Chapter 2
Miguel
Manila, Philippines
He was about to lit a cigarette when he felt arms suddenly wrapped around him.
He could feel her warm, soft skin. He wasn't wearing anything but a towel wrapped around his waist. Nasa balcony siya ng penthouse ng hotel.
He was staring blankly at the clouds, not really seeing them. He used to admire them, how perfect they are, their exquisite beauty complementing the magnificence that is sky. Or the sky itself, of how it can turn into different colors, all of them other-worldly beautiful. Or the trees, the sea, he could go on.
But that was before. Nothing seems to be wonderful to him anymore.
"Babe, let's go back to bed." she said, seductively. Habang hinihimas ng kanang kamay nito ang dibdib niya. Hindi siya nagsalita. He gave her his four hours, that was already enough. In fact, it was already too much. Four hours is too much. Usually it's two, sometimes he gave them two and half. If she's good and a wild cat, like this one, he gave them four. Not that he couldn't keep up, he's just not interested in talking, cuddling, or anything other than sex. They might get other ideas. An hour or two are enough to fuck. Besides, an hour of someone like him is precious. He could earn millions in an hour.
Biglang tumunog ang cellphone niya nakapatong sa may table sa tabi niya. Tinignan niya muna iyon ng ilang segundo bago niya kinuha.
But before he answer it, he tilted his head a little to his right side. He looked for her name in his head but couldn't remember. And considering he has a very sharp memory, a gift but sometimes a curse, he guess he just didn't bother knowing her name. They fucked. That was it. No need to remember names.
"You can now leave" he ordered, coldly.
She stilled. "W-what?" she asked, as if hindi nito narinig ang sinabi niya.
Bumalik ang tingin niya sa harapan. Mukhang di ata malinaw dito kung ano ang nangyari sa kanila. The bitch thought she could get more from him.
"You should know that I hate repeating what I've just said." This is one of his pet peeves. He hated repeating himself. He hated wasting time. "Leave. Before I call someone to escort you out." Tumalikod siya dito.
She didn't move for a few seconds before she grunted angrily "Ugh" and he guess, left. It was good he didn't have to call the security this time.
He answered the call. Antonio. "What?" he snapped.
He chuckled. "Calm down, dude. What did the girl call you this time? Wait, wait. I'll guess. Was it heartless jerk? or was it cold-hearted ass? That one's my favorite" Humalakhak ito.
"Shut up" nilagay niya ang sigarilyo sa bibig nya at binuksan iyon gamit ang lighter. "What is it?" he asked impatiently after tossing the lighter and puffing a smoke.
"Okay. Okay. Come over my office, it's about the new project."
"Right" he said and hang up.
Pumasok na siya sa loob ng kwarto and walked towards the bathroom. While in the shower, the cold water washing off the scent of sex off him, he thought about what Antonio said. Napangisi siya ng mapait nang mapansing walang tinawag sa kanya ang babae kanina. Most women called him names, all of them not far from the truth. He was, in fact, cold, soulless, heartless. The jerk was debatable because before he fucks them he made sure they know what they're gonna get and what they are so calling him a jerk for making them leave or leaving without a goodbye or not answering calls/texts (which is funny dahil di naman nya binibigay ang number nya and he hated when they call at his office) is funny because he didn't promise them anything. It's hello, fuck, goodbye.
Pero may mga babaeng akala yata ay mapapaamo siya. He thinks it's because they think he's a challenge, a challenge they could conquer, or a heart they could tame. Too bad he doesn't have one anymore. Sometimes, it's the money. He was filthy rich, of course. They thought by having sex with him makakahuthot na sila sa kayamanan niya. He almost snorted. Never again.
Pinatay na nya ang shower, dried himself with a towel and wore his clothes.
Pagkatapos ng isang oras ay nasa aiport na siya--kung nasaan ang office ni Antonio. Miguel owned 50% of the stocks of the company while Antonio owned the 25% the rest belongs to other stockholders.
Pagkalabas niya ng kotse ay nakita niyang nagmamadaling nagpilahan ang mga empleyado. They bow down to him. His face remained expressionless. Dirediretso lang siya. He didn't ask them to do that but they do it anyways. Maybe it was because they knew he didn't like verbal greetings and they didn't know how to show respect so they just bow down to him. Perhaps it was his just aura or his reputation. He shook himself from those thoughts. He didn't care either way. Lahat ng madaanan niyang empleyado ay hihinto at yuyuko sa kanya. He noticed, some of them, has fear in their eyes as they caught his glance.
