THE MAN THAT WAS NEVER MINE

3

Nakaupo ang ama niya sa garden at tinatanaw ang mga lumilipad na paro-paro sa bulaklak. Mabait na tao ang kanyang at gusto niyang paligahahin bilang pambawi niya kung paano siya inalagaan ng kanyang mga magulang. Naglakad siya papunta sa ama niya at niyakap ito mula sa likuran. "Dad, I missss youu! Super duper!" Hinalikan niya ito sa pisngi na may kasamang tunog."Muahhhh!!" Umupo siya sa tabi nito.

"Saan ka ba galing kagabi?"

"Dad, it's a long story but you don't have to worry kasi safe naman ako." Paninigurado niya sa ama.

Mukhang hindi naniniwala ang ama niya. "Tell me the truth, young lady."

"Dad, I'm really safe." Ngumiti siya.

"Okay, if that what you say so. Anak, kumusta kayo ni James?" Pag-iiba ng kanyang ama sa Usapan.

Speaking of James ay okay naman sila. Wala lang talaga silang time lately kasi pareho sila busy lalong-lalo na sa susunod na araw kasi may laro pa James at siya naman ang napiling representative sa school nila. "We're okay. How about you, Dad? Kumusta ka lately? How's the business? "

"Mabuti na okay kayo ni James. I'm doing fine and the business is also doing fine. Medyo may problema lang kaunti but we will get by."

Bigla siyang kinabahan. She's into fashion pero management parin ang kinuha niya because she knows one day will come that she is going to takeover the company. "Anong problema?"

May tiwala ang ama niya sa kanya kaya sinasabihan siya nito tungkol sa kompanya. "The competition is very stiff lately. Medyo maraming competitors and the key to win is very hard to please."

"What do you mean, Dad? I mean, how to win."

"The winner will be choose by Nathaniel Enriquez."

Nathaniel Enriquez. The name seems familiar, she's sure that she heard it somewhere. "Is he old, Dad?"

"He is still young but a very respected one. He played every game in a fair way. He is successful, a self made man." Her Dad respect this man so much.

"If he's hard to please then please his aquintances or his wife maybe that could help a little." Suggestion niya. Who knows baka makatulong pa ito. Tumango ang ama niya so that means na nagustuhan nito ang suhestiyon niya.

Maraming reporter ang nasa baba ng company nila. He is successful man who build his own company 5 years ago. He is also managing the companies in Europe,USA and especially in Russia that built by his ancestors  from his father's side 70 years ago. He's also managing the companies of his mother's side. Busy talaga siya ngayon dahil maraming report ang natambak magmula noong nakilala niya si Samantha. Palagi nalang itong nasa isip niya. Lalo na noong lasing ito na binihisan niya. Her body is making him crazy. Ang mataas na self-control niya ay nagiging maliit noong mga oras na iyon. Muntik na din niyang mapatay ang lalaking nagtangka ng masama kay Samantha.

Pumasok ang assistant niyang si Roger. "Hindi pa po umalis ang reporter, Sir. Ano po ang gagawin ko?"

"Hayaan mo na ang mga iyon. Now tell me kung may nagbago ba sa schedules ko."

"Nagpadala po ng invitation ang Queen of Hearts para sa darating na competition next 2 months. Competition po ito na sinasalihan din ng Enriquez Royal University.

"Tell them that I humbly declined their invitation. I won't waste my time for that stupid events."

"I'll do it immediately. Sir, there's also a coming Masquerade Ball and you should bring your date but it's okay if you won't bring any date. I'll just inform them."

Date?  Alam niya kung sino ang magiging date niya. Samantha!  "Pupunta ako na may kasamang date."

Natulala si Roger pero nakabawi rin ito. "Is that final, Sir?"