A MAN DIVORCES HIS “BADUY” WIFE TO JOIN HIS SOCIAL SECRETARY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN MATTER WITH HIS STATUS AS CEO, BUT THE MAN WAS SURPRISE AND DEFEATED WHEN THE COMPANY’S MAJOR INVESTORS AND CLIENTS SUDDENLY PULL OUT

“Sign this, Lorna. We’re done.”

Rico threw a folder on the glass table. Inside it were the annulment papers. Standing next to him was Shiela, his secretary—young, sexy, and covered in expensive jewelry that Lorna knew came from their company’s coffers.

Lorna was silent. She was wearing a simple t-shirt and jogging pants while cleaning the living room. No make-up, her hair in a ponytail, and she was clearly tired.

“Rico, are you sure about this?” Lorna asked calmly. “We’ve been together for fifteen years. We built Rico’s Empire together. Now that you’re at the top, you’re leaving me?”

Rico laughed out loud. “Built it? I built it all by myself! You? What did you contribute? Cook? Washer? Coffee maker? Lorna, wake up! I’m the CEO! Look at you! You’re such a slob! You’re no longer fit to be in front of my business partners. You’re embarrassing to bring to gala nights. You look like a maid!”

Shiela interjected and grabbed Rico’s arm. “Hon, leave it alone. She doesn’t fit in our world anymore. She’s too plain. You need a power couple partner, like me.”

Rico nodded. “Shiela’s right. We’re leaving. The house is mine, the company is mine. I’ll give you a little allowance so you don’t starve to death, but don’t expect to get a share anymore. You are nothing without me, Lorna.”

Lorna took the pen. She stared at Rico in the eyes. There were no more tears, only pity remained.

“Okay, Rico. If that’s what you want. But remember, the company is not just about sales and marketing. It has a heart and a brain that are not visible in the boardroom.”

Lorna signed the paper and left with just her own clothes. Without looking back.

Three months passed. Rico and Shiela were very happy. They were the stuff of magazines, parties here, travel there. But while they were having fun, Rico’s Empire was slowly crumbling.

It started with small things. Suppliers, suddenly raised prices or always delayed deliveries. Loyal employees, one by one, resigned. The once smooth running of the office, became chaotic.

“Why are you all in such a mess?!” Rico shouted at his Operations Manager. “My instructions are simple, you can’t follow them! Where is the shipment from China?!”

“Sir, the supplier is not responding,” the manager replied in a daze. “They said their only contact person is Ma’am Lorna. Since Ma’am Lorna is no longer here, our orders are no longer a priority.”

Page: SAY – Story Around You | Original story

“Bullshit! I’m the owner! Tell them, I’m the one to talk to!” Rico yelled.

But that wasn’t all. The biggest blow came when the Board of Investors summoned him for an emergency meeting.

Pagpasok ni Rico sa conference room, nandoon ang pinakamalalaking stock holders at clients nila. Pero iba ang awra ng mga ito. Walang ngiti. Seryoso.

“Mr. Rico,” panimula ng Chairman na si Mr. Go. “We are pulling out our investments.”

Nanlaki ang mata ni Rico. “W-What? Bakit po? Mr. Go, ang laki ng kita natin last quarter! We are number one!”

“You were number one because of the trust we had in the management,” sagot ni Mr. Go. “Specifically, trust in the person handling the backend negotiations and crisis management. Nalaman namin na hiwalay na kayo ng asawa mo.”

“Yes, but that’s personal! Ako ang CEO! Ako ang mukha ng kumpanya!” depensa ni Rico.

“Ikaw ang mukha, pero siya ang utak,” malamig na sagot ng isang investor. “Si Lorna ang nagre-remedyo ng mga palpak mong desisyon, Rico. Siya ang tumatawag sa amin kapag may problema ka sa cash flow at ginagamit ang personal niyang trust fund para takpan ang mga butas ng kumpanya. Siya ang nag-aayos ng gulo kapag naha-high blood ka sa mga empleyado. Without her, you are a ticking time bomb.”

“At hindi lang ‘yun,” dagdag ni Mr. Go. “Since wala na si Lorna sa Rico’s Empire, inilipat na namin ang aming pondo sa bagong kumpanyang pinagkakatiwalaan namin. Ang L.C. Solutions.”

Bumukas ang pinto ng conference room. Pumasok ang isang babaeng nakasuot ng eleganteng business suit, maayos ang buhok, at puno ng kumpyansa. Hindi na ito ang “baduy” na misis na kilala niya.

Si Lorna.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” bati ni Lorna nang nakangiti. “Ready na ba ang contracts para sa transfer of assets?”

Nanghina ang tuhod ni Rico. “L-Lorna?”

Tumingin si Lorna sa kanya. “Hello, Rico. Ito nga pala ang sinasabi ko sayo noon. Ang kumpanya, hindi lang sa harap ng camera gumagana. Ang L.C. Solutions ang bagong hahawak ng logistics at supply chain ng mga investors na ‘to. Ako ang may-ari. At dahil pull-out na sila sa’yo… good luck sa bankruptcy filing mo next week.”

Umuwi si Rico na tulala. Pagdating niya sa bahay, wala na ang mga gamit. Bukas ang vault, simot ang laman. Wala na rin ang mamahaling sasakyan.

May iniwang note sa mesa. Galing kay Shiela.

“Rico, narinig ko ang balita. Lugi ka na pala. Sorry, but I don’t do poor. Thanks for the jewelry and the car. Bye!”

Napaupo si Rico sa sahig ng kanyang malaki ngunit walang laman na bahay. Ang inaakala niyang “walang kwentang” misis ay siya palang pundasyon ng lahat ng tinatamasa niya. Ngayong wala na ang pundasyon, gumuho ang kanyang imperyo, at siya ay naiwang mag-isa sa ilalim ng mga guho ng kanyang sariling kayabangan.
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