#DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 3: ADJOURNED

LUNA'S POV

Sinipat ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. I'm wearing a dark ensemble of business attire. Instead of a skirt, I opted for slacks. I often wear colors but when I have an important meeting, I always wear black. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon din ay sinisiguro ko na malinis ang pagkaka-bun ng buhok ko. And also darker make-up.

"Wala ka ng magagawa sa baby face mo." Nilingon ko si Alex na komportableng nakahiga sa sofa na nandito sa loob ng opisina ko. "You still look like you're twenty-five, which is not surprising since when you were twenty-five, you looked like a high school student."

I rolled my eyes, but I didn't say anything. He's not wrong, though. Ang sabi ng mga kapatid ko ay ganoon din daw ang nanay namin. And since I look exactly like her except I'm a few inches taller than her, it wasn't surprising that I also inherited her vampire-like ability.

"Most women would love to be in your place." Inilagay niya ang kamay niya sa dibdib niya. "Kahit ang babaeng puso ko gusto kang kurutin."

"It's not that I'm not thankful for my youthful look." I straightened my blazer. "I just hate how some people don't take me seriously because I look young."

"You are young."

I scoffed. "Yeah right."

"Most twenty-five-year-olds still don't know what to do with their lives. Some are in their thirties, and yet they are just starting to make something for themselves. You just turned thirty-one, and you have what? A company that you solely own and a name that is even recognized internationally."

"I'm recognized internationally because I have a lot of enemies there."

"People who deserve to be criticized, and you did that with the finesse that only Luna Alondra Dawson-Aquillan can, and the world loves you for it."

Nangingiting humarap ako sa kaniya. "Thanks for the pep talk." Sumaludo lang siya bilang sagot. "Ikaw ready na ba?"

Nalukot ang ilong niya. "Pwede bang hindi sumama?"

"You're the chief operating officer. What do you think?"

He knows the answer, which is why he could only just sigh. Tinignan niya ang mga kuko niya na kulay pink. The way he dresses and carries himself, no one would have thought that he's batting for a different team. Idagdag pa na mukha talaga siyang football player dahil malaki siyang tao. Minsan ko na siyang makasama na mag-swimming at isa lang ang masasabi ko; his body would be perfect for a book cover.

"I should have taken this off," he mumbled more to himself than to me.

"Why?" Sinipat ko ang naka-gel polish niya na mga kuko. "They look pretty."

He gave me a look. "You know why."

"I can't tell you how to feel, but I'm your friend. Mas importante ang opinyon ko kesa sa opinyon ng ibang tao dahil mas may role ako sa buhay mo kesa sa kanila. So I'm going to tell you now that they don't matter. Whatever they throw at you, whatever they say against you, it's not on you." Kinuha ko ang mga folder na nakapatong sa lamesa ko at muli ko siyang tinignan. "Everyone has the right to believe what they want to believe. However, you don't shove what you are into other people. Why would you let them do it to you?"

"Luna—"

Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at kaagad niya namang tinikom ang mga labi niya. "You're one of the most religious people I have ever met. Base sa mga kuwento mo, kahit noong bata ka pa. You stayed with your church even if they ostracized where your heart belongs to. You respect them even when their beliefs often stop them from doing the same. Then you found your new church. One that fully accepts you. But then and now, you didn't change. You remained loyal to Him, to His people, and to His creations. You volunteer to different charities, you always donate because you said you have more than enough, your house is like a zoo because you can't stop adopting animals, and you never throw stones back that have been thrown at you." Inabot ko ang ilan sa mga hawak ko sa kaniya na kaagad niya namang tinanggap. "We can't change the hearts of all the people in this world. But you need to change. You need to start believing in your own heart more than theirs."

His Adam's apple moved. "I'm going to cry."

"Mamaya na. Marami pa tayong gagawin."

True to my words, we indeed have a lot to do. It wasn't long before we found ourselves facing the other members of the board of directors. We went through the day's agenda, but the snide remarks sugar-coated with jokes coming from the Chief Marketing Officer and PR Director weren't lost to me.

And it wasn't just because of Alex and his pink nails. It's also about me being the youngest in the room, a woman, and the new sole owner of the company.

