Chapter 4: The Applicants

“Ma, Keilah can't stay here with us! Katulad lang siya ni Papa, wala na silang ginawang tama para sa negosyo natin.” Kacie asserted, her voice was filled with contempt and it looked like any moment she would burst into anger. Her mother simply threw a gaze at her, there's no hint of approval in her eyes. Kassandra hasn't moved on from her husband’s death, it broke her heart but the other part of her mind wants to feel relieved upon what happened. Her daughter Kacie is somewhat right, Arthur Olivarez, the one and only son of Kamila Olivarez didn't help much with their business. They nearly went bankrupt when he was still alive and working with them. Kassandra has to get rid of her beloved husband, she thinks it's what's best for everyone in the family and their company.

“She is still your sister, and don't talk like that to your late father! Bakit ba ganyan nalang ang galit mo sa kapatid mo?" Kassandra wants to know what's behind it all, alam naman niyang hindi nagtatanim ng galit ang anak kung walang malaking rason sa likod nito.

Kacie rolled her eyes and made herself comfortable on the couch, she had a sip on her wine before answering her mother. “Kiel is a threat in our company, she's not afraid to go against us. Ma, you know how I badly want to have my position, Ginagawa ko ang lahat para mapansin ni Mamita.” Mahahalata sa boses niya na seryoso siya sa sinasabi, bahagya na lamang napabuntong hininga ang ina, maging ang iba nitong kapatid ay baka pareho rin ang rason na sasabihin pag tinanong niya.

“She have her own way to rule, hindi ba’t dapat kayong mag tulungan?” Her daughter seemed to disagree but she remained silent. Kacie doesn't want to go against her mother’s choice, she needs to do something on her own and get rid of the mice.

“I gotta go, Ma. Tell Karter to meet me at my office, may pinagawa kasi siya sa akin kagabi.”

Kacie went out of Kassandra’s sight, she drove her car and left her mother worried of what might happen. She can't believe she gave birth to four children and had them copied their bad traits from her mother’s side.

Meanwhile, the Olivarez gathered at the conference hall to entertain the applicants for their interview. Kacie sat beside her identical sister and proceeded to flip through the pages of documents in their table. Mga profile ito ng mga aplikante na mag u-undergo pa ng interview. Mabilis nilang kinilos ang kagustuhan ng head kung kaya ay hindi na nila pinag pabukas.

When the next applicant entered the room, his presence caught the attention of the interviewers. He wears a white long sleeves paired with a black slacks and a black shoes, his slicked back wavy hair looks perfect on him. His eyes traveled across the room until he met theirs, “Good day,” he greeted them with a charming smile.

“Have a seat, please.”

“Good day, Mr. Perez, How are you today?” Kacie was the one to ask while scanning the profile of the applicant.

“It's great to know that I'll get the chance to work here,” he replied.

The interviewers let go of a smile, base sa kielbasa nila mula sa profile nito ay nalaman na agad nila kung bakit nais ng CEO sa ospital na kunin siya bilang isa sa mga health workers nila. Torrent Perez came from London and he was one of the best surgeons in the hospital he was working at. He wouldn't fly back home if Mrs. Kamila Olivarez wont reach him out, He has been waiting for the opportunity, the thought of working in the Meadowview excites him.

“I heard Mrs. Kamila personally called you and offered you the job, I think you are aware of the business we do here.” Khloe asserted with her usual cold stares, she seems to be not in her best mood, maging ang ilang mga tao sa ospital ay ilag sa kanya ngayon.

“Yes, ma'am. It is a privilege to work here, it's the highest rate hospital in the country, I assume it won't disappoint me.”

“You are a one of a kind professional surgeon from West Bellevue Medical, may I know what you can contribute to this hospital?” Now, it's Kacie’s turn to ask.

The man chuckled before answering her, “My knowledge and dedication, I don't just work for money, I want my name to be on top.” His answers made the Olivarez surprised, Karter smirks as if what he heard is a simple joke. On the other hand, Kacie takes it to heart, it looks like they'll have a hard time competing with this man.

