Chapter 17: Hurting her, hurting you

Nagtataka si Zoe kung bakit nagpatawag ng emergency meeting ang kanyang ama. Pagdating sa conference room napansin agad niya na nasa kanya nakatingin ang mga member ng board. Di niya maiwasan mailang sa mga bulong bulongan na issue sa kinakaharap ni Lexie.

"Diego why it seems so hurry ang meeting na ito? Is this about the issue about your lawyer. I have no interest in your daughter’s love life but I think kailangan mo nang pakialaman baka di natin namamalayan magiging apoy na yan ng company."

"I understand what you say Bernard but please set aside my daughter personal life on this. Kaya ko kayo pinatawag dito is to clarify some matter. All the articles that involves my lawyer Lexie Rodriguez were fake. So you don't have to worry."

" Really? Well if that’s fake she must take action and file a case towards that person. She's our employee even it atttacks her personaly pwede parin tong maka affect sa name ng company because she's Zoe's girlfriend. If I'm not mistaken."

Napahinga ng malalim si Diego halata sa mukha niya na nahihirapan siya sa sitwasyon na yun. Ramdam din ni Zoe ang lungkot ng ama. Alam niyang ginagawa nito lahat para lang protektahan siya at ang ate Trisha niya.

"Unfortunately Lexie can't sue the person. Ahmm, actually I ask her not to file any cases to that person."

"Why? That person need to face the consequences of giving some misinformation."

"Yeah , Bernard is right Lexie must take actions.", sabi ng isang member ng board.

Gusto ng sumambat ni Zoe pero her dad give her a sign that his okay. Kaya mas pinili niyang tumahimik at hayaan ang ama ang magpaliwanag.

" Well to be honest to all of you here diko kayang makulong ang may kagagawan ng issue na yan. It's because the person behind is my daughter Trisha. That's why I ask a favor to Miss Rodriguez not to file cases. She's my daughter and I don't want her to put in a situation na pag uusapan siya gaya ng ginawa niya. She's so vulnerable to experience that."

Nagulat ang lahat sa pasabog ni Diego.

Pati si Zoe ay di inaasahan na sasabihin ito ng ama. She was sad and sorry for Lexie to experience all of this. Di siya sang ayon sa ama sa ginawa nitong pabor sa ate niya dahil gurlfriend niya ang nasaktan but part of her heart also pity her sister.

"Are you sure about that Diego. We know your daughter Trisha. All of her life she 's your dedicated to you and sa company. She will not do such things na makakasira ng tao or company. Infact we think she's more capable than Zoe. Were sorry Zoe but that’s the truth. Kahit pa sabihin natin na di mo siya kadugo."

"I'm sure it's Trisha that cause this mess. I hire an excellent investigator to make thorough investigation about this. And I’m not that cruel father to drag my daughters name sa isang issue. Kahit pa sabihin niyo diko siya kadugo. But I never treated her different from Zoe. Pantay pantay ko minahal ang tatlo kung anak. So don’t bring about her not my blood."

Naiinis na sumagot si Diego kay Bernard.

"I’m sorry for bringing that up. But why? What's the reason of Trisha doing this? We just can't really believe it Diego."

"Unfortunately we have some family issues for now and that’s I cannot share with you. But as long as it will resolve I will do update. Just let me fix this."

" Why don’t you just invite Trisha over her para naman malaman natin yung side niya cause we torally not convince that your daughter will do this."

"I'm sorry but I can't do that. I will not put my daughters into your self proclaim trials. As I’ve said were going to resolve it privately."

" I'm sorry Diego if we had a doubt it's just seeing your daughter Trisha in her work now it seems ang hirap talaga paniwalaan ang sinasabi mo. But we respect your decision. I hope your family issues will be resolve."

Natapos ang meeting ay nagpaiwan si Zoe. She wants to talk her father. About his decision.

"Dad."

"Zoe I'm sorry if I had to chose your sister over Lexie it's just I'm so afraid your sister hate will grow if she will put into trial."

