Broken Vow

53: Sabotage

Kakatapos lang ng meeting ni Elena with the marketing department of El Santi. Ang ganda ng mga report sa kanya for the whole month after the business was establish. But after the meeting, may ibinalita sa kanya ang kanyang sekretarya, nag back out raw ang dalawa nyang potential major investors. She requested for their numbers at mabilis nyang kinontact ang mga ito.

Pareho ang sinagot ng dalawang matandang babae when she tried to persuade them for the second time. They already signed a contract with other clothing company.

Her shoulders dropped after the call. Napasapo sya sa noo, she lean her back on the chair and shut her eyes. She can't believe she lost two of her major investors in just a day. Wala na syang magagawa dahil hindi pa naman sila nakakapirma ng kontrata sa El Santi. Wala syang habol. It's just so disappointing because it's not just one but two. She lost two contracts.

She feel so stressed all of a sudden. She keep telling herself na okay lang dahil wala namang nawala sa kanya. She'll find another investor. Madami naman na syang nakausap, they can fill the vacancy na iniwan ng dalawang investors.

Elena took a deep breath and despite of being distracted, she continue her work. She forgotten the bad news soon and simply maintain her focus.

Pagdating ng hapunan, they are complete in the table. Her father, Jiselle, Marco, Elena and her daughter.  Adobo ang kanilang ulam at fried chicken which was requested by Evangelie.

Like their usual dinner, kamustahan at kuwentuhan ang ginagawa nila while eating. It's been the tradition in their house to keep the bond of the family.

Si Elena ang umako ng mga hugasan but Jiselle insisted na tutulungan nya ang kapatid. Eve is with her uncle Marco na naglalaro sa salas habang si Eddie ay tawang tawa na pinanunuod ang magtiyuhin.

The three siblings are very closed to each other but Jiselle and Elena's bond is rather stronger than to their brother. It's because they are girls and they share common interests and experiences.

Pinupunasan at tinutuyo na nila ang mga pinggan. Pagtinatamad ay pinatutulo na lang  nila ito, if they're in the mood, they're drying it with towel.

Elena is silent since they started washing. Iniisip nya parin ang business nya and the investors she lose.

"Ate...?" Jiselle calls.

"Hmn?"

"May itatanong lang ako..."

Elena slowed down in towel drying the plates as she glance at Jiselle. "Ano yun?"

"Sa tingin mo...? It's the right age to get pregnant?"

Napahinto si Elena ng tuluyan. Nalilito nyang itinanong, "why? Buntis ka ba?"

"Huh? Hindi ah. Napatanong lang ako. Haha."

"Actually, para sa akin, the perfect age to get pregnant is 26 to 32. May narinig lang ako before, maganda raw ang bata kapag around that age nanganak." She winked at her younger sister. "Kaya ikaw, mag-asawa ka na. Sabi mo pagnagkaron ulit ako ng love life, sasabak ka na? I think it's about time. I'm happy now with Adam."

"Malapit na ako mag 31, ate. Ibigsabihin pwede na ako?"

Natawa si Elena. "Oo naman! I'm telling you, Ji, iba ang saya pagnaging nanay ka na. You'll feel complete."

Jiselle nod her head. They're almost finished when yaya Ascion entered in the kitchen. Sabi ng matanda, "ma'am Elena, nandyan po si sir Clark. Gusto ka daw pong makausap."

Jiselle's eyes slightly widen. Feeling quite nervous.

"Sige po, yaya. Lalabas na ako." Elena replied. Iniwan nya si Jiselle sa kusina, uttering apology for leaving her alone on the task.

Lumakad sya going to the living but Clark isn't there. Sina Marco lang ang nandoon. Eve ask her to play with them pero sinabi nyang mamaya na lang because she's going to talk to her ninong Clark.

Lumabas ng bahay si Elena because she was told that Clark is waiting at the porch. Naron nga ito. Nakaupo sa mga upuan na nakapalibot sa mesa. There's a woman siting next to him.

