any help with the media I can help you." Gabrielle approach me.
Tinignan ko siya mula ulo hanggang paa. I remember all the details I saw at Alfer's investigations.
"I don't need a mistress and an ex-convict step-mom to help." I smiled when I see her shocked reaction.
I flipped my hair bago ako umalis sa harap nya. She is not even on an average level to be my Mom. My Mom is nothing like her, ano bang nagustuhan ni Dad dito? Is he using this girl? Cause I know that's how it works for him.
I called Alfer, I didn't see him after the incident. Hindi ko na din alam kung bakit nawala din si Vien noon but I dont really care about his existence. After 3 missed calls he finally answer.
"You missed me right?" Bungad niya sakin.
"No, can you come over? Di ako makaalis nang bahay ang daming reporters sa labas." I explained.
I walked in to my room and peeked outside. May mga nagcacamping na reporters sa labas. Ang iba ay nagbabalita pa. Secured naman ang dahil may mga guards sa labas nang gates.
"And do you really think I can pass that reporters?" He laugh.
"Please." I even pouted kahit si nya kita.
"Alright, just make sure your father won't kill me."
"He won't. I got you." I said and ended the call.
I also alerted the guards na darating si Alfer. But I addressed him as my boyfriend so they won't bother ask. I also told Greg so he will accompany him to my room. Habang naghihintay ay naligo na muna ako, took off all my make up and a nice cold shower to relax myself. I wear my night dress and a cover up. I also blow dried my hair and put on some skin care on my face.
After that I heard a knock on my door. I opened it and Alfer was there, still i his suit.
"Saan ka nagpunta?" Tanong ko sakanya.
"Hinila ako nang kaibigan ko sa isang bar kaya maaga ako umalis kanina." He explained.
I nodded and closed the doors. I quietly tiptoe to him and claimed his lips. He obediently response to my kisses. Gently not harsh and not rough, just a soft responses that can take you away. I was clinging my hands on his neck and his hands rested on my waist.
When the our kiss went deeper we heard a knock.
"Freak." He whispered as if he knows who's knocking.
I rolled my eyes because of it and opened the door.
"Is Alfer here?" Shane looked at me innocently.
"The fuck do you want?" I irritatedly asked.
"Yah, I just want to talk to Alfer."
On cue, Alfer walked behind me to peek on Shane who is now showing his phone screen on I peeked on it.
From: Alpha
Don't you dare.
That was the text. After that Shane bids his goodbye. I was confused as hell on what's the text was all about.
"Can we ahm.. get some coffee instead."
"No." I shut him out and dragged him to my bed.
I pushed him to sit down and kissed him passionately. Until we cannot breath I didn't stop his hands was roaming my body. I can't resist no more.
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