Three hours earlier...

Maaga akong nagising para mag-prepare to meet the CEO of the Golden company. I did my daily routine, gathered all the files that I needed, and I was ready to leave. My meeting starts at 9 am and it was 6:46 am na.

Yes, gusto ko lagi maaga akong makarating sa mga commitment ko dahil ayaw kong nalalate. I borrowed Daff's car and drove to my destination. Although since first time kong pupuntahan ang company, kinailangan kong gumamit ng GPS.

Malayo layo din ang kompanya kaya di na ako nag-aksaya ng oras. I started driving and did I say na mahirap mag drive kasi sa state nasa right hand side ang stirring wheel pero dito sa Pinas nasa left hand side.

"I should have agreed for Daff to drive, kaso sobrang aga ayaw ko makaabala ko sya. Kaya motoh Cass, nakaya mo ng 5 years so this is nothing." I muttered habang sinusundan ko ang GPS.

Nakalimutan ko din na ma-traffic sa Pinas and on top of that, di pa ako sanay sa mga road or shortcuts. Talking about the road, madameng beses akong na wrong turn where I ended up at a dead end dahil hindi updated ang GPS.

8 o'clock na at malayo parin ako sa kompanya, ni hindi pa ako nakakahalati at ayaw sa akin ng GPS.

"Naku po, this is not a good impression pag na-late ako." I was starting to panic habang hinahanap parin ang daan. "Makisama ka naman sakin GPS."

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, a red ferrari car ran over a red light and I barely dodge the car. It managed to scrape the front of the car pero di siya tumigil at nag-patuloy parin sa pag-drive.

"Mga walang modo! Bumalik kayo dito, you have violated a rule!" Sigaw ko sa loob ng kotse and I had no choice but to continue driving kasi yung mga kotse sa likod ko ay bumubusina na.

"Mas mabilis ata akong mamamatay dito."

And after the long torturous of driving, I finally made it to my destination. Nakita ko ang red ferrari sa parking area and I swear na kokotongan ko kung sino man ang may ari nun after kong ma-renew ang kontrata.

I looked at the time and it was 9:38 am, not a really really good impression as a CEO of the Crystal company pero okay lang yan, may valid reason naman ako. I fixed myself bago ako lumabas at pumasok sa kompanya.

Nang makita ako ng receptionist, she asked for my name and reason of why I'm there.

"Cassandra De Guzman and I'm here to meet the CEO of Golden company." I said at mataray niya akong tinignan.

"Sorry but you don't have an appointment here." Sabi niya.

"Well, I'm sorry too but I need to see the owner of the company, I am the CEO of the Crystal company, and I need to renew our deals." I explained at nag-type siya sa computer.

"Ah CEO of the Crystal, never heard of that company but you did have an appointment pero forty minutes ago pa yun." Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay and I had to fight the urge na hindi sumigaw.

"Yes, I know, and I apologise for that, but someone drove in front of me earlier at a red light, that is why I am late. Please contact your owner and tell him that I'm here, I'm sure he'll understand." Nag-makaawa ako and she sigh.

"Istorbo naman toh." Pabulong niyang sinabi pero narinig ko.

Marunong naman pala tong mag-tagalog, kala mo kung sino!

"Okay I will contact him now, please take a seat over there." Tinuro niya ang upuan and I sat there.

I waited for at least thirty minutes before I decided to talk to Samantha at the receptionist. Yun ang nakalagay sa name tag niya.

"Excuse me, have you talked to your CEO yet?" Tanong ko sa kanya at nag-roll eyes pa siya na parang naistorbo ko siya sa ginagawa niya, di naman busy.

"He's too busy, he can't be bothered seeing someone who didn't arrived at appointed time." She said in boredom.

I was about to say something when I saw someone familiar entering the building.

"John? Uy John!" Nagulat siya ng makita niya ako pero ngumiti agad siya.

"Cass? Hala nakabalik ka na pala dito!" We shake hands tapos tinignan niya ako. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"May appointment kasi ako ng 9 am kaso yung nag-mamay ari ng red ferrari sa labas went through red light, muntik na akong mabangga. Tyaka di pa ako familiar sa daan dito, ayun nalate ako. Need ko pa man din i-renew ang kontrata." Sagot ko at nanlake ang mga mata niya.

"Red ferrari, kontrata... ikaw ang CEO ng Crystal company?" Nag nod ako at parang nawalan ng kulay ang mukha niya. "Paktay tayo diyan."

"Bakit?"

"Tara sumama ka sa akin para makita mo, I'll get you to talk with our CEO but I cannot guarantee that you will like it." And now I am worried sa sinabi niya.

Di ko alam kung bakit niya nasabi yun pero may kutob ako na may makikita akong di ko magugustuhan.

"So kamusta naman ang state?" Tanong niya sa akin.

"Okay naman, malamig." Maikli kong sagot.

"Well I could tell you this in advance, our boss here is colder than that so goodluck on renewing the contract kasi baka mahihirapan ka." Before I can even reply to what he said, di ko nakita na may tumatakbong lalake papunta sa kin at may hawak siya na kape.

And that even made things worse, natapon ang hawak niyang kape sa puti kong uniporme.