Capítulo oito

He's currently reading a black folder containing the whole company's report for the present quarter. Each and every one of them couldn't stay still. Lahat sila ay kinakabahan sa kung ano mang maaaring sabihin o gawin nito sa kanila as they completely know that the man sitting in front of them doesn't like failures. Ang pinakaayaw niya sa lahat ay ang mga taong pumapalpak but one thing that's good about him is because he still knows how to accept failures. Yes, he doesn't like failures but still accepts it.

Para sa kanya, lahat ng tao ay nagkakamali pero kung paulit-ulit ng nagkakamali, never expect him anymore to still accept that notion.

His shareholders were just waiting for him to speak. Hindi na rin nila makita ang itsura nito dahil natatakpan ang kanyang mukha sa pagbabasa. He skimmed every page and quickly analyzed the problem not until he finally realized what was happening in his company. Inilapag niya sa harapan nito ang folder na hawak niya. You could describe authority just by his looks, the way he gestures, the way he speaks and almost everything about him would make you feel intimidated.

He's a highly respected figure. A man of words and a man of ambition.

Napansin rin nila ang dalawang armadong lalaki na nakabantay sa pintuan. He never brought his men before not until now. Mas nakaramdam sila ng kaba dahil dito. They exactly knew that they were finally doomed.

There were totally eight board members inside the room. On the other hand, he's the chief executive officer and the chairman of the board, "For the past few months, you did an excellent job. You even presented me an outstanding report that no one could ever give this company for the last years. So how come we lost half a billion within a span of just one month?" nagkatinginan silang lahat na tila naputulan ng dila sa tanong niya though they already knew the issue.

"Am I talking to myself?" tanong pa nito nang wala pa ring nagbabalak na magsalita.

"Mr. Camfield? Do you mind telling me what happened?" tanong niya sa lalaking nasa kanan nito. It was actually Mr. Adam Camfield, the company's chief financial officer. The one who's responsible for supervising the overall financial undertakings of the company.

Napalunok naman ito at napatingin sa mga kasama niya na hindi alam kung paano magsasalita, "A-actually Mr. Radcli— " saad ng isang babae na hindi na pinatapos pa nito, "I am not asking you Miss Crawford," natigilan naman ito at napayuko. Their superior turned to his chief financial officer for the second time, "Go on, speak."

Sinenyasan naman niya ang dalawang lalaking nakabantay sa pintuan kaya pumunta sila sa magkabilang-gilid niya. Unti-unti namang nanginig ang mga kasamahan nito sa kinauupuan nila. In a single move, they could get killed dahilan para mabalutan ng katahimikan at hindi magandang aura ang buong kwarto. Kulang na lang ay pigilan na rin nila ang paghinga.

"A-Actually sir, i-it's impossible for us to lose track of that huge amount of money within a month. Our consumers have increased as well as the sales of the company as predicted by our business finance." -Mr. Camfield.

"But we are still keeping an eye on it," dagdag ng isa pang babae.

"Keeping an eye on it? You were supposed to discuss with me about what's really going on, right? Don't tell me that all this time, you haven't yet done anything to find out about the source and roots of this problem. Unless..." sandali itong natigilan at tinignan ang isa sa mga tauhan niya bago ibinalik ang tingin sa kanila, "One of you is the source," nagkatinginan naman ang lahat.

"As shareholders, you've gained a lot of share more than what you have given in my company. I wouldn't mind losing that kind of amount because most of the shares gone were part of yours," he added.

"But Mister Radcliffe, hindi ka ba nababahala dahil sa laki ng halaga ng pera na nawala sa kumpanya?" no one could even address him directly dahil sa respeto na ibinibigay nila sa kanya. They still respect him as higher than anyone.

"If it's my own money Miss Crawford, of course I don't really like losing even a single coin. You might all think that a million only costs a peso to us but not really. Even a single coin is worth a million," sambit niya.

"Most of the missing shares were yours. Why would I even afraid of losing it?" muling natahimik ang kwarto. He acts like he doesn't care but he actually cares. He knows something that his shareholders do not even know.

"This was supposed to be handled by the business finance department but where are they?" tanong pa niya kay Mr. Camfield.

