Manuel took his mom to the room where she was now resting. He came down the stairs and met his best friend Richard making calls. His face was no longer as pale as before.
He was very better seeing that his mom had become calm. For a woman who wasn’t suffering physically, she was suffering emotionally and it pained Manu even more. How will she survive when he dies?
He looked at Richard and smiled. His best friend was always there with him and maybe Richard will be there for her! No! Richard will be there for her. He will be the Manu in her life.
Richard loved Leera like his own mom and Manuel knew that there was no better person to entrust his family in, except his best friend Richard. That was another reason why he kept Richard busy as his assistant because once he died, Richard will be the one to take over and take care of his mother. If he had a choice, he would have decided against it but that was his fate.
He was going to die of a chronic disease, but he knew not when. He had no idea of when he was going to die, but he knew he was close to death. His health had been deteriorating and that’s why he visited the doctor most often. The drugs he was taking were to cover up the wounds… or at least pretend to cover up the wounds… but he knew one day, they were going to burst all open and he will die.
“Richard! Prepare a small car. We will be going to the club tonight.” Manuel told Richard who had just gotten off the call and turned scared that he almost dropped his phone to the ground. Richard always got scared when someone spoke to him unexpectedly, sometimes he will be teased by Manuel who will call him a scared woman.
“Hope you got it, scared lady.” Manu told him and he shook his head.
“Well Sir, I just got off with the investors and they said they wanted to meet with you today. So I organized a meeting at the club for you.” Richard smiled while Manuel frowned.
Manuel only wanted a time of fun and besides, it was weekend, a Friday evening. It was for him to enjoy and not go over the paper works from office.
Manuel was so angry but he couldn’t turn down his friend’s decision. It’s not like he actually had a choice because Richard had already agreed to meet with them there. Shocking again, the investors wanted to offer Manuel and his P.A, a treat. In the business market, things work in favor of the upper hand mostly. At times, the company you might run is a small one that you will need bigger companies to invest in them. However, your company will be so big that investors will be pleading to invest in your company.
First of all, Han Empire was more of a secured company, with all their benefits very much huge. The workers there received pays that were twice the company that seconded in paying their workers. So they were the highest paying enterprise in the whole wide world and yet were very selective of the criteria to recruit in their organization. If you are lucky to have been accepted by them, you need to work hard because the least mistake you do will earn you a sack letter.
Manuel and Richard were very strict whenever it came to work, despite the chain of companies they ran. They controlled everything the various MDs will send as report and investigated privately to know if the reports were valid. That said, Manuel ruled the Han Empire very well, even as the heir, before he ever became the owner of Han Empire.
Yes, he was going to become the CEO, the overall boss in two months time, on his 23rd Birthday.
“So we are good for the evening.” Richard made to leave when he turned and looked at Manuel.
“And I don’t know if it is ok by you, I just called my mom and asked if she could come here most often and she agreed. I just wanted her to be keeping Ma’am Leera company in your absence.” Richard said and Manuel smiled. It was so thoughtful of his friend to think like that.
“I just did that because it is kind of becoming a natural thing for her so… but I could call back my mom and tell her not to.” He added and Manu laughed.
“Forget it bro. I’m glad you decided to do something like that for her sake. Thanks so much.” Manu told Richard in all honesty. Richard was happy that his boss was also happy.
All he wanted was nothing but the good of the family that took care of him till where he is. He wanted to repay them but this family has everything they ever need, so all he could do was to repay them with his loyalty. He’d sworn loyalty to this family and vowed to do everything possible for the good of this wonderful family.
“Sir you should consider resting. I will arrange your favorite club and then by 7 we should be heading for the place. The investors said they would like us to chose a place that will be convenient for us to hold the meeting.”
‘Richard doesn’t really have good taste, well he does a little and I know he won’t go for something that will recommend but a slap from me. Right though, I need rest, a man of my health status, deserves all the rest in the world.’
“Manuel I noticed something.” Richard added.
“Ok what is that?” Manu asked him.
“You are growing paler and your eyes are no longer bright as they used to be. Like you are no longer having the bright emerald green eyes you used to have. What is going on, Manuel? Is there something you are not telling me?” He asked and Manuel just stood still. How was he going to answer his question now?
“Manuel!” Richard called again and Manuel just kept the very same dull emotionless expression.
“Just the internal hemorrhage that caused it. I’m taking some iron rich drugs and also some vitamins. It should get to normal sooner enough.” He lied and then smiled.
“That said, I really need to rest.” He told Richard and ran upstairs to his room. It was definitely not the time to tell Richard about his poor health. When the time came, he will tell Richard everything and tell his mom everything as well. For now, he need not to be reminded that he is sick. He just had to enjoy the short period of time he had alive.
