Thirty minutes past six, and still there was no sight of the dragon lady. Nasaan na ba ito? Hindi magawang makinig ni James sa pinag-uusapan ng ama at ng mga magulang ni Margaret. He was bored to death and he wanted to ditch the dinner. Pero hindi niya magagawa iyon kung wala pa si Monique. But for some goddamn reasons, she still hadn't shown up!

"Are you alright, James?" narinig niyang tanong sa kanya ni Margaret na nasa tabi niya.

Idinaan ni James sa matatamis na ngiti ang pagkumbinsi kay Margaret na wala itong dapat ipag-alala. "I'm fine, Margaret. I'm just thinking about some paper works that I might have neglected earlier."

"You should learn how to relax, James, and let your secretary handle those matters," sabat ni Darwin Villanueva, ang malapit na kaibigan ni Margaret at ng pamilya ng babae. "Your lovely fiancée is right next to you. Bakit hindi mo na lang sa kanya ibaling ang atensyon mo?"

He so wanted to snort. That two-faced SOB. Bakit ba sumama-sama pa ito sa dinner nila? Kung tutuusin ay isa itong outsider, isang kalaban ng kanilang kumpanya dahil isa ito sa mga top executives ng Royal Hotel, ang tinaguriang mahigpit na kalaban ng kanilang negosyo. Pero ayon naman kay Margaret ay sumama si Darwin dahil na rin sa pakiusap ng babae kay Darwin.

"He's here as a friend and not as a businessman," ang sabi pa ni Margaret sa kanya kanina.

He never really liked that bastard. Kahit noong nasa kolehiyo pa sila, naangasan na siya sa lalaki. Naaalala pa niya dati sa university na pinapasukan niya, sikat naman itong si Darwin sa kanilang eskwelahan, pero 'di hamak naman na mas sikat siya rito. At mas magandang lalaki siya. Tama. At mas mayaman pa. Hindi naman sa nagmamayabang siya pero mas angat talaga ang estado ng buhay niya kaysa kay Darwin. At lamang siya rito sa lahat ng bagay. Kasalanan ba niya kung ipinanganak siyang guwapo at habulin ng mga babae? Kasalanan ba niya kung biniyayaan siya ng karismang patok na patok sa mga babae? Kasalanan ba niya kung ipinanganak siyang isa sa mgiging tagapagmana ng Madrigal Hotel? Hindi. At hindi naman niya ipnagmayabang ang mga iyon sa iba. Kaya hindi maintindihan ni James kung bakit mahilg makipagkumpitensya itong si Darwin sa kanya, lalo na pagdating sa mga babae. Darwin even tried to steal his college girlfriend –ang tanging babaeng sineryoso niya.

He wasn't always the womanizing bastard that everyone thought he was. He once loved a woman so deeply that the pain he got when she left him was deep-seated, it hadn't even healed completely. The shallow scar he bore in his heart would never fade away...

Marahas siyang napailing. Ayaw niyang balikan ang alaalang iyon. Masyado itong masakit. Masyado itong mapait.

Kumunot ang noo ni Margaret. "James? Are you sure everything is fine?"

"There is nothing to worry about," giit ni James. "Everything is fine, Margaret. Masyado kang nag-aalala sa akin."

"I can't help it, James. I've heard some disturbing talks..."

Nag-igting ang panga ni James, at hindi niya maiwasang tapunan ng isang matalim na titig si Darwin. Nakangisi ito sa kanila ni Margaret na tila may kinalaman ito sa kung ano man ang ipinag-aalala ni Margaret. "What kind of talks, Margaret?"

Napakagat-labi naman si Margaret. "It's just nasty rumors, James... and it's something that we shouldn't be discussing here right now..."

"You shouldn't listen to shallow gossips, Margaret. Trust me, there is really nothing to worry about."

Pinamulahan si Margaret. Alam ni James na hindi naman mahilig makinig sa mga tsismis ang kanyang fiancée –she was too refined to stoop that low. Pero hinala niya ay may isang taong pilit na ipinagdidiinan sa babae na may basehan ang mga 'talks' at 'nasty rumors' na ito.

Isang maamong ngiti ang ibinigay ni Margaret kay James. "Yes, you are right. And I do trust you."

Tinamaan ang konsensya ni James. Hindi alam ni James kung manhid lang ba si Margaret, nagmamaangmaangan lang o sadyang napakabait lang nito. Isang elegante at sopistikadang babae si Margaret. Sa edad na dalawampu't lima ay wala pa itong nagiging nobyo kahit kailan. Mahigpit ang mga magulang nito sa kanya dahil nag-iisang anak nila si Margaret. Masyado ring masunurin itong si Margaret, kaya kung ayaw ng mga magulang nito na nakikipagnobyo ito sa lalaking hindi nila napipisil para sa anak ay susunod lamang ito.

