CHAPTER 4

When Phillip arrived at his house, he sat on the couch and sighed. Although he did not spend much time at the party, the day seemed long to him. It was already evening and he had to prepare his completed work for the exhibition tomorrow or he would be dismissed. He was familiar with statistics and corporate principles. They had no interest in knowing if he was the next CEO of the CRUZ enterprise. They would simply reject him if he did not respect their laws or principles, and Philip had learned to recognize this.

Clara overheard a knock on her door after showering. She immediately put on her clothes and went to the door to unlock it.

"This package is for you, Miss, it's from Master Philip Cruz." A man said.

"Oh...yes. Thank you so much."

"He also told me to give you this as an extra." He said and gave her a card.

"What is this...?"

"I have no idea, my job is to deliver."

"Okay, thanks."

The man walked away and Clara locked the door. She turned the card to its other side and screamed with wide eyes.

"What's the problem?" Her close friend, Ella, asked when she heard her loud voice.

"This is his private number!"

"Whose private number?"

"Philip...I met him at the party and..."

"Hold on... did you meet Philip Cruz?"

"Yes! I did, he took me to his studio and I saw his paintings."

"You did? Why didn't you say anything to me when you got home? And now he's given you his private phone number?

"Yes! He did. I am so excited!

Clara showed Ella the card and both of them screamed again. They couldn't believe that one of the youngest successful painters could give out his personal number.

"That's really cool...and you are going to work for the company right?" Ella asked.

"That's right. I am so happy...we should celebrate."

"Oh...no. I am not going to let you drink. The last time you wanted to celebrate your success in painting, you drank yourself into a stupor."

"Relax, it's just a drink."

"Or we can go to a restaurant and eat."

"Fine. You are always so bossy." Clara said.

The exhibition went very well, he presented the painting but people weren't listening to him. They were all focused on the painting. After he had finished his presentation, one of the men came back to reality and shook Philip without saying a word. The other men did likewise, and a buyer was arranged for the painting. He would be notified in some days' time of when the buyer was coming.

This was a huge deal that Philip didn't joke with and he was happy that it all worked out just fine.

On his way home, Philip got an urgent call from his mother.

"What's it mom?"

"It's your father."

"What about him?"

"He's in the hospital now, he wants to see you."

Philip's heart beat faster than normal, he hoped that nothing bad happened to his father. Even though he had faced so many challenges, he wasn't ready for bad news now.

When Maria saw Philip, she hugged him in tears. Confused, Philip looked at Henry who was also looking sad.

"What's the problem?"

"Master Philip, your father would like to see you." Manuel's personal assistant said.

Philip walked into the ward and saw his father lying down on the hospital bed.

"Dad...."

"Philip...come." Manuel said and Philip went closer to him. 

"What is happening?" He asked holding his father's hand tight.

"I won't be here for so much longer..."

"What are you saying?..."

"I have been holding up for a long time and it was a secret between me and your mother. I was diagnosed with a heart disease before we got married. When I told her, she promised to be there for me and keep it away from you."

Philip's face hardened, "You kept it away from us for twenty-one years? You were suffering through all these years and you refused to tell us."

"I didn't want you to become soft or weak like me...I wanted you to be a strong and daring man... that's is what you are now and I am proud of you."

Philip kept quiet and tried to control his emotions. He didn't want to scold his dying father.

"You are the next CEO, so be strong and face your battles squarely. The battles of life exist to make you stronger and better than before if only you can learn from them."

"Being CEO doesn't matter to me...I want you to be alive."

"I won't be here for so much longer...take care of your mother for me. She has been the best help mate for me, take care of your brother and do anything to protect him. You...find a girl who truly loves you and stick with her till the end."

Before Philip could say a word, a nurse came in with some medications.

Philip kissed the back of his father's hand and walked away from the room. When he went outside, he sat down beside his brother and closed his eyes so as to control his emotions.

"So he's going isn't he?" Henry asked and Philip nodded.

