Meeting the Enemy's Prince

Alumpihit na nakasunod si Yumie kay Mrs. Ersao. They turn right to a corner and stopped on the first door. Kumatok si Mrs. Ersao and told her to wait for awhile. Pumasok ito sa loob.

She waited at the door. Bahagya siyang nakahinga ng maluwag. Nilingon niya ang kahabaan ng hallway. It was all marmol and well lit. Sa area na ito, meron lang 2 pinto. Isa iyong hinintuan nila the other one on the far end of the hall. The area was all quiet. Halos madidinig mo ang lakatak ng heals ng mga sapatos kapag naglalakad. Napatingin si Yumie sa pinto, she read the sign.

"Zeekcarias Callejos, Vice President'. The Callejos Heir."

Itinadhana pa atang mapunta siya sa isang Callejos. Tila signus iyon na malapit na siya sa tunay na pakay. It will be easier for her to get close. Unti-unting nagfoformulate sa utak niya ang mga plano. All she need to do was gather all necessary details para makapanghimasok.

She was in deep thought nang biglang bumukas ulit ang pinto. Iniluwa nun si Mrs. Ersao.

"Yumie, pasok ka," tawag ni Mrs. Ersao.

She took a deep breath and stepped in a very manly office. Everything is Gray and dark blue in color. Full carpeted ang sahig. Malawak iyon like a full floor room. Sa isang side my lounging area. The shelvings displayed something like a mini library. The wall was all glass that you can see the busy landscape below. There are paintings and artifacts as well. But what caught Yumie's attention most is the man sitting at the elevated corner office.

Like the first time she saw him, the man exudes authority. He's too confident kahit sa tingin lang. Pinigil ni Yumie ang pagtaas ng kilay.

'So, ito palang hambog na 'to magiging boss ko,' bulong ni Yumie sa sarili. 'You don't work with pretty girls, ok. Let's play then.'

"This is Yumie Arguellez, she will be your Executive Assistant from now on," maiksing intro ni Mrs. Ersao sa kaniya. "Yumie, this is Zeekcarias Callejos, the Vice President of this company and the only heir of Mr. Ismael Callejos," ani Mrs. Ersao na obvious ang pagdiin sa salitang 'heir' at sabay pang minatahan si Zeek.

Hindi siya sumagot. Ni hindi niya magawang ngumiti. Bagkus, she kept a straight face trying hard not to look sarcastic but professional. Muling humarap sa kaniya si Mrs. Ersao.

"By the way, don't worry. You're compensation and benefits will be adjusted. I'll inform HR. Puntahan mo na lang later bago ka mag-out," instruct ni Mrs. Ersao. Humarap ito kay Zeek.

Hindi naalis ang tingin ni Zeek sa kaniya. Titig na titig ito sa kaniya na tila pinipilit basahin ang tumatakbo sa utak niya. Which she wish that he really could read. Para nababasa nito ang lahat ng klase ng sumpang ibinabato niya rito ng patago.

"If you don't mind, hihiramin ko muna ang Assistant mo and I'll endorse to her your sched----" naputol ang anumang sasabihin ni Mrs. Ersao.

"Do it later. I haven't had breakfast. She's coming with me," ani Zeek na tumayo mula sa kinauupuan and wear his coat as he start leaving the office.

"Zeek!" tawag ni Mrs. Ersao but Zeek just left the room.

Napatiimbagang si Mrs. Ersao. Tila nauubusan na ito ng pasensya. She maybe hesitating na sumunod rito. But she's more eager na makipagsabayan sa pambubully niyo than to held back and fight in silent. She'd waited 12 years already. Pagod na siyang mag-antay.

Mabilis na humarap siya kay Mrs. Ersao. "Uhm, Mrs. Ersao, I got all your instructions. Don't worry about me. I can handle this."

Saglit na tinignan siya ni Mrs. Ersao saka ito tumango.