"Next meeting baka naman violet na ang kuko mo, Alexa," pabirong sabi ng CMO na si Samuel Barnes.

"My wife got her nails done, and I remember her telling me that she likes the tawny color." The PR Director Owen Mitchell's lips curled up. "Why don't you try that one—"

"Shh." Nang bumuka ang bibig ng dalawa ay itinaas ko ang kamay ko at pinagdikit ko ang hinlalaki ko at hintuturo. "The adults are talking." Pagkasabi niyon ay nilingon ang Chief Financial Officer ng Maven na si Oliver Mercado na pigil ang ngiti habang pilit din na iniignora ang dalawa. If they're acting juvenile, then they deserve to be treated as one. "Do we need to move this month?"

"Preferably, yes," he answered. "We're still renting this building since it was your and Stella's decision before, and the price is hiking up. The owner wants to lease it for another year. If we're going to move, the right time is now."

Stella didn't have plans to move, but I told her that it's a possibility if Maven grows. And it did.

"Do we have a location?"

"There's actually an offer."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Usually, it's the other way around." Ang bibili kadalasan ang may offer at hindi ang nagbebenta. Well, at least on my experience.

"Well..." He cleared his throat. "It's a prime location. Newly vacated, eight floors. Malapit din sa mga public transportation, kaya hindi mahihirapan ang mga empleyado natin, there are great restaurants, may mall na isang sakay lang, at hindi ganoong kalayo sa airport."

"But?"

There must be a but because what he's saying is all great, and for whatever reason, he's starting to look nervous.

"There's no but."

I gave him a knowing look. "Oliver."

He chuckled. "I'm telling you the truth."

"Ahuh," I said, still not believing him.

"And it's below the budget."

"How low?"

"Very," he answered almost excitedly.

No wonder he's brimming with happiness. He's the CFO. Kung may pinakaimportante sa kaniya ay iyon ay ang pera ng kompanya. Kaya ang hirap magpa-approve sa kaniya minsan. May pagka-kuripot din. Which, I guess, makes him great for the company.

Inilahad ko sa kaniya ang kamay ko. Nang nagtatakang tinignan niya lang iyon ay tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "I want to see it."

"Umm..."

"You didn't think I would approve this without seeing it, did you?"

Bantulot man ay inabot niya sa akin ang tablet device niya. It took me two seconds before my eyes snapped back up at him.

"Oliver."

"Y-Yes?"

"I know this building."

He pulled on his necktie. "Really?"

"You know I know this building."

"I—"

"Since this is the building next to my husband's building." Binaba ko ang hawak ko. "He also happens to own it."

Inabot ko ang cellphone ko at mabilis na tumipa ako roon. Sunod-sunod na chat ang pinadala ko pero nanatiling hindi nagbabago ang bilog na may check sa gilid niyon. He's offline. He's probably going to ignore my messages as long as he can.

"It's a great offer," Oliver quickly voiced out when he saw what I'm doing. "We won't get any offer like this from anyone else."

"Of course we won't. None of those are my husband."

Alex chuckled beside me, but I ignored him because I was busy flooding Magnus' messenger. Nang manatiling walang sagot si Magnus ay nanggigigil na nag-angat ako ng tingin.

Tinuro ko ang CMO at ang PR Director. "I don't need to tell you what to do. But if you're going to disrupt the next meeting with your comments, don't bother coming." Hindi ko sila hinintay na makasagot at bumaling ako kay Oliver. "We'll talk about this later. I need to talk to my husband first."

I gathered the folders and documents in front of me, and I pushed them towards Alex, who gave me an "okay" gesture with his fingers. Dala ang cellphone na tumayo na ako. "This meeting is adjourned."

My heels are probably making holes on the floor as I make my way back to my office. Pumasok lang ako doon para kunin ang bag ko at pagkatapos ay lumabas na ako ulit at tumuloy sa elevator. Less than five minutes later, I was in my car, driving as fast as I'm allowed to. Even so, it still took me more than half an hour to reach the building of Quetzal. Kapag naging presidente ako, magpapagawa ako ng sarili kong highway. This country's traffic is the worst!