Henry stood up and walked out of the hospital while Maria sat down crying. Her whole world went blank when she heard that her husband had collapsed. Now, it was left to them to cope with the news.

"Did you hear?" Ella asked Clara.

"Hear what?" Clara asked.

"Mr. Manuel Cruz is very sick."

Clara turned to look at Ella with visible shock on her face. "What?!"

"He fell sick last week."

"But he was healthy during his birthday."

"Renowned people always know how to pretend that everything's okay."

Clara thought of Philip immediately, she wondered if he was doing okay. "I need to call him."

She grabbed her phone and called him but his phone was switched off, she totally forget that he could put his phone off. So, she took her jacket and headed out.

"Where are you going?!" Ella asked. The only reply she got was the sound of Clara's car zooming out of the compound.

Philip took his seat in his studio and held his pencil while looking at the unfinished sketch. He had been so stressed out and mentally strained such that no inspiration could flow through his brain.

"Master, a lady is here to see you." His assistant said.

"Did she say her name?"

"Clara Hamilton."

"Tell her to come in."

"Okay." His assistant replied and left.

Philip didn't know why Clara was here to see him but he hoped that it was something important. Clara walked into his working space with a worried smile.

"Good evening." She said.

"Evening...what brings you to my studio today?" He said with a smile. 

"I just thought of visiting, I have been calling your number but it's switched off."

"Oh...oh. I am so sorry...I forgot to put it on when I finished from work yesterday."

"It's okay...so you're still working on it?" She said standing beside him.

"I am trying to... but no inspiration...my brain's dry."

"You are thinking about a lot of things, why don't you relieve yourself of them first before you start."

Philip sighed slowly and started sketching. He didn't know what he was doing or who he was drawing, all he knew was that he had to finish it. For the first time in weeks, he was able to add something new to the sketch. 

Clara watched Philip sketch the woman, it was really nice to see him doing what he loved. She quietly sat down and stared.

Some minutes later, Philip got up and kept his pencil aside.

"I would like to show you something if you don't mind." He said.

"Of course." 

"Let's go." He said and she followed him. He led her to another room and when they entered, Clara opened her mouth wide.

"Oh, my good heavens!" It was a room full of paintings that he had never presented. "Why do you have so many hidden paintings?"

"These ones were not ready for exhibition, so I dumped them here."

"You have such talent. I wish I was more like you, my mom would be very proud of me."

"I'll give them to you, one at a time to re-do."

"What?... are you serious?"

"Yes. For each one you finish, I will take a look at it and arrange a presentation for you."

"Oh, my good heavens! I am going to be famous!"

Philip gave a soft laugh and nodded but he knew within him that it takes a longer time to reach that aspect of being famous. Patience was a virtue that he had learned by experience and constant practice.

"It would be great to see your first finish."

"So, I can take one of your paintings home?"

"Yes."

Clara threw her hands up in the air and turned around with a smile.

"Is that a type of dance?" Philip asked.

"It's my way of containing too much joy within me."

"That's funny but sweet."

"Thank you. Now, it's time to grab a painting!"

"Here, you can have the key to the studio. Come in whenever you like."

"I really appreciate all these. Thank you for making my day." She said as she collected the key.

"My pleasure."

Clara came here to check up on him but he was the one who put a smile on her face. That was an aspect of him that she loved.

"If you're going now, I can tell my driver to take you home."

"Oh...no. I came with my car."

"Okay."

Clara took one of the paintings and looked at it with so much attraction. She wasn't just attracted to Philip but his works.

"I choose this one. It's lovely."

"Take your time." He said and walked back to his workspace. Meanwhile, Clara waved him goodbye and left the studio with smiles on her face.

Philip enjoyed her presence, though she talks too much, she knew when to keep quiet. 

Maria sat down on her sofa with a drink in her hands. After all that she had faced in life, another one was still adding to it. She recalled losing her father, then her first husband, now it was Manuel who was next in line. She thought about her first son, Philip. She didn't want anything to happen to him and so, she decided to protect him from leaving her. She couldn't bear to lose Henry or Philip, it would be  devastating to her.