The Governor's Daughter (Complete)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Kanina pa patingin-tingin sa relo ang iilan sa board members ng bangko. Hindi naman mapakali si Drex dahil alam niyang naiinip na ang mga ito. The meeting with the new BOD President of his group of company including the town bank should have started 15 minutes ago. Nang sumunod na limampung minuto ay pumasok ang isang babae sa conference room.

"Please take your seats...in a bit, we will be having the meeting with the New Board of Directors for JRR Holdings LLC. We are just waiting for the President."

The BOD's chatter became quite louder.

"Anong oras na ba..."

"Sino nga ba kasi ang bagong presidente ng kumpanya?"

"Darating pa ba kaya iyon?"

Hindi na kinaya ni Drex at nagtanong. "Gaano ba katagal bago dumating ang bagong president? 9:30 am ang meeting, it is 10:07 am now."

"My name is Gellie and I will be working with the new president. Pasensya na ho Mr Drex Reyes... He has an emergency conference call with his other business partner. Pero papatapos na ho."

"It's actually not about me but what do you think the Board members will say about this? Hindi dahil sa binili na niya ang pinakamalaking shares ng kumpanya ay –

Bumukas ang pintuan ng conference room at pumasok ang isang lalaki. Sa uri ng pananamit nito at sa pagdadala sa sarili ay nahuhulaan na ni Drex na ito ang bagong presidente at ang nagmamayari ng pinakamalaking shares ng kanilang kumpanya.

"Goodmorning everyone. I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

"Presenting you the CEO of the NM Kings Group of Companies, your new CEO and President...Mr. Nicholas Marciano."

N-Nick???

"I wasn't able to attend the meeting as I just had to complete the business venture with a partner who will help me extend the numbers of franchise of this bank to not just 20 but 30. And then we will go from there...We will be talking about the rest of this, please read the prepared financial research i have for you...please check your table documents...."

Napatda si Drex sa nakikita. Hindi maaring magkamali ang mata niya.

Nagsimula ng mag-alisan ang iilan sa board members pero nanatili si Drex sa kanyang kinatatayuan.

"Thank you everyone for coming...Sir Nick, nakaready na ho ang sasakyan nyo sa ibaba sabi ng valet at –

"Nick...I mean...Mr Marciano..."

Napalingon ang sanay papaalis na na si Nick. "Yes?"

"Ahmm...do you have a minute for me?"

"Seconds...i do. Dederetso pa ako sa meeting with a prospective investor."

"Sa baba nalang ho kami maghihintay ng driver nyo, Mr Marciano."

Nang umalis na ang assistant nito saka nagsalita si Drex. "Nick...d-do you know me?"

"Mr. Drex Reyes, of course i do. Meron akong profile ng lahat ng shareholders." Ngumiti ito ng pahapyaw.

"I mean do you remember me?"

"Mr Reyes wala na akong oras para makipaghuntahan tungkol sa –"

"Maybe you haven't really remembered me at all because you've come back as someone successful and on top of the world right now. Hindi mo na maalala na minsan ay may mga taong hinusgahan ka at ginawan ng masama - the days that I, myself regret the most. Hindi ko to sinasabi dahil nasa sa'yo na ang controlling power ng kumpanyang dating pagmamay-ari ng pamilya ko. I just wanted to apologize for what i and my friends did to you ten years ago. I'm hoping our business will not mar the previous teenage spat we have years ago."

The president twitched his mouth and smiled a little bago tinanggap ang pakikipagkamay ni Drex, ang ngayo'y Vice President. "I remembered it all Drex but you don't need worry...that was all in the past."

"Im glad to hear that."

It was another day and it was another demanding activity with a handsome monster in her house.

"Laba. Hindi mo ba narinig yun?"

"Narinig ko. Eto lang ba?"

"Good question. Kailan pa huling napalitan itong kubre kama, kurtina dito sa Masters bedroom?"

"Last 2 weeks."

"I dont like the smell of it. Isama mo sa labahin."

Naisip ni Say na sana'y hindi nalang pala siya nagtanong kung may iba pa itong ipapalaba. She shut her eyes in frustration but then decided to get along with him.

"Okay. Lalabhan ko na rin siya. Ano pa?"

"Ano pang hinihintay mo? Kunin mo na ang mga ipapalaba ko."

"Eto na nga..." Kung makapagutos ay parang panginoon. Agad-agad. Ni hindi mo ba alam na kung ipagsasabay sabay ko ito ay mahirap dahil wala na kaming washing machine?

"May sinasabi ka?"

"Wala M A S T E R..."

****

Dalawang oras na si Say sa ginagawang paglalaba ay hindi pa rin siya matapos tapos lalo at mabibigat ang mga draperies at kumbre kamang nilalabhan. Nang magbabanlaw na sana siya at binuksan ang gripo na nakakabit ang mahabang hose ay bigla na lang itong lumakas dahilan para mabasa siya.

"Ahhh...ang bigat pa naman ng kurtinang ito..ugh...hayy...Magbabanlaw na nga ako at---ayyy!" Parang may sariling buhay ang water hose at tumalon talon ito sa lakas ng tubig and the next thing she knew, she was completely wet in her white shirt and brown shorts.

Lalo pang dumagdag sa gulat niya nang bigla nalang bumukas ang pintuan ng garden area kung saan siya naglalaba at iniluwa ang galit na naman na si Nick.

"BAKIT NANDITO KA PA?!"

"Ay baklang kabayo!!! Bakit ba biglang bigla kang papasok na hindi man lang nagpapasabi?"

"It was past 12 noon and I was waiting for my lunch and –" Hindi nito natapos ang sasabihin at nakatanga lang sa kanya habang siya ay pinipilit pa ring habulin ang hose. Pinili na lang niyang patayin ang gripo saka hinarap ito.

***

Nick swallowed his own words.

He could hear Say talking in front of him, but he didn't seem to hear anything. His eyes raked the tempestuous beauty standing before him in all her scornful defiance while drenched in her white shirt and shorts, her hair disheveled and out of place and barefoot. He had to hold his breath because the lady still looks so damn gorgeous.

"Nagtatanong ka pa??"

Say in her wet shirt...magulong buhok...nakapaa, nakashort and still looking...looking so...

The lady in front of her was mouthing some scornful words but all he could see was his rose bud and bee stung lips opening and closing as she talks. The laundry room suddenly becomes too small for them.

"Kung naalala mo mahal na hari ay sinabi mong maglaba ako at hindi naman ito simpleng tshirt lang na pwede ko lang kusutin."

How could someone so simple...unkempt...disheveled face still managed to look...pretty?

Nang malala ang galit dito ay bigla niyang binawi ang tingin dito.

No...she wasnt. Stop it Nick. Stop.

Upang hindi na niya lalong titigan ito ay basta nalang siya tumalikod dito at bumalik sa kung saan siya galing.

"Kung makakapag hintay ka pa ay patapos na rin ako at...tingnan mo yung lalaking iyon. Bigla nalang nagwalk out."