CHAPTER 7

Garet felt bothered as he sees the white monitor of his computer. Hindi siya makapagsimula sa kaniyang gagawing letter. Dahil sa hindi niya pag-attend sa convention ay naging tambak ang mga gawain niya sa office. Hindi pa niya pinipirmahan ang dokumento na binigay sa kaniya ni Thomas. Nagdadalawang-isip siya kung aakuin ba niya ang nasabing factory.

"Damn it." He saids as he shut it down. Wala siya sa huwisyo sa sandaling iyon, hindi niya alam kung alin at ano ang bumabagabag sa kaniya. Ang huling natatandaan niya na nakaramdam siya ng gan'on ay noong nag-break sila ni Lora.

Kinuha niya ang phone niya at tinawagan ang kaniyang sekretarya, si Mildred. Agad naman itong sumagot.

"Yes, Hello sir Garet."

"Mildred, can you do me a favor?"

"Yes, Sir. What is it?"

"Do you have a pen and paper there?"

"Yes, Sir, I'm listening."

"Buy some flowers, send this to this address..." sa sandaling iyon ay ibinigay niya ang address ng babaeng gusto niyang pagbigyan, "please put a note, that I am sorry." Dagdag pa niya.

"Copy, Sir."

"Thanks, Mil."

"You're welcome, Sir. Anything else?"

"I'm fine."

Sa sandaling iyon ay nagpaalam na si Garet at kinuha ang pakete ng kaniyang sigarilyo. Nagsindi siya saka tahimik na nag-isip kung paano niya gagawin ang susunod niyang hakbang. The ownership of company, and to handle everything he must do.

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng pag-iisip nang may kumatok sa pintuan.

"Come on in," ani niya saka ninudnod ang sigarilyo sa ashtray.

Ilang sandali pa ay pumasok ang si Melody, ang kaniyang office receptionist. Kasabay nito ang isang magalang at pormal na ginoo.

"Mr. Libradilla, nandito po si Ginoong Saturnino Ayala."

"Alright, Mel. Please come on in, Mr. Ayala. Have a seat." Anyaya pa ni Garet saka tumayo para kamayan ito. Agad namang nilamano ni Ginoong Ayala si Garet saka sabay na umupo.

"I came to say it directly my intention, Garet," paunang salita pa ni Ginoong Ayala, "about my interest to your textile factory." He crossed his legs and sit at ease.

"What is your offer, Mr. Ayala?" kampanteng tanong nito.

"I will give 50% investment for your textile company in one condition."

"What is it?"

"Train my daughter to be a responsible CEO."

"Hmm, your daughter?"

"Yes, Margaret Ayala." Sumilay ang ngiti nito habang nakatitig kay Garet.

"I will think of it, Mr. Ayala. You know that I don't want to involve beyond company transactions."

"I understand, Garet. Hugo told me about everything, he wants you to stay in his line, gusto niyang e-merge ang kompanya natin in near future."

"Did he say that I agree?" sarkastikong tanong ni Garet.

"Come on, Garet. You're thirty-four already, you need to settle down."

"I have my time, and I don't want to rush."

"Or maybe you're already interested to someone?"

Napalunok si Garet sa sandaling iyon, hindi naman siya affected sa sinabi ng ginoo, pero hindi niya alam kung bakit parang natumpak nito ang inisiip niya, no, ang nararamdaman niya.

"No, Ninong." Mabilis na sagot niya rito.

"I knew you, Garet."

Hindi sumagot si Garet saka bumuntong-hininga.

"Are you still into to Lora?" nabaling sa usapan nila ang nangyari noon, saksi si Ginoong Saturnino Ayala sa nangyaring eskandalo nila noon ni Lora. It was a huge scandal in the business industry.

"Fine, I will train your daughter." Walang nagawa si Garet sa offer ng matanda.

Napangisi si Ginoong Ayala sa sandaling iyon, he finally convinces Garet.

"That's what I need to hear, Garet. I assure that you will find her interesting, I mean, the offer."

Sa sandaling iyon ay nagpaalam na si Ginoong Ayala kay Garet.

Lumabas muna si Garet para puntahan ang kaniyang kuya Carlson. Kailangan niyang masabi ang napag-usapan nila ni Ginoong Ayala.

Nasa kabilang office lang ito, he starts to push the doorbell.

"Come on in..." narinig niya sa loob.

Agad naman siyang umupo at nagsalita.

"Oh Garet, have you reviewed the financial reports for the last quarter?" Bungad ni Carlson sa kapatid.

"Yes, pero may ilang discrepancies akong napansin. Yung operational costs ng factory, parang biglang tumaas. Alam mo ba kung bakit?" Garet asked firmly.

"That's one of the things I wanted to discuss. Tumataas ang gastos sa raw materials. The suppliers increased their prices due to global demand. Pero kailangan natin itong i-manage, or else, mababawasan ang net income natin significantly." Carlson cross his arms.

"I see. May backup plan ka ba for this?" Garet asked.

"One option is to renegotiate the agreement with the suppliers and investors. Kung hindi natin mapababa ang presyo, we might have to look for alternative sources." Sagot naman ni Carlson, making sure that the details will enclose between the assets.

"That makes sense. Pero may concern ako sa quality ng raw materials if we switch suppliers. Ayaw natin maapektuhan ang reputation ng factory." Seryosong saad ni Garet, he wants to discuss the offer between Mr. Ayala pero hindi pa siya makakuha ng tyempo.

"Exactly. That's why this has to be done carefully. May proposal din ako tungkol sa efficiency ng production line. If we can reduce downtime, we could offset some of the increased costs." Carlson furtherly explained.

"That's a good idea. Maybe we can implement a lean system sa factory para mas ma-streamline ang processes. That way, we maximize resources." Garet agreed the idea.

"Yes."

"Another thing, about the business agreement natin with Mr. Ayala... I'm considering revising the terms. Gusto ko silang bigyan ng incentive para maging mas aggressive sa sales." Garet explained the crucial part.

"Hmm, magandang strategy yan. And, if we can increase the local supplier's commissions slightly, baka mag-motivate silang magbenta nang mas marami. Pero dapat i-compute natin ang epekto nito sa overall margin natin." Carlson jotted.

"Tama ka. Let's finalize these ideas by next week. Paghandaan natin ang presentation sa board meeting and about the arrangement of Mr. Ayala's proposal, I already agreed and gave him my terms."

"About his daughter's probation working here?" Carlson smiled.

"You knew?" Garet profoundly asked.

"Of course, dumaan muna dito si Ninong sa'kin." Ngisi ni Carlson. "I'll start drafting the necessary adjustments, and we'll review it together." Dagdag pa ng kapatid niya.

Tumango si Garet, seryoso ang mukha nito. He knows that Mr. Ayala is after to something, at gusto nitong mapalapit siya sa anak nito. Napa-iling na lang siya that time. Bumalik siya sa kaniyang opisina at doo'y na-receive ang receipt na pinadala ni Mildred sa kaniya. It was the flower for someone. He guesses that it could be better if hindi muna siya kikibo, hihintayin niyang ito mismo ang lumapit sa kaniya.

He got an idea; he will use Yuri to make Mr. Ayala's daughter distant to him.