Chapter 9: Marry Me

As the sun came out and outran the entire city, a crowd of people gathered in the streets when they heard a loud crash in the road. They rushed to check it out and found a collapsed school bus. The people began to cry for help when they saw the poor students inside bathing in their own blood. Murmurs invade the surrounding area due to the sudden accident. Marami ring kotseng nabangga sa gilid at nalaman na sugatan ang mga nasa loob nito.

“Call the ambulance right now!”

“Shit, bilisan niyo. Maraming mga sugatan sa loob!”

“Ano ba talagang nangyari?”

“Nawalan raw ng preno e, marami rin ang nadamay.”

The grumble became louder even more when the ambulance and police arrived. They assisted the victims and figured out half of the students inside the bus were wiped out and found dead. The officers investigated what happened, and sent the victims to the nearby hospital. A loud cry gave in when the parents of the children came and saw the situation, the ambulance siren alarmed the city as they handed over the injured victims to the medical clinic.

“Sir, paparating na po ang mga ambulance. Marami pong sugatan at namatay, need po natin ng assistance.” The nurse department quickly called the other health workers to assist the victims, when the ambulance arrived, they brought the stretchers and delivered the injured children to the emergency room.

“Ang lalim ng mga sugat nila,” sambit ng isang nurse.

“Marami ang kailangan mag undergo ng surgery, sir.”

“Call the surgeons now!”

Meadowview Hospital became occupied due to the emergency that suddenly occurred. Everyone of them rushed their feet to attend to the patients, the medics hurriedly prepared themselves and began the operation. However, one of the victims is the owner of the Oasis Sauna, one of the most popular places to visit and relax. The board members fixed the patient’s profiles and prioritized the important person, Kamila Olivarez smirked after checking out one of the VIP’s profiles. The woman who stood in front of the CEO gazed at her with worry, her restless looks and her rapid breathing could be recognized inside the quiet room.

“Why does your boss want him dead?” Kamila asked and looked at the woman in her eyes, she could sense that the secretary was nervous. The way she stood in front of her and stuttered makes any sense, the woman is requesting something that needs to be done privately. Her boss told her to settle a deathbed for Mr Tanaka, the Sauna owner who is now in a critical condition.

“He is a hustler, he frauds our company and takes half of our properties.”

Napangiti naman ang matandang babae at muling tinignan ang profile ng pasyente, “I see, will your properties restored if you kill him?” Nang dahil sa tanong niya ay natahimik ang babae, matagal rin siyang hindi maka-imik. Bahagyang tumawa ng mahina si Mrs Kamila Olivarez at sinenyasan ang kleyente na maupo muna.

“We’ll do your request, Miss Flores.” The CEO handed a contract and smiled even more, “Sign the contract and make sure to attend what is printed in there.” The secretary gulped and scanned the paper, she read everything that was stamped on it.

“If you agree with my terms and conditions, sign it with your signature and shut your mouth about our deal, Miss Flores.” Her voice was shaky and soft, it's contrary to the aura and presence she is giving off to the person in front of her.

The woman signed the contract, and she could feel her hands shaking in nervousness. “Well done, Miss Flores.” Kamila kept the contract and informed her secretary to call for doctor Torrent to handle the situation.

“Make sure to down half of your payment, and send my regards to your boss.”

Miss Flores left her office and left the old woman with a grin on her face. Alam naman niyang imposibleng mabawi agad ang properties ng kleyente, the problem won't be solve by killing the other party. However, Kamila concluded that they want revenge for making them suffer. Two more clients approached her and requested for euthanasia due to some personal reasons. The CEO seems glad to know that they are earning weekly for the same job, for her it is business, it didn't just benefit their company but it also helped the other clients get rid of their burdens.

It took them 5 hours to undergo the operation, the workers seem to collapse due to the low back pain and sore feet they have that is caused by standing for too long. Torrent feels the stiffness in his neck and shoulder, he went out of the operation room and encountered Keilah on the way. The woman simply nodded her head at him while catching her breathing, she drank from her water bottle and walked past his direction. Torrent seemed dismayed by her reaction but for Keilah, it was normal for her to greet that way.

Her expression shifted when she met Tempest on the hall, their eyes met and the doctor’s glares are as cold as ice. The murder attempt that happened last night flashes in her head and it seems that her blood is about to boil on its highest. She still proceeded to walk past the woman’s direction and gritted her teeth in annoyance, Keilah always wanted to investigate further of the threat she has been receiving for years. And she often had the feeling that she knew who was behind them all.