Pinarada ko sa harapan ng opisina ang sasakyan at tuloy-tuloy na pumasok ako. Sa kabila ng inis ay tinapunan ko pa rin ng ngiti ang bumati na gwardiya na kaagad akong nakilala kahit hindi naman akong madalas pumunta rito. Noon siguro nang nililigawan ko pa ang boss nila.

"Ma'am! Excuse me!" I looked at the woman running after me. She seems new. "May appointment po ba kayo? Writer po ba kayo rito? Sa finance department po ba ang punta niyo?"

I pressed the button of the elevator angrier than I meant to. "No to all your questions."

"Bawal ho kasi—"

"I know." Nginitian ko siya kahit na hindi ako sigurado kung mukha nga bang ngiti iyon. I'm too annoyed at Magnus and his damn elevator that is taking so long. "Bawal kapag walang appointment o hindi niyo writer. I respect that. But I'm an exemption. There's no one here that can stop me, not even your boss. If he did, I'm going to make sure that he'll think twice before coming home tonight."

"P-Po?"

The familiar ping of the elevator sounded, and I let out a sigh of relief. This time, my smile was better when I turned to the woman and reached for her hand to shake it. "Luna Alondra Dawson-Aquillan. Nice to meet you."

I didn't waste more time, and I stepped inside the lift, leaving the woman outside looking dumbfounded at me.

I trained my gaze to the number panel, tapping my foot in impatience. Thankfully, it was only eight floors. Nang makarating sa pangwalong palapag ay dirediretsong tumuloy ako sa opisina ni Magnus at inignora ko ang mga matang nakasunod sa akin.

Throwing open the door, I was ready for what I was going to say. Only there was no one inside Magnus' office.

"Umm... Mrs. Aquillan—"

"Dawson-Aquillan." I hyphenated my name. I don't want to drop the Dawson and Magnus respected that. "Where is he?" I asked, turning to face Magnus' new assistant.

He's young. He's probably close to my age. Sa pagkakatanda ko ay dalawang beses ko pa lang siyang nakita sa personal. Magnus didn't want to find another assistant after he lost the other, but Lucienne and I managed to convince him that he should look for one. Baka kasi tuluyan na siyang maging zombie.

"May meeting po." Nag-aalangan na pumasok siya sa opisina. He gestured to the paper bags on the coffee table. "Kumain daw muna kayo sabi ni Sir Aquillan."

"He knows I'm coming here?" Inilabas ko ang cellphone ko at binuksan ko ang messenger. "Hindi niya pa rin binabasa ang chats ko kaya paanong alam niyang pupunta ako?"

"H-He expected it."

That man. I gritted my teeth, and I stomped towards the sofa and plopped down.

"Kung may kailangan po kayo sabihin niyo lang po ako, Mrs. Daw—"

"Luna."

He corrected himself. "Ma'am Luna."

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin nang nagmamadali na siyang lumabas ng kuwarto. I let out a sigh. Sumandal ako sa kinauupuan ko at tumingin ako sa kisame.

I know that some would think that there's no reason to get angry. He's basically giving me a building at a discounted price. But I don't like how he did it by approaching my CFO instead of going straight to me. Maven is my company. Things like the move are something that is my decision and responsibility. I'm not a child that needs help.

I let out a sigh, and I looked at the paper bags. Imbis na tignan ang laman niyon ay tumayo ako at nagpalakad-lakad. When minutes passed and Magnus still hadn't arrived, I walked towards his desk and took a seat on his giant leather chair. Did he have this customized so that he could fit his "giantness" on it?

Hinawakan ko ang mouse ng computer niya at ginalaw ko iyon. Napaangat ang kilay ko nang bumukas ang screen no'n. I typed in numbers, and the corner of my lips tipped up when it opened.

Mukhang iisa lang katulad sa laptop niya na nasa bahay. It's the date of the first book Quetzal has ever published.

I started exploring his computer. He's more organized here than his office. Katulad kasi ng bahay niya ay nagkalat din ang mga libro rito sa opisina niya. Kung hindi lang ako laging nag-aayos sa penthouse ay baka naging tambakan na rin iyon ng mga libro. At mabuti na lang din madami akong bookshelves.