They couldn't ask more questions, it is quite obvious that the CEO wont simply choose him for nothing. They're pretty sure that Torrent will be a pain in their ass, bigger mice than Keilah, a rat to be exact. Khloe’s phone rang, she answered the call and faced the applicant who had been waiting for their next possible questions.

“Mrs. Kamila wants to see you, meet her in her office.” Tila mga batang talunan nang magkatinginan ang magkakapatid. Bahagya namang tumayo si Torrent, “Thank you for your time.” He led himself outside and asked the assistant nurse to lead him to the CEO’s office. He can't wait to finally dominate the workplace with his arrogance.

“Damn that man, he's full of himself,” Karter stood up from his seat and went near the window to check his schedule. Kacie headed her way to the doorway and told her secretary to inform the other applicants to have a long break for 30 minutes.

“It looks like we'll have two or more rats to scrap, what do you think?” Khloe commented and fixed the profiles of the finished applicants.

“This is giving me back pain,” Kacie went back to her seat and sipped from her ice coffee. “That’s a sign of aging,” Karter made fun of her sister. She simply rolled her eyes and didn't mind her brother, but Karter seems to be in his mood to tease his older sister. “Mukhang need mo na ng asawa, ka-edad lang naman kayo ni ate Khloe pero hindi naman siya nag su-suffer ng back pain.”

Isang mapang asar na ngisi ang kumawala sa mga labi nito, maging si Khloe is natawa dahil sa narinig. “Gusto mo bang saktan kita?” Pag babanta ni Kacie at sinamaan ng tingin ang kapatid. Bigla namang sumeryoso ang ekspresyon ni Karter, he doesn't usually play around with anyone else and he is known for having a bad temper among his siblings. Hindi siya gaanong nagbibiro o tumawa kung kaya ay maninibago ang mga taong nasa paligid niya.

“Get over it, Kacie. Baka si Torrent talaga ang para sayo,” Khloe jokingly asserted, obviously trying to get rid of the sudden tension. Karter simply nodded and Kacie just rolled her eyes. She decided to scan through the applicant's profile in her computer to double-check the details but what caught her attention was an unfamiliar name.

“Loki Hamsmith?” She read the name aloud and grabbed the attention of the two. “I am not aware that we have international applicants?” she stated and looked at her two siblings.

“What's his name again?” Karter asked and browsed the files on the table, “Hanapin ko lang rin dito.”

“Loki Hamsmith,” Kacie answered and continued to browse the entire details of the interviewee.

Kanya-kanyang reaksyon ang pinakawalan ng tatlo nang mabasa nila ang profile nito. Mas lalo lamang nadagdagan ang pressure na kanina lang binigay ni Mr. Torrent sa kanila. “What on earth is happening?”

Kacie would drop her jaw if she kept her mouth open, even her sister Khloe gasped out of surprise while Karter quietly processed everything inside his head. “Should I be scared?”

“Idiot, he is not a threat!” Kacie wants to calm down but her brain says no, the same thing goes with her companions.

“He's got to have pure intentions, hindi lahat ng magaling na doktor ay balak patumbahin tayo, anong gagawin nila kung nasa teritoryo natin sila?” Sambit ni Khloe.

“Well, I'll find out later.”

—----

“Loki Hamsmith? What kind of name is that?” Kouen sounded so disgusted, Rogue didn't mind his reaction and continued driving. He is currently heading to the mansion to get his stuff, he has to change his clothing style for the interview, he can't do that without the help of his best buddy.

“You got to be changing everything about you, dude.” Kouen suggested and scanned something on his computer. Rogue arrived at the place and walked straight to his room upstairs, having too many places makes him confused where he has to stay but it also gives him advantage whenever he is on a mission. “Do you have any other suggestions? How about my personality? Do I have to change my character?” Rogue asked as he walked in the hall, heading to his room.