Ang totoo, naaawa siya sa babae. She was too kind, too sweet. And James was not the man for her, he knew that. Pero tulad ni Margaret, wala rin siyang magawa dahil kailangan niyang sundin ang kagustuhan ng ama.

All his life, he grew up always trying to please his father. Pero mahirap talagang pasayahin ang ama niyang iyon. His father was a hard man, driven and a go-gether. James on the other hand would rather have a happy-go-lucky life. He really tried to be like his father, but he always failed at doing so.

Gusto ng kanyang ama na higitan ni James ang kanyang pinsan na si Lawrence, na balang araw ay si James ang hahawak ng buong kumpanya —ang hotel, real estates at lahat-lahat na nakapangalan sa mga Madrigal— na itinatag ng kanyang lolo Edward. Now, there lies his problem. Ayaw niyang makipagkumpetensiya kay Lawrence. Si Lawrence, bukod sa pagiging pinsan niya, ay naging matalik na rin niyang kaibigan. That guy knew all his dirty little secrets, his weakness for beautiful women, and had once backed him up when the angry boyfriend of the girl he had sex with cornered him with a pistol.

Ano ba ang problema kung hindi siya ang magiging CEO o Chairman sa hinaharap? A long as the company still belongs with the Madrigal family, then he doesn't mind being second best.

"But like what the folks say, when there is smoke, then there is a fire," sabat na naman ni Darwin. "Most often, may punong-ugat 'yang mga –how did you phrase it? Ah, yes –shallow gossips. But don't you worry Margaret. Mukha naman matino itong fiancé mo. Hindi ba, James?"

Ginantihan lamang niya ng ngiti ang lalaki, pero ang totoo ay nangingitngit na siya sa inis sa hambog na ito. In front of his father, James had to exercise proper decorum. He had to exemplify the perfect gentleman façade beside his fiancée. But he would deal with Villanueva later. James wasn't only a good-looking man, as how he would put it. He also knew a thing or two about breaking a man's nose if needed. Of course, knowing Villanueva to be a dirty little bastard, that guy would bring everything to the press. And publicity like that would hurt the image of their prestigious hotel.

Papaano ba siya makakaganti kay Villanueva? May pakiramdam siyang may binabalak ito. Ang pagbuntot nito kay Margaret ay hudyat na may mas malalim pa itong binabalak. Hindi naniniwala si James na pakikipagkaibigan lamang ang nais ni Villanueva kay Margaret. At hindi rin nagkataon na sumama ito sa kanilang dinner dahil sa pakiusap ni Margaret. Villanueva probably made a subtle hint that he wanted to be here tonight. That dirty, sleazy–

"Excuse me, sir. I'm sorry for bothering you but I need to address some matters with your son."

Napalingon si James sa gawing kinaroroonan ng kanyang ama at nakita niya si Monique na nasa tabi nito.

Muntik nang mapatalon sa tuwa si James dahil dumating na rin sa wakas ang kanyang savior. "Monique, what is it?"

Lumapit sa kanya si Monique. "I received a call from our architech as well as some documents that were faxed in your office, sir. It's about the Batangas project, sir."

He had no idea they have a Batanggas project. Did she make that up? Did she just lied to the company's COO? Pero wala na siyang oras para isipin pa ang mga sagot sa kanyang katanungan. He better grab this opportunity while it's still hot. "I will address the issue in my office."

"But shouldn't Lawrence be handling this issue?" tanong ng kanyang ama.

Oh shit! Now what? saloobin niya.

Mabuti na lamang at mabilis na nakasagot si Monique. "With all due respect, sir, your son is actually one of the brains in the Batanggas project. The company is already his life, sir. Ganoon po ka-devoted ang anak niyo sa Madrigal Hotels."

That was an outright lie, of course. James knew that. Pero mukhang nakumbinsi ni Monique ang kanyang ama dahil patango-tango pa ito at nakangiti. For the first time in his miserable life, his father actually beamed at him with approval. "Well, I don't see the harm if we will excuse you tonight. If that is alright with you, Margaret?"

"It's alright, tito," sagot ni Margaret. "I understand."

Matapos niyang magpaalam, lumabas na ng restaurant si James at sumunod naman si Monique sa kanya.

"Paano ba 'yan, sir. Mission accomplished na," sabi ni Monique. "Bahala na kayo sa buhay niyo at aalis na ako."  Tumalikod si Monique at nagsimulang maglakad palayo sa kanya.