"Sundan ko na po yun," nginitian nito ang nagpipigil inis na ginang saka halos patakbong sinundan si Zeek. Zeek may have long steps but she was able to catch up sa elevator. Nanatili siyang nakasunod rito hanggang sa makababa sa basement. Sinalubong agad ito ng mga guards. And his car was already waiting sa paglabas nito sa elevator.

"Give me the keys," anito sa tila chauffer nito. Humarap ito sa kaniya. "You do know how to drive, right?"

"Ofcourse," pilit ang ngiting turan niya. Sarcastikong iminuwestra nito ang driver's seat sa kaniya. Hindi niya napigilang irapan ito saka siya sumampa sa sasakyan. Sa likod naman umupo si Zeek. Like a true boss he is.

"Where are we heading, boss?" she asked as she started the engine. Napaigtad siya nang biglang dumukwang si Zeek sa harap upang manduhin ang GPS. Halos madikit sa pisngi niya ang ulo nito. At kung lilingon siya pakanan tiyak na dadampi ang labi niya sa pisngi nito. She can smell his manly perfume na tila dumikit na ata sa ilong niya simula pa kaninang una silang magkita. Bahagya siyang lumayo at hinintay itong matapos sa ginagawa. Bahagya pa itong lumingon sa kaniya bago umayos ulit nang pagkakaupo sa likuran.

"Just follow that route," anito.

Kinalma ni Yumie ang sarili by taking silent deep breathes and pigil na inis. Then she started driving. Sinundan niya kung ano ang direksiyon iniinstruct ng GPS. For about 30minutes nakarating sila sa isang tila private resto. Nasa ilalim iyon ng basement kaya't hindi ito agad yun makikita. But Yumie knows the place. Alam niyang it's by reservation bago makapasok dun. As she have worked as EA before sa isang law firm marami na siyang nakausap na kliyente na sa mga ganitong venue nagmemeet. She parked the car sa harap mismo ng shop. The Vallet will take care of it. Pinagbuksan ito sila ng pinto. Sumunod siya kay Zeek.

"Mr. Callejos, it's good to see you back!" masigasig na bati ng isang babae tila manager ito iyon ng resto. "I have the VIP room prepared already. Are you meeting with someone?"

"It's just me and," humarap ito sa kaniya. "And my New Assistant."

Tango lang ang bati niya. Nahuli niya ang malapad at makahulugang ngiti ng babaeng kausap ni Zeek. Tila may idea ito sa mga mangyayari.

The girl seemed to know Zeek's intention kung bakit ura-urada siyang sinama dito. It's as if he's starting to play his games. But with what she had for 12 years, her instincts have been so powerful that a single smile would mean a lot of things. He can play all he want. She'll definitely play along.

"Ok then, Mr. Callejos, our usherette will lead you to the VIP room," anito as she gestured for Zeek to head to the reserved VIP room.

"Uhm, just go ahead sir! I'll be there shortly," pahabol ni Yumie na ikinalingon ni Zeek. Nahuli na naman niya ang matalinhagang tingin nito sa babae na tila may pagsenyas saka nagtuloy sa paglakad.

"You know, Mr. Callejos doesn't wait," ani sa kaniya ng babae na tila may pagbabanta. Kung kakampi ito sa pambubully ni Zeek sa kaniya, she had it coming.

"Thay's why I don't have so much time to waste," she said sarcastically. "I know he's a regular here and I don't care if you are his biggest fan. But I am working at this time and so do you. If you don't want me to put your job at risk, and I doubt na kakampihan ka ng boss kong bully, therefore do your job well," banta niya.

The manager seemed caught off guard. Tila hindi nito ineexpect ang palaban niyang attitude. Why? Lahat ba ng dinala dito ni Zeek had failed the test? Base sa mga titigan nito at Zeek kanina, alam niyang kakuntsaba ni Zeek ang manager na ito.

"Now, I only need two things. Since he's a regular and I am new, he'll order the usual. The USUAL na kinakain niya nothing more, nothing less. Kung may special intsruction man yun, please do so. Don't ask me what I will eat. I will not. Second," kinuha niya sa bag ang sariling card. Sariling savings niya yun."Tab it here. I don't have the company cards yet, but that's my problem not yours." Then she walks towards where Zeek headed.

