Calder Javier

Walang imik na nakamasid lamang ako sa papalubog na araw sa aking harapan. Ito talaga ang isa sa mga rason kung bakit gusto ko ang kumpanya ni Calder. Their location is best in capturing the magnificent view of the sunset.

I was standing in front of the wide and glass door of the balcony. Nasa isa sa pinakamataas na room ng Mandana's Sunset kami.

I was willing to waste my time doing sightseeing, but the knock on my door says otherwise. And there's no need to ask who the person behind was. Iisang tao lang naman ang kasama ko sa unit na ito.

"Let's go, Capri," he said coldly.

Atubiling naglakad naman ako patungo sa pinto para puntahan siya. Pero kahit anong klaseng pagmamadali pa ang gawin ko, natagpuan ko na lamang ang aking sarili na tulala nang buksan ko na ang pinto.

In front of me stood the man feared by many people in his empire. The best ruler I ever witnessed in my working life, and the hottest bachelor women would dream to have.

Bilang isang dalagang Pilipina rin, tulad ng ibang kababaihan, naaapektuhan pa rin ako ng presenya niya. He was still wearing the same clothes he was wearing earlier. Ang kaibahan lang ay bukas na ang unang tatlong butones ng polo niya. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang mapatingin sa lantad niyang dibdib.

Libre nang nakahain, aba.

"Gusto mo talagang magkagulo ang mga babae sa baba, 'no?" naiiling kong tanong.

"What?" he asked, not mad but with a thick and raspy voice suggesting he was confused by my remarks.

I took a deep breath and diverted my eyes elsewhere. Baka magkasala pa ako sa katititig sa matipuno niyang dibdib. "Are you trying to flirt with someone?" I asked again.

"The fuck, Capri?!" His eyesbrows furrowed at me.

Napangiwi ako sa biglaang pagtaas ng boses niya. "Chill, master," I calmed him.

Itinaas ko ang kamay ko upang patagin ang noo niyang lukot na hindi naman niya tinutulan. Sunod ay pinagtuunan kong muli ng pansin ay ang polo niya.

With a clear and innocent mind, I believe, I stepped closer and reached for his buttons.

Ramdam ko ang titig niya sa akin subalit pilit ko iyong binabalewala. I shamelessly closed one of his buttons to lessen the exposure of his skin.

Dalawa na lang ngayon ang bukas. I was only satisfied then. Kung ako lang ang makakakita, why not? Baka nga ako pa mismo ang mag-alis ng iba pang butones. Pero kung iba lang din, na alam kong mga sumisilay rin kay Calder, 'di bale na lang. Mainam nang itago kaysa pagpiyestahan.

"Satisfied?" he asked with a soft chuckle.

I smiled sweetly at Calder, a sarcastic one. I even patted his shoulder before meeting his eyes. "Disente ka nang tingnan."

"Crazy." Calder shook his head on me.

Hindi na niya iyon dinugtungan pa at tumalikod na lang sa akin. But it was too late for him to hide his smirk.

Sus, hindi na lang kasi aminin na may gusto rin sa akin.

I followed his steps until we reached the door of our unit. We could've stayed in a separate room, but Calder ought not to. Hindi niya pag-aari ang penthouse ng branch na ito, unlike sa mga iba.

He decided to make it available for customers, and I must say that it was a good choice. Bukod kasi sa hindi naman siya matagal na namamalagi tuwing bumibisita kami rito, marami rin ang nagrerenta roon para sa mga party nila.

"Tone down your craziness," Calder ordered using his commanding mode.

Napangisi ako. Anong klaseng imahe ba ang naiwan ko sa isip niya't nasasabi niya ang bagay na iyan. "I'm not crazy, Sir," kontra ko agad sa kaniya.

I stopped from walking when Calder faced me. Sa likod niya ay ang saradong pinto. Just like any normal day for us, pinagdamot na naman niya ang kahit na anong ekspresyon sa mukha niya.

"Stay close to where I could still see you," he added, not minding my antics.

"Gaano kalapit?" I smirked at him. Humakbang ako ng isang beses palapit sa kaniya, nag-iiwan ng dalawang hakbang na pagitan sa aming dalawa. "Ganito?" Muli akong humakbang ng maliit. "O ganito?"

Isa't kalahating hakbang na lang ang pagitan namin. I fought the urge to take my eyes off of him.

With the composed man I have known him for, I was no longer surprised to see him unfazed by my action.

His dark and dangerous stares directly pierced through mine, reading my soul and mind. His bearded jaw clenched a bit before it moved a bit as if he's chewing a gum.

Ilang minuto kaming nanatiling gano'n, walang gustong magpatalo. Even with the escalating heat between our bodies, I didn't show him fear.

I witnessed how his forehead knotted while looking at me after a while of silence. Calder's eyes began to move downwards starting from my eyes, travelling down to my nose, and crossing to my lips.