"We don't have to worry about that. We can still recover the missing money through utilizing our previous sales for the mean time," pagsasalita ng isa sa kanila kaya nalipat dito ang tingin niya.

"We still have our production budget, therefore the previous sales are intended for that. We cannot risk our funds for that big amount of money. Unless there is an assurance that the projected sales provided by the finance can cover up the missing money, otherwise we cannot risk our available resources." -Mr. Camfield

"So, what do you suggest?" tanong ng isa.

"We can't get rid of this not until we know who is the source," sabay-sabay silang naglipat ng tingin sa pinakamataas nila. Senyora's son is that kind of a man.

"Now, for the last time Mr. Adam Camfield..." bahagya naman siyang lumapit dito, "Tell me who is the source of this?"

"With all due respect sir, hindi naman po tamang pagbintangan niyo ang isa sa amin," sagot nito sa kanya.

Maayos itong sumandal sa kinauupuan niya and that's where a wicked smile appeared from his face, "Who told you that I was accusing anyone?" a moment of complete dead air nang tila mabuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang lalaking kausap nito, "Do you think I wouldn't know what you've been doing all this time?"

"Sorry to say but Mr. Nathan Radcliffe, wala akong alam sa sinasabi mo," sagot ni Mr. Camfield.

"If my father would find out about this, you wouldn't like what will happen to you," pagkatapos sabihin 'yon ay hinawakan ng dalawang tauhan nito si Mr. Camfield kaya napatayo siya sa pagpupumiglas. It was the reason why everyone panicked in fear. Napatayo na rin sila dahil sa nangyari.

"I think we need to talk to your father, Mr. Radcliffe. It's not right for you to accuse your chief financial officer who has been serving this company for more than a decade," pahayag ng isang lalaki na napatayo na rin.

"I am the one sitting here. Why is there a need for you to find a person who is not even present? If you don't like me here, then you can all pull out. It doesn't matter to me as I am the one owning this company now," diin niya, "Leve ele pra fora, gentlemen. Se ele insistir, force-o."

(Take him out, gentlemen. If he would insist, force him outside.)

Sinunod naman nila ang iniutos nito habang sumisigaw ang lalaki, "Hindi ko palalampasin ang araw na 'to! You will pay for this! How dare you accused me of such thing!" muling nagsara ang pintuan nang tuluyan na siyang mailabas habang ikinabigla naman ng iba ang nangyari.

"Matagal ng nagtratrabaho si Adam sa kumpanya na ito. I think it's really not right for you to easily accuse him. If your father was here, hindi niya gagawin 'to," pakiusap ng isang lalaki na halos may edad na, "But how unlucky you are because I am not my father. And what do you think is the right thing to do, Mr. Hunson?"

He took a black envelope from the corner of his seat at inilapag sa gitna ng lamesa kaya napatingin silang lahat doon, "Do you really call it accusing when I have full evidences against him? Do you think I would step that low to accuse someone without physical evidences and without deviance from this company's code of ethics?" kinuha ng isa sa kanila ang envelope at inilabas ang mga papel na laman nito. Isa-isa silang kumuha mula roon at binasa ang nakasulat.

"Our company had a record of withdrawal amounting to hundreds of millions the day before yesterday, just before the end of the month. There was no receiver because the record had been taken down immediately. We were able to retrieve it as a matter of fact that the bank where the money had been taken out is managed by a close friend of mine who was not hesitant informing me about it. The receiver's name was Mr. Adam Camfield. I feel sorry for our chief financial officer who had the wrong place to do his dirty work. Now, it's his lost and not mine. I could see by your eyes that you think I did the wrong thing. It was actually all of you who accused me for accusing someone. Now, as my company's shareholders, I will still give you your shares more than five times of what you have given. Then this will be our last time meeting one another," nanlaki ang mga mata nila dahil sa sinabi nito.

"I never desire people who don't trust me. Which is why as the CEO and Chairman of the board, I am commanding you all to take a break and never come back," and with that, he left them dumbfounded. He closed the door without hesitant in taking back what he said.