“No need to ask about that, my list can come in handy.” Kouen continued to scroll on his computer and scanned the entire files on his drive. He has no other choice but to help his friend in need, it's for the new mission after all and Rogue needs to appear pleasing and intimidating at the same time. “You're like serving yourself to the crocodiles, but you have to look at least a more tempting dish, mas challenging kung lagi silang gutom na ipatumba ka.”

“Anong klaseng suggestion yan, Kouen? Do you want me dead?” Inis naman na pumasok si Rogue sa rom niya at saglit na nahiga sa king sized bed. “Damn, I miss my bed.”

“Why don't you try to look intimidating? You're in the midst of predators, Rogue. It's important to blend in,” It's more like advice coming from one and only Kouen Anderson. But it looks like Rogue doesn't want to consider it, or maybe he is starting to have a lazy ass just by thinking he'll be working in the Meadowview Hospital, his job is not a piece of cake. Having to work in the territory of their foes while dressed in lab gown is quite tough. He failed in medical school a lot of times because he hates studying but his experience in training would be the one to lift him in terms of working in actual situations.

"Don't underestimate me, I'm the predator and they are my prey."

"Correction, they are huge preys." Rogue groaned in annoyance and thought of something else to ease his boredom.

“I should buy another place to stay,” Rogue stated and fixed his messy hair. “Hey, Kouen. Why don't you arrange the papers for me? Umuwi kana rin, I’ll be needing you as my secretary.” Bahagya namang nagulat ang kaibigan dahil sa narinig nito, inilapag niya ang laptop at inilapit ang phone niya sa kanyang mukha.

“Are you kidding me?” Rogue simply gazed at him with his serious looks. “Teka lang, saang place mo ba gusto mag stay? I know a lot of condominiums near the workplace.”

“I want the expensive one.”

Palihim naman na napamura si Kouen dahil sa narinig nito, hanggang ngayon iniisip niya pa rin kung paano niya nakayanan mag stay kasama ang kaibigan na walang alam kundi ang gumastos. “I have billions of cash coming in my bank every month, what else am I going to do with it? Wala naman akong pamilyang pinapalamon.” Rogue tried to explain his part, hindi naman kumbinsido si Kouen. “And I'm not like you, bro. Ultimong burger nga kailangan pa kita pilitin, anong klaseng kaibigan ka?” dagdag pa nito.

“Shut up, I know how to manage my money well, unlike you. Isa pa, every week ako bumibili ng bagong labas na video games, Im buying new clothes and I'm enjoying my reward for whoever's sake.” Nais naman mag paliwanag ni Kouen ngunit tinawanan lamang siya ng kaibigan.

“Talaga ba?”

Suplado namang nagsalita si Kouen, “Stop messing up with me, tinigil ko paglalaro ko para lang tulungan ka sa plano mo.”

“You look like you're not on a mission, pinagloloko niyo ba ako? Baka mamaya nag ba-bakasyon kana pala, inamo.” Pagbibiro ni Rogue at naupo sa higaan, “Alright, I'm kinda wasting my time right now. I think I need to buy my important stuff and break a leg at the interview,” Rogue finally stood up and changed his clothes first before ending the call.

Natuwa naman si Kouen nang patayin na nito ang tawag, sa wakas at makakapag laro na naman siya ng another round bago muling asikasuhin ang mga pinapagawa ng kaibigan.

“Babi? Aren't you going to play with me?” a voice of a woman spoke and hugged him from behind, Kouen turned his back to see a daring goddess wrapped with the silky blanket. Her nordic irises are framed with dark long eyelashes, her sleepy face did not lessen the appealing beauty she has.

“Hey, baby. You're awake, how's your sleep?” Kouen greeted her with a soft kiss on her lips. The woman wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. Kouen simply swaddled her tiny waist with his arms, he let her rest in his shoulder for a while. She must've been really tired due to last night, yet Kouen doesn't seem to feel the same way. It's all part of his mission, seducing the daughter of a billionaire and making her fall for him was an easy task, a piece of cake to be exact. He is enjoying the assigned mission, he is good at playing hearts and no one knows it's one of his assets. In spite of that, he hasn't completely finished his entire mission, in fact, he is just starting.