Tahimik na sinusundan ko lang nang tingin ang pagsuyod ng mga mata niya sa aking mukha. Pero hindi lang iyon doon nagtapos. Ilang sandali lamang ay biglang dumilim ang mga mata niya na siyang ikinagulat ko.

There was fire.

There was the undeniable want.

In the end, he just gave me an empty laugh. "See? You're crazy," he remarked before turning his back on me.

"Kaysa naman sa iyo na bato," bulong ko.

"I heard you," he said without stopping from his walk.

"Ipinaparinig ko, akala mo," inis kong tugon.

Nilukot ko na lang ang mukha ko. Sinadiya kong binigatan ang bawat hakbang ko na rinig na rinig dahil sa suot kong takong.

I just feel like pestering Sir Calder for today. Mas mabuti na ang mainis ako sa kaniya kaysa naman sa kung anong klaseng emosyon pa ang maramdaman ko na hindi dapat at kailanman ay hindi magiging tama.

"Ano bang gagawin natin dito?" tanong ko sa kaniya. "Ano daw ba ang problema?"

"I don't know the full details, but I was told that one of the supposed new meal courses of the restaurant was stolen by Grand Gardens Hotel," paliwanag niya sa akin.

"It's the apprentice, I'm sure," I concluded confidently.

We both stopped walking upon reaching the elevator.

"I warned you already, Sir. Hindi ako tiwala sa taong 'yon. I could sense something from her. Nadala ka lang ng awa mo sa tao dahil nga ayon sa kaniya'y kailangan niya ng pera pampagamot sa naka-confine niyang ina."

"Nothing's for sure yet. We better not judge the person," he said, contradicting my words.

"I wasn't judging anyone. I'm telling you my observation, Sir," I pointed out. "What's the use of background investigation if you won't believe it anyway?"

I waited for him to enter the lift but he remained still. Matapos ang ilang segundo ay hinarap na niya ako. Sir Calder's hands were on his pockets as he wore his usual serious facade.

"How sure are you?" he asked.

I recollected all the information i read a month ago when we last visited this branch for the job hiring. Ilang beses ko rin iyon binalikan pagkatapos ng tatlong araw, at paulit-ulit ko ring binasa bago ipinasa kay Calder.

Nakisuyo rin ako kay Jerome, branch manager dito, na kung puwede ay mag-conduct ng background investigation sa aplikante. Ramdam ko lang kasi talaga na may mali.

I remembered placing her files on the least priority ones. Wala kasi halos laman ang resume niya. Only if I have the decision in my hand, I would have not accepted her. Hindi ko rin ipapasa sa kaniya ang file pero dahil siya ang boss, siya ang masusunod.

He always wants to be neutral and fair to everyone.

"I've read her profile," I started. "There was nothing impressive. Dati siyang kitchen staff sa isang fast food chain. Nag-aral ng culinary noong college. May one-year experience sa isang swiss restaurant. Plain."

"More," he demanded.

"According din sa BI, bagong lipat lang siya rito. Wala pa siyang nakakausap. Kaya wala rin masyadong nakakakilala sa kaniya. At ang sabi pa, hindi naman daw talaga umuuwi doon sa inuupahan niyang apartment. Para bang ni-rent lang para masabi na doon siya nakatira," dagdag ko.

"You said it yourself. She's plain. Then where is your doubt coming from?" he asked.

"The note she left was suspicious. You can't put a sticky note on your resume if you're applying for a job in a company like Mandana," I deduced.

I almost put her papers on the shredder that day. Sa folder kasi niya, sa pinakadulo, may nakalagay na post-it note. It says there that she was desperate for the job and is hoping to get accepted dahil nagpapagamot daw siya ng nanay niya.

"And her surname. It was so familiar," I added. "I informed you about it, but you dismissed me."

The elevator door opened again. This time, hindi ko na hinayaan na palampasin namin iyon. Marahan ko siyang tinulak papasok sa loob. Paatras ang kaniyang paglakad dahil mula sa harap ko siya tinulak.

Ako na rin ang pumindot ng first floor na siyang destinasyon namin matapos siyang tabihan ng tayo. He was still quietly standing beside me. Maybe he's thinking about what I said.

Hindi mawala sa isip ko ang araw na iyon. He almost got mad at me from continuously pestering him about that employee's information. Muntik pa nga kaming magkasagutan.

Eh, anong magagawa ko? She's suspicious from the start to finish. Masyado lang talagang santo itong si Calder kapag usaping pamilya at nanay kaya mas inaalala niya ang employment ng tao kaysa sa mga pagdududa ko.

"Are you guilt-tripping me now, Secretary?" His right eyebrow shot up.

"No. Of course not, Sir." Matamis ko siyang nginitian. "I'm fact-stating everything here. Nothing else."

