The Audacity of Chino Arvesu

Chapter 3

THE AUDACITY OF CHINO ARVESU

Chapter 3

"You're saying you want to expand your market and you want my help?" Tanong nito sa kanya habang kumakain ng cheesecake.

"Yes." He leaned on his seat and crossed his legs.

"and you want to know how I do it?"

"Yes."

"Why would I tell you? You've been so smart insulting my products, go figure it out yourself."

Sumimangot siya at tumitig dito. May kislap naman sa mga mata ng dalaga.

"Having you in the farm gave some ideas. I was thinking of doing the same thing as you." Sabi ni Lauren at nag cross legs din ito sa harap niya. Dahilan upang mapalipat ang tingin niya sa binti nito.

"What things?" He asked. Snapping out of weird ideas with her and him and her legs. Like her legs around him for instance. Or on his shoulders.

"Like selling my coffee beans like you. I could sell them to restaurants, hotels. I can even put up my own café."

He gritted his teeth. That's bad news for him. He needed her on his side, or she will be a serious threat to him if she decided to enter the same market.

"Okay. How about we become partners instead?"

"Why do you want to be partners?"

"Because I do not like you as a rival." Totoong sabi niya. When doing business and many other things, he believes that telling the truth is much easier. Nang pagtaasan ulit siya nito ng kilay ay nagpatuloy siya. "You will become a threat to me if you enter the same market as me."

"I see." Kinuha nito ang iced americano at sumipsip sa straw.

Bumakat ang lipstick nito sa straw at napalunok siya.

Mine won't be as thin as that straw. It won't fit her mouth as easy as that straw too. But it will fit her mouth. Yeah.

"Yes. So I'd rather have you as my partner."

"I'll think about it."

Sapat ng sagot iyon para sa kanya sa ngayon.

-

Nasa roastery niya siya sa Quezon nang mag vibrate ang cellphone niya sa bulsa. Napataas ang kilay niya nang makita ang email galing sa lawyer ni Lauren. Naka indicate sa email na nakahanda na ang notarized copy ng kontrata niya sa dalaga. Ipapadala na lamang daw nito iyon sa opisina niya.

Ngumisi siya pero hindi nag reply. Naisip niyang personal na lamang niyang kukuhanin ang kopya niya sa opisina ni Lauren Cosiarelli.

Nang matapos siya sa roastery ay kinuha niya ang susi ng sasakyan para puntahan ang dalaga.

-

"Ano na namang ginagawa mo rito?" Tanong ni Esso sa kanya nang pumasok siya sa restaurant nito.

"Your cupcake looks good." Saad niya at naupo sa counter.

"Of course, it's good. Red velvet with cream cheese frosting 'yan." Sagot ng kapatid niya. Mula sa kusina ay lumabas ang asawa nitong si Sophia na kabuntot naman ang panganay nito.

"Hi, Chino. Kal, Tito Chino is here."

"Hey, guys."

His nephew giggled when he saw him at tumakbo ito papunta sa kanya.

"Where's your sister?" Tanong niya at kinalong ito paupo sa kandungan niya. Ang kapatid naman niya at ang asawa nito ay mukhang nakalimutan na na naroon siya. Hindi na siya magtataka kung bukas makalawa ay may kasunod na naman ang mga pamangkin niya.