“What’s with that face?” Keilah paused and glared at the man who stood on her side while sipping on his straw, on his hand was a frappe and his messy hair made him look like he just woke up. In fact, he just got out of the operation room as well and went to the head office to inform them that he has done his part for today. “Did the operation go well?” he asked again.

“Thankfully, the patient is now in a good condition.” Keilah gazed at the drink on the man’s grip and asked, “Where did you buy that?” Rogue grinned at her while still biting the straw of his drink.

“I ordered it online and had to deliver it here, it took 5 minutes to arrive.”

“I think I’ll be needing one,” she walked past him and decided to go to her office to have some snacks. Her feet feel sore and she thought it’s probably swelling already. “Oh god, I need a rest.”

Keilah still hopes that the patients will recover fast, especially the injured children. The nurses delivered the patients to their respective rooms and their parents and family soon arrived to check on them. “Miss Keilah? Here’s your order po.” Finally, her mood lightened the moment her food was delivered.

“Thank you.”

She stayed in her office for an hour and refreshed herself, she couldn't stop thinking of the other victims that did not survive. It still breaks her heart whenever she sees a lifeless body, and there are times where she’s out of strength to face the family of the dead. She would blame herself whenever she fails to provide recovery for her patients.

“Miss Keilah? The CEO calls for a meeting, she needs you there as soon as possible po.”

Keilah snapped in her senses when her secretary knocked her door and came in, “Sige,” she then stood up and went her way to the conference hall. Maybe the old woman wants to praise them for doing a great job in assisting and attending the patients' medication.

While walking on her way there, she encountered the other nurses from station 3 while carrying out a stretcher. May katawan na nakahiga dito at nakatakip ang puting kumot sa buong katawan nito, doon na naman niya napagtanto na baka isa iyon sa mga namatay na biktima sa aksidente at hindi na naagapan pa. Patuloy lamang siyang naglakad hanggang sa nakarating na siya sa harap ng boardroom, ngunit bahagya siyang tumigil nang marinig niya ang isang pamilyar na boses ng lalaki.

“I did as I was told, I need to get her trust so I could take her down.”

“Oo naman, all I have to do is pretend that I’m on their side. It’s not an easy job for a fish to dwell in the crocodile's lake. Yup, I better call you later, we’ll be having a meeting. Will update you tonight.”

Keilah seems stunned by what she heard. She stands there at his back while looking at him with confusion, and as Rogue puts back his phone in his pocket, he lets out a wide grin before turning his back to see who is behind. He was not surprised, he knows she has been standing there while listening to the call. “Whatever you hear, keep it to yourself.”

“What are you planning to do?” she asked with a stuttered voice and stepped back. Obviously, she couldn't process in her mind the thing she heard from him. “I heard you, are you planning to ruin our company?” her eyes were shaking out of anxiety, she tried to get away from the place but Rogue grabbed her arm and cornered her in the wall.

“Just play along,” mas lalo lamang nanglaki ang mga mata ng dalaga nang lumapit ito sa kanya bago hinila ang braso niya para pumasok na sa loob.

Sabay na napatingin sa direksyon nila ang mga kasamahan sa loob nang makita ang dalawa. Nakahawak pa rin si Rogue sa kamay ni Keilah kung kaya ay nanlilisik na na pasulyap sa kanila ang binata na si Torrent. Tila hindi nito nagustuhan ang nakita dahil biglang nag iba ang timpla ng mukha nito.

Biglang hinawi ng dalaga ang kamay ni Rogue at naglakad papunta sa pwesto nila, ngunit maging si Kamila ay napansin ang hindi mapakali ang mukha ng apo. “Are we all complete now?” isa-isa niyang tinignan ang bawat isa at bahagyang ngumiti na tila ba nagagalak siyang makita ang mga miyembro niya.

“As what happened earlier, marami ang itinakbo sa ospital dahil sa malaking aksidente na nangyari kanina.” The CEO paused for a moment and looked at the two gentlemen on the left side, and smiled at the young woman who looked back at her with an emotionless expression.

“I’d like to inform everyone that you did a great job in your work, especially Miss Canosa,Mr Perez and Mr Hamsmith.” The Olivarez siblings clapped for their success, the board applauded with gladness while Keilah seemed puzzled of what was happening. Tempest smirks and clapped along, Torrent did the same and was forced to compose himself. He seems frustrated and disappointed at the same time because of what he saw earlier. Rogue on the other hand threw glances at Keilah’s direction,and saw that she couldn't still get over it.