"What's the surname?" he asked in a calmer tone.

"Vicente, Sir," I answered. "Same as the owners of Grand Gardens."

I earned his sigh. "Why did I only hear this now?"

"Hindi, ah. Narinig mo na noon, hindi mo lang pinakinggan," sarkasmo ko sa kaniya.

I may be stepping out of the line with my remarks, but it was the truth he never listened to. Kaya dapat na marinig niya iyon. I am one hundred percent sure that Sir Calder won't get offended in any way.

Iyon ang gusto ko bilang isang empleyadong nagtatrabaho sa kaniya. Tumatanggap siya ng kritisismo lalo na kung para na ikagaganda ng Mandana.

He isn't a boss bossing around people like they are robots, he is an effective leader. And I firmly believe that he's the best in his field.

Someone who listens.

Someone who cares about his people.

Puso ko lang naman ang hindi niya magawang pakinggan.

"What do you want to have for dinner?" Calder asked as soon as the door opened, ending our conversation about that apprentice.

Sabay kaming naglakad at binaybay ang daan patungo sa restaurant ng hotel. Walang hirap naming nakuha ang atensyon ng mga tao. Napuno ng pagbati ng mga emoleysdo ang lobby na direkta bilang paggalang kay Sir Calder.

"Anything that you'd have," sagot ko sa kaniya habang hinahabol siya sa paglalakad.

"I won't be back by dinner."

Mabilis akong napatingin sa kaniya. "Bakit?" kunot-noong tanong ko, naguguluhan.

He just gave me a downward stare wearing an expression as if telling me why I have to ask that question. Malamig ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya subalit iba ang nababasa kong apoy sa kaniyang mga mata.

"Suplado nito," bulong ko.

I have no other choice but to immediately backfire. Iniwas ko ang mga mata ko mula sa kaniya.

"I have a meeting with Evita," he answered after a while.

Nagpantig ang tainga ko. Umarko rin ang isa kong kilay. "Evita? Meeting? Ng gabi?" Agad na umasim ang timpla ng mood ko sa pangalan na iyon. Nakakapang-init na agad ng ulo hindi ko pa man siya nakikita. "Thought you don't like her?"

I hid the bitter tone in my voice by pretending I was unaffected. I just simply don't like her in any way.

"Is she even likeable?" he scoffed.

Napailing na lang ako sa naging tono niya. Rinig na rinig ko ang disgusto at ang inis doon na siyang sumasalamin din sa ngiwi niya. Just how much he hates the woman that with a simple mention of her name irritates him, too. Just like how it affects me.

Who wouldn't though? Eh, halos tambayan na niya ang opisina ni Sir Calder sa pagpapabalik-balik niya roon para lang sa lalaki.

I am not sorry to call it like this, but she appears desperate in my eyes. Minsan pa nga siyang pumanta roon na halos wala nang takpan sa katawan. It's no new news to me hearing how head over heels she is to Sir Calder.

"Why meet her, then?" I curiously asked.

"Business," simple niyang tugon.

"Monkey business siguro," kontra ko.

"What?" Calder scowled at me showing unhappiness with my words.

"Eh, gabi mo kikitain. Ano iisipin ko?"

Imbes na sagutin ako ay umiling na lang siya sa akin. Nalukot na lang ang mukha ko, isang reaksyon na madalas kong ginagawa tuwing naiisip ang babaeng 'yon.

Although the respect is still present with her being a much bigger person than I am, I still don't like her personally.

Palagi niya kasing ipinararamdaman sa akin na mas mababa ako sa kaniya. She's a CEO herself, I am a secretary. Malaki ang diperensya.

She would always look at me as if I am a piece of garbage not worth her time. Ni hindi niya nga ako ginagalang tuwing nagkikita kami. She would just barge into Sir Calder's office even before I could stop her.

"Capri," sambit niya sa pangalan ko.

Papasok na kami sa restaurant nang huminto si Calder sa paglalakad. Nakapamulsa pa rin na hinarap niya ako.

The corner of his lips rose up, but his eyes remained stoic. "Why? You don't want me to go?"

"What?!" I aggressively, exaggeratedly on the side, asked in shock. "Of course not!"

"It's okay, Capri. I can't blame you." He grinned at me before facing the restaurant's entrance once again.

"Ang ere." Inirapan ko ang likod niya bago siya inunahan nang paglalakad papasok sa loob.

Hindi ko na siya hinintay at dumiretso na sa office ni Jerome, for sure naman doon talaga ang pakay namin.

"Good morning, Capri," bibong bati niya, posturang-postura at nakangiti pa sa akin.

Napangiti ako. "Good morning, Jerome. Long time no see," bati ko pabalik.

I used to call him Sir and he used to addressed me as Miss, but we both chose to drop the formalities. Magkasing-edad lang kasi kaming dalawa kaya nagkasundo kami agad.