He took the VIP elevator at paglabas nito, samut-saring pagbati ang sumalubong sa kanya sa bawat empleyadong makakasalubong niya but he chose to ignore them anyways. Nang makita siya ng dalawang tauhan niya ay bahagyang napayuko ang mga ito at pinagbuksan siya ng pintuan.

Pagkalabas nito ay sumalubong naman sa kanya ang isang itim na sasakyan. Katulad noong una ay pinagbuksan rin nila ito ng pintuan. Umupo naman ang dalawa nitong tauhan sa harap and didn't think twice to start the engine and drove off the highways. Seryoso lang ang tingin nito sa bintana buong byahe.

After half an hour once they reached the mansion, two black gates opened up nang makilala sila ng mga bantay. The car stopped right in front of the mansion. Hindi na niya hinintay ang mga tauhan niya at diretsong bumaba sa kotse. As usual, napayuko naman ang mga maid at ang mga tauhan na rumoronda sa paglabas nito. He directly entered the mansion as he regularly do. Inilibot niya ang tingin sa buong mansyon and he smiled when his mother approached her, "Oh, maaga ka ata ngayon? Did something happen?" nag-aalalang tanong nito na ikinailing niya.

"It's not that of a big deal, mom."

"You sure?"

"Yes," sandali siyang napatingin sa kwarto kung nasaan si Gale ngunit nakasara ang pintuan. Iniba naman nito ang usapan nang may maalala siya at muling hinarapan si Senyora, "By the way, where is it?" nagsalubong naman ang kilay ng kanyang ina.

"What?"

"That new dessert of yours?"

"Oh yes. Muntik ko ng nakalimutan. Buti naalala mo. Hmmm how sweet of you, son," muling napangiti si Senyora. Hinawakan nito ang kamay ng anak at hinila papunta sa kusina. She placed a dark blue card on the door bago ito bumukas. Mga miyembro lang kasi ng pamilya ang pwedeng pumasok sa lugar na 'yon. It was actually the family's kitchen.

Hinila niya ang anak papalapit sa isang lamesang punung-puno ng matatamis na pagkain. She held a small plate containing her strawberry cheesecake dessert and had to take some of it using a fork. Masaya niyang inilahad 'yon sa anak, "Come, have a taste and let me know your recommendations," masayang sambit nito. Her son didn't hesitate taking a bite.

There was excitement from Senyora's eyes while waiting for her son's response. He let it fully melt in his mouth bago lumunok at nagsalita, "Well..." saad niya na sandaling natahimik.

"What? Tell me," saad pa ni Senyora.

"It's too sweet, mom. I think you should lessen the sugar if you still want this family to live longer after eating that," diretsong pahayag niya na nakapagpawala sa ngiti ng kanyang ina, "I am just asking for recommendations, Ali. Bakit ang dami mo pang sinasabi dyan? You don't have to say like I wanna ambush this family, right? But at least now I know what to do next time," dismayadong saad nito kaya bahagyang napangiti ang anak niya.

"If you really want to know how it tastes. You should do it yourself or call dad."

Ibinaba naman ni Senyora ang platito sa lamesa, "Alam mo naman ang dad mo, hindi mahilig sa matamis 'yon. He would even think that I am planning to kill him. Mag-ama nga talaga kayo."

"So you waited for me just to taste that?"

"No, actually may una ng nakatikim bago ikaw," saad niya na ipinagtaka ng anak nito, "Who? My wife?"

Bigla na lang nitong pinanliitan ng mata ang anak niya nang marinig ang pangalan na 'yon, "No, not Erin and never will she have to taste my desserts again."

"Then who?"

Ngumiti naman ito bago nagsalita, "Gale."

"And why did you that, mom?" hinarapan naman niya si Senyora habang salubong ang kilay nito.

"Dahil mahilig rin siya sa matamis. Ayaw niya ngang kumain noong isang araw kaya mo siya ipinadala dito sa kitchen, right? Don't lie to me, Ali. I know you."

"It's dad's command not to let something bad happen to her. I just thought that she might crave for food once she see sweet foods because all girls love sweets. You're thinking too much, mom."

"Oh I see," pahayag ni Senyora hanggang sa kumatok ang isa sa mga maid nila kaya napatingin sila sa pintuan, "Come in," saad nito.