Now what? Hindi niya alam ang susunod na gagawin. All he wanted was to get out of that dinner. And now that he was off the hook, he really had no idea how to spend his evening. He could give one of his girlfriends a call or he could go home and just sleep this fvcking night off. Or he could invite his secretary for a cup of coffee and congratulate her on her superb performance in convincing his dad to let him go. And maybe he would throw in a few remarks about how horrible she was dressed tonight just for kicks. Damn, she looked ugly in that hilariously pink curtain she called a dress.

Napangisi siya nang nakita niyang nagtatawag ng taxi si Monique. He wanted to have fun tonight, and yes, he would indeed have fun tonight. Before, sex was one thing that brought fun in his life. Ngayon, ang inisin si Monique at patulan ang mga pagtataray nito sa kanya ay naging source of fun na rin sa kanya nitong mga nakaraang linggo. Lalo na kung nakikita niyang nagiging uncomfortable ang kanyang sekretarya tuwing tutuksuhin niya itong may gusto ito sa kanya. Idinukot niya ang susi ng kanyang sasakyan at hindi niya mapigilan ang sariling mapangiti sa mga naisip niyang gagawin sa kanyang sekretarya.

***

"Hey dragon lady!" sigaw ni James nang dumungaw siya sa bintana ng sasakyan.

"Puwede ba? May matino akong pangalan, okay? Ano'ng akala mo sa sarili mo, si John the Baptist ka at binibinyagan mo ang mga tao ng bagong pangalan?"

Napalakas ata ang halakhak ni James dahil nagsimula na namang magsalubong ang kilay ni dragon lady. "Hindi ako natawa sa joke mo, pero natatawa ako dahil walang ka-sense sense ng joke mo."

"Ewan ko sa 'yo!" sagot ni Monique.

"Hey, joke lang! Bakit ba madali kang magalit? C'mon, I actually wanted to invite you for a drink to thank you for saving me earlier."

"Huwag na. Magbabangayan lang tayo kapag nagsama tayong dalawa."

"I insist, Monique. Please?" He even pouted for an added effect.

Napabuntong-hininga si Monique at binuksan ang passenger's seat. "Tigilan mo na ang pag-pout. Nagmumukha ka lang tanga."

Hindi alam ni James kung bakit natutuwa siya tuwing naaasar niya si Monique. Isa sa dahilan marahil ay nakasanayan na ni James na ang mga babae ay nagkakandarapa sa paanan niya. He liked women, and women loved him. Infact, women worshiped him. They adored him. At sino ba siya para tumanggi sa paghanga at pagmamahal na inaalok nila sa kanya, lalo na kung may kasama pa itong wild and hot sex?

But Monique was different. She hated his guts. She hated everything about him. From the color of his dark brown hair to his shiny black leather shoes... From the smell of his aftershave to the smell of his breath... she hated it! She even admitted that she hated how white his teeth were!

"Allergic ako sa mga taong tulad mo!" she once told him during one of her outbursts in the office when he asked her why she disliked him that much.

Noong una ay naiinis siya sa walang galang na pagtrato nito sa kanya. He was the boss, goddammit! But she acted as if she was his boss. Naaalala pa niya noong nakaraang linggo, pikon na pikon siya sa pakanta-kanta ni Monique ng Womanizer. At nang kinumpronta niya ito, may isang bagay siyang napagtanto. Si Monique ang kauna-unahang babaeng nakapag-resist ng kanyang charms, at hindi iyon matatanggap ng kanyang ego. Kung dati ay inaasar niya ito dahil naaalibadbaran siya sa pag-uugali nito, 'di naglaon ay pinapatulan na niya ang mga patutsada nito para mas lalong mainis ang babae dahil pakiramdam niya ay nakaganti na rin siya rito kahit papaano. Pero ngayon, nagbago ang kanyang pag-iisip. Hindi natitinag si dragon lady sa kanyang mga pasaring at pang-iinis dito. Kaya naisip niya na ibahin ang kanyang atake.

Even the holiest of all maiden could never –ever –resist his charms for ever so long. At ito nga ang kanyang naging plano: Ang patayin sa kilig si Monique. That dragon lady issued the challenge the day she stepped into his office and raised a scrutinizing eyebrow at him, sizing him up with her patronizing glare. Panahon na lang ang makapagsasabi kung kailan niya mabibiyak ang yelong bumabalot sa buong katauhan ni Monique. At ang panahong iyon ay nalalapit na –mga ilang oras mula ngayon.

Hindi niya mapigilan ang mapangiti.

You are so going to get what you deserve, Monique, saloobin niya.