Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Twenty-Two - Figure Out

MALALAKI ANG MGA HAKBANG NI STACEY. Nasabayan ni Renante maging ang bigat ng mga iyon hanggang sa makabalik sila sa opisina nito.

Nauna sa loob si Stacey. Nang isara ni Renante ang pinto, roon na niya binuga ang tinitimping iritasyon.

"What. The. Hell?" she spun to face him. Nanlisik ang mga mata niya rito. "You're letting that woman get away with this?"

"Stace," he remained calm. Of course. Renante wasn't Renante if he didn't have dexterous control of his temper. Nakaharap na rin ito sa kanya, pero nanatiling nakatayo malapit sa pinto. "There is nothing to be upset about. Tama naman ang mga sinabi ni Paige."

"But—" she exhaled— hopeful, expectant... something big, "—this is your company!"

"Of course." He took slow, measured strides toward her.

"Kung ganoon, bakit nakikialam pa rito ang Paige na 'yon? Pati ang Kuya mo, ina-update pa ng babaeng 'yon tungkol sa nangyayari rito?"

"It's me, Stace," nakalapit na ito sa kanya. Pero nangibabaw ang pag-aalala ni Stacey kaysa sa kung gaano kainit sa pakiramdam ang pagkakalapit nilang dalawa. Kaysa sa kisig ng binata o sa pagtatalo ng pang-unawa at pagseseryoso sa mga mata nito.

Those pair of dark, tornado eyes. So strong, his stares always carried her away.

But no. No.

Not this time.

"It's me, Stacey," kumpirma ni Renante. "I wanted their assistance, so they gave me some."

"Assistance?" she hissed in disbelief. "What I saw in there is not a form of assistance, but taking control out of your hands and putting it into their own hands!"

She felt his hands on her arms. A cool, sweeping comfort almost got her carried away. Napapikit si Stacey nang makaramdam ng tapik sa dibdib.

It was fear that flicked in there. She instantly remembered her worried.

Binalik niya ang tingin sa mga mata ng binata.

"I am still the one who makes the decisions here in VVatch, Boo," pisil nito sa kanyang baba para ipirmi ang pagtititigan ng kanilang mga mata. "You have nothing to worry about. Kahit ano pa ang sabihin ni Paige, simula ngayon, dito ka na magta-trabaho. Magtutulungan tayo na malagpasan ng VVatch ang kaunting setback na dinadanas niya ngayon. Hmm?"

Hinilig niya ang ulo, iniling paharap sa kanyang kanan.

"I don't know, Renante."

That's not how I operate when I managed the businesses I used to have...

Realization struck her. Stacey felt like a metal, so hard to bend. It hurts when she had to at times when she realizes that she had to be welded toward the right direction.

"Maybe, we just have different management styles. I should respect yours. Sorry for my reaction."

Renante pulled a relieved smile. Bumitaw na ang isang kamay nito sa kanyang baba at bumalik sa pagkakahawak sa isa pa niyang braso.

"It's okay."

"It's just that woman." She hissed and broke away from his hold. Stacey stomped her way to a black solid square visitor chair with a wire mesh backrest. She gave it a pull before sitting on it. "The way that Paige talks. Binibida pa naman siya ni Kylie tapos ang ugali pala—" Buntonghininga na lang ang dinugtong ni Stacey doon. Ayaw na niyang makapagsalita pa ng hindi maganda dahil baka hindi siya matapos sa paglilitanya.

Renante occupied the identical visitor's chair that was right across hers. He pulled it close enough for him to manage to reach her hands and pin them on top of her knees.