“Three of our clients signed a contract with us and I am proud that we successfully attended their requests,” the old woman stated and Keilah snapped.

“What do you mean?” her question made everybody look at her spot.

“Here she goes again,” Kacie commented and shrugged off.

“I’m sorry, please don't mind her.” Khloe faked a cough and let go of a sheepish smile at them.

“Will you not interrupt the meeting, Keil?” Karter, who was sitting beside his older sister, whispered to her.

Keilah seems uneasy as she sits in with the people whom she thinks are murderers. Natapos ang meeting at hindi pa rin mag proseso sa isipan niya ang mga nalalaman, naglakad siya muli pabalik sa office niya upang iligpit ang mga gamit. She needs to unwind herself, however, before she could enter into the office, she saw Rogue walking toward her way and probably going to the elevator.

“Sir,” she called and the man looked on her way. Keilah bit her lower lip and waited for Rogue to come closer, “Will you come and have dinner with me tonight?” She tried to sound straightforward but her eyes are shaky and it is impossible for her to look straight in his eyes.

Rogue seems surprised, he thought she would hate him right after eavesdropping on their conversation with Kouen about the progress of their plans. “Pardon?”

“Have dinner with me tonight, kung ayaw mong pumunta, sasabihin ko kay Mrs Kamila ang mga narinig ko.”

Rogue smirks at her when he realizes that Keilah is trying to threaten him. “Where would you like to go tonight?” he asked. Napansin naman niyang hindi mapakali ang dalaga at panay iwas ito ng tingin sa kanya, kanina niya pa ito napapansin na parang may bumabagabag sa isip nito.

“Meet me at the Gochew Grills, I’ll be there at exactly seven o'clock.”

The two agreed on and Rogue has no choice but to grab the chance, he is after the marriage for him to do his job successfully and he cannot waste anymore time. When night came, Keilah arrived first and waited for her escort. Rogue came and was 5 minutes late, they ordered their meals and encountered an awkward meeting.

Rogue simply looked at the woman in front of him, his curiosity made him agree to have dinner with her. He knows that it can be a pretty good chance to steal more information from her family, he thought befriending his prey could give him easy access to propose sooner.

“Would you like to have a glass of wine?” he asked and Keilah breathed heavily.

“Alam ko na maraming tao ang gusto ipatumba ang pamilya namin lalo na ang business namin, dahil maging ako ay hindi ko gusto ang paraan ng pamamalakad nila.” Keilah suddenly opened up which made Rogue pay attention. Ngunit maging siya ay nalilito kung bakit bigla lamang itong mag salita.

“Sino ang nag utos sayo at ano ang binabalak mo?” her question was so direct that Rogue couldn't respond, he simply let go of a grin and poured a glass of wine to their wine glass.

“You don't need to find out, Miss Olivarez.”

The woman’s brows met as she listened to him, “I’m minding my own business, if you dislike your own family, you can always find ways to bring them down. Don't meddle with my plans nor compete with me. I’m bringing their heads and I won't let anyone block my way.” His voice is full of authority and that made her shut her mouth for a while.

Keilah wants to have a deal with him, at times like this, she wants to protect herself. She could not understand why she approached him, she has to cling on to her life to stay alive and using anyone can be her choice. Silence envelops the atmosphere until Keilah has the course to speak again. "I want you to marry me," she breathes out. “File a marriage with me,” she asserted which made Rogue surprised, yet he soon let a grin escape from his lips which made her feel affronted.

“That’s so not you,” he uttered and drank his wine.

“I won’t meddle with your plans against my family. Tutulungan kita kung tutulungan mo rin ako,” she asserted and Rogue is quite amazed because of her sudden approach.

He wasn't expecting her to hate her family that much. “Pardon?”

Walang bahid ng pagbibiro sa kanyang mukha, makikita sa mga mata niya na desidido siyang kalabanin ang sariling pamilya at ilayo ang sarili niya sa gulo.

“Marry me, file a contract marriage with me. It’ll benefit us both.”

Rogue smirks at her, “Alright, you say so, Miss Keilah.” he accepted her offer with a wide grin on his face, he knows he doesn't have to work hard for her, the woman herself was the one to approach him first and he kinda likes the idea about it.

"Your wish is my command, but please don't dare to fall for me." He cracked a joke and drank from his wine again.

Keilah simply let go of a sigh, ‘I need to do this for myself, I know that my life is in danger in the hands of my own family. At least I have Loki to protect me, gusto sya ni mamita at alam ko na titigil na rin silang ipagkasundo ako kay Torrent.’ isip niya at bumuntong hininga.