Nakatayo siya sa may gilid ng lamesa niya habang magkasiklop ang dalawang kamay, halatang kinakabahan.

"Huwag kang kabahan," pagpapakalma ko sa kaniya. "Hindi ikaw ang gumawa ng mali."

"Pero tao ko kasi iyon," kabado pa rin niyang tugon.

Nginitian ko siya. "Chill, Sir Calder's a rational man. Hindi ka papagalitan kung hindi mo naman kasalanan."

Nakita kong napatayo siya ng tuwid. "Good morning, Sir," bati niya sa pormal ng tono ngayon.

"Good morning," bati pabalik ni Calder.

Calder tapped my shoulder lightly, urging me to follow him. Akala ko sa upuan ni Jerome siya uupo pero dumiretso lang siya sa visitor's chair sa tapat lang din ng lamesa ni Jerome.

Tumayo ako sa likod niya at saka sinenyasan si Jerome na umupo na sa katapat na upuan ni Calder.

"What exactly happened, Jerome?" he asked calmly.

I nodded my head to Jerome, encouraging him to speak up.

Nagpakawala siya ng isang buntonghininga. "Revy informed me, Sir, about the recent update regarding Grand Garden posted on their social media. She's our social media manager here. Nagtaka siya noong nakita niya iyong similarities ng course meal na ilalabas sana natin this month sa kalalabas lang nilang meal."

"How identical?" Calder interrupted.

Bago sumagot si Jerome, kinuha niya muna ang tablet niya. Sandali siyang may kinalikot doon bago hinarap kay Calder. "Ninety-nine percent, Sir."

Flashed in his tablet is the side-by-side comparison of our supposed course meal and Grand Gardens'.

Napangiwi ako nang makitang parehong-pareho iyon. From the appetizer down to desert, even the plating was similar to each other.

"Wow," I commented.

Nakita ko ang buntonghininga ni Calder. "Who's behind this?"

"We assumed it was Celine Vicente, Sir," Jerome responded.

"I don't need assumptions, Jerome. I need facts." Calder massaged his temple.

Mas lalo akong napangiwi. Mukhang umaakyat na ang iritasyon sa ulo niya.

"Here, Sir." Jerome showed us a video recording. "Nagduda na ako na siya ang may gawa. This has never happened before, Sir. Ngayon lang, saktong kapapasok niya pa. I asked Kenneth to do another background investigation on her. He sent me this."

Napailing ako. It was a video of Celine Vicente talking to Arlot Vicente, the owner of Grand Gardens Hotel.

"It was later found out na pinsan niya pala ang may-ari ng Grand Gardens."

"Paano niyo nalaman?" tanong ko, hindi na napigilan pa ang kuryosidad.

"Through her social media. Ibang pangalan kasi ang gamit niya kaya hindi agad na-trace. But after exchanging accounts with Kenneth, we were able to trace her life. Doon namin nalaman na pinsan niya pala base sa caption niya sa isang post," paliwanag ni Jerome.

"What's with her and Kenneth?" tanong ko ulit.

"She likes Kenneth," he replied immediately.

Napairap ano sa hangin. Kenneth is one of our trusted men who often does BI for applicants with suspicious background. Pero ang main job niya rito is server ng restaurant.

Actually, parang cover nga lang niya ang pagiging server. Minsan kasi kapag may kailangan din ng BI sa ibang kalapit na branch ay siya ang tinatawag ko. Maaasahan naman kasi talaga siya sa ganitong bagay. Tulad na lang noong unang BI kay Celine Vicente.

Nagkataon lang talaga na si Calder mismo ang naniwala sa aplikante.

"Take her here," Calder commanded.

Mas lalo akong napangiwi sa naging tono niya. Kanina ay naririnig ko pa ang pagtitimpi sa kaniyang boses ngunit ngayon ay mahihimigan mo na ang inis.

Walang sinasayang na minuto na sumunod si Jerome. Agad na lumabas siya ng opisina para iharap kay Señorito ang babae.

"Give me some coffee, Capri," hilot ang sentido na utos niya sa akin.

Agad na sumunod ako sa kaniya. I went to the coffee vending machine inside Jerome's office. Naghulog ako ng limang piso roon at pinindot ang cappuccino.

"Here, Sir." I handed him a small paper cup of coffee.

Tahimik na kinuha niya iyon mula sa kamay ko. Nang silipin ko ang ekspresyon ng kaniyang mukha, blangko ang aking nakita. Ang talim din nang tingin niya sa hangin at mukhang malalim ang iniisip.

I suddenly remembered the first time I saw him. He has the same expression on his face which scared me at first. Mas nakakatakot lang siyang tumingin ngayon at mararamdaman mo ang lamig ng awra niya.

Uh-oh, looks like the beast has awoken.