Chapter 35

Napatingin lamang ako sa repleksyon ko salamin matapos kong isuot ‘yung kwintas na bigay ni Daddy noong ika-18th birthday ko. Hinawakan ko ang pendant noon at hinaplos iyon na parang doon ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob.

I closed my eyes and a smile escaped my lips. I won’t waste this day, Dad. I will put things into their rightful place. Just guide me, Dad. Please, I need your guidance today.

Pagmulat ko ng mata ay pinakatitigan ko ulit ang sarili ko. Nakasuot ako ngayon ng beige trouser at itinerno ko iyon ng white sleeveless turtleneck bilang pang-top ko saka pinatungan ko iyon ng long rectangle coat.

Mula sa salamin, nakita ko ang paglapit ni Klein sa akin at niyakap ako nito mula sa likuran. Pinagdaop nito ang mga daliri niyang nasa may tyan ko kasabay ng pagpatong niya ng baba niya sa balikat ko. “Are you ready?” Mahina nitong tanong sa akin.

Hinawakan ko ang mga kamay nitong nakayakap sa akin habang iyong kanan kong kamay ay naroon pa rin sa pendant ng kwintas na suot ko at nginitian siya nang magsalubong ang mga tingin namin sa salamin.

“I am. I am now ready.” Dahil matagal ko na itong hinintay. Ngayong nangyayari na, walang rason para hindi ako maging handa. Even God knows how ready I am for this to happen.

Humigpit ang yakap nito sa akin at hinalikan niya ang ulo ko. “Whatever happens, remember that I’m always at your back.”

Being prisoned in his arms, I turned around and faced him. My arms then found their way up to his nape before I looked dearly into his eyes. “Alam kong ilang beses ko na ‘tong sinabi sa tuwing tinutulungan mo ako pero sobrang salamat, Klein. Salamat sa lahat. When things go dark, you always give me light, and appreciate all the things you’ve done and keep doing for me.”

I tiptoed and give him a quick sweet kiss. Matapos no’n ay hinaplos lang niya ang pisngi ko hanggang sa kinuha nito ang kamay kong nasa leeg niya at ipinagsalikop iyon sa kanya. “Let’s go.”

Nodding at him, both of us stormed out of our room. Pagkababa namin sa basement ay sinalubong kami ni Jeff. Before he brought the car to life, Klein assisted me in getting inside. Pagkatapos ay umikot siya’t tumabi sa akin.

Now that the car is moving, I just settled my eyes off the window, spoiling them with different views that passed us. But deep inside me, I was nervous. I can even feel my hands getting colder so I rubbed them against each other. Ngunit sa ginawang paghawak ni Klein sa kamay ko, mabilis na nalipat ang tingin ko sa kanya. He didn’t tell me anything. Hinawakan lang nito ang kamay ko para sabihing kasama niya ako.

Matapos ng medyo may kahabaang byahe, inihinto ni Jeff ang kotse at agad naman akong pinagbuksan ni Klein ng pintuan. “Calm down, hon. Trust me, everything will be okay after this.”

I sighed comfortably then I smiled at him before taking his hand, and finally went out through his assistance. Maya-maya lang din ay dumating na ang lawyer kong si Mr. Buenafe kaya sinabi kong sabay-sabay na kami.

Hawak lang ni Klein ang kamay ko habang naglalakad na kami ngayon papasok sa building. Before entering the main door, I asked Sir Montaño if where they are. Ang sabi nito ay malapit na rin daw sila kaya sinabihan ko na lang na mauuna na kami.

Pagtapak namin sa loob ng building, lahat ng mga mata ay kaagad na napunta sa gawi namin. I walked first having Klein beside me. At our back were Jeff and Mr. Buenafe.

“Ma’am Echarri...” I couldn’t deny the shock and surprise evidenced in employees’ eyes as they saw us walk inside, particularly me.

Gusto kong tumigil sa harapan nila at batiin sila katulad ng madalas kong ginagawa pero ang utak ko ay nakapokus lamang sa kung anong sadya ko rito... dito sa Echarri’s Food Royale. Yes, after three years of being gone and now that I was back, I was able to step my feet in this building again.

Halos mahawi pa ang mga tao sa tuwing dumadaan kami at kaagad na pumagilid sila para bigyan kami ng espasyo, at bawat nalalampasan namin ay hindi maiiwasan ang pagbubulungan nila hanggang sa makasakay kaming apat sa elevator.

Klein once again took my hand. When we’re almost on the designated floor, I received a message from Mrs. Adarme, informing me that it has already started.

Now that we reached the 57th floor, we walked out of the elevator. Pagkalabas namin doon ay gulat din ang naging reaksyon ng mga empleyado nang makita ako. Tuluy-tuloy ang paglalakad na ginawa namin at noong umikot kami sa kaliwa, dahil gawa sa salamin iyong wall ng conference hall, nakita kong kung paanong isa-isang itinaas ng mga board of directors ang mga kamay nila.

When I finally stopped in front of the door of the conference hall, I closed my eyes tightly, breathed heavily, and with strong determination that pushes me to do what’s the best for Echarri’s Food Royale’s people, I pushed the door open.

The sound of the heels I wore when I came inside took their attention. All of them were curious about my sudden appearance because they were not aware who am I since they are the new board of directors of this company. Yet there were two pairs of eyes in front, giving me a blazing look as to why I appeared here.

