CHAPTER 4

NAPAILING si Cassiuz habang nakatingin sa video kung saan nagagalit si Mateo Del Moran. Ibinalik lang naman niya ang tauhan nito na sumunog sa isang warehouse niya. Mabuti nga at naging mabait pa siya at ibinalik pa niya ang bangkay ng tauhan nito at hindi niya sinunog. Ibinalik niya ang tablet kay Anthony. “Anthony, tell our spy to know whom Mateo Del Moran’s contact. I want to know every single detail. And also, since I’m merciful today, sent back every Mateo Del Moran’s spy to him safe and unharmed.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Cassiuz looked at Mark. “Mark, I ask you to look for her profile? Have you done it?”

Tumango si Mark. “Yes, Boss.” Ibinigay niya sa amo ang tablet. Nagpakita roon ang larawan ng isang babae. “Her name is Wynter Aguilar. Twenty-six years old. She graduated Criminology but she only worked for three years. At the age of twenty-four, she built her own café. Her parents were both retired. Actually, her parents are friends of your parents when they are still alive. And she only had one friend, Valerie Perez.”

“Wynter’s parents are friends of my parents before?”

“That’s what I got, Boss.”

Napahawak si Cassiuz sa sariling baba at napangisi. Yeah, his parents had friends and he knew some of them. But Wynter’s parents, he never knew them. I think I should pay them a visit. Kill two birds with one stone.

“Boyfriend?” Cassiuz asked while looking at Wynter’s photo.

Umiling si Mark. “She didn’t have boyfriend and never had one even before. She’s single, Boss.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Cassiuz. “That’s good.” Ibinalik niya ang tablet kay Mark saka sumandal sa swivel chair. “Mark, clear my schedule for today in the Underground. Tell, Lester to come in. I have to tell him something.”

Mark bowed his head. “Yes, Boss.” Lumabas siya ng opisina ng amo saka tinawag ang kapareha. “Boss wanted to talk with you.”

Tumango si Lester saka pumasok sa opisina ng amo. Hindi sumunod si Mark at lumabas ng gusali.

“Sir, you have something to tell me.” Ani Lester.

“What’s my schedule this afternoon?”

Tinignan naman ni Lester ang hawak na tablet. “Sir, you have meeting with Miss…” Lester rolled her eyes. “Ms. Jessica Gallego. God, I really hate this woman.”

Hindi napigilan ni Cassiuz ang sarili na matawa dahil sa huling sinabi ni Lester pero kumunot ang nuo niya. “Bakit ako may schedule sa kaniya?”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Lester. “I think she has something to propose pero sa tingin ko lalandiin lang naman niya kayo.”

“Cancel my appointment with her. Mas may importante akong pupuntahan.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Lester. “Then what should I tell her, Sir?”

Cassiuz smiled. “Bahala ka na.”

Lester rolled his eyes again. “Sir…“

“I’ll double your pay for this month.”

Lester smiled. “Consider it done, Sir. Then I can talk back to her?” he asked his Boss.

“Whatever you want.” Kibit ang balikat na tugon ni Cassiuz saka kinuha ang cellphone sa loob ng bulsa ng suot na coat.

“Sir, may kailangan pa po ba kayong ipagawa?” tanong ni Lester.

Umiling si Cassiuz. “You can go now.”

Lester slightly bowed his head and stepped outside the President’s office. Nakasalubong pa niya si Mark. Mark kissed him.

Ngumisi si Lester. “I’m telling you it will be gonna tough this afternoon for you.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Mark. “Bakit?”

Ngumiti lang si Lester. “Good luck, Love. May you enjoy accompanying your Boss to his love journey.” And with that Lester went back to his table and continued his work.

Exactly two in the afternoon, Cassiuz went to visit the Sweet Unique Café. Si Mark lang ang isinama niya sa loob at naiwan sa labas ng café ang iba.

