Del Franco Brothers: Adien (Book 2)

CHAPTER ONE

Dream Men

“Morning Grace.” Bati ko sa sekretarya kong busy sa pagta-type nang kung ano sa laptop nito.

“Good morning Ma’am Montinilla.” Nagmamadali tong tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo nito. “Coffee?”

Napahinto ako sa tangka kong pagpasok sa opisina ko at pumihit paharap dito. “Ma’am Montinilla?” I raised my eyebrow. “Really Grace?”

“I mean Embry?” Patanong na sagot nito dahilan para matawa ako.

Isang linggo na akong pumapasok sa Glamour pero hindi pa rin nasasanay si Grace na tawagin ako sa pangalan ko.

Glamour is a women’s magazine.

“Embry.” Grace repeated.

I smiled, nodding my head at her. “Much better.”

Montinilla makes me feel old.

And there’s no escaping the fact that Montinilla is not even your last name. Tuya ng utak ko.

Nawala bigla yung ngiti sa mga labi ko.

“Embry?” Putol ni Grace sa pagmumuni ko dahilan para mapaigtad ako.

“Oh right.” Tumingin ako dito at pilit na ngumiti. “Thanks for the offer but I’m already finished with my dosage.” Birong tukoy ko sa coffee na ino-offer nito kanina.

Nakangiti muna akong kumindat dito bago ako pumasok sa loob ng opisina ko. As soon as I closed the door, I sighed and slumped my body against it.

I shake my head to clear my muddled thoughts. Nilibot ko nalang yung paningin ko sa bagong ayos ng opisina ko.

I changed the interior as soon as I settled in. It’s so spacious and cosy now.

It’s been almost a month since I came back here in the Philippines. Kahit na sabihin pang in terms of international prestige, di hamak na mas kilala ang Europe. Iba pa rin sa Pinas.

There’s really no place like home.

Pabuntung hininga na nilagay ko nalang yung shoulder bag ko sa ilalim ng lamesa at nagsimula na akong mag trabaho.

Nilunod ko nalang yung sarili ko sa dapat kong gawin nang hindi pasukan ng kung anu-ano yung utak ko.

After a while, wala nang umuukopa sa utak ko kung hindi trabaho.

Busy ako pagtapos ng huling installation ko for summer fashion nang tumunog yung intercom ko sa lamesa. I pressed it in speaker mode. “Yes, Grace?” Tanong ko dito habang busy pa rin ako sa pagta-type.

“Pinapatawag po kayo ni Ma’am Casey.”

“Inform her that I’ll be there in fifteen minutes and thanks Grace.” Sagot ko dito bago ko in-off yung intercom.

Casey is my boss. I’m working under her supervision. She’s the magazine company’s editorial director.

Anyway, she’s not just my boss. She’s also my friend.

Nagkakilala kami sa conference at mabilis na naging magkaibigan. Siguro kasi sa kadahilanang dalawa lang kaming pinay sa conference at nasa iisang age bracket yung edad naming dalawa.

She’s three years older than me though.

Casey offered me a job here in the Philippines and the rest is history.

Tinapos ko muna yung ginagawa ko bago ako tumayo para pumunta sa opisina ni Casey.

Tinanguan ko yung secretary ni Casey na nakapwesto sa labas ng opisina nito. “Hey, Mads. Casey is expecting me.”

She nodded back habang ini-inform si Casey na andito na ako sa labas ng opisina nito. “She’s all yours, Emz.”

Compare to Grace, mas komportable sakin si Mads. Siguro kasi medyo bata pa si Grace at pareho naman kami ng edad ni Mads.

Pumasok ako sa opisina ni Casey. “Hey.” Pang aabala ko sa kung ano mang ginagawa nito.

Casey looked up from her laptop. “Hey. How’s your office?” Tukoy nito sa bagong interior ng opisina ko.

Umupo ako sa armchair na nakalagay sa tapat ng lamesa nito. “Spacey and classy. Just like I wanted.”

“Good.” Tumatangong sagot nito habang nagbubukas ng drawer. “Now, you’re ready to work your ass off.”

Naiiling at natatawa akong napatingin sa folder na hawak nito. “Surprise me.”

“This is your first major project.” Sabi nito habang inaabot sakin yung folder.

Binuksan ko yung folder.

Dream Men.

I looked up and raised my eyebrow. “Dream men?”

“Yeah. Kelangan nating mag conduct ng interview sa mga kilalang male icons sa lipunan. Recognized not only here in the Philippines but overseas as well.” Casey smirked and shrugged her shoulders. “Glamour is a classy magazine after all.”

Interviewing a popular male icon?

Why does it sound so damn familiar?

After a while, realization hits me.

Just like what I did in college.

A particular scene suddenly crossed my mind.

I shook my head, clearing the thoughts out of my head.

Reminiscing about that interview means reminiscing about him.

And this is not the right time for that.

“Hey, are you ok?”

“Yeah. It’s nothing serious.” Pilit akong ngumiti dito. “I just remembered something unpleasant.”

Nang tinaasan ako nito ng kilay. Nag iwas ako ng tingin at binago ko agad yung usapan. “So, who will be my first victim?” I asked, feigning a cheerful voice.

“A very successful businessman.” She looked straight into my eyes and that’s when she dropped the bomb na nagpayanig sa buo kong pagkatao. “Adien Del Franco.”

Did I hear her right?

Adien? As in Adien, my husband?

“Adien Del Franco?”

When I stared at her to confirm my nightmare, she nodded her head.

Fvck!

Fvck the fvcking fvck!

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