I am CEO Penelope’s KISH

Simula

purpose
How far can you go for the person that you love? How can you say that you
are doing what’s best for everybody? What if the person that you love the
most betrays you? Paano mo masasabing ang lahat ng ginagawa mo ay para
sa ikakabuti ng lahat? Paano kung may gusto kang gawin ngunit kailangan
mong sumunod sa nais ng minamahal mo? I cherished my family so much.
Despite the strict treatment of my dad, the sudden passing of my mom, and
palaging pagtataray ng ate ko sa akin, at ang expectations ng Daddy ko sa
akin.

“Miss Penelope, pinapapunta kapo ng daddy mo sa kaniyang study

room” sabi sabay yuko ng isa sa aming maid. I nod as a respond to her and
immediately went to where my Dad is. I wonder what is this all about na
naman.

“D-dad! You can’t do this to me! I am the eldest and I should be the
Heiress of our company!” rinig kong sigaw ng ate kong si Pia Celestine
Madrigal. Yes, we owe most of the fashion clothing named Madrigal Couture
dito sa Cebu. I fully opened the door and entered the room while my ate is
still raging because it seems like hindi sa kaniya ipapamana ang kompanya.
My father is at his retirement age kaya hindi na ako nagulat nung narinig ko
kay ate ang pag papasa ni dad ng kompaniya sa isa sa amin.

“Dad, you called me?” I nervously smiled at my father who is irritatingly

rubbing his temple maybe because of the fight that he had with my sister. I
am really not that close to my family especially with my father kasi ang strict
niya masyado and he is very dedicated in his religious beliefs. And when I
say dedicated, it also means implementing what he believe in our house.

“You can go now Pia, let’s talk later. Alam na alam mo ang dahilan
kung bakit hindi ko ibibigay sa iyo ang kompanya.” May diing sabi ni
Dad.
“No dad! This is so unfair! Bakit ba ayaw mong ipagkatiwala sa akin
ang kompanya?! Penelope is just 21! For God’s sake I am more
capable and deserving to have the title Dad!.”

Nagulat ako sa biglaang pagtaboy ni Dad sa gamit niya sa lamesa. Uh-oh he

really looks so mad right now.

“How dare you! If you badly wanted the company hindi kana sana
pumatol sa isang lalaking may asawa!” my sister has been married for
about a year and ang lalaking napangasawa niya ay may dating asawa na.
This is one of my Dad’s Rules. You can never taint the Madrigal’s name.

“My God Dad! He is a divorce’! Wala na po siyang asawa! ang sabihin

niyo si Penelope lang talaga ang paborito niyo kaya siya ang
pagpapasahan mo ng kompanya!”

Hindi na napigilan ni Dad at lumapit siya kay ate at nasampal. Napatakip ako
sa aking bibig sa gulat.

“How ungrateful! Kung hindi ka lang sana naging kabit Pia, baka
naibigay ko pa itong kompanya sa iyo! You are a disgrace to this
family!. Ng dahil sa lecheng pagmamahal mo sa lalaking iyan kaya
hinding hindi mo makukuha itong kompanyang pinaghirapan ko at
ng Mommy niyo! Get out!” sigaw ni dad habang si ate ay nakahawak sa
kanang pisngi niya kung saan nasampal siya ni Daddy at galit na lumabas sa
study room ni Dad. My Dad knew about her relationship with Stefano, the
guy whom she’s married to now. My Dad caught them when my Dad visited
the company where Stefano was working before. He was an Executive
Assistant at a major company but he was close to the owner of the company
so kilala talaga siya sa mga tao. His Ex-wife is the sister of the owner of the
company kaya laking galit ni Dad kay ate when he caught the two of them
kissing in Stefano’s office. He had great expectations from my sister but it
was all ruined because of that mistake.

Galit na galit si ate habang lumalakad siya palabas ng study room kaya
nilapitan ko na si Dad habang bumabalik siya sa kaniyang swivel chair at
umupo.