Annabel Wen, I didn’t raise you to be such a rascal.” Ann’s mom scolded her. Lea mistakenly spoke about the fact that everyone left the mall but Ann hid under dresses. “Mom!” Ann cried as her mom kept pulling her ears. She was feeling pains but hehe, she was definitely going to punish Lea for spilling the beans. Lea knew fully well that she was in for trouble as Ann was being pulled by the ear. “Mom, it’s not just me. Lea was in the mall with me when all these happened. She didn’t even tell me that everyone was walking out of the mall.” 'Oh boy I’m dead.’ Lea made a mental note and before she knew it, Ann’s mom used her other hand to pull Lea’s ears. Lea started to cry like Ann as the mother kept pulling their ears. “You stubborn kids, we raised you better, Margaret and I and here you are, being stubborn and foolish. Did it even occur to you that there were security cameras around and they co
Time passed by quickly and it was 6 pm already. Ann was dressed in a sky blue trumpet, halter-neck gown. It went slightly below her hips, straight, and then flared down to her ankle. Instead of heels, she wore flats and tied her hair in two pigtails. She looked…“Horrible! You look horrible Annie.” Lea groaned angrily. Ann’s two pigtails made her look like a kid and the shoes… well the shoes were manageable. Lea on the other hand was putting on a purple body-hugging gown that barely crossed her knees and matched it with black heels that had purple stripes on them. She had bought the dress using Brent’s card and although she cried that she spent his money, she was happy that the dress enhanced her beauty. She didn’t tie the hair but rather left it loose but wavy, with a pin on the left. Her makeup wasn’t much since she didn’t want so much attention.“You look beautiful, Lea. Brent
Manual wore a black tuxedo with a blue bow tie, that made him look like a Prince from some enchanting kingdom. At that moment, life worries didn’t make sense to him anymore, he smiled as he looked at himself on the mirror. “I would have dyed this hair blue to match the outfit.” He mumbled as his hands ran through the soft purplish hair. “Wow, my baby boy looks dashing today. Are you going out with Ginny today. She said it’s been long since you last took her out on a date.” Manuel sighed as his mother kept ranting about the one person he didn’t want to discuss about. His mom liked Ginny, his high school classmate that clung on him like glue for over 5 years. Ginny and Manuel met in high school . She was a transferred student to his school and he must admit, she was even more gutsier than the girl he met at the mall. Ginny on the very first day she saw him, approached him, telling him she liked him. ***
“One more shot!”“One more shot!”“One more shot!”Ann and Lea, accompanied by a group of people who were at the party, cheering on Brent who was in a drinking competition against a certain guy they just met there at the party. Brent drank and drank till he could drink no more, then his opponent drank one last glass making him the winner by a glass.The crowd immediately dispersed after they cheered for the winning champion.“That wasn’t bad, dude. We should do this some other time.” The man that defeated him chuckled but Brent shrugged. There wasn’t going to be any next time, maybe if he returns to the country as a hopeless futureless man. Besides, he planned on returning to the country and making Ann his wife, immediately.Some guys came and stood beside the girls, admiring their bodies, especially Lea’s body, because of how her gown highl
Ann nodded comprehensively and drank from the very glass of beer of Brent. It slightly burnt her throat and she gulped down the rest quite difficulty. The after taste in her mouth was sour and very much different from the sweet drink she was drinking couple of minutes ago.“Jeez. My drink suddenly tastes different.” She complained, studying the drink again. This time, her vision was getting blurry and she couldn’t see the content of what she had just drunk clearly.“Annie! Why did you have to drink that?”“W-what?”“That’s Brent's beer and you know very well that you have a very low alcohol tolerance.”“You talk a-about l-low a-alcohol t-tolerance w-when I-I h-have n-never d-drunk a-alcohol b-before.” Ann stuttered as she struggled to keep her eyes that were closing, open. She had mistakenly drunk from Brent's glass and now she was su
••• Kenny and his men took unconscious Ann to a hidden place, behind the club. The joy he had knew no bounds because he was about to do something to Ann that he will enjoy for the rest of his life. Ann was a beauty and not just any kind but a fresh and untouched beauty. He licked his lips as he kept her unconscious body on the ground. Just the sight of her in her full clothing made him rock hard that he imagined the monster that will take over him once he took off her clothes. “Boss, hope we all will taste this fresh meal.” One of his men asked him and he groaned. The stupid fool just interrupted his perverted thoughts. “No!” He answered huskily. “But don’t worry. Once I’m done, you all will have turns on her.” He chuckled before continuing. “That is if you don’t use your noise to get me upset.” Kenny seemed to be a dark man. With the way 3 big men kept quiet once Kenny s
12. Kidnapper!*Lea after making the call, returned to the ladies restroom only to discover that Ann wasn’t around. She looked in all the toilets but dodn’t see her friend anywhere around.“Ann! Annie! Bel! Bella!” She called all the pet names she had for Ann but heard nothing.“Annabel Wen, If you are pulling a trick In me, know that I don’t like it.” But she heard nothing.She decided to look outside, maybe Ann had gone back to the dance floor since she had delayed on the call. She started to blame herself if anything happened to Ann.Annabel was under her care but because a stupid call came into her phone, she had to leave Ann in the restroom. Actually, it was Brent that called so she could explain to the guards at the entrance that Brent was with her.She thought she was going to meet some cute Asian guys but instead got disa
~~~~~The next morning, Ann woke up feeling lightheaded but a little better, and a little dizzy even after the long hours of sleep. She looked at herself and she was still in her dress which sent off a repulsive scent that almost sent her flying out of it.She quickly held her nose, preventing herself from breathing. But what was she doing in this room? Whose room was it? What happened to her? Who brought her there? Questions kept crossing her mind about numerous topics.Then she opened her eyes in shock as everything came back to her mind as a patient that just recovered from a temporal amnesia.Everything that happened from the time she went to the party until when she met the strange men in the female's restroom and they held her. She blacked out after that time and only woke up on this bed, and in Lea’s room.Tears began clouding her mind as she looked