Chapter Twenty-Three

THE BIG DAY has come. Media reporters were scattered in the entrance of MGC building. I couldn't remember informing them about this event but that's the least of my concern now. Kung sa'n man nila nalaman ang impormasyon na 'to ay hindi na mahalaga.

Troy and I are still in his office. Nakatayo sa may malaki nitong bintana ang binata habang malalim ang pagkakatulala sa malayo.

"The conglomerates have arrived," napahawak ako sa aking earpiece nang marinig ang balita mula sa security.

"Assist them in the board room." Utos ko tapos ay muling tumingin kay Troy. I walked near him. I stopped a few inches away from his broad back.

"Are you ready, Sir? They're here." Untag ko rito habang hinihintay itong kumilos.

Troy moved and faced me. He's currently wearing his usual business suit; his hair was waxed upward. His blue polo sleeves were perfectly matched with his gray coat. He looks so refreshing to stare and dashing at the same time. Angat na angat ang kagwapuhan n'ya. His face was unreadable. I don't know what is he thinking. It's too expressionless. At kahit walang emosyon ang mukha'y, hindi ko pa rin maalis ang tingin ko dahil hindi sa hinagap ko na ang gwapong nilalang na 'to ang kumuha ng kainosentehan ko.

"Don't leave me." Seryoso nitong untag sa akin na s'yang nagpakunot ng aking noo.

What's with the sudden sweetness? Mukha ba akong may pupuntahang iba?

My purpose here is not yet done. I'm moving on my own now, not following the initial plan of his father to sabotage his business venture with those powerful men in the board room.

I sighed and smiled at him. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang siko tapos ay hinimas himas ang braso nitong batak sa muscles. "I won't. I'm here to help you remember?" I told him then grinned.

Humugot ito ng isang buntunghininga tapos ay bahagya akong napapitlag nang bigla itong yumakap sa'kin. Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil baka may biglang pumasok sa opisina nito at mahuhuli pa kami. Kakapaalala ko lang rito na ayaw ko ng office romance lalo na't kung hindi lock ang pinto. Geez!

"I'm going to face my fears today, 'My. Kung anuman ang maririnig mo mamaya, don't conclude right away. Don't judge me. I'll explain it to you once this is all done." He's asking for assurance for something that made my nervousness fluctuated.

"S-Sure," bulong ko rito tapos ay hinagod hagod ang likod nito. I know he's just tense.

Pagkabitiw nito ng yakap sa akin ay bumalik ang seryosong Troy Davis na nakilala ko. Ang akala mo kung sinong boss na kamuntikan pa akong alilain rito kung 'di ako nagpakita ng resistance.

Mariin na kaming nagtungo sa board room. Habang papalapit ng papalapit ay ang pagregundon ng aking kaba sa hindi malamang dahilan. Bakit ako kinakabahan? Hindi naman ako ang mag-p-present. Hindi naman ako ang gagawa ng tensyon. Ganoon ba kalakas ang awra ng kwartong tatahakin namin?

Para akong nagdilang anghel. Pagkabukas palang ng board room ay ang sabay sabay na pagtayo ng mga taong nasa loob na tila si Troy nalang ang hinihintay. The room was filled with different investors and also board members of Joaquin.

Joaquin is one of the leading chain of companies across the globe. They started as a company who build car parts until they fully acquired the process of making it. Hence, the company became one of the leading car manufacturers in Europe. Lumilinya ang Joaquin sa mga sikat ngayong mga branded cars. Just this past few years, their leading chain in Europe now acquired of creating personalized and limited-edition model cars.

After the success of this company, they ventured out different fields such as in Biotechnology, Renewable Energy power plants at ang huli ay ang paggawa at pag-manufacture ng furniture in which MGC's aiming to get.

This project is not just an ordinary venture. Joaquin established its very first investment competition scheme. Dahil isa sila sa mga sikat at maimpluwensya, they're giving good opportunities sa ibang kompanya na gustong makuha ang kanilang projects, especially sa furniture side. They held this competition and those who would qualify would have a chance to get an opportunity to present their proposals. Sa ngayon ay tatlo lang ang kinuha ng Joaquin sa Asia Pacific region. Tapos na nilang makausap ang representatives ng Vietnam at Indonesia last month and this is going to be their last day of doing the face-to-face meeting with the qualified companies in Asia.