“Boss, what do you want? I will order it for you.”

“Anything. Order also for yourself and them.” Cassiuz looked at his bodyguards who were outside the café.

Tumango si Mark saka nagtungo sa counter at nag-order.

“Pakihintay na lang po ang order niyo, Sir.”

Mark just nodded his head and went back to his Boss. Tumayo siya sa likuran nito.

“Sit, Mark.”

“Ah?”

“Sit.” Cassiuz said.

Umupo si Mark sa upuan na nasa tapat ng amo. “Boss, what are we doing here?” nagtatakang tanong niya. “Do you have any meeting here?”

Tinignan ni Cassiuz si Mark. “And since when did you learn to ask question, Mark?”

Yumuko si Mark. “I’m sorry, Boss. I’m just curious.”

Cassiuz sighed.

Maya maya pa, dumating ang order nila.

Lumabas si Mark at ibinigay sa mga kasama ang mga pagkain. Bumalik siya sa loob at sinamahan ang Boss niya. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ginagawa ng Boss niya sa café na ‘to pero sigurado siyang wala silang trabaho rito. Kilala niya ang Boss niya, kapag may trabaho sila sa Underground, siya agad ang unang makakaalam pero kung sa Velasquez Real Estate Company naman, si Lester ang dapat na kasama ng Boss niya.

Sumimsim si Cassiuz ng Iced Coffee. Napangiti na lang siya ng malasahan ang malamig na kape saka napatango. Napatingin siya sa may pintuan ng café nang tumunog ito. Napako ang tingin niya sa bagong pasok.

Mark saw his Boss looking at someone. Sinundan niya ng tingin ang tinitignan nito. It’s her. Wynter Aguilar. Napailing si Mark. Mukhang alam na niya ang dahilan kung bakit nandito ang Boss niya. He actually cancelled his appointment this afternoon just to see the woman he adored. Nakita niya ang uri ng tingin ng Boss niya kay Ms. Aguilar. Ito ang unang beses na nakita niya ang Boss niyang nagka-interes sa isang babae. Not even his first ex- fiancée.

When Wynter passed Cassiuz’ table, Cassiuz caught a whiff of Wynter’s perfume. She smelled like Cinnamon. Sweet, spicy and enticing. He cleared his throat when he saw Wynter accidentally dropped her ballpen. Gumulong ito papunta sa paanan niya at mukhang hindi namalayan ng dalaga na nahulog nito ang ballpen nito.

“Excuse me, Miss.” Cassiuz said to get Wynter’s attention. “You dropped something.” Pinulot niya ang ballpen na nasa paanan niya.

Lumingon naman si Wynter at nakitang hawak ng isang lalaki ang ballpen niya. Tinignan niya ang folder, wala doon ang ballpen niya. Lumapit siya sa lalaki. “Thanks.” Kukunin niya sana ang ballpen pero inilayo ito ng lalaki.

Tumayo si Cassiuz at inilahad ang kamay. “Cassiuz Velasquez.”

Wala sa sariling umangat ang kamay ni Wynter at nagpakilala. “Wynter.”

Ngumiti si Cassiuz saka hinalikan nito ang likod ng kamay ni Wynter. “Nice to meet you, Wynter.” Then he placed the ballpen on Wynter’s hand. Tumingin si Cassiuz kay Mark. “Let’s go.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Wynter was dazzled. Hindi niya inaasahan ang ginawa ng lalaki. Napatingin siya sa likod ng palad na hinalikan nito. She was really dazzled but she didn’t have time to be dazzled. May trabaho pa siyang kailangang tapusin. They won’t meet again anyway.

Gwapo ang lalaki pero wala siyang pakialam. She’s not interested.

Bumalik si Wynter sa loob ng opisina at ipinagpatuloy ang trabaho.

Ang hindi alam ni Wynter na ang unang pagkikita nila ni Cassiuz ay masusundan pa ng maraming beses.