The Playgirl's Game

Trish Samantha Adornado

Prolouge

What the hell? Pakiramdam ko ay hindi pumasok ng maayos ang sinabi nila sa tenga ko. Tumayo ako at ibinagsak ko ang kamay ko sa mesa ko.

"What the hell happened!? I just left the country for a week, ganito na nangyare?" I was fuming mad right now. Pilit kong pinapakalma ang sarili ko but I just can't. Taas baba ang dibdib ko dahil sa pagkokontrol ng paghinga.

Nakita ko ang takot sa mata ng board members. Umupo ako muli sa aking upuan at kinalma ang sarili ko. Minasahe ko ang sentido ko at bumuntong hininga.

Gather your shits together, Trish. Be calm. Just, be calm.

"Mr. Revalles, can you briefly discuss to me what happened at biglaang bumaba ang sales natin ng ganyan? For the fucking's sake, ngayon lang to nangyare sa loob ng apat taon." I asked coldly but madly sa aking CFO.

"Trish, calm d-"

"How can I Sophia?! Tell me!" I shouted at her. I hate this. I can't control myself.

"May magagawa ba iyang init ng ulo mo? Wala diba? And hindi naman sa CFO ang problema dito!" She shouted back. I bit my lower lip and breathed.

"Then what the hell is my company's problem?" I asked in a low and calmer tone.

"There's a new company trying to compete with us. They easily boomed. In just a span of one month, they boomed." Tumaas ang kilay ko kay Sophia. She is the marketing head of this company so I'm sure she knows how the hell that happened.

"What company?"

"Capris Lohun. A company of real estates, hotels and resorts." Tumaas ang kilay ko lalo.

"What's with them?" Tanong ko. Itinuro ni Sophia ang secretary ko. I look at him and waited for an explanation.

"Ma'am Adornado, nagback out po ang major supplier natin ng gamit sa resort and hotels. Nalugi sila dahil sa isang sumisikat ngayong supplier din. They were not just suppliers from Philippines but also internationally." Napakagat ako ng labi sa sinabi niya. Hinilot ko ang sentido ko nung mapagkunekta ko na ang mga pangyayare. I should have known, ako mismo ang nagsabi noon na ayoko ng contractual pagdating sa partnerships. I'm too confident na hindi sila ang magtatali sa akin. What the hell...

Fuck? How come...Oh my god, this can't continue for the next months or else babagsak ako. No, not now. Not now that I need to prove something.

"So what's your plan?" Dinig kong tanong ng isang board member.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that question? Of course find another supplier!" Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang tanong ko.

"But you don't want the lists of suppliers I gave you. Remember? You dismissed all of them. Ito ngang huli ay napilitan ka pa." Sabi ng isa sa mga board. Napapikit ako ng mariin. Of course! This is business. I can't just get anything for these. Pinaghirapan ko itong kumpanya ko. It's natural to want what's best for this company.

"Ideas, board?" I asked.

"The only idea I got is to find different suppliers. Hindi iyong set na. Yun nga lang, mas mapapamahal ka. You have to cash out big." Napailing ako. Hindi pupwede iyon. It's too risky. I won't risk this. I have to find another way.

Until an idea popped in my mind.

"Can you give me the name of that fucking company's supplier who's trying to compete me?" I asked.

"I think.... it's the Salazar Incorporation. When I attended one meeting with our major stock holders, narinig ko iyon. Though I'm not sure of that." Tumango ako sa kanila. Well, maybe I'll check that. Kung kakayanin ng company ko, I'll offer them to be my supplier.