What would MGC be getting from this?

One of those is: MGC will be the official distributor of furniture across Asia and Europe under Joaquin's name. Meaning, they will acquire the name of Joaquin here in the Philippines and that makes the MGC be one of their subsidiaries.

Kaya ganito kaseryoso ang bagay na 'to para sa mga empleyado ng MGC. All departments' effort wouldn't go to waste once they got this project.

And I must say, it's really a big opportunity. Mas makikilala ang MGC internationally kapag nakuha nila ang deal na 'to. Kung kaya't hindi ko talaga malaman sa siraulong tatay ni Troy kung bakit gusto niyang sabotahiin ko ang proyektong 'to.

The meeting has started with the introduction of the history of Joaquin and MGC. Nang matapos tawagin ang lahat ng mga nasa panel, maging si Troy, ay nagsimula nang pumunta sa harapan ang mga kinatawan ng Marketing and Business Development group ng MGC.

"Since Joaquin has an established market in terms of Real Estates and other architectural projects across the globe, the Project Nature would give an enticing spice to add in the company's list of furniture designs." Said by this beautiful marketing head.

When the slides have been turned, the first three shows the artwork of the finished products of furniture made out of woods, bamboo and rattan.

What I like about it was the combination of modern and classical touch in each piece. Like for example, a full set of the wooden designed living room was carved out perfectly with few touches of aluminum and metal parts to follow the light and refreshing interior design and edges.

"Each design may vary in terms of the taste of our clients. Let's say for example in this slide, the interior edges of the living room have a perfect view of the beach sunset whereas the walls were made out of transparent glasses. We took the opportunity to derive an idea that the client would be liking something like this."

"And where do you think you can get your materials and how long would it take if let's say I'm the customer and I want it to be done as soon as possible?" It was Rolando Martinez who asked.

I saw on my peripheral vision that Adrianna jerked up uncomfortably on her seat. At ngayon ko lang napansin na ang tahimik yata nito magmula nang magsimula ang meeting.

How odd.

"We have suppliers across the nation who can definitely deliver the projected quota. We've already established the partnership with them once, of course, if we get this deal." Sagot ni Jason, ka-partner ng Marketing Head ang sumagot.

"But how long their supplies will last?" tanong naman bigla ng isa sa mga board members ng Joaquin. He's an old German businessman if I'm not mistaken.

"For as long as we have supplies needed by your company." Tugon muli nito habang napapunas na ng pawis sa noo.

He answered wrong. Damn it!

You don't give a general answer to people you wanted to get an approval.

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay ni Mr. Rolando Martinez na tila nakahanap ng butas. "Isn't ironic, people?"

Napakunot ako ng noo. Nang tingnan ko si Troy dahil inaasahan kong siya na mismo ang sasagot sa pasaring ng Rolando na 'to. That's their plan, if so in case one of the presenters have shown a loophole by these people, si Troy na ang bahalang magtakpan ng butas.

"Your proposal aims to protect nature or let the client feels they are with nature. Isn't it like you're destroying the nature itself because of the materials that you'll be getting from it? What if the partnership that we will establish with you would last for ten years? It will only affect the ecosystem that your country's aiming to preserve."

Napakuyom ako ng kamao dahil sa hindi malamang dahilan. I've already anticipated this type of question. At kahit sa'n mo kasi bali-baliktarin, paulit ulit lang nilang ipupunto ito kung walang maisip na isasagot si Troy.

"We have enough sources to get without affecting the country's ecosystem. We are not going to present this to all of you if we are only thinking of ourselves or about the revenue that we will be getting." Troy replied with confidence in his tone.

"How are you going to do it then?" tanong ng isa pang board member ng Joaquin.

He's asking about getting enough resource without affecting the country's ecosystem.

Troy simple cleared his throat before answering their question. "MGC started in the province where the main source of our income will always depend in nature. Farming, fishing, poultry name it. When we established manufacturing furniture way back ten years ago, my father together with his friends created a special environmental group that would sustain and protect the forest in our province."

