Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Nineteen - A Crack

RENANTE ENDED THE CALL. His mother had been insistent for days to have a get-together. Kahit sinabi pa nitong iimbitahan din sila Ronnie at Paige, alam niyang ang pakay talaga ng ina ay makilala si Stacey.

Sa totoo lang, ayaw pa niyang magkadaupang-palad ang dalawang babae.

Sure, Stacey already met his father. That’s okay.

But to meet his mom?

Pagkababa ng cellphone, binalik ni Renante ang tingin sa pinto. Kaya nagmamadali siyang tapusin ang pakikipag-usap sa nanay ay dahil kumatok at sumilip sa kanyang maliit na opisina si Cherry.

May importanteng lakad daw si Pierre sa darating na Biyernes, kaya change schedule ang pagsadya ni Cherry sa VVatch. This time, she came as early as Monday. At babalik na lang ito sa Huwebes.

“Good morning, Sir Villaluz!” bati nito. Her smile was polite, her tone has entusiam but still sounded formal.

She was late, but given how far she lives and that this is the first instance, Renante let it slide.

“Good morning too. Come in,” tayo niya saglit at sinabayan ito sa pag-upo. He remained serious. He just could not hide feeling a little anxious.

Cherry hugged a brown leather envelope case against her chest. Kinandong nito ang may kalakihang side-body bag na pink. Her short curly hair was pulled back by pins.

“Kumusta?” he clasped his hands, rested them at the edge of his desk. “Ano ang sabi ni Gallardo sa napagkasunduan nating designs?”

“Well,” medyo napawi ang sigla sa mukha ng babae, “he said it looks complicated. Pang-hand weaving ang technique na kailangan para sa design. Please, do note that we are a clothing company. We sew and use machines these days.”

“I understand,” he nodded. May katuturan ang kaba niya. Sabi na at hindi agad papabor si Pierre sa disenyong gusto nila ni Paige.

Paige wanted to stick to the designs she made, when the target prototype and material used go be metal. Nakadagdag iyon sa pagiging komplikado ng disenyo nung ini-translate nila bilang woven wrist band para sa relo.

“Also, the materials for this wrist band,” patuloy ni Cherry, “majority of them, wala sa inventory ng Gallardo.”

“I expected that. You make clothes. Raw mats for making clothes and making wrist watches are different.”

He wanted Cherry to go straight to the point.

“This project might cost you extra,” tango ni Cherry. “Are you up for that?”

“Dala mo ba ang kopya ng agreement namin ni Pierre?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Bring it out. I want to check something.”

Cherry quickly unzipped her envelope case. Nilabas nito ang manipis na portfolio folder at hinanap ang pahinang kinalalagyan ng agreement nila ni Pierre.

“We have agreed, na Gallardo ang gagawa ng wrist bands. It doesn’t indicate whether the raw mats will come exclusively from them or not, right?”

Cherry was quick to pick up. “You’re planning to outsource?”

There is no use to lie. He works with these people together now. They should know the truth so they can work together effectively.

“Yes.” Pilit niyang binabasa ang reaksyon ni Cherry, ang mga mata sa likod ng reading glasses nito. “VVatch knows more resources when it comes to making wristwatches.”

Tahimik lang si Cherry. Binabasa na nito ang dalang kopya ng agreement.

“Wala namang ini-specify dito kung kanino dapat manggaling ang raw materials,” abot nito ng papel sa kanya para makita rin niya mismo na walang nabanggit na ganoom sa agreement.