Chapter 03

"Oh my god! You're still alive! It's been said that when the grass is really bad, death doesn't pick it up!"

I winced at Zari's greeting. As soon as I entered the condo, her eyes were wide, obviously from crying, because her arrow eyes got even narrower. The tip of her nose is also red; she looks like a tomato brunette.

"You're wishing me to be dead?" I tried to act so serious.

I saw how she was stunned for a moment with a  gasp.

"Are you stupid? Are you saying that? I'm crying for you, because there might be no more demons in my life. Do you know how worried I was about you when I saw the news on television?! God, I almost flew to you, but I stopped by Isaih! That damn policeman—I almost hit him so hard because of his sudden appearance!"

My mouth was wide open when I heard that.

"You're almost going to me?"

She nodded. "I'm driving, crying." She then poked me with her teary, cute eyes. "I was close to your office, and I was about to go down when suddenly someone knocked on my window. When I saw who it was, I suddenly felt at peace because maybe he was holding you, but then when I got down, he said it's all mine. I almost ran you inside when he stopped me."

"Then you should be thankful," I said with full emotion.

"I want to help you—"

"When I'm in that case, you don't need to help me, Zari. You're staying away so you don't get hurt."

She faked a laugh. She obviously couldn't believe what I said. "You're my bestfriend. Do you think I can do that? I'm a real one, Amira. I can gamble my life for you." She's so dead serious about it.

I let out a small, deep breath before smiling at her. I know where she's coming. I know why she's emotional and wants to help me there, but I wouldn't bear it if she got hurt.

"There's nothing going to happen to me, Zari. I have my sister. You know who's at my back, you don't have to feel worry about me." I assured her.

She grimaced, and her eyes seemed mischievous. She was obviously holding back tears, but she was her own trainer.

"I'm here now, Zari. Don't cry because if you do, I'll tell your parents to take you from me."

Four o'clock would be fast if Zari could wipe her tears and turn her back on me. She went straight to her room without saying a word, and someone broke her door.

I just shook my head and went straight to my room. I immediately threw myself on the bed and closed my eyes.

The speed of events. It's very fast. I wasn't even given a few days to prepare my brain for this. Pablo will be a big thorn for me. But I have a lot of trust in Kuya Morgan. They were behind me, and somehow I didn't feel any tremors. I'm not new to people who get angry like him; I've kicked people out several times who hit me on the head and stabbed me in the back. Some of them ended up falling because of my strong fight against them. I'm just doing the right thing. And if I have to be in trouble again, I will accept it.

"Come here to the house tomorrow. My husband will pick you up so you can get here safely. Pack some of your things; you'll be here with us at least for a week."

I bit my lip at Ate Fayra's words. From her tone, it seems that I have no right to refuse her. But what about Zari? I can't leave Zari alone here; I'm not used to not seeing her every time I go home.

That girl didn't even ask me to eat dinner. She was really alone when she was eating. She's mad at me; I can tell.

"Ate Fayra, I can handle myself. My place is safe. I'm my body guards. Kuya Morgan is also watching over me. I'll just stay here." I answered her.

I heard her report it to Kuya Mateo over and over again; it seemed that she was crying because of my answer. I didn't do anything but make the other line and smile at Kuya Mateo's comforting his dramatic wife.

"Babe, it's her decision. You should accept it. And Amira knows what she's doing, okay? How many times has she been put in that situation? She's used to it, isn't she, Amira?" Kuya Mateo will ride with what I want to happen.

I grinned.

"Yes, Kuya Mateo. I'm very used to it."

"We're not going to let her go, Babe. We're going around her. Just like before, you know what I mean, Babe."

"But it's different today, Mateo. That Pablo—you and I checked his background! He's not just any person. What he did to Mira yesterday, that's not even half of what he could do!"

"Don't cry, Babe. God, let me handle this. Go to our room. Wait for me there."

"No! Argh, you're stupid Mateo! Instead of helping me convince Mira to come here with us first, you really turn the other way!" Ate Fayra said to her husband. I seem to know where their conversation will go. "And you, Mira, whether you like it or not, you'll come back to me. Take Zari with you if you want. As long as you're here with me, the conversation is over!"

I slightly removed my phone from my ear. Ate Fayra is very angry; I really have no choice but to live with her first. I will just take Zari with me; after all, she is very welcome in their house.

