Chapter 3

“Are you sure you won’t come with us? I have your ticket,” Kervin said while looking at Klynne.

Klynne watched the passenger in front of her who were busy doing their thing--mostly, pulling their luggages in and out of the airport.

They were supposed to have a vacation in Hong Kong, primarily for Kervin’s business. Klynne didn’t know much but it looks like her brother managed to pursue a good investor for his company.

Kervin has always shown how he wanted to be a successful businessman someday, and Klynne cannot deny the dedication of his brother. After Kervin’s startup restaurant went bankrupt, he became more persistent to reach the top that Klynne knew he could do anything for his dream. Not for himself but for her and Calvin. Afterall, they are the only family left to him.

“I can’t.” She sighed. “I have an urgent presentation for our client. ”

“I understand. Good luck. I know you’ll do well.” Kervin tapped her shoulder as if conveying that everything will be fine.

“Thanks.”

From afar, she saw Calvin eating his ice cream while holding Barry's hand, while they were making their way to them. She waved her hand to the gentlemen making them chuckle.

“Sam,” Kevin called, getting her attention.

“Hmm?” She faced him when he remained silent.

“Don’t cross paths with the Cortels again. Especially that I’m not around. They are dangerous,” Barry said with seriousness.

Klynne sighed. She told Barry what happened on the weekends. She asked him to keep it from her brother because she doesn’t want him to be worried. But Barry might have told her brother already.

She got it where his brother was coming from. Kervin told her how his startup was creating a noise in the industry, before Alvien Mirco Cortel silenced it through his connection. She didn’t know the whole story, but Klynne wished she was beside Kervin when his brother’s life became chaotic. But even Klynne herself doesn't know anything about what happened to him--and to her. She just woke up one day, and she didn't remember anything.

“Promise me, Sam,” he said when Klynne didn’t respond.

Klynne wanted to answer yes, but she could not. She will cross paths with them again. She knew because she was looking for them. The Cortels have something that was hers. And she will get it.

“Let me meet them just once.”

Kervin closed his eyes in frustration, as if he's controlling himself. “No, Samantha. You will not meet them again.”

“Wait, let me explain,” She caught the hands on Kervin and squeezed it. “You know how important my music box is, right?”

Kervin frowned at him. “I can buy you a music box in Hong Kong. How many would you want me to bring home?”

Klynne chuckled but shook her head.

“You don’t even know from whom you get that!” The tone of his voice went higher than the normal way he talked to her.

Klynne could see his frustration. Here they are again, having the same conversation they had before.

“Kervin, I will tell you again. I don’t care where, who or when I got that, but you knew exactly its effect on my system.” Klynne moved her face closer to him. “Look, I haven’t got any good sleep for two days already. And nightmares are visiting me again.” She squeezed his hands. “Let me get it and I promise, it will be the last.”

Kervin examined her. Klynne saw that Kervin was having a doubt but nevertheless, nodded.

“You will just get your toy, and you’re done with them,” he said, making Klynne hug her.

“I love you very much, Kervin.”

“I love my stubborn sister too.” He kissed her forehead before letting her go. “But I still don’t get why you can’t live without it. Get it quick.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll miss you!” Calvin yelled while running on Klynne’s spot. He instantly hugged her legs while looking up to her.

Klynne will surely miss the two of them, especially Calvin. She wakes up and sleeps with the sight of him everyday. She will probably look for the cuteness of the kid when she goes home. The three of them embraced each other.

“I’ll miss you too, baby. Let’s video call later, okay?”

He nodded enthusiastically. They settled on the seat but not for long, because the flight of Calvin and Kervin was announced shortly. After bidding goodbye, Klynne faced Barry. Their absence is now creeping to her.

“They will come back before you know it,” Barry assured her, making her smile a little.

“Thank you for staying while I’m sending them off.”

“For you.” Barry held her hand and they walked to the exit. “So, what will you do now?”

***

Klynne looked up at the magnificent building in front of her. She doesn't know anything about buildings and structures, but at least she knows what looks good and what is not. Klynne took a deep breath before walking to the entrance.

As she entered the building, a guard greeted her with a smile. Somehow, it gave her courage to do what she needed to. Although she’s nervous, she still wanted to take the chance.

She went to the front desk and saw a woman with wavy hair. She’s wearing thick make-up and her red lipstick was emphasized by her white skin.

“Good Morning!”

The woman looked at her face with a smile. She was about to greet her when the lady saw who she was.

“Good morning. How may I help you?” she answered and continued doing her task on her screen.

“Good morning,” she started. "Is Mr. Alvien Cortel here?”

The lady at the front desk took a look at Klynne from head to toe. Klynne was wearing a simple shirt, a pair of white shoes and denim pants since she just went to the building from the airport. The lady, who’s name is Margaret from her tag, raised a brow.

“Do you have an appointment?”

Klynne shook head no. “No. But I really need to talk to him even for just a few minutes.”

“I’m afraid you need to schedule an appointment first. Mr. Cortel is a busy person. He might not be interested in whatever you would like to talk about.”

