Bossy Bree

2 Mr. Santillan

Bree POV

I restrained myself from the curses that is at the tip of my tongue directed at the arrogant secretary. I don't want to look affected by his blunt refusal, but nevertheless I felt offended.

I looked at Dad's lawyer, he looked serious and unaffected by my outburst. It's as if he expected something like this will happen.

"Is there a way around this condition, Attorney Caliente, that we don't have to involve marriage?" Gigil na tanong ko at pilit pinapakalma ang sarili.

"I'm sorry Ms. Montecillo but the late Mr. Montecillo made sure that it's marriage or nothing at all and two weeks is the only time he alloted before he asked me to arrange the selling of your company to your competitor." Mahinahong sagot naman ng matandang abogado.

"This is so stupid! What in the hell is daddy's thinking? I can't find the logic in all of this!" Pakiramdam ko ay maghihisterikal na ako ilang segundo pa ang lilipas. Binalingan ko si mommy, I saw her slight smile as she just sat on her chair not in the least bothered.

What is up with her?!

"Mom! What is daddy's thinking?!" I whined

"Sweety, maybe your dad just wanted someone you can depend on, this is a mulitmillion company after all and Clyde here is his most trusted employee." Sabi naman ni mom na nagpabuntong hininga sa akin ng malalim. Hinilot ko ng daliri ko ang sentido kong pakiramdam ko ay nag-uumpisa ng kumirot.

"I think my work here is done. Ipaalam niyo na lang sa akin ang desisyon niyo. The counting of days started today. Two weeks from now at exactly 3pm,  a decision must be carried out. Thank you for your time Ms. Montecillo, Mrs. Montecillo, Mr. Santillan, I'll leave you to think and process all of this. I know it's a lot to take in. So good luck, make the right decision and I'll take my leave. " sabi ng lawyer ni dad. Tumayo si mommy at mabilis ding nagpaalam sa akin pero tulala pa rin ako at halos hindi ko na naintindihan ang pagpapaalam niya. Sabay na lumabas si mommy at si Attorney Caliente.

I looked at my nerdy secretary na gumanti din ng titig sa akin. My brow automatically raise up at how he assertively return my stares.

"I'm sorry Ms. Montecillo, but my decision is final. I will not agree to Mr. Montecillo's request. I will pass my resignation tomorrow." Mariing usal ng aroganteng secretary ko. Kaagad din siyang tumalikod at tangkang lalabas na ng opisina ko ng mahanap ko ang boses ko.

"Wait! Wait Clyde..." napipiyok na habol ko dito na ikinatigil naman nito. Narinig kong bumuntong hininga muna ito bago muli akong hinarap. Lumakad siya palapit sa akin at halos ang lamesa na lang ang namamagitan sa amin. I felt the same familiar awkward feeling that I felt whenever he is close but I brushed that feeling off. There is more important matters at hand that we need to discuss.

"We can't just let go of the company Clyde! How long do you work here? I know you care for the company's welfare..." umpisang aniko sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko ay nangatog pa ang tuhod ko ng matamang titigan ako ng mata ni Clyde. Kahit may suot pa itong salamin ay tagos pa rin ang mga matalim na titig nito sa akin. I don't know why my heart began to beat a little faster just because of how hard he stares at me. I felt that my face is already flushed as I wait for his response.

"I have served your dad to the best of my ability Ms. Montecillo. Believe me, I watched how this company grow and succeed, I am a part of this company's ups and downs. I treasured what this company and Mr. Montecillo taught me. I also treat your father like my own. He is the father that I never had." Madiin anito at muling bumuntong hininga.

"But I'm sorry...I will not sacrifice myself for this company. I will not sacrifice my personal life, my happiness or my future even if it means I have to look for another job!" Madiing sagot nito sa akin na lalo kong ikinainis. Halos bumaon na ang kuko ko sa palad ko habang nakakuyumos iyon sa gigil sa lalaking kaharap ko.

Selfish arrogant asshole!

I slammed my palm down to my table, making a loud noise but my nerd of a secretary isn't rattled at all. He just looked at my hand then looked back at my face again. Unfazed.

"Look here Mr. Santillan, it's not only about you!" Mapang-uyam kong sagot habang tinitignan ang kabuuang anyo ng lalaki.

"I don't want to sacrifice myself for this company either, but this is not only about you OR me!" I shouted bitterly at him.

"Have you thought about the investors who trusted our company? We will betray every single one of them if we sell!"

"How about the hanging commitments and the signed future projects? They have contracts signed to us! The company will be sued! We can't file for bankruptcy, the proceeds will not be ours if it's sold!" Gigil na gigil ako habang iniisa-isa iyon sa lalaki.

"Have you thought about our thousands of employees that will lose their job? The family they supported? They are relying on their job to put food in their table and fend for themselves! Have you thought about them?!" Then I released a deep sigh of annoyance at the situation I am in and the person I am with it.

"So yeah... Mr. Santillan, this is not only about you or me!" Sarkastikong turan ko sa kanya pero hindi ko man lang siya natinag. Naroon pa rin ang matapang at paninindigan sa mata nito.

"Ms. Montecillo, believe me, I care about the company but the late Mr. Montecillo made up his mind to sell it. He knew I will never agree to what he is asking." My left eyebrow raised at his blunt turndown.

"The investors, the projects they are your problems! I have nothing to do with it. The thousands of employees can always find another job. Like me, I will start applying elsewhere. Good riddance Ms. Montecillo, I can't say it was nice working with you... because it's not!" Anito at tumalikod ng muli sa akin, napatulala ako sa mga sinabi niya. Nobody, as in, nobody has ever talked to Bree Montecillo like that!

Narinig ko na lang na nagsara ang pinto at naiwan akong mag-isa na nakanganga. At ng makabawi ako ay galit na galit na binato ko ng paperweight na snowball ang saradong pinto ko. Naglikha iyon ng malakas na ingay sa pagkabasag. Napaupo na lang akong muli sa swivel chair ko. Pakiramdam ko ay naubos ang lakas ko sa engkwentro sa lalaki. Madiin kong pinikit ang mata ko at hinilot ang ulo ko.

What in the hell is happening!?