SANDRINE
Just as I expected, Gustave never talked to me on our way home yesterday. It almost felt awkward having him that close to me, yet so far. When we came home, I immediately got out of the car and went to Ansel to help him on his assignments. Noong hindi ko na mahagilap si Gustave, parang gusto kong matawa mag-isa. Akala ba niya, kapag isinabay niya ako pauwi ay magiging maayos na ang lahat? Puwes, nagkakamali siya. I may have given him a peace offering but that's it. He will always take away what's mine and I don't like that.
Ngayon naman ang naka-schedule kong meeting kasama ang CEO ng STP. I really shouldn't let this Gustave thing bother me. Hindi naman mauubos ang problema ko kung mag mumukmok ako eh. Gustave will still be Gustave and this marriage will always be a train-wreck.
Isang pulang suit at slacks ang isinuot ko na tinernuhan ng puting halter top. My straight hair was flowing freely on my back. Madalas ay naka tali sa isang bun ang buhok ko pero ngayong araw na ito ay mas gusto kong mag lugay ng buhok.
"Good Morning, Madame."
"Good Morning. Where's my coffee?" I asked without looking. Mas abala ako sa pag babasa ng ilang notes at files na naroon para sa meetimg ko mamaya.
"It's brewing, Madame. Give me five minutes." Saglit ko siyang sinulyapan at tinanguan para iwanan niya na ako.
I really can't start my day without drinking my favorite coffee from Hacienda La Esmeralda. I had to send my staff to Panama once every three months just to but those coffee beans. I wouldn't even put nasty cheap coffee on my lips.
Matapos ang ilang minuto ay muling bumalik ang sekretarya ko. Napuno ng mabangong aroma ng kape ang buong opisina ko. Ah, finally.
"Would you like some croissants with that, Madame?" Tanong niyang muli.
"No, thank you." Iling ko. I really don't feel like eating something this morning.
She gave me one last bow before leaving my office. Hindi naman talaga mahirap mag-trabaho para sa isang Sandrine Salguero. Dapat lang ay marunong siyang sumunod at makuha niya ang timplang gusto ko. Hindi lang sa kape. Pati sa ibang bagay.
Napukaw ng isang file sa lamesa ko ang aking atensyon. It was Gustave's detailed proposed plan for the company next year. Binasa ko na ang nauna niyang plano pero hindi ko pa nababasa ang updated plan na ito. It was given to the board after it was approved. Hindi naman na ako kumontra. Wala naman akong laban lalo na't maging ang chairman ay nagustuhan ang proposal niya.
Everyone seems to like it but there's just one thing that ticks me off. Building a power plant in Bulacan means taking away the home of hundreds of people. They're natives. Hindi iniisip ni Gustave yon dahil mas nasisilaw siya sa expansion na gusto niya. This is why I strongly disagree with him. As his wife, he should have consulted me first but he never consult me for anything. Nakakabastos.
This is why we're never going to be okay behind closed doors. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman kong palabas lang ang lahat. Everyone thinks that we're in this wonderful marriage together but we're not. We're nothing.
"Madame, are you ready for your meeting with STP's CEO? Do you need me to come with you?" Muling tanong ni Jane.
Tiningnan ko ang orasan sa lamesa ko. It's still early for my meeting but I like to be early. Tumayo ako at kinuha ang coat ko.
"No need, Jane." Sagot ko naman.
I picked up my phone and placed it inside my Birkin bag. I heard STP's CEO likes the color white so I picked out a white bag.
"Madame, may mga reporter nga po pala sa baba. If you want, you can just leave through the back of the building. I'll give the guards a call." Pigil muli sa akin ni Jane nang akmang hahakbang na ako sa elevator.
Itinaas ko ang kanang kamay ko at agad siyang tumigil. She looked worried but she knows that nothing can stop me from going out. Male late ako sa meeting ko kung hindi.
"Finish everything that I asked you to do." Tumalikod na ako at humakbang papasok ng elevator.
There was no one there. I sighed and prepared myself to answer a few questions from the press. I need all the publicity that I can take. Isa pa, halos magpakamatay na ang mga hamak na reporter na ito para lang makakuha ng kahit na kaunting opinyon mula sa akin.
Before the elevator opened, I made sure to put on my shades.
"Showtime." Bulong ko sa sarili ko.
Bumukas ang pinto ng elevator. Paglabas ko palang ay tanaw na ang kumpulan ng mga tao sa labas. I was right. There was a huge number of reporters outside the building. Pilit silang ikinulubli ng mga guard pero kulang pa din.
"Good morning, everyone! I'm here to answer a few questions. Would you mind setting order so we can start?" Umalingawngaw sa buong lugar ang boses ko. Awtomatiko silang tumigil at sa isang iglap ag nakatutok na sa akin lahat ng camera at mikropono doon.
"Mrs. Salguero! Here please!"
"One photo, Mrs. Sandrine!"
"Mrs. Salguero, totoo po bang nakuha na ng Salguero Tropics ang CEO ng STP bilang investor?"
"How is your Bataan plant? Totoo ba ang mga reports na nagsasabing kulang ang pasweldo niyo sa mga empleyado?"
"When are you going to have another baby?"