"Senyora, Godfather wants to see you and Master at code 13."

Nagkatinginan naman ang mag-ina, "For what?" tanong nito na ibinalik ang tingin sa maid.

"You have a guest," at kumunot ang noo nilang dalawa, "Why didn't you tell me that we have a guest, mom?" tanong niya kay Senyora na ikinailing nito.

"I don't even know na may bisita tayo."

"It must be someone important that's why we're being called at code 13."

"We're on our way there," pahayag ni Senyora sa maid kaya umalis na ito.

"I prefer that you should eat first bago tayo pumunta roon. Makakapaghintay naman ang dad mo."

"Mom, he doesn't like waiting."

"Hindi naman niya ako matitiis."

"Please don't be hard-headed, mom. Let's go," nauna itong umalis kaya wala na ring nagawa si Senyora kundi sumunod sa anak niya papunta sa elevator.

"Code 13," pahayag pa nito pagpasok nila sa loob, "Black alpha activated," saad ng kung sino bago gumalaw pababa ang kinatatayuan nila.

Matapos ang ilang minuto ay tumigil din ito kaya lumabas sila mula roon. Diretso silang naglakad hanggang sa pinakadulo kung nasaan ang isang itim na pintuan. Nakita rin nila si Madam Olivia na halatang hinihintay sila. Yumuko naman ito nang makalapit sila, "Godfather is waiting inside, Senyora and Master," pahayag niya bago binuksan ang pintuan.

Ngumiti naman si Senyora bago sinundan ang anak na diretsong pumasok sa loob. Sumalubong sa kanila ang dalawang lalaking nagkwekwentuhan at masayang umiinom. They couldn't even recognize the man na katapat lang ng asawa ni Senyora because of the gray trilby cap that he was wearing. Napatingin naman ang asawa ni Senyora sa direksyon nilang dalawa at ngumiti, "Oh here they are."

"Hon, who's the guest?" tanong ni Senyora. Sakto namang tumayo ang lalaki at hinarapan sila. Tinanggal nito ang suot niya sa ulo at bahagyang yumuko. Nang magtama ang paningin ng tatlo ay nanlaki ang mata ni Senyora, ganon din ang anak nito ngunit nananatili pa ring seryoso.

"Terrence?!" gulat na tanong ni Senyora habang may ngiti naman sa labi ang lalaking nasa harapan nito, "The one and only..." kinuha nito ang kamay ni Senyora at hinalikan 'yon, "Senyora," dagdag pa niya bago binitawan ang kamay nito.

"Come give me a hug," masayang saad ni Senyora na niyakap naman ito. Muli siyang nagsalita nang lumayo siya mula rito, "Bakit hindi mo kami sinabihan na bibisita ka rito? Nakapagluto man lang sana ako ng pagkain para sa'yo."

"Está bem, Senyora. It wasn't in my plan to visit either but my father told me to stop by."

"Don't worry, Terrence. You can stay here a little longer or as long as you want lalo na't sobrang tahimik nitong mansyon ng mga nakaraang buwan dahil wala na rin gaanong bumibisita," napangiti naman si Terrence dahil sa sinabi nito, "As you wish, Senyora."

"That's what I really like about you," napunta naman sa anak ni Senyora ang atensyon nang magsalita ito, "I'm surprised to see you here, Detective."

"When did you two last meet?" pagtataka ni Senyora.

"We met last time when your son told us not to abduct the young lady yet but that was just through phone, Senyora. I was taken aback when Godfather didn't stop us when we told him about the changes of the plan." -Terrence

Natawa naman ang asawa ni Senyora dahil sa sinabi ng detective, "I thought I would be angry too but I also got Ali's point why he chose to let young lady's family kill her first before we lay a hand on her." -Godfather

"It's better if they think that she's already dead without even knowing that she had been saved," dagdag pa ng anak ni Senyora. Umupo naman si Senyora sa tabi ng asawa kaya ganon na rin ang ginawa ng dalawa na umupo sa tapat nila.