"Hey, come on in. Dun tayo sa loob. Kumain na ba kayo?" Clark stands up as soon as El greeted them. She kissed his cheeks at hinarap ang babaeng hindi kilala. "Hi!" Bati nya sa babae.

"Elena, she is Gabby." Pagpapakilala ni Clark sa kasama.

She stretched her hands. "Hi, Gabby. It's nice meeting you."

Gabby accepted her hands and shake with it. "Ganon din po sayo, ma'am."

After that moment, Clark told Elena who is Gabby. "She's a former secretary of Kylie and she's working for me a year already. Nasa Clark R. na sya ngayon."

Hindi alam ni Elena ang isasagot. She doesn't want to hear that name as much as possible because it only brings pain.

"She have something to tell you, El." Seryoso ang boses at mukha ni Clark.

The three of them sat comfortably on the chair, magkatabi ang magkaibigan, they're facing Gabby. For unknown reason, kinakabahan si El. The ambiance feel so heavy. Tapos there is something off on their aura.

"Tell her, Gabby." Clark give Gabby a sign to proceed.

"May spy po si ma'am Kylie sa El Santi."

Elena's heartbeat went racing. So there really is something to be scared of. Hindi mahanap ni El kung anong tamang salita ang dapat sabihin.

"Before I resign from K.C, marami po akong nalamang plano ni ma'am Kylie. Isa na doon ang malamang may tauhan sya sa loob ng El Santi. I also found out na may listahan na sya ng investors at potential investors ng business nyo. Uumpisahan nya na agawin ang mga investors nyo after her marriage with sir Caleb."

Elena's hand thrembles. Bakit ba pilit syang ginugulo ng babaeng yon? She's living a happy and contented life at mukhang ganon din naman si Kylie kasama si Caleb. Wala na syang connection with Caleb aside from being the father to her daughter. Wala na dapat syang dahilan para apakan si Elena. Kaya bakit? Bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi sya nilulubayan ni Kylie?

"El? Are you okay?" Clark noticed her trembling hands and the shock in her eyes.

"K-kanina lang, Clark... kaninang umaga lang nagback out ang dalawa kong investors. Sabi nila... sabi nila nakapag sign na sila sa ibang clothing company." Pati boses ni Elena ay nanginginig din.

"Nagumpisa na siguro si Kylie. She must have used her father's influence para nakawin ang mga dapat para sa El Santi." Clark mumbled. Hinawakan nya ang kamay ni El and look through her eyes. "May pinaghihinalaan ka ba na empleyado sa El Santi?"

"Wala. Lahat sila kasundo ko."

Sa gitna ng pagpapalitan ng mga salita ng magkaibigan ay sumingit si Gabby. "I think hindi po mataas ang position ng spy ni ma'am Kylie para hindi sya mabilis na makilala. Sa tingin ko po ay nasa marketing department sya lalo pa't may access sya sa mga mahahalagang information."

"That bitch is unbelievable." Bulong ni Clark. "Minsan na rin nya akong ninakawan and I think I know how to catch the spy. Babaliktarin natin ang pagsasabutahe ni Kylie."

Jiselle is watching from second floor. She can't hear anything from the conversation of the three. Pero pansin na pansin nya ang pagbagsak ng balikat ng ate nya as well as her restless aura.

Matapos ang usapan ng tatlo ay pinapasok muna ni Clark si Elena bago sila umalis ni Gabby.

Jiselle run downstairs at hinabol nya si Clark bago pa sya makalabas ng gate nila.

"Clark!" Jiselle calls.

He stopped at his track and he turn around. "What?"

Mejo kinagulat ni Jiselle ang manliness sa boses at kilos ni Clark. Even his face na madalas soft, it firm now.

"Anong pinagusapan nyo? Bakit parang ang lungkot ni ate?"

"Stop worrying yourself, Jiselle. May sarili kang issue na dapat pagkaabalahan. Go get in. The coldness of the night might get you catch a cold."

Jiselle gulp. Naging barado ata ang lalamunan nya because she can't talk.

"I'll be going." Then Clark left.