“Good afternoon, everyone. I apologize for interrupting you all, but how could you do the CEO selection without the presence of the majority shareholder? Where’s the etiquette there? Did Echarri’s Food Royale forget how to instill values to the new set of directors?” I shook my head, feeling disappointed. “This is not what my Dad taught to his employees. What a shame,” I stressed, my tone is full of mockery while my eyes were on Tita and Erica.

“You’re not supposed to be here, Rhian Cassandra,” Tita quickly affirmed, getting frustrated already.

“But I am already here. Will you kick me out in front of these people?” I challenged her, giving her a meaningful smile. Kita ko naman ang pagkuyom ng mga kamao nitong nakapatong sa ibabaw ng mesa niya. Thoughts at the back of my head were now rejoicing. Ganyan nga, mainis ka hangga’t gusto mo, Tita.

“Anyway, I’m just here to remind you that if you’re presiding such important events like this, all the shareholders should be here, especially the majority shareholder, right?” I walked in front and faced each one of them. Mrs. Adarme, who’s sitting at the back nodded and smiled at me.

“Don’t worry. I know that none of you will invite the majority shareholder so I did it myself. With his presence, you can continue the CEO selection process,” I explained, and with that being said, Klein opened the door and entered. All eyes were on him this time.

“I’m a bit disappointed after hearing that Echarri’s Food Royale is having a CEO selection process without my knowledge. I mean, I bought half of its shares, making me part of this company and you could have informed me about your plans,” anas nito.

“Excuse me, but who are you?”

Klein faced that guy and chuckled. “Oh, I see, I haven’t introduced you myself. I am Mr. Ko. I apologize if this was the first time I’m appearing yet unnoticed. It’s just that I’m a very busy man,” aniya pa, natawa nang bahagya.

Pagkarinig sa pangalang ‘yon ay nagbulungan sila. “Mr. Ko? Aren’t you Mr. Olsen of Olsen Company?”

“Yeah, that was also me,” he acknowledged. Naging dahilan iyon upang mas lalong madagdagan ang bulungan nilang lahat. I already anticipated this scene. He’s not Klein Olsen for nothing. Nilingon ako ni Klein saka nginitian.

“But why Rhian Cassandra is here?” The woman I hated the most, asked.

“Because she’s my wife?” Klein replied her with a question and I know that is to just annoy Tita more. “Before I forgot, I just transferred the shares on her name, so she has the right to be here,” Klein replied calmly.

“What?” malakas na anas ni Tita, hindi makapaniwala.

“You heard what my husband said, Tita. He already transferred all the shares under my name, and being the majority shareholder now, my presence is needed here,” I announced. “Besides, even if I don’t have shares, as a husband and wife, it’s our conjugal property,” pagdidiin ko sa mga salitang iyon at kitang-kita ko ang namumuong galit sa mga mata niya dahil gano’n din ang mga salitang sinabi niya sa akin noon.

“But even without the conjugal property or even if he didn’t transfer the shares under my name, this company is mine to begin with and I know you know what I mean Tita Margaret," my eyes, becoming sharp, directed to her.

Agad itong napatayo. “No! This company is mine! What the hell are you talking about?” Sa isang iglap, ang pagiging elegante nito ay nawala dahil kulang na lang na sugurin niya ako sa kinatatayuan ko kung hindi lang siya pinigilan ni Erica dahil ang mga board of directors ay nagtataka na sa kung anong nangyayari.

Natawa ako sa sinabi nito. “You don’t know what I’m talking about? Or you just don’t want to admit the truth? Don’t worry, I invited someone for you to clearly understand what I mean.” Being on the exact timing, the door once opened but I didn’t bother looking at it because I knew who they are.

The board of directors murmured and they were asking each other what’s happening now.

“Who are you? Why are you here?” nagsimulang mangining ang boses ni Tita pagkakita sa kung sino ang mga pumasok. Napatayo rin si Erica at hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita.

“What the hell is this, Rhian Cassandra?” Tita Margaret scanned me furiously yet her eyes were full of horror. I just gave her a blank stare and shrugged my shoulders, not wanting to waste any words that come out of my mouth just to explain to her what’s going on.

When Sir Montaño stopped in front of Tita and Erica, he showed them his police ID card including the arrest warrant issued by the judge. “I’m police officer Macky Montaño of Kawanay Police Department—”

“What’s the meaning of this? Rhian Cassandra, what the hell is this?” paulit-ulit at hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito sa akin. Pinipigilan din nila ang paglapit ni Sir Montaño sa kanila.

“Mrs. Margaret Echarri and Ms. Erica Felicia Fajardo, you are arrested for the crime of double murder, active euthanasia, and fraud. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”

Declaring them the Miranda Rights for arresting them, Sir Montaño, including some officers with him, quickly handcuffed Tita Margaret and Erica yet they’re not letting them do so. Nakikipagmatigasan pa ang mga ito.

“No! No! I’ll sue you all for doing this to us!” Tinignan nila akong dalawa at binigyan ako ng nagbabagang tingin ngunit nakatayo lamang ako roon habang pinapanood kung paano silang posasan sa mismong harapan ko.

“I am not yet done, Rhian Cassandra! Everything’s not yet done! You’ll regret doing this to us!” Tita shouted at me, but I didn’t mind it at all.

I’ve had enough. Now that the right time I’ve been waiting for has come, I will wrap up all the things they have started against me, against all the people so dear to me, as well as the properties Dad and Mom worked hard for.

Tama nga si Tita. Hindi pa tapos ang lahat dahil nagsisimula pa lang ako’t sisiguraduhin kong ako ang tatapos sa lahat hanggang sa maubos sila katulad ng kung paano nila ako inubos noon.