"Well, I've been in the senator's house for three consecutive days and they have not mentioning her name. May mga iilan rin na naghahanap sa kanya. Ipinalabas nilang naglayas siya kaya hanggang ngayon ang alam ng lahat ay nawawala siya dahil sa paglalayas nito," pahayag ng detective.

Naging seryoso na rin ang apat tungkol sa kanilang usapan, "Is that it? Gale will stay missing in the eyes of the public?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Senyora.

"And you know what, there's more, Senyora. Palilipasin nila ang ilang araw at palalabasin na nagpakamatay siya sa likod ng venue kung saan naganap ang kaarawan ng heneral. The reason is all about her sufferings from depression and anxiety resulting from the death of her mother long time ago."

"When are they going to do it?" tanong ng anak ni Senyora.

"The joyous senator is about to celebrate his birthday, three days from now. Their motif color is black, just like they are mourning for her sudden death. People will surely ask kung bakit ganon ang napili nilang kulay during the event. And that's when they will going to announce Serenity Gale's death just before the celebration ends."

"Then we're going to execute our plan first just before they do their own. That's the perfect time to reveal our bait against them." -Godfather

"Does she already know about this?" tanong ng detective.

"If it's about our plan, she'll be informed soon. If it's about her family's plan, she doesn't have to know. It will only just make her situation worse, and we can't let that happen." -Godfather

"I agree. Hindi magandang madaliin natin siya. We have to make sure that she's completely fit for the job first." -Senyora

"Based on what you have said, I could see that she's our priority now," napangiti naman ang detective.

"Simply because we need her." -Godfather

"But Don Stefano..." isa-isa namang tinignan ng detective ang tatlo, "What if our plans would succeed? What will happen to her?" nagkatinginan naman ang mga ito, "We'll get rid of her?" dagdag pa niya.

Sandaling napaisip ang asawa ni Senyora bago nagbuntong-hininga at nagsalita, "Let's see what will happen after that. What's important is we need her right now. Therefore, we have to convince Miss de la Roche that we're gonna fight with her in a war where she's in."

"But we know for a fact na susubukan niyang tumakas. She's not just any other typical woman." -Detective

"Actually, she wasn't planning to escape. Someone lied and convinced her to escape kaya niya nagawa 'yon," sambit ni Senyora habang nakatingin sa kung saan.

"And who might be that person?" -Detective.

"It was Erin," sambit ni Senyora na tinignan ang kanyang anak, "She convinced her to escape..." sandali itong napaisip nang maalala niya ang sinabi ni Erin. While she was looking at her son, she couldn't attempt to hurt his feelings, "That's all."

"Should I tell her to stop coming by for a moment?" tanong naman ng anak nito na ikinailing ng ama niya.

"No, you don't need to do that, son. We should not focus about Erin's plan of getting rid of her. Besides, that'd be impossible considering the reinforcements in this mansion. We should focus more about convincing our young lady to join our side, if we finally get to convince her, we will not have any problem. My plan was supposed to let her willingly stay here for a moment but it changed since she planned to escape." - Godfather

"And what did you do, Godfather?" -Detective.

Sandali namang nagkatinginan ang asawa at anak ni Senyora, "We didn't have any choice but to make her feel terrified. It was the only thing that we urged to do para hindi niya maisipang tumakas and I'm sure that whatever Erin's going to say, she won't believe her for she was already deceived by Erin."

"And I think that plan worked," pagsasalita ni Senyora kaya gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ng kanyang asawa.

"She's trying her best to move on about her family. Gusto niyang magtiwala but I think she's still afraid to do it that's why I'm going to help her." -Senyora

"So what are we going to do now?" -Detective

Godfather took the wine glass in front of him and tasted a bit of it— a liquid savoured by his tongue. Tinignan niya ang basong hawak nito bago nagsalita, "Serenity Gale has already been brought to the family's kitchen, code 13 and code 8 which were all prohibited for non-family members. What more should we hide from her? We need to gain her trust. Treat her like a real member of this family and never scare her again," diretso nitong tinignan ang detective, "Especially soon, it will be her husband's birthday celebration. We have to give the senator a huge suprise," unti-unti namang nagkatinginan at napangiti ng masama ang apat.

Continua...