Zeek was waiting in a secluded room. It' s a small room for two people. May waitress na nag-aassemble na ng lamesa nila. She sat in front of Zeek.

" My time is precious, Ms. Arguellez. Sa 2 mins na hinintay ko sayo, we could've have placed the order already,"

"Oh I already did. It is being prepared now," she said with slight twitch on the corner of her lips. "I hope you don't mind ordering your usual. I figured out your a regular here, that's why you'll be probably ordering the same thing."

"What makes you think so? Hindi ba pwedeng magbago ang taste ko for a change?" he said with a little eyebrow raised.

"I don't think so. You're aura tells me you're a man of routines and habit. I doubt that you are fickle minded and spontaneous. Besides, you just said so your time is precious. I bet you don't waste time findling over a menu to think what to eat." She can read characters. Talent niya na yata yun.

Hindi nakahuma si Zeek. Tuwid na tinitigan lang siya nito. Yumie's eyebrows were sarcastically raised. Sinabayan iyon nang mapang-uyam nitong ngiti. She is full of herself. Too confident but very much pretty. He likes it.

She must've figure out that she's being tested. Kung tutuusin, kunti lang talaga ang tinetest niya sa resto na ito. Aminado siyang hindi lahat nang naging Assistant niya dumaan sa Restaurant test. Mostly, those pretty in his eyes lang ang dinadala niya rito. He doesn't believe that pretty and wise comes together. And to date, wala pang nakakapasa sa test niyang yun. Mukhang si Yumie pa lang.

The waitress came. She put Zeek's meal on the table. Hindi napigilan ni Yumie ang matawa while Zeek glared at her na tila ipinapanggalang ang inis sa pagkapahiya.

Yumie was laughing hard. She really didn't expect what could be Zeek's usual order. Ang intensyon lang naman niya, is not to bother na hulaan pa ang kakainin ni Zeek but let the team decide tutal alam naman ng mga ito ang madalas na kainin ni Zeek. And she find it funny nang ilapag ng server ang small slice ng chocolate cake and a cup of black coffee. The test was really witty. No assistant would be in their right mind that Zeek will only order a coffee and a cake. Zeek won't definitely tell it to his assistant. They will rack their brains hard para alamin kung ano gusto kainin ng lalaking ito.

"Hayy..." ani Yumie as she stopped laughing. "Sorry. That's really surprisingly funny."

"Enjoying it, Ms. Arguellez?"

Hindi sumagot si Yumie. She just looked back at Zeek teasingly.

Zeek, reached for his coffee, put 1 scoop of sugar and no cream. He took a sip. Bahagya pang kumulubot ang noo ni Zeek as he put down the cup.

"Congratulations then, you passed the test," simpleng sagot ni Zeek.

"Thank you," she said. "Anyway, if you want to eat other than that I can order it for you."

"I don't actually eat anything here. But they are excited to see me here palagi. Those who failed the test used to order a lot. So I'm actually paying the food na kinakain lang din ng mga staff," kwento ni Zeek.

"No wonder na sinasakyan ka nila. That leader girl was really glistening when I talked to her," ani Yumie.

"Tell me, what gives?" tanong ni Zeek.

Yumie shrug off. "Just an instinct and attention to details."

Zeek smiled. He understood now, Yumie is someone he can't bully. There something in her na tila nagpapaamo sa kaniya. He brush off that thought. It's too soon to tell. But for now, he wants Yumie to be his assistant.

"Well, I think we're off to a bad start. But, let me start over." He held out his palm and offered a handshake. "Zeek Callejos, VP of Callejos Technologies."

Yumie looked at Zeek's hand, smiled and reached it, "Mayumia Arguellez, at your service, sir." For the first time in 12 years, she's confident to say her true first name. Tila it was the right time para magpakilala. There something in Zeek that made her feel secured. Hindi siya natakot.

Zeek lip twitch a little, yet he didn't speak a word. But in his mind, these words whispered...

'Mayumia? What a lovely name.'