Hindi gumalaw si Henrietta. She can feel Vincenzo's warm breath on her neck. She shivers.
"Turn around."
Hinarap ni Henrietta si Vincenzo ngunit bigla siyang napaatras. Damn it! Ba't sobrang lapit ng mukha nito sa kanya?
"Can you step back? You're too close to my liking," ani ni Henrietta at hinawakan ang balikat ni Vincenzo para itulak ito, making a space between them.
Vincenzo stares at the hand that is touching his broad shoulder. A grin slipped on his lips. He moves backwards but his arms are still caging Henrietta in between.
"Ano'ng kailangan mo?" she asked in irritation. Ugh! Palagi niya na lang itong nakikita kada araw.
"Ikaw."
"Ano?" Did he just say, "Ikaw?" as in her?
"Of course, we have to discuss the project between our companies, right?" nakangising sagot ni Vincenzo. He's enjoying it. He's enjoying seeing different expressions on her face. Of course, he needs to see his daily dose of vitamins.
Henrietta crosses her arms. "Really? Pwede naman natin pag-usapan 'yan mamaya. I need to use the bathroom," she replied. "And pwede ba? Pakialis ng mga kamay mo?"
Vincenzo didn't move, he suddenly moved his face closer to her ear. "I'd like to cage you in me," he whispered. She smell so good. It arouse him kaya umatras na siya at inalis ang mga kamay sa pagitan nito.
Henrietta sighs, she felt suffocated because of how close they were. Kay Luciel lang siya dati nalalapit ng ganito but to other men? No. She's not used to it.
She saw him march towards the center of the meeting hall at swabeng umupo sa swivel chair.
Isang katok ang pumainlang sa kanilang dalawa. Dahil nasa pinto na si Henrietta, she took the initiative to open the door. Nakita niyang nandoon nakatayo ang sekretarya ng lola niya at may dalang turon. Why?
"Ah, Miss Henrietta, pinapadala po ni President. Kain na daw po muna kayo," saad nito. The secretary smiled nervously. Hindi niya malaman ang tumatakbo ng isip ng boss niya. Sobrang laki ng ngiti kanina nang pumasok sa office nito at 'yon nga inutusan siyang dalhin ang turon na dala niya ngayon.
Turon is one of Henrietta's favorite food. Her mother always cook it for her. Kinuha niya ito at dinala sa loob. the secretary saw Vincenzo inside. 'Kaya naman pala.'
Inilapag ni Henrietta ang plato ng may turon sa mesa. She's not greedy, okay? Pero kaya niyang makaubos ng limang turon.
"What's that?" tanong ni Vincenzo at lumapit sa dalaga. He sits besides her a little closer.
"It's called Turon, a Filipino delicacy made from thinly sliced bananas coated with brown sugar and fried in a spring roll wrapper. Hindi ka pa nakatikim niyan?"
Umiling si Vincenzo and grab one. "Hmm, towrown?"
Henrietta blanks. What did he say? Why so slang? She chuckled.
"It's turon, dummy," she corrected.
"I'm sorry. Pinag-aaralan ko pa mag-tagalog kahit three years na ako dito," he explained then take a bite.
That explains why he sounds a little slang when he is speaking tagalog.
"It's good," he commented and took another bite.
"It's one of my favorite," aniya ni Heaven at kumuha din ng turon. She misses her mother.
"Oh, it's my favorite too," sagot din ni Vincenzo.
"Favorite? First time mo lang matikman, ah?" Then Henrietta looked at him, eyes narrowing.
"A like at first bite. Towrown is my favorite now," sagot nito at kumuha pa ng turon. Henrietta's favorite is also his favorite. What the hell, man?!
Pinigilan ni Henrietta ang ngumiti dahil sa slang na pagkakasambit nito ng turon. Napailing na lamang siya at 'di pinansin ang unang sinabi nito.
"Hello!" Mula sa labas naka-lean si Helen sa pinto at sinusubukang marinig ang nasa loob. But in no avail, wala man lang atang nangyayaring sigawan.
Why sigawan? Alam na.
She decided to open the door and saw the two important people in her life eating together. The ambiance between the two is not awkward but comfortable in silence.
How she wishes that Enzo would be her grandson-in-law. But if it's fate then be it!
"Grandma, natagalan po kayo?" nakataas na kilay na tanong ni Henrietta.
Vincenzo just smiled. Alam niya kung bakit. This old woman is setting him up for his granddaughter. Well, Henrietta is an interesting woman. Let's see if they can click.
"Sorry, may tumawag kasi sa akin. I didn't disturb you, right?"
"Of course not. And I want to be clear what Vincenzo was saying about the project between the two companies?" she curiously asked. What she meant is why her?
"Ah, that?"
"Yes," Henrietta confirmed.
"Well, aalis kasi ako papuntang England. I need vacation at meron rin akong importanteng gagawin doon. You will be the acting CEO habang wala ako. Ooops! I won't take a no for an answer, my lovely Henrietta," ani ni Helen. Her forefinger is moving a "no" sign.
"Aalis? And England? Who's with you?" kunot-noong tanong ulit ng dalaga. Bakit ngayon niya lang ito nalaman?
Vincenzo knows the reason why? Hindi sinasabi ni Helen ang totoo sa apo nito. He also accidentally knew about it but she told him to keep it a secret. Ayaw nitong mag-alala ang apo.
Mas masakit na huli na ito malaman dahil mahirap tanggapin. But it's Helen's decision and he doesn't have any right to interfere. He looked at Henrietta. He don't know if kakayanin nito but as long as he's here. Hindi niya ito pababayaan. He made a promise not just to Helen but to himself.
"Oh, dear. Malakas pa ang lola mo besides kasama ko din si Clarence, our family doctor." Sakto namang pagkasabi nito ay bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Clarence.
He strides towards them like a model at nang malapit na ito sa kanila ay umikot ito at kinindatan sila.
"Yoh!" bati nito at yumakap kay Helen. Yayakapin niya din sana si Henrietta nang tinignan siya nito ng malamig.
"Chill, my ice ice baby. Nandito lang naman ako para sunduin si Lola Hell," biro nito pero para kay Helen compliment iyon. Tawaging hell? She is one of hell woman!
"Ano ngayon na? I thought in the next few days pa?" biglang tanong ni Henrietta. Ang bilis naman ata.
"Well, I don't want to waste time," sagot ni Helen at bumaling kay Vincenzo na may malaking ngiti sa labi. "Enzo?"
"Yes?"
"Take care of my granddaughter," after she said that ay parehas na silang lumabas ni Clarence. Leaving Henrietta gaping.
'Oh, he will surely take care of her,' he said meaningfully.
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© _eysteambun
BINABASA MO ANG
Henrietta's Blade
Romance"Divide your enemy so you can reign approach." Upon rebirth, she returned to the time when she was twenty-four years old. As she recalled the torture she had through, memories filled her head. Smarter, feistier, and more daring! She became the cold...