Before I could turn off the line, I heard them arguing again. I just shook my head and tried to intervene.

"Go home to me, Mira. Tomorrow I should see you here. And you, Mateo, don't stay with me tonight; find another wife for yourself!"

"W-What the— Mira, I'll pick you up tomorrow. Pack now, you understand? Have mercy on me; don't fight back; I'll be the one who'll be angry with your Sister."

I don't answer Kuya Mateo anymore. I turned off the line and felt my senses. It seems that Kuya Mateo can't really save me from his own wife, because he seems to be very scared of this too.

What an understanding husband!

I am currently reviewing all the emails that Francine sent me. She will not be able to enter for almost a month starting tomorrow because it seems that what happened has had a strong impact on her. I will visit her tomorrow as well. My conscience can't bear the thought that someone else will suffer because of my own decision.

I also don't want to look for someone else to replace Francine because I don't have confidence and can't easily trust another one. It's hard to trust now unless Zari agrees to temporarily be my underling.

Zari despises office work because it reminds her of bad childhood memories. She said that involving herself in this area would cost her her sanity. She will lose everything, mostly her time, for her kid.

Yes, Zari already has a child. But until I know, I'm the only one who knows it. She doesn't want it to be public since her dad and mom are public figures; she can't take a risk at all, especially since she doesn't know who's the father of her daughter.

And the most unbelievable thing if someone finds out... She literally made her daughter stay at the orphanage where I came from.

From time to time, she's checking her, and I know

that Sister Arlet will take good care of Zari's daughter. One day, I know these things in Zari's life will come to a happy end.

I was back in consciousness when I got a notification from my phone. When I clicked it, it led me to my I*******m account, and my brows immediately raised when I saw Giovanni's account following me. Again.

What is perfect about one? Why does he have to follow me?

Instead of paying attention, I just turned off my phone and paid attention to more important things. I need to read and organize all the emails here before Friday; otherwise, I will have a hard time with the upcoming schedule.

Even if there is a disturbance, I still don't have to neglect my work because I already know the next move of the one who wants to hit me. In this scene, this is where they will act. And I'm not going to let them get the whole company that's still standing.

I want a compilation of good praise, nothing else but that.

"Everything is stable, Mira. None of them were hurt too much; the last employee Pablo was shot, he suffered a minor fracture; fortunately, the company's medical team was somehow quick, so no one took a life. And in the case of Francine, she's suffering from acute trauma. The doctor said her recovery will be faster, especially since her family is supporting her; for now, we have to fix everything, starting with your staff and the board of directors, which is under your rule."

I nodded to Kuya Mateo as he explained things to me. Lately, I've been taking care to get up early just to visit my staff. I greeted them, and I was somehow afraid that I might hear hurtful words, even though I had prepared myself. But there are none. Most of them are blamed on Pablo.

My desire to fight that defeated person only grew stronger; after all, he doesn't know how to fight fair.

"Isn't there an update on that animal yet? His stench is all over the country. It's impossible not to have a lead even in its shadow," I said sarcastically.

"That's not the point, Mira. Even though everything has been made public, it's still different when you have power. Even if someone sees him, he won't be silent to report it because their lives will be at stake. He's a criminal; no one will try to fight back against someone like him."

"How about Enriquez? He still doesn't want to talk?"

"Isaih has already taken him from us. They will go straight to Taguig and continue the investigation there. If they don't really squeeze anything from that man, he will go to my hide-out. I will investigate in any way just so I can squeeze something and give it to you." My brother-in-law is serious.

"Why not now?"

He looked at me. He grimaced before ruffling my hair, which annoyed me. Here we go again; he's treating me like a child! It's annoying. I'm talking to him seriously, huh?

"Philippines law before my law, Mira. Legal before being illegal. That's one of my wife's rules," he shrugged. "Come on, speaking of your sister, she's been waiting for you for a while now."

Kuya Mateo was guiding me out of the hospital when we were stopped by the sudden ringing of his phone. It was left, and the caller was shown to me. We both sighed and sat down on an empty hospital bench. He talked for a while before handing his phone to me.

"I'll get the car; after you talk, follow me. Don't worry, my men are watching you," he said before leaving me.

I put the phone close to my ear and immediately closed my eyes.

It's dad.

"We're flying over Amira. And we will talk together with your mom. God, this won't happen again. We can't lose you again!"