Lahat tahimik sa unang paliwanag ni Troy.

"In every tree that we are going to take, twice of it's worth would be the number of seeds we are going to plant. And across our country, it's still active so you don't have to worry about the number of woods that we are going to take just to achieve our main goal here."

The other board members were somehow impressed with his explanation. Some of them are nodding and some are smiling.

"Besides, it's not just Woods would be our source of manufacturing the needed designs. We are also an advocate of doing recycling scraps. In which my team would presents next." Troy nodded to the marketing team.

The discussion continued. The team showed few slides kung saan tampok ang ilan sa gawa ng mga Pinoy na mga palamuti sa ating bahay na gawa sa mga patapon na plastics and other reusable materials.

"You're just making our company look like a dumpsite. Full of trash."

Natahimik ang lahat nang biglang magkomento ng ganito si Rolando Martinez. Seryoso ang mukha nito at malamig ang tingin sa lahat.

His comment was too harsh. How dare him?!

"And I'm disappointed, Adrianna. Your company's image made already an impression of how low it was made up."

I can now feel the tension of the entire hall because of his comment about MGC. It's stings like an acid dripping from his awful mouth.

"I've seen several designs that you all have before we came here and this what we will be getting from your team? Your furniture materials are high-maintenance and that's the image you made in this field. How come you let this kind of proposal be presented in Joaquin? Seriously? Recycled scraps?"

Tiningnan ko si Troy. He's sipping his coffee while listening to Rolando's obvious verdict. Sa komento pa lamang nito ay mahihinuha ko na ang desisyon nila kung kukunin ba nila kami o hindi.

"This is not my idea," Adrianna replied with a tone you would want to scrape her skin to death.

Ang galing. Nilaglag niya ang kompanya para salbahin ang sarili?

"Was it your brother then?" Rolando eyed Troy but somehow took a step back when he saw how Troy was relaxed on his chair.

"Why, Mr. Martinez? Does promoting the environment to be saved made you cringe?"

Wow, is this even Troy?

"Is that how low you're thinking about nature?" Troy added.

Martinez groaned with Troy's question. "Don't make this so sentimental of your company's advocacy, kid. We are aiming revenues here in Asia-Pacific. Retaining the image of Joaquin to be well-maintenance in terms of materials is one of the goals of this venture. And clearly, recycling scraps are not one of those."

"Isn't it ironic, people?" I gasped silently when Troy mimicked Rolando's words a while ago. "Joaquin ventured in Biotechnology and Renewable Energy business in which both are sources came from nature."

Troy then looked at Rolando with a grin on his lips. "What difference does it make with our project, Mr. Martinez?"

Sumandal si Troy sa upuan nito bago nagpatuloy. "We are targeting for a cross-cutting budget but delivers billions of revenues. Besides, having this kind of advocacy for Joaquin would merit a good image in any media outlet across the globe. This would bring a million clients; Hence, revenue achieves for Joaquin."

Ilang segundo nagkaroon ng katahimikan ngunit muli iyong binasag ni Troy nang idantay nito ang dalawang kamay sa lamesa at napatingin sa huling slide sa presentation. "Or was it you... the ones being sentimental because of this particular design?"

Pare-parehas kaming napatingin sa glass-board kung saan ang natatanging picture ng isang baby crib na gawa sa mahogany wood ang nakatunghay.

Mabilis kong binalik ang aking mata sa mukha ni Rolando at kitang kita ang disgusto sa itsura nito. Kay Adrianna naman ako napatingin nang manlaki ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa slide.

"So, tell me, Martinez. Am I being sentimental?" Troy asked and ended it with a grin.

I scoffed silently to where I'm sitting. Hindi ko alam kung mamangha ba ako o matatakot sa ginagawang 'to ni Troy kay Rolando. The crib, Adrianna and Rolando? They're all connected. And Troy's trying to get confirmation from the both of them.

Napamura ako sa aking isipan dahil tingin ko nakukuha ko na ang pinaplano ni Troy.

Gaya ng sapantaha ko noong nireresolba ko ang nanakaw na pera ay maaaring inaalam rin ni Troy ang lihim ng kanyang pamilya. Isang bagay na tinatago sa kanya sa mahabang panahon.

