Through Dangers Untold

Chapter Fifty-Six - Where Are We Going?

AT FOUR IN THE AFTERNOON, Renante was on his way out of the VVatvh building. Kasalukuyan siyang naglalakad nang malaman ni Hamilton mula sa sekretarya na paalis na siya.

Humabol ito. Hindi pa nakakalayo si Renante mula sa binabaang elevator nang bumukas ang katabi niyon. Hamilton saw him and made fast strides to catch up with him.

"Renante!"

Hindi niya ito agad nilingon.

"Renante!" tawag ulit ng lalaki, kasabay na niya ito sa paglalakad.

"Yes, Hamilton?" tanong niya sa presidente ng kumpanya.

"You're leaving too early?" palipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa kanya at sa dadaanan.

Nanatili namang diretso sa harap ang kanyang tingin. Despite his brooding air, VVatch's president was not intimidated at all.

"Obviously, Hamilton. Ano ba ang kailangan mo?"

"Dumating na ang proposals para sa disenyo ng susunod nating model ng mga relo. You might want a glimpse of them before this day ends."

"What is the rush?" bahagyang kunot ng noo niya. "They're just proposals. And I am sure they were submitted on time."

"Exactly. Pero naglabas ng panibagong disenyo ang kalabang company nito lang. That is unexpected."

His eyes narrowed.

"We figured that we need to immediately release, at least, a prototype of a newer model of watches before they manage to set the minds of our target market into what they should buy this summer."

Hindi siya agad sumagot.

"You said, you want to oversee as much of what's going on here in VVatch as possible," paalala ng lalaki sa kanya.

He didn't know what was Hamilton's intention for that, the more he remained silent.

"We have to get majority of the market this summer. People have the tendency to buy watches because, you know, company summer outings or team building— pwedeng pang-prize ang relo. Maraming grumaduate. Birthdays. Maraming summer events. People would love to wear something new that they can flex during summer concerts or festivals—"

Sanay na siya sa pagiging overdoer ni Hamilton. He would really do and say everything just to get the result he wanted. It could be irritating at times. A concern too, kasi baka napapagod ang lalaki na maging taga-ako ng gawain ng iba sa sobrang kasipagan. But that was also the reason why he wanted Hamilton to be a part of VVatch.

So, Renante remained tolerant of this trait of him as much as possible. At the same time, he would tell when Hamilton needed to slow down a bit.

"Look, Hamilton. Kung pwedeng i-scan ang mga iyan, ipa-scan mo tapos i-email mo sa akin. Got it?" lingon niya sa binata.

He nodded. Doon lang tila nahimasmasan ang lalaki. "Noted."

At nagpaiwan na ito. Tinanaw na lang siya ni Hamilton hanggang sa nakalabas na siya ng building bago nito tinungo ang elevator. Meanwhile, Renante already got inside his car. Pagkasampay ng suit blazer sa sandalan ng katabing upuan, hinubad niya ang neck tie, tinanggal ang ilang butones at tiniklop ang sleeves ng suot na polo bago pinaandar ang kotse.

Nakatanggap siya ng tawag kanina mula kay Detective Orlando at nakatakda silang magkita ngayon sa isang restaurant. He made a reservation for a private dining room for them. Ayon sa detective, nakumbinsi nito na maka-meet-up nila ngayong hapon ang detective na nag-imbestiga noon sa stalking case ni Stacey. He was naturally a very patient man. If Renante was required a very, very long time just to get the result he wanted, he would not mind stalling, buying time or be scheming as he wait. Kaya lang, hindi na niya nagugustuhan ang nagiging epekto ng pagiging mapagpasensya niya.