14

"What is this? I thought your team will have these materials in a lower price? What happened?," kunot-noong tanong ni Toni habang bina-browse ang mga documents ng mga materials needed for the construction of their newest project.

Napakamot naman sa sariling batok si Vixen sa kanyang harapan, "I really don't know what happened, Toni. Ipinasa ko lang 'yan sa subordinates ko at sinabi naman nilang gagawin nila ang lahat. They didn't informed me na hindi pala nila nagawa," he explained like his explanations will changed everything.

Naiinis na sinara na niya ang hawak na folder at nilapag na lamang iyon sa gilid ng table, "I don't need your rants, Mister. This is your obligation as a Marketing Head of our company, simpleng negotiation lang sa supplier natin hindi niyo nagawang ayusin!," she exclaimed in disbelief.

Late na nga siyang nakarating sa opisina dahil dinaanan niya pa ang ongoing project nila hindi kalayuan tapos ito pa ang ibubungad sa kanya. How ridiculous!

"Look, I'm apologizing on behalf of my team, Toni. I will rechecked that documents, at ako na rin mismo ang kakausap sa suppliers natin, baka sakaling mapakiusapan," Vixen trying to pleased her using his words, but she's not in the mood para makisabay. Like, she can't afford to lose this project, ang ganda ng naging flow ng bidding nila dito, tapos simpleng pagba-budget sa fund ay hindi nila magawa!

"Dapat lang, Vixen, hindi ako natutuwa sa team mo. Trust me when I said, this is your last chance, at hinding-hindi ko na kayo isasama sa iba pang project."

Vixen raised his both hands in the air, "Calm down, my love. This will be the last time, I promise," he said softly like a puppy asking for forgiveness on his owner.

"Gawin mo, ayoko ng puro salita lang," she dismissed the conversation upon opening a new files. Mga papeles naman ito ng mga nag-aapply sa kumpanya.

"Ano pa ang kailangan mo, Mr. Vixen Khalid?," she suddenly asked nang mapansin na nakatayo pa rin sa kanyang harapan ang binata, tila may hinihintay na kung anong grasya.

He bit his lower lip unconsciously before heaving a sighed, "Lunch?," he asked unsure.

Nagtatakang tinitigan niya ang binata, "What do you mean?"

"Oh, I mean, tapos ka na bang mag-lunch? Kasi kung hindi pa naman, we can eat outside together?," he clarified like he was expecting something.

Tinigil naman niya ang pagtingin sa mga resume ng applicants, "Sorry to burst out your bubbles but I just asked my secretary to order me a food," she simply answered, alam niyang ginagawa lang itong dahilan ng binata para makasama siya. Napakakulit talaga!

"How about dinner? We can have dinner later, I'll wait for you at the lobby. I know a newly opened restaurant nearby," hindi pa rin siya tumitigil, somehow, gusto na niyang maniwala na gusto talaga siya ng lalaki, kung hindi lang talaga ito playboy.

She pursed her lips into thin line, not pleased, "Even I have the time, Mr. Khalid, I won't still eat with you. Didn't you just forget how many times I rejected you?"

"No worries, Toni, this is just a friendly dinner date. No malisya at all, kakain lang talaga tayo sa labas," muling pag-a-apela na naman nito.

No one can ever reached the consistency of this guy. Ni hindi ata uso dito ang pagsuko. Nauubusan na ata ng babae sa buhay at siya na ang kinukulit ngayon!, "I have a boyfriend, Vixen," she said, hopeful that when she informed him, he will stopped na.

Umiling naman ang binata, "Oh, come on, like I care, lagi namang iba-iba ang boyfriend mo, Toni."

Tila naputol na ang mitsa ng kanyang pasensya, "Just leave," she spoke in an unpleased manner.

Natunugan naman iyon ng binata at bagsak ang balikat na lumisan sa kanyang opisina. Ni hindi na nito nagawang magpaalam pa, parang dinamdam talaga ang nangyari.

Hinayaan na lamang niya iyon at ginugol na lamang ang sarili sa binabasang mga resumes.

"I really need an architect like how Leo's townhouse was made," she murmured to herself while still browsing the papers, wala siyang makitaang kakaiba, there's no character she's been looking for.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated, a text from someone maybe. She lazily picked her phone and opened the message.

From: +639*********

where are you, baby?

Nagtataka namang binasa niyang muli ang mensahe, after Vixen may isa na namang nanggugulo. Sigurado siyang hindi ito sa mga naging ex-fling niya dahil registered naman iyon sa kanyang telepono. Hindi man niya alam kung sino ang panauhin, natagpuan niya pa rin ang sariling nagtitipa pabalik ng mensahe.

To: +639*********

who's this?

Ilang segundo pa lang ang nakakalipas ng mag-vibrate na naman ang hawak na telepono.

From: +639*********

aww hindi na ba agad ako naalala ng baby ko? that's bad, i'll file a case against you, baby.

And with that, alam na niya kung sino ang estranghero. Damn! This is Leo! How she can forget him! Nakalimutan niya pang i-save ang numero nito!

Hindi pa siya nakakabuo ng tugon sa binata nang tumawag naman ito ngayon. And she answered it on its third ring.

"My bad, baby, hindi ko pala na-save ang number mo," she explained upon picking up the call.

