Love Me Too

Chapter 3

                                                                  ****

Nagwalk-out si Clarisse from the client room matapos makita kung sino ang kliyenteng naghihintay sa kanya. But eventhough she's bursting with outrage, she still managed to control herself in front of her staff.

"Lance, tell that client my schedule is already fully booked. Hindi muna ako pwedeng tumanggap ng kaso or if she'll insist na ang firm na ito ang gusto niyang humawak sa kanya, refer Atty. Manalo or Atty. Lopez," utos nito nang mapadaan sa desk ng bagong hire na assistant.

"Yes, attorney," nagtatakang sagot ni Lance.

Poise na poise at tila kalmadong naglakad papasok ng kanyang opisina si Clarisse. Ngunit nang marating niya ang pinto ng sariling silid, hindi niya na nakontrol ang emosyon. She slammed the door loudly.

Nagulat ang lahat maliban kay Lance na noon ay alam nang may mali sa galaw ng abogada. Fully booked? Kelan pa naging valid reason ito para tanggihang harapin ang isang kliyente. Tumayo siya para sundin ang utos ng babae at pumasok sa client room. There, he saw a sad face of a woman calmly sitting while sipping a cup of tea. Halos hindi ito nagkakalayo ng edad ng dalagang attorney.

"Mrs. Barredo, I don't think Atty. De Silva can talk to you now. I don't know kung anuman ang rason niya but it looks like she's unhappy to see you," he frankly said with hesitating smiles. "As far as I know, she's not really enthusiastic to face clients na walang appointment. But that only applies to Atty. De Silva. If you want, I can tell our other lawyers to meet you."

Ngumiti ng matamlay ang babae. Although she looks sad, her sophisticated aura is still evident. "I understand. But I don't want any other lawyer except Atty. De Silva. Pakisabi handa akong maghintay kahit ilang oras, harapin niya lang ako. Can you help me change her mind?"

By then, nahalata ni Lance na hindi pangkaraniwang kliyente ang kanyang kausap. He's starting to have the impression na mayroong mas malalim na kaugnayan sa isa't isa ang dalawang baabe.

"I'll try to talk to her," sagot niya sa nakikiusap na babae.

"Thank you."

Bago siya pumasok sa silid ng abogada kumuha muna siya ng isang malamig na bottled water sa refreshment area ng opisina

"Did you tell her?" tanong agad sa kanya ng attorney kahit nasa bungad pa lamang siya ng pinto nito.

She pretended to engross herself in reading while talking to him.