The whole area was just full of questions. Noon ay natataranta ako sa ganitong eksena pero sa tagal ng panahon ay nasanay na din ako. Isa isa kong sinagot ang kanilang mga katanungan maliban sa mga personal na tanong. Being in one of the most eligible families in the Philippines, I have a bunch of publicists that would kill me if I say something wrong and upset someone.
"I think that's enough questions for today. I have a meeting to attend to." Ani ko nang may paskil na ngiti sa mga labi.
Tumango ako at awtomatikong hinawi ng mga body guard ko ang baha ng mga reporter. Umikot kami para makasakay sa sasakyan at doon lang ako natahimik. It's still so early in the morning and I am already dealing with this. Hinilot ko ang sentido ko at ipinikit sandali ang mga mata ko.
Wala pang fifteen minutes ang nilalakbay namin nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. It was my secretary calling.
"What?" Matalim na bungad ko.
"Madame, Vilma just called. He said that your shoot with Forbes Philippines has been rescheduled later today." She was talking about Gustave's secretary.
Hindi pa lumilipas ang ilang segundo ay nag-init na kaagad ang ulo ko. Hindi ba alam ng magaling kong asawa na may trabaho din ako? It's like he never value my time! Ako nanaman ang mag a adjust para sa schedule niya.
"Madame?"
"I heard you. Let me call him." I said. Ibinaba ko ang tawag at mabilis na tinawagan si Gustave.
Kailangan ko pa ng oras. Hindi ko pwedeng madaliin ang meeting ko lalo na at nililigawan palang namin ang investor na ito. Laking pasasalamat ko na hindi pa tapos ang meeting ni Ms. Saavedra. Inilabas ko ang cellphone ko at ini-speed dial ang number ni Gustave. Matapos ang ilang ring ay sinagot niya ang tawag.
"Why did you reschedule the shoot? I have a meeting!" My goodness! Ilang saglit nalang ay darating na ang CEO ng STP!
"Sandrine, it was the only time that I'm free. Can't you clear your schedule just this once?" I can here the dismay on his voice.
This once? Seryoso ba siya? He would always ask me to reschedule my meetings just so we can give way to his. Hindi lang isang beses niyang ginawa sakin ito.
"You know I have a meeting with STP's CEO. I can't just reschedule!" Pigil na sigaw ko.
Today has been a stressful day and he is not helping at all! Kung hindi ko lang siya asawa ay naisip ko nang sinasabotahe niya ako.
"No problem, Sandrine. I can do the shoot on my own." Matabang na sagot niya.
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Once again, he wanted all the limelight to himself. I could think of a million things to say to him but I shut my mouth instead. Nilunok ko ang kagustuhang sagutin siya ng pabalang.
"Always your way, right Gustave? Do what you want." Ani ko at mabilis na ibinaba ang tawag.
Sakto namang bumukas ang pinto ng malawak na opisina at iniluwa noon si Jocelyn Saavedra. Ang CEO ng numero unong energy manutacturer sa Pilipinas. Kilala sila dahil lahat ng produkto nila ay gawa mismo sa bansa.
"Ahh! Sandrine Salguero! I finally met you!" Malapad ang ngiti na isinalubing sa akin ni Jocelyn.
"Pleasure to meet you Mrs. Saavedra." Matipid na ngiting bati ko kasabay ng pag-kamay ko sa kanya.
"Please, call me Jocelyn." She said.
She is a middle aged woman who created this company when her husband died. Mag-isa niyang itinaguyod ang kumpanya at ang anak niya.
"What do you have for me, Sandrine? Matalino ka. At pareho nating ayaw ng paligoy-ligoy. I'll save the getting to know part later." Aniya kasabay ng isang kindat.
Bumuntong hininga ako at ngumiti.
"Well, what do you have for me? You are the number one energy equipment manufacturer in the country. I trust your products. The questions is, would you consider having an exclusive partnership with Salguero Energies?" I said.
Matagal ang naging negosasyon namin ni Jocelyn. I left a copy of a contract that I prepared. Binigyan ko pa siya ng panahon para pag-aralan ang kontrata. Pero umalis ako doon na taas noo. I'm confident with that contract and negotiation. Hinding hindi niya aayawan iyon.
"To the studio please." Sabi ko kaagad pagka sakay ko ng sasakyan.
I'm sure they are already starting with the shoot. Pero kung inaakala ni Gustave na papabayaan ko lang siyang mag-isa ay nag kakamali siya. I won't let him take another opportunity from me.
Nadatnan ko ang pictorial na nasa kalagitnaan na. Naka asul na suit si Gustave at nakaayos ang buhok. Ganito ang hitsura niya sa araw araw kaya hindi na ako nagulat. Nilingon ako ng isang staff doon at napasinghap siya.
"Miss Sandrine is here!" Sigaw niya at sa isang iglap ay nag-lingunan ang mga tao sa akin.
"M-madame!" Bulalas ng photographer.
Lumingon siya sa kanyang staff at sumigaw.
"Tawagin niyo ang mga make-up artist! Bilis!" Aniya.
Ni-isang beses ay hindi ko tinapunan man lang ng sulyap si Gustave. Although, I can feel him eyeing me from head to toe.
"No need. I retouched my make up on my way here." Tanggi ko.
I buttoned my suit and walked straight to the set. Narinig ko ang pag singhap ni Gustave sa tabi ko.
"You made it." Bulong niya.
"Of course." Sagot ko kasabay ng pag-flash ng camera.