A mischievous laugh envaded on the other line, "Is that how you greet, "Hello" now, baby?," he teased using his baritone voice.

She bite her lips, preventing a smile, "I'm just being defensive, my apology, Attorney."

"That's not an unacceptable reason, Engineer. Meet me in the court right now," he even used his formal voice with her! And its freakin' hot as hell! Damn this lawyer.

"Is that how you asked for a date, Attorney?," natatawa na namang biro niya sa lalaki sa kabilang linya.

He chuckled again, "Will you allow me, baby?"

"Of course, baby. Who am I to refused a handsome lawyer like you?," kahit hindi pa siya tinatanong ng binata ay papayag na siya sa kahit anong gustong gawin nito! Ganito na ata talaga siya kahibang!

"I'll pick you, where are you ba?"

She bite his inner cheek to stop her smile, "Oh, no need, baby. Just text me the location and I'll be there."

Tila nakuha naman ng binata ang gusto niyang sabihin, "Oh, alright. I'll text you, then. You have thirty minutes to prepare. I'll hang up na. Bye," and with that she heard the dial tone, sign that their conversation over the phone ended.

Nakangiting tiniklop niya ang folder na kanina lamang ay tinitingnan niya. She even fixed it on its nicest position. Nakalimutan na niya agad ang naramdamang inis kanina lang. Parang magikero ang binata sa ginawa nito sa kanya. Masyado siyang darang na darang at hindi niya alam kung makakaahon pa nga ba talaga siya.

SHE was shocked after knowing where they will eat their lunch, she even refused her supposed order, binayaran na lamang niya ito at hinayaang kainin na lamang ng kaniyang sekretarya. Hindi niya alam kung matatawa ba siya o ano sa kinatatayuan niya. Nandito siya ngayon sa SM North, specifically sa harapan ng Sisig Hooray.

Hindi na lamang siya nag-komento pa at pumasok na lamang sa loob ng kainan. Pagkapasok pa lamang niya ay sinalubong na siya ng mabagong aroma ng siniserve nilang pagkain.

She searched for Leo at hindi naman siya nahirapang hanapin ang binata, nasa bandang window glass ito, wearing only his white long sleeves and slacks. Kahit sa malayuan ay napakagwapo pa rin talaga ng binata. His aura screams perfection and seduction. And she already fell with his charisma.

"Hey man, are you available?," she asked in her most sedictive voice pagkalapit na pagkalapit niya sa bandang likuran ng lalaki.

Leo faced her without delay, "I'm sorry, Miss — oh, baby," gulat na wika ng binata upon recognizing her, "Of course, I'm available... for you," pagpapatuloy pa nito, showing off his lopsided smile.

Hinimas naman niya ang matipunong braso nito bago umikot papunta sa kabilang upuan, kaharap ng lalaki, "You're such a flirt, Attorney," natatawang wika niya habang nilalapag ang Louis Vuitton na tote bag sa katabing bakanteng upuan.

"Don't you like it? Hmm," he asked after snatching her right hand and kissed her fingers each by each.

Tila nag-init naman ang kanyang pakiramdam ngunit pinilit niya itong iwaksi, "We're in a public, baby, and I'm not your lunch. Duh!," preventing herself to moan when Leonardo sucked her ring finger. Like the hell! He's out of his mind! Ang tindi nitong bumati!

Binitawan na rin naman ng binata ang kanyang kamay pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, "Oh, right. What do you want to eat? Is it okay with you here? We can leave and find for a restaurant if you want to."

Umiling naman siya bago ngumiti, "No need. This is fine with me. I never expected lang na dito mo ko aayain," natatawang turan niya.

"Why? Ayaw mo ba dito? Pwede na tayong umalis," parang batang wika nito na hindi pinagbigyan sa gustong laruan.

"Of course not, baby. That's not what I mean, hindi naman ako pihikan sa kinakainan," depensa naman niya ngayon sa sarili, baka magtampo pa ang binata sa kanya!

"I just missed this place lang kasi kaya dito kita inaya. Its been years noong huling kain ko ng sisig."

Humaplos naman sa kanyang puso ang winika nito. Her heart was overjoyed after knowing that Leo chose to be with her on one of his favorite place. Kahit na hindi akma ang kasuotan nilang dalawa sa ambiance ng lugar, dahil na rin sa pareho silang naka-corporate attire. She's still willing to be with him kahit sa turo-turo pa sila kumain!

"Sa susunod lulutuan na lang kita ng sisig, I know how to make one," she smiled sweetly and held his hand that was placed at the table.

Lumiwanag naman ang mukha ng binata sa narinig, "Really? I can't wait for that, baby. Pero baka matagalan pa 'yun, you looked like a busy person," at tiningnan pa ng lalaki ang kanyang kabuuan, "Daming raket, ah," he bit his lower lip.

Bahagya naman siyang natawa, "Para sa future natin, baby," she joked while bursting out a small laughs.

"Hindi ba ko nakaabala sa trabaho mo?," he asked again worriedly.

Mula sa pagkakatawa ay napairap naman siya, "Kahit kailan hindi ka magiging istorbo sa akin. Just call me and I'll be there in a minute," she spoke seriously, she can even cancel a meeting basta para sa binata! That's how crazy she is for him!