The Boss Affair

CHAPTER 19

HARLEY.

"Sir, Mr. Alvarez wants you in his office," I heard Jewelle from the phone.

"Why?" Tanong ko nang nakakunot ang noo.

"Sir, he did not say anything."

Bumuntong hininga ako. The last thing I want right now are his sermons.

Mabagal akong tumayo upang puntahan ang opisina ng aking ama. Sinundan lang ako ng tingin ni Jewelle.

We're in this awkward period when we both don't know what to say to each other. Sariwa pa sa alaala ko ang inabutan kong eksena kahit ilang linggo na ang nakaraan kaya kahit gusto kong kulitin si Jewelle gaya ng dati, hindi ko magawa. I also don't want to sound too needy by asking her for an explanation. She also offered none, malamang dahil hindi ko inuusisa.

At night I still hold her. I still make love to her. But I feel like our relationship is regressing. Halip na mas mapalapit kami sa isa't isa, parang may malamig na bakod na nakapagitan sa amin. I know one of us has to break this rhythm. Everything's wrong here. If she couldn't, I should.

But that's the problem. I don't know how.

"Harley," bungad ng presidente pagpasok ko sa office nya. Bahagya akong nagulat nang madatnan ko din sa kwarto ang head ng Legal Division at si Mr. Alfonso.

"Good morning Sir," bati ko bago tinanguan sina Mr. Alfonso at si Atty. Delos Reyes.

"Sit down," he gestured to the sofa across him. I sat down.

"What's up?"

Sinamaan ako ng tingin ng presidente, obviously annoyed by my lack of courtesy.

Thankfully, mukhang wala sya sa mood pagalitan ako.

"What happened to our project with Mr. Alejandro?" tanong niya bago pa man ako nakaupo sa sofa na katapat ng kinauupuan nina Mr. Afonso at Atty. Delos Reyes.

"What do you mean what happened?" salubong ang kilay na paglilinaw ko. "Mr. Alfonso took over with the proceeding steps, right? Baka dapat sa kanya tayo humingi ng update?" bumaling ako sa matandang lalaking tinukoy ko.

He smiled innocently, I can almost feel the sarcasm. "I am yet to receive the signed contract for me to proceed with the commencement of the project. I cannot commence without that, you know?"

"Hold on, Mr. Alfonso. Are you f*cking kidding me?" asar kong itinaas ang palad para patigilin sya sa pagsasalita. Ano bang sinasabi ng matandang ito. "You had your secretary take the documents a day after we got the original signed contract. That's more than three weeks ago now!"

"What ever are you talking about, son?" namamanghang tanong ni Mr. Alfonso. "All this time, I was under the impression that the contract is not yet signed since wala pa akong nare-receive na document sayo."

Napapukpok ako ng palad sa center table. "Mr. Alfonso! What game are you playing? My secretary said your secretary already picked up the document weeks ago! And for your information, we only have a month to commence, otherwise it will forfeit the contract and incur us penalties! We should be giving Mr. Alejandro a progress report by next week!"

"Hold on-" iniangat ni President Alvarez ang kamay upang pigilan ako. "Mr. Alfonso, didn't you get the document yet?"

"No Sir."

"Mr. Alvarez," sa akin naman bumaling ang presidente. "Are you sure Mr. Alfonso's office got the document?"

"Hundred percent sure," tiwalang sagot ko.

"Let us see." Tinawag ng presidente and secretary nya.

"Yes Sir?"

"Call Mr. Alvarez' and Mr. Alfonso's secretary here."