Klynne stepped aback because of the way the woman was talking to her. It’s as if Margaret was belittling her even though she doesn’t know Klynne yet. As if she doesn’t have the right to talk to her boss. Where does that judgment even come from? Margaret just looked at her face and her dress, and her face became sour. She wanted to call her out but she really needs her. Maybe if she will be polite to her...

“Could you please ask him for once? I really need to talk to h--”

“Miss Uy, good morning. Where are the papers sent by the Emerald Sky Company?”

Her sentence was cut short when someone besides her talked to Margaret. Klynne and Margaret looked at the man, his phone near his ear. Margaret’s face suddenly lit up.

“Give me a minute, sir,” she said in a small and soft voice, as if she’s shy. Totally different from the tone she used to Klynne.

Klynne looked at Margaret as the woman turned around. People really have different sides to depending on the person in front of them.

Maybe, she doesn't really have the right to meet their boss. She did her assignment well and did research about Mr. Cortel. That way, she will have an idea where she could see him. Unfortunately, the CEO of Cortel Group of Companies is too private. Or maybe, she’s just stupid to think that she could find an andress of a wealthy person on the internet. What she saw was like a slam book of him. She’s not even sure if that information is real given that the page was found on a gossip site.

“Samantha?” Her thoughts came into a halt when the man beside him called her name. She faced him to know if she knew him but she couldn’t remember if they ever met.

“Um, hello!” She gave him a small smile. “I hope you won’t be offended but, have we met before?”

The face of the man in front of him was shocked by what she said. But instantly, it shows her his frown.

“Don’t you remember me?”

Klynne examined his face as she tried to remember him, but the face was new to her. “I’m sorry, but I really cannot remember you.”

That’s the truth. It’s her first time meeting him. But then, how did he know her name?

The lips of the man in front of her parted by his discovery. He didn’t know if he would believe her, or if she is good at lying. If it is the latter, the she could get an award.

He cleared his throat and decided to introduce himself again. Maybe Samantha just needs a refresher. If that’s the case, he wouldn’t know what to feel for being forgotten just because they haven’t seen each other for years.

“I’m Travis, Alvien Cortel’s secretary.”

Klynne immediately accepted his hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Travis. I'm not sure but I think you know me already. I don’t want to do this, although I really need your help.”

“Here are the documents, Sir,” Margaret interjected. She looked at Klynne pointedly, but the innocent woman didn’t notice it.

“Thanks,” Travis said and faced Klynne again. “What do you need?”

“Can you help me talk to your boss?”

Travis looked at her intently. “I don’t think he wants to talk to you.”

Klynne blinked. Is it because she’s a commoner?

“I-is that so?” She stared at her shoes. Maybe she shouldn’t look for her music box.

“But I’ll try to talk to him.”

Klynne looked up, hopefully. “Thank you!”

Travis left him with the documents in his hands. Klynne on the other hand sat at the company’s lobby, waiting for an update. While waiting, she decided to think of an idea for her presentation.

Klynne was into marketing, even though she studied Hotel and Room Management before. She hasn't graduated yet, as she still needs to take a few more courses. But due to their financial problem, she cannot come back to the university. When she entered the marketing industry, she fortunately was able to adapt immediately.

Besides that, she’s currently in the position wherein she will be promoted as a manager if she managed to have a good presentation with their VIP client. But with her nightmares chasing her again, she couldn’t think of a good proposal. Thus, she’s looking forward to getting her thing right away.

She waited, and waited. Glancing at his watch for a few times, watching the employee of the company go in and out of the building.

“Miss?”

Klynne opened her eyes and rubbed it a few times to make the scene before her clearer.

A man wearing a security guard uniform was standing in front of her. She looked around only to see the place empty besides them. Lights were dimmed. She glanced at the glass door and saw darkness outside.

Did she fall asleep? Did everyone go home already, including their boss?

“Ma’am, we’re closing, and I don’t think you are an employee here. Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I’m fine. Is Mr. Cortel still here?”

The guard shook his head. “He left after the sunset.”

Klynne’s shoulder fell. She felt that she wasted her whole day for nothing. She sighed and looked at her watch. It’s 9PM already.

“Okay, thank you. I’ll just collect my things.”

The guard left him and let her do her things. She sighed again and got her phone. The notification of several miss calls from Barry, and even video calls from Kervin.

She called a cab and answered messages on the way home. There are also messages from Barry, asking where she is. But among the messages, what caught her attention was Bary texting her he could not drive her home because he had an urgent out of town business. Barry didn’t know she went to find Mr. Cortel anyway. He won’t understand and will surely say the same thing Kervin told her.

“Miss, we're here.” Klynne snapped out of her thoughts and looked outside. They are already in front of the building where Kervin’s unit was located. Klynne fished her purse from her bag and paid the cab with a tip for the driver.

“Thank you, Miss. This is beneficial for my family,” the driver said and glanced at the side mirror. Klynne was about to go out when the driver called her.

“Can I ask if you know who’s in that car?” Klynne looked behind her and saw a black car stopping near them.

“No,” she said and shook her head. She is not knowledgeable with cars, but she surely didn’t know who’s inside that vehicle.

“It's been tailing us since we left the company I picked you up. I suggest you take extra care, Miss.”