"Honestly dad I am also disappointed that you ask Lexie not to file case to my sister. But as much as I love Lexie like you I really hope that our issues with ate will resolve. It's just sad to see why ate became like this. I never thought that my sister who I'm looking as my bestfriend became one of my enemy. Why she turned into other person."

"Like I said before to all of you, absent man akong ama but I'm trying to be more updated to your life. When you live as an ordinary person , lumabas ang di magandang issue about you. And I was shock dahil I planned all of that na di maging public para protektahan ka but it was out. That's why I did an investigation whose behind it that's when I found out your sister was supplementing stories to the press. I confronted her and that's the time I found out she wad jealous by you. We got a talk and I thought she already understand but unfortunately she stills misunderstood it."

"Is that the reason why you don't want to be my sister to be your heiress dad."

"That's one of the reason Zoe. For now that’s only I would like to share cause I don't want you to hate your sister."

"Dad why can't we just give ate Trisha a chance to work for you. I thought board member was right. She's more capable than me in terms of business. Maybe it will also perspective towards us."

"I don't know Zoe. Masyado nang naging mapusok ang ate mo sa gusto niya. I'm afraid of something happen pag nasa power na siya."

"I hope you consider that dad. Because even though I am pissed at her for doing that to Lexie. I'm still hoping that she will change and be back the way she was."

Hindi inaasahan ni Lexie na pupuntahan siya ni Zoe sa office. Nakangiti ito sa may pintuan habang tinitingnan si Lexie na nagliligpit ng gamit.

“My gosh Zoe ginulat mo naman ako. Kanina ka pa ba diyan? Why are you here? I told you na lie low muna tayo na magkita in public. Ayaw kong pati ka mapag usapan.”

“Ok lang wala akong paki. I just can’t take it anymore. Diko kaya na di na kita makita. video calls weren’t enough. Kaya andito ako.”

“Naku ikaw talaga, matigas din ang ulo.”

“Gusto ko talagang makita ka Lex. I’m so worried about you. Dapat nga di ikaw ang nasa position na ito dahil it’s me who wants ate Trisha to get hurt pero ikaw ang sumalo. I’m sorry Lex kung nadamay ka pa.”

“ No worries I can handle it Zoe. Nag usap na rin kami ng daddy mo kaya naman wag ka na mag alala.”

“Lex we can sue ate if you want di kita pipigilan. Kahit pa kapatid ko siya I will still not tolerate her behavior. “

“ Wag na. Your dad has a plan to solve this issue. I know mas okay yin kaysa magkaroon ng panibagong issue about your family.”

but what about the issue?

Pilit man ngumingiti si Lexie kay Zoe ay ramdam parin nito ang na nasasaktan siya sa issue na pinupukol sa kanya. Lexie never thought na gaya ng dati ang hirap parin patunayan ang pagmamahal niya kay Zoe. Gaano man siya nagsumikap na magingbmaayos ang buhay para bumagay siya kay Zoe meron parin mga tao na haharang sa pagmamahalan nila.

“Lex I’m sorry for dragging you in this situation. I never thought that this would happen, that ate Trisha would turned into this kind of person.

Hinaplos ni Lexie ang pisngi ni Zoe.

“You don’t have to worry okay? I can handle this, and Trisha judging her from past alam kung ibang iba siya sa iyo. Kaya naman di ako magtataka kung aabot siya sa ganitong sitwasyon. I’ve met her nung wala ka sa puder ng dad mo. Sa kabila ng pagiging mabait niya ramdam mo there’s something behind her kindness. Maraming beses narin siyang nahuli ni dad mo na may ginagawa behind his back but because he love your sister he just it go. Yun nga lang nasanay na ang ate mo sa pasensiya ng dad mo.”

“Kung ganun mas mabuti pa talaga na kailangan na niyang e face lahat ng kagagawan niya Lex. I’m afraid ano ang gagawin niya next time.”

“Honestly Zoe I’m mad at your sister but that doesn’t mean diko din nakikita yung kabutihan niya. Siguro she’s just struggling. Hayaan natin muna ang daddy mo maghandle ng lahat.”