Nang hindi pa ako nakuntento ay binuksan ko rin ang email niya at ang Google drive niya. I saw some Google documents shared with his editors.

As if a bulb had been lit on top of my head, I scanned the titles. Nang makita ko ang particular na brand na hinahanap ko ay binuksan ko iyon. My lips widened into a grin when I saw a new submission for the gothic romance imprint. Perfect.

"Let's see... hmm..." I typed in a comment that I knew the others would see. I even exaggerated some of the words and put in a lot of exclamation points.

Snickering, I added more comments. Pero dahil hindi naman fully maitim ang budhi ko ay sa iisang libro ko lang ginawa iyon. Mahihirapan kasi siyang alisin isa-isa kung paghahanapin ko pa siya kung saan ako nag-iwan ng comment.

"For a woman as small as you, you look like you're about to unleash the greatest disaster on the planet."

Mabilis na inexit ko ang nakabukas ko na mga tab nang marinig ko ang palapit na boses ni Magnus. He stopped beside me at the same time that I closed the last tab. Hindi ko naman kasi pwedeng isarado lahat dahil baka may kailangan siya doon sa mga nakabukas na kanina.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Nothing."

He clearly didn't believe me, but he didn't ask for more. Bahagyang inusog ko ang kinauupuan ko nang mas lumapit pa siya sa akin. He leaned against the edge of the desk, and he looked at me straight in the eyes.

"Have you eaten?"

"No," I answered.

"Then why didn't you touch the food I bought for you?"

"I'm too angry to eat."

He sighed. "Don't fight me on this."

"It's my company. Huwag mong sabihin na hindi ka magagalit kapag ako ang nakielam sa kompanya mo?"

"I wouldn't."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah right."

"If you want to help me out, go for it. Baka sakaling magkaroon ako ng walong oras na tulog."

Pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko sa harapan ko. He's trying to distract me and I'm not going to fall for it. "What you did wasn't right. You talked to my CFO before me."

"The company that rented the building next to Quetzal didn't sign another contract. Sumasakit ang ulo ko na paalalahanan sila na magbayad. I don't want the same headache, so I decided to sell it instead of renting it out. My agent found out that your company is looking for a building. She knows that you're my wife, so she puts you as top priority."

"You gave my CFO an offer. A very low one." Nagkibit siya ng balikat dahilan para maningkit ang mga mata ko. "Would you have done the same for others that are looking for a building?"

"They're not my wife."

"Magnus—"

"Kung ako ang naghahanap at may property ka na sakto sa hinahanap ko, hindi mo ba iyon ibibigay sa akin?"

Damn it.

Reading what's behind my eyes, his lips tipped up. "You would have done the same."

"But—"

"You're the most stubborn person I have ever met. You pestered me for years, married me, and instead of letting me build a home for the two of us, you bought three floors of my building—"

Ako naman ang pumutol sa sasabihin niya. "We built it together. Hindi lang input ko ang meron nang ni-renovate ang bahay."

He ignored me, and he continued on his tirade. "—and now that I'm trying to help you out, you're throwing a fit."

I gasp. "I'm not throwing a fit! Anong akala mo sa akin? Bata?"

"Fine. A protest then." He let out a long breath. "LA, can you just let me help you? You would have done the same. Baka nga hindi mo pa ako hayaang magbayad kung ikaw ang nasa posisyon ko."

Well, yeah.

"I know you're a strong, independent woman. That doesn't mean that you can't let anyone help you when you need it. Asking for help doesn't make you weak."

There's more to his words, and we both knew that. I averted my gaze to escape his penetrating eyes.

"I didn't pester you," I mumbled.

"What?"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya at humalukipkip ako. "I wasn't pestering you before. Nililigawan kita. Magkaiba iyon."

He looks taken aback for a moment, then after awhile, a rare full smile spreads on his lips. "Let's agree to disagree."

"I—"

"You stalked me."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Hoy! Paninirang puri 'yan! I'm not a stalker!"

"You're a woman with many connections. Kahit saan ako pumunta, nandoon ka."

"We're both in the publishing industry. Both of our companies have writers. Hindi nakakapagtakang iisa lang tayo ng napupuntahan na mga event," pangangatwiran ko.