Dumiretso siya sa office ni Antonio. Mas malapit ito sa hotel na pinanggalingan niya kaya doon na lamang niya sinabing magmeeting sila. Sa airport nakabase si Antonio. Siya naman ay sa mismong building ng MA Group of Companies or The MA Empire. Malapit lang din iyon sa airport. M. A. Empire It was a chain of different businesses. He owns airports. Real Estate. Hotels. Malls. At iba pa. He was good at it. He's good in business. He's very good with numbers. He entered the stock market and the rest is history.
Isa na ang airport na iyon sa pagmamay-ari niya. It was hailed as the second best airport in Asia, next to Singapore. Tumutuntong siya doon kapag aalis siya, he has his own private runway and private planes and jets. O kaya naman ay kapag may scheduled flight siya.
Bukod sa mga business niya ay isa rin siyang lisensyadong piloto. He takes flights from time to time. It was rare because of his busy schedule but he does it whenever he felt like blowing off a steam or whenever he wanted to feel something. Whenever he wanted a break from people. Kapag lumilipad siya ay nakakalimutan niya ang lahat.
He raised a brow nang hindi niya naabutan ang sekretarya ni Antonio sa puwesto nito. Kapag pumupunta siya doon ay karaniwang hindi magkandaugaga sa gagawin nito dahil nakita siya.
Usually kasi kailangan pang iinform na may papasok sa office. Let's just say... sometimes, Tony's busy.
Hindi na siya kumatok. Alam naman nito na darating siya.
Kaya napataas ang kilay niya nang makita niyang naghahalikan si Tony at sekretarya nito. Nang siguro'y maramdaman ng mga ito ang presensiya niya ay gulat na napalingon ito.
He heard his secretary gasped. Dali-dali itong nag-ayos ng kanyang sarili. She bow down to him bago namumulang umalis.
Sinundan ko muna ito ng tingin sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata bago bumaling muli kay Antonio na inaayos ang necktie. He smirked. "What? Have you seen her ass?"
"You're unbelievable, Antonio. Even your secretary? That's cliche" He gave him a blank look. As for him, he didn't like to mess around with his employees not only because of work etiquette but that would be a waste of time. They would eventually expect more from him, and he had to fire them and they would need to hire to replace them and the cycle continues.
"Well i'm sorry, bro. Hindi ako katulad mo, nakaka-appreciate ako ng goods"
"Seriously, wala na bang pumapatol sayo?" Umupo siya sa black couch na nasa tapat ng desk nito.
He chuckled at umayos ng ito ng upo sa swivel chair. "Okay, let's start."
Tinawag nito ang sekretarya gamit ang intercom. Bumukas ang pinto at inilitaw ito at as expected, hindi ito makatingin sa kanya ng diretso. Napailing na lang siya. Inilapag nito ang isang folder sa harap niya.
"What's that?" He asked Antonio before picking it up. Binuksan nya ito
"Ayan 'yung file ng firm ni Uncle Lucien. His employees are one of the best in the world. May profile rin diyan ng mga gawa nila."
Pinasadahan ko ng tingin. Tumingin ako uli sa kanya. "And...?"
"D'yan tayo kukuha ng gagawa and magdedesign para sa gagawing airport sa Cebu. Hindi mo nagustuhan ang proposal last time so, kumuha ako sa America. I already talked to Uncle. Ipapadala na lang raw niya ang mga tao niya rito. Pero bago makapagpractice ata dito they had to partner with a local firm, a law I think"
"Okay. Do whatever you want. Just give me updates." He was confident Antonio knew what he's doing that was why he trust him with his company and other business that he didn't want to bother with. Tumayo na siya "Is that it?"
"Yep sorry I should have said it on the phone na lang but I want you to look at the designs. I know naman na dadaan ka talaga dito" he said then stood up "I'll call him later." He regarded him for a second. "Oh by the way, malapit na ang birthday ni Yesha, right?" pumunta ito sa katabing table at kumuha ng wine at wine glass. Nagsalin ito at inalok siya. He shook his head.
His lips tipped up when he remembered her daughter.
"Yah" he replied. Then he remembered he'll visit her today. "I already instructed my secretary to plan her party" he said while moving towards the door.
"Man, you need a wife" He chuckled while sipping his wine. "She needs a mother. And better if someone na makakapag-alis ng ka-grumpyhan mo. Yes, that, i'd like to see"
Tinignan niya lamang ito ng masama. "I don't need one." Akmang may sasabihin pa ito ngunit inunahan niya na ito. "This conversation is over," he said. He
Binuksan na nya ang pinto para umalis. He heard Anthony chuckle.
He doesn't need anyone. Why the hell people think men need women in the life? Katawan lamang ang silbi ng mga ito sa kanya.