"We know such possibilities, Mr. Sandoval pero siguro mas maganda naman kung makabawi muna tayo dun sa loss bago gumawa ng move. Why not consider other offers? From the French investors? Australian investors?" tanong ni Mr. Nolasco.
"Bakit kailangang sa France and Australia humingi ng tulong? Mas malaki yung maririsk natin kung sa Europe pa manggaling ang offer. Mas magandang magsimula sa maliit at sa mas malapit. Masyadong malaki at malayo ang sakop ng dalawang yun.
"At isa pa, bakit kailangang maghanap sa malayo? Andito na mismo yung investors from Thailand. Sila na yung lumalapit satin. It's all up to us now if we're going to take the chance." I continued. Bigla naman akong napangiti as Eleanor's face flashed in my mind.
Chance.
"Uhm, I think Mr. Sandoval is right. Mas maganda naman siguro if we consider this option. Pero kung hindi pa rin magwork ang account na to then I guess we should...." Natigilan ang lahat sa biglang pagring ng isang cellphone. Napakunot ang noo ko when I realized na phone ko yung nagring.
Napatayo si Claire at dali-daling kinuha yung phone na naiwan ko sa upuan ko kanina. Mataman ko siyang tiningnan. Tahimik pa din ang board members.
Claire looked at me cautiously, "Sir Chance, si Miss Eleanor po." Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. Bakit naman biglang tatawag si Eleanor? At ngayon pa na nasa gitna ako ng isang meeting.
"Answer that, Claire. Pakisabi na nasa meeting ako." I kept my tone monotonous. Baka kung ano na naman ang mabuong issue sa office dahil obviously, babae yung tumawag sakin. Claire nodded vigorously bago lumabas ng conference room. Halata mo naman na lahat ay nagpigil ng hininga dahil sa nangyari. I inhaled sharply before clearing my throat.
"That's nothing... Let's continue. Where were we?" tanong ko. Napangiti naman ang asawa ni Mr. Nolasco bago ipagpatuloy yung suggestion niya.
"As I was saying, Mr Sandoval―"
"Sir Chance, emergency daw po talaga eh. She yelled at me na kapag hindi ikaw yung nakausap niya..." Claire covered her mouth nang marealize niyang biglaan siyang pumasok ng conference room. Mas lalong napakunot ang noo ko. Binalingan ko si Mrs. Nolasco ignoring Claire and well, Eleanor's call.
Nakangiti lang sakin si Mrs. Nolasco before clearing her throat. "I think you should take that, Mr. Sandoval. Emergency daw eh. Is that your girlfriend?" she smiled playfully. Napansin ko namang nakangiti na din ang iba sakin.
I knew it.
Ito ang problema kapag single ka. May marinig or makita lang na kasama mong babae, the whole world will make the assumption na girlfriend mo ang kasama mo.
"She's not my girlfriend, Mrs. Nolasco. And besides, this is more important. Kailangan natin to." I snapped bago napatingin sa relo ko. Ang hilig talagang gumawa ng eksena ni Eleanor kahit wala naman talaga siya dito.
"No, Mr. Sandoval. Okay lang talaga. Okay na naman samin yung tungkol sa deal. We'll consider the offer from Thailand. For now, you should take that call. Baka magalit na talaga siya..." Si Mr. Nolasco na ang nagsalita while smiling at me knowingly. Napatingin ako sa ibang members ng Board at tumango lang din sila habang nakangiti as if telling me that it's the right thing to do at a moment like this.
YOU ARE READING
No Strings Attached
General Fiction[For my beloved Chance Lucas Sandoval] Chance Lucas Sandoval meets Eleanor Kai Gonzales in the most unlikely place, and you can guess that the most unlikely thing happens. He agrees to date other women, as Eleanor has stated, to help him move on wit...