"You always made sure that you'd be the one attending kapag nalalaman mo na pupunta ako. Kahit na hindi naman ikaw ang kadalasan na dumadalo sa mga iyon."

Damn it! Bakit ba ang dami niyang alam? "Feeling mo lang 'yan."

"Aside from following me around..." sabi niya na pinagdiinan pa ang salita na ipinalit niya sa una niyang ginamit. "...you also made sure that I won't be going on dates. Kung may natutuloy man, ginugulo mo."

"Hindi ako nanggugulo. Pinapaalala ko lang sa'yo na may manliligaw ka na at hindi ka na dapat nagpapaligaw sa iba."

"I was trying to court them. Not the other way around."

"As if. Ikaw? Manliligaw? Hindi ka nga maka-move on sa sister-in-law ko."

He didn't look affected by what I said. At least not the way he used to react before. In fact, it's been a long time since I gained the same reaction from him when I used to tease him about Lucienne.

"That just makes me more special, you know? Ang nag-iisang taong nanligaw sa'yo," sabi ko sa kaniya.

"I never said you weren't special to me." Natigilan ako. I blinked at him in surprise, and he grinned. Grinned. Dapat pala dinadalasan ko ang pagpunta sa kaniya sa kalagitnaan ng araw. Mukhang mas may energy siya. "You're the most annoying midget that God put into my life."

"I'm only a midget to giants like you. I have the perfect height." Petite man ang 5'7 para sa ibang bansa pero matangkad na ako para sa Pilipinas. Teka nga. Bakit ba kung ano-ano na ang pinag-uusapan namin? "Stop distracting me."

"The conversation about the building is over. You'll take it." Nang akmang aangal ako ay inunahan niya na ako. "You bulldoze your way into my life. I didn't fight you—" When I scoffed, he rephrased his words. "I didn't fight you much, and I let you have your way. This time, it's your turn to do the same."

I leaned back and crossed my legs. Kung matigas ang ulo ko ay ganoon din siya. This is good for my company. At katulad ng sabi niya, ayaw niya ng i-rent ang kabilang building. If there's a person he could trust not to make unnecessary adjustments to the building that would affect his own, it would be me. It's a win-win.

"Fine," I said, finally giving up. I'll let him have this one. Tutal totoo naman na ilang beses niya na rin akong pinagbigyan. Starting from the home we're sharing. It was one of the things he didn't really want to give into, but I managed to persuade him. "How much was the original price, and how much are you giving Maven again?"

He uttered some numbers, and it didn't take a second for it to dawn on me.

"Magnus Aquillan!"

"You already agreed. Wala ng bawian."

Napatayo ako. "I can't believe you!"

He slowly raises his shoulders while there's an annoying expression on his face that makes him look like a teenage boy who has maneuvered his way out of an argument.

The amount he decreased in the original price of the building was the same price that I bought our home. He's basically buying it back by selling the building for a steal!

"Be a sport and take your loss, wifey."

"Huwag mo akong kausapin. This meeting is adjourned. Go away."

"You're in my office," he pointed out.

Akmang tatayo ako para umalis pero pigil ang ngiting pinigilan niya lang ako. Naglakad siya papunta sa coffee table at kinuha niya ang mga paper bag at pagkatapos ay bumalik siya sa kinaroroonan ko at inilabas ang laman ng mga iyon.

"Eat."

Inirapan ko siya. "Bahala ka riyan."

"Masamang nagpapalipas ng gutom." He handed me the utensils. "At masamang nagsasayang ng pagkain."

Binigyan ko siya ng matalim na tingin pero binuksan ko na rin ang lalagyan na nasa harapan ko at nagsimulang kumain bago pa niya ako konsensyahin pa.

"So..."

"What?" I grumbled.

"Should I be scared?" When I just knotted my forehead at him, he pointed his head towards his computer.

This time it was my turn to grin when I remembered one of the comments I left on his shared file with his employees. "Very."

Nice characterization. Too bad the vampire doesn't sparkle. I luuurv Edward Cullen!!! He's so perfect! But this Cassius guy has great character too. Yummeee!!

-Magnus

____________________End of Chapter 3.