Stonehearts 2: Amethyst

One

"Miss Amy, hindi niyo na pong kailangan pang magpunta dito. Kaya naman na po namin 'to." Tugon ni Lea habang tinutulungan ko silang mag-set up ng venue para sa isang kliyente namin.

"Okay lang Lea, wala rin naman akong ginagawa sa office." Sagot ko habang inaayos ang bulaklak sa mesa. "Sino ulit ang kliyente natin?" I asked. Masyado na kasi kaming maraming customers ngayon, 'di tulad dati na kabisado ko lahat.

"Si Mr. Sef Yu po. 8 years na sila ng girlfriend niya bago sila nagbreak." Napatango ako. 'Yung mga ganoong kahaba na taon hindi na dapat sinasayang. Ako nga 3 taon lang ang sakit sakit na. Paano pa kaya sila?

Few hours later, nakita na namin ang dating ng naka-blindfold na si Jade, mukhang gulat naman siya ng tinanggal ang takip sa mata niya at nakita ang ex-boyfriend niya na nakatayo sa harap niya at may hawak na bulaklak.

She covered her mouth with her hand before they hugged. Kumirot ang puso ko, hindi pa naman ako nag-gi-give up sa love. Alam kong makakahanap din ako ng para sa akin, pero sa tuwing nakakakita ako ng ganitong scenario. Hindi ko pa rin maiwasan mainggit. They talked over food, sa lugar na si-net up namin para sa kanila. Mukha ngang operation: success nanaman 'to dahil nagtatawanan na sila.

I was busy watching our client from afar when my phone suddenly rang. Napaalis ako sa pwesto na pinagtataguan namin saka sumagot. "Yes hello? This is Amethyst."

Boses ng sekretarya ko ang narinig ko sa kabilang linya and she sounds shaken. "Miss Amy, okay lang po ba kung babalik kayo dito sa opisina?"

"Jess anong nangyari? Bakit ganyan ang boses mo?" I asked worried.

"Ma'am may nagrereklamo po kasing kliyente dito. Galit na galit po siya. Please po Miss Amy, hindi na po namin siya kayang pakalmahin." She pleaded. Nagrereklamo? 8 months na ang kompanya ko ngayon lang may nagreklamo. Bakit nga ba siya nagrereklamo? Hindi ba maganda ang service sa kanya? Hindi niya ba nagustuhan? Sigurado akong hindi ko nameet ang taong ito.

I rushed to my car and off I went. Pagkarating ko sa floor na nirerentahan namin, hindi maipinta ang mukha ng mga empleyado ko. They are quiet, almost deadly. Usually, pagdumarating ako dito may nagpapatugtog. Everyone's on high spirits, but right now it's the contrary.

Sinalubong ako agad ni Jess na mukha paring kabado. "Miss Amy, nasa conference room po si Mr. Calderazzo." Bulong niya sa akin. Calde-what?

Ibinigay ko sa kanya ang bag ko at nagtungo agad sa kwartong sinabi niya. May dalawang taong nakatayo sa pinto ng conference room ko. I raised my brow in irritation. He brought bodyguards with him. Anong tingin ng lalakeng 'to sa sarili niya? Diyos?

I cleared my throat and opened the door harshly. I was greeted by a man sitting with his legs crossed. He has a clean cut brownish hair, perfect pointed nose, and eyes that will surely captivate you. He was holding a cup of coffee while gazing at the door. He was obviously waiting for me.

Sandali akong napatigil ng itinaas niya ang tingin niya sa akin mula sa magazine na binabasa niya. "You must be Amorr?" He asked. Tumindig ang balahibo ko dahil sa boses niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. But I managed to slowly walk and sit infront of him offering my hand. "Amorr Amethyst. But please call me Amy."

I waited, waited and waited, pero hindi niya 'yon kinuha. "What are your parents thinking when they named you Amorr? Maybe they know that you'll be stuck fixing other people's relationships."

I raised my eyebrow at him. So anong pinupunto niya? My parents aren't his business! But he just smirked when he saw my reaction.

"So tell me Amorr. What were you thinking when you started this company?" Why do I feel like I am in an interview? I stared at him stolidly, figthing the urge of smacking him in the head. "C'mon you can tell me. I'm a businessman too myself."

I pursed my lips in a tight smile. "We're not here to discuss anything about me nor my business. But we are to discuss your complain Mr?"

"Call me Cube."

Cube? What kind of a name is that? Tapos kinukutya niya pangalan ko?

"Mr. Cube." I paused because his smirk widened when he heard me saying his name. Umiwas ako agad ng tingin dahil nalulunod na ako sa mga titig niya. "So anong naging problema sa service namin? If you want a refund dahil hindi ka naging masaya sa serbisyo namin, I'll be most willing to give back your money."

He laughed as if I told the greatest joke. "What part of my three piece suit that shouts 'refund' to you? I can earn the money I paid you in three minutes."

"Then you're here causing havoc at my office because?" I asked as I sat back and rested my back on my chair. I levelled my gaze with his. Talagang sinusubukan ng lalakeng 'to ang pasensya ko.

He grinned and leaned on the table. "So Amorr, they say you're a pure genius when it comes to relationships. A good friend of mine referred your service to me. Pero bakit ganoon? Cynthia and I still didn't end up together? Nasaan na ang pinangakong happy ever after ng business mo?"

"Right before we start making our move may pinapapirma kaming waiver sa mga kliyente namin. Stating that we cannot assure na magiging kayo sa huli. But still we are going to do our 100% best to deliver your happy ever after to you. And I bet you did sign that waiver."

Sandali siyang tumitig sa akin. Gusto kong umiwas ng tingin pero parang na-glue na ang titig ko sa kanya. "Yes I did." Then he paused and tapped his fingers on the table. "But then again, I am a businessman and businessmen know how to play dirty."

"I am giving you 6 months to get Cynthia back to me. Kapag nagawa mo 'yon, I'll be most willing to give you anything you want. But if you fail, imagine me giving your company the worst review there is. I can make your company crumble Amorr. I can do it and I will do it." His voice became authoritative. Seryoso na rin ang mukha niya. For I minute I wanted to quiver, pero hindi. I have to stay strong for my company, maraming tao ang umaasa sa akin. Hindi lang si daddy, kundi pati na rin ang mga empleyado ko. Baby pa ang kompanya ko and a bad review can really take us into a wrong turn. Lalo na kapag mula sa taong katulad niya.

"For the nth time, call me Amy and not Amorr." Sagot ko. "Okay then, you have yourself a deal. I will have my best crew work-"

"I don't want any of your employees Amorr." There he is again. Sabi ng Amy ang itawag sa akin! "I want you fixing this. Gusto ikaw mismo ang mag-ayos ng kapalpakan nila." Saka siya tumayo, he fixed his suit before gazing back at me. "See you in my office tomorrow." Saka siya tuluyang umalis, sinundan ko pa siya ng tingin. No wonder ayaw sa kanya ng Cynthia na iyon. Nakakainit ng ulo ang lalakeng ito!