“D-dad, tama naman din po kasi si ate na napakabata ko pa po para

I-handle ang kompaniya.” kalmado kong sabi kay Dad. Gustuhin ko mang
mag reklamo, ayaw ko ng dagdagan pa ang stress niya ngayong araw na ito.
Dad reassured me with a bit of a smile plastered on his lips.

“No, it is going to be okay Tine, alam kong deserving ka na I-handle

ang kompaniya natin not just because of your irresponsible sister
but I know how you treasured the company and you only wish for
the company’s success, am I right?”

Dad smiled a bit when he said that to me. I can see the wrinkles that he is
continuously having from all the stress kaya napabuntong hininga nalang
ako.

I admit na mahal ko ang kompaniya namin kasi ang kompaniyang ito ang
naging pangalawang tahanan ng nanay ko. She has been very passionate in
Fashion Designing and making clothes till she passed away. Our company is
my mother’s heart. Kaya gagawin ko ang lahat para lang maitaguyod ko ito
at maging successful for the next 100 years.

Ang ambisosya mo na masyado Penny pero kakayanin mo ba talaga to? I

smiled nervously at the thought. I know that it is not easy but I don’t have a
choice. I want my Father to take a rest from all the things that happened
kahit na hindi kami masyadong close, I still love him that much because he
is my father.

“But Dad I am still studying, 1 year nalang at g-graduate na po ako,

how am I going to balance the company and my studies?” I am in my
3rd year of studying BSBA sa University of San Carlos.

“Oh there’s no need to worry about it iha, I will handle everything

and all you have to do is to follow my instructions. You will go to
another country for your training. Don’t worry it will only be in 2
months. I will let Mr. Robert to assist and accompany you.”

oh no! two months?! Two months lang Dad? Ang haba naman gawin niyo na
pong three months hihi

Stop with your silly thoughts Pen.

But seriously it would really be nice if I’ll have to stay in another country
longer just to have some relaxation na din. It has been really stressful sa
school and of course sa house. But I can’t oppose my Dad. His house, his
rules.
“But dad, how am I gonna finish my studies if I am gonna skip for
two months?! And besides, am I going to be alone with Mr. Roberts
there? Paano po pag gusto kong mag shopping, paano po pag suto
kong mamasyal? I don’t want to be a loner there Dad”

Dad chuckled when he heard my rants. Of course I would be! Like come on!
Who would want to be stuck with a body guard all the time in staying abroad
diba? I mean I do like and see Mang Robert as my Tito but still iba padin
iyong kasama mo talaga is yung nakaka-vibes mo.

I glared at my dad who chuckled. Minsan di ko rin gets tong daddy ko, yes
he is so strict in his rules but he is also nice in other things. Iyon nga lang
when he is on his playful mood, he really does get playful.

“I knew you’re going to say that haha, anak ka nga talaga ng

Mommy mo Pen” he smiled but his eyes were telling the he’s sad.

I know my dad misses my mom so much, and I am too. It has been a year
since she passed. Dad did everything he could to save my mother, his wife
but we couldn’t. I rolled my eyes at my dad playfully and scoffs.

“che! Lahat naman po ata ng babae ganun ah! And besides mommy
is super gorgeous kaya bagay lang na she is like that hehe”

My dad smiled again, now including his eyes too. It’s been a year since I saw
my Dad smiled so genuinely and it was on my mother’s birthday. The last
birthday she shared with us.

“I know sweety, you’ll have to get ready alright? I will try to find
you an assistant and you will be having your training on your
summer vacation and no buts-, it’s for your own and the company’s
benefit. I will be going now Penny, you can also leave”

I nod at my dad and quickly left his study room. Oh my God! I am not ready
to be so called Ceo yet but it seems like I don’t have any choice.

I just hope that I will be deserving to be called the Ceo Penelope Madrigal of
the Madrigals Couture.

I smiled genuinely at the thought.

Just you wait mom, I will make sure that your heart will always beat only for
its success.
KABANATA II

Matapos naming mag-usap ni Dad ay dumiretso na ako sa aking kwarto

upang magpalit ng damit. Today is Friday and the last dayof the class before
kami mag s-semestral break. When I was about to wear my pants, I heard
my phone rang so I answered it.

“Hello tine! I have a good news for you”