On my end, it's been confirmed because of what Don Alfonso wanted me to do. He wanted me to sabotage this upang hindi na mapapunta pa rito ang Rolando Martinez. He wanted me to do so the secret of their family would still remain kept away from Troy Davis.

This venture that Troy wants to happen? Hindi niya talaga gustong makuha ang deal na 'to. What he cares first and foremost was to lure this man to join the meeting and confirm his assumption. And damn it, he's succeeding.

Martinez was not part of the panel when the others started in Vietnam and Indonesia. He just joined... here.

He really is monstrous in this field. Sinong boss ang gagamitin ang kanyang empleyado para lang mangyari 'to? Sino ang mag-aaksaya ng effort ng kanyang mga tauhan para lang sa pansariling interes?

He... can definitely do that.

Someone from the panel cleared her throat. She's a middle-aged blond woman. She touched Rolando's shoulder to give him some signal to relax. Then she faced us with her... friendly expression.

"I must agree that there's no difference with Joaquin's other business that relates to using nature so I think another question can be held accountable from anyone of us?" she asked her co-panel.

The next discussion of MGC team would be the budget allocation for this. They're going to provide the expected and summarized operating expenses and also the suppliers to fully provide the assurance that our company can deliver targets by Joaquin itself.

"If none, then please proceed ladies and gentlemen."

The Business Development team took the spotlight this time and explained what I mentioned. Tahimik ang paligid ng halos sampung minuto ngunit nabasag muli iyon nang biglang bumalanghit muli si Rolando.

"I thought you're all aiming to decrease the expenses but deliver qualitative products that can provide revenues for Joaquin, but I heard that you just have a recent event of money laundering?" Rolando asked, and I guess, nakahinahon na ito sa ginawang pambabara sa kanya ni Troy at mukhang bumabawi by bringing that issue up.

Well, as much as we want to eradicate of spreading it, hindi na namin nagawa dahil it really spread like a wildfire.

Napatingin ako kay Troy. I know he's the one who would do the explanation. Iyon rin ang mahigpit niyang habilin sa Team na sa oras ma-bring up ang kakatapos lang na isyu na 'yon ay s'ya ang sasagot. Troy took a glance at Adrianna before he looked back to Rolando with a strange smile.

"I did that."

Everyone in the room gasped from what he replied. Nagsimula bigla ang bulong bulungan ng mga tao sa loob dahil sa sinabing pagsisiwalat ni Troy.

What the hell was he talking about?! He didn't tell me this!

Bakas sa reaksyon ko ang gulat at hindi maikakatwang maging sina Rolando at Adrianna ay natigalgal sa sinabi ng binata. No one expected that!

Was he trying to cover up his sister from what she has done?!

"W-What did you say?" Rolando asked to confirm it again. Bakas rin sa mukha nito na parang mali ang narinig sa bibig ni Troy.

Binalik ko ang tingin sa binata. He leaned on his chair and his expression was priceless. Papaano niya nagagawa maging kalmado sa pinaputok niyang bomba?

"Let's just say, we are desperate to get this project." Pauna nitong paliwanag. "Being in the last of the company that you needed to talk to has brought a major worry because I know our competitors from Vietnam and Indonesia. They're also one of the best. I have to make my company the talk of the town before your team's arrival. In that way, we can still have your interest in hearing our proposal's first before I reveal what I did."

I'm suddenly getting enormous goosebumps. My tiny hairs on my arms straightened up from what Troy's revealing.

I saw how the blond lady smirked at Troy. Para itong nakarinig ng isang magandang piyesa ng piano. "You mean to say young Monteverde, you used that tactic so we can still have the interest to be here?" then she looked unknowingly at Rolando. "That's too risky, I must say."

Troy returned the grin. "Rolando Martinez wouldn't be here if I didn't do that. And besides, taking risk is one of my fortes, Lady Morcova."

Unti unting namumuo ang gitla ng ngisi sa akin matapos kong maka-recover sa sinabi ni Troy. I scoffed non-stop while looking at him with proud eyes.

Troy Davis Monteverde exceeded my expectation of him.

Remind me not to piss him off.