Chapter 3 DROWNED IN CONFUSION

Zadkiel finally released out his breath which he hadn’t even known he was holding until the door was thunderously slammed shut. But Micha’s words kept on echoing on his mind, making him felt rather uneasy. Something was bothering him and he didn’t want to pay attention to any of it!

“Are you really a man?”

Micha’s voice seemed like she was mocking him for not being faltered by her seduction. Even a little! What’s going on? Was he an abnormal person? He shook his head, refusing to believe in what was the woman was saying! Nonsense! She was just saying nonsensical words!

No way! He is a man and he was going to have his blind date later. He was sure of that!

“You’ve gotta message!” His message tone brought him back to his senses in present. It was his personalized message alert tone. Childish as it seemed but he love it because it was his brother’s childish voice.

The message clearly stated...

AMC Hotel at 7:00 sharp.

His lips curved up into a slight grin. A clear indication that he was going to do something unforgettable later. He must have been buried in the office works for a long time that he forgot to enjoy and mingle with the others. He took a peek at his leather watch and noticed that it’s almost time to end the office hours.

He arranged his scattered articles and locked it to his unique vault. He then stood up from his seat and took his brusque steps towards his private lounge.

He roamed his eyes around looking for something. His tv remote control. He was always watching some news about business finances and sometimes it was interrupted by entertainment shows or worst gossips about some business tycoons and superstars. Their juicy life was always circulating in every part of their town. He was annoyed with some irrelevant gossips like that!

“News flash! The CEO of the AMC Group was spotted on one of his hotel establishments with someone lying in his arms...” it was a certain female reporter that again trying to spread some nonsensical gossips around the city.

A picture of a handsome man appeared on the screen while holding someone in his arms. It seems to be a woman at first, but it was perfectly hidden by his strong-looking arms.

Zadkiel starred at the enlarged picture on his television screen. ‘He’s indeed good looking and sexy...’ his subconscious complimented but soon he comprehended everything that was running on his psyche. He shook his head violently to extricate himself into thinking about it.

Why was he thought of that? But the man gave rise to him in a different way. What’s going on? His mind was in a pit of his confusion. How come that the man ignited something inside him? What was it?

‘Damn! Why am I feeling like I'm going to have sudden headaches because of this?’ he palmed his face with both hands and allow it to rest for a few minutes.

Just then...

“Time to go!”

It was his personal alarm tone telling him that it was about time to go and meet his blind date. As he thought of it, he felt like he was congested. Something within him surfaced and he didn’t know why. He was trying to identify this new emotion that he discovered. Was it refusal? His answer was ‘no!’ What was it then? He couldn’t figure it out!

‘Forget it! I’ll just kept on trying and enjoy the night!’ He thought inwardly as he rose from his seat and went directly into his bathroom to freshen up.

Few moments later...

Zadkiel gazed at his image on the mirror. His newly trimmed hair looks perfectly good on him. His thick eyebrows, high-bridge nose, deep blue orbs, thin sexy lips, and firm jawlines was all in accord to his excellent genes he had gotten from his father.

“Goodbye Mr. Mortel sir..!” The stationed guard lobby on his shift bid his automatic farewell of the day to his boss who was now walking out from his personal elevator.

Zadkiel give out a slight nod of his head in acknowledgment as he took his brusque steps towards his personal parking lot.

He rummaged his trousers pocket for his car keys and took it out then pressed it’s unlock button. He opened his aston martin’s door, ascended and drove off towards his specific location.

On his way to the AMC hotel, a towering billboard caught his attention. The image belongs to the CEO of the AMC Group with his wife. A harmonious and genuine smile was imprented on their faces. It had a caption on the side that stated in bold letters, ‘HAPPILY MARRIED!’

Zadkiel’s face darkened while starring at the photo, ‘he was happily married but he had someone lying on his arms this afternoon!’ He laughed sarcastically, this man was really good at whoring around! But a sting of pain appeared on his heart.

What was that for? ‘Must be for his wife!’ He comforted himself as he was getting closer on his designated location.

A few minutes later, he finally arrived at the AMC hotel’s entrance.

A hotel valet was waving his hand, waiting for him to come closer.

“Good evening sir...” the man clad in his blue and white uniform greeted him with utmost respect.

Zadkiel stepped onto his brakes when he reached on the curve, opened his car door, descended from his aston Martin and threw the car keys to the car parking attendant. He then turned around without uttering any words  to the man which made the latter confused.

“Good evening sir, any reservations..?” The female hotel receptionist greeted him warmly, wearing her friendly yet attractive smile.

“Reservations under the name of Zadkiel Mortel.” He responded indifferently as he feasted his deep blue eyes around.

“Oh, hold on a moment please...” the female receptionist stated as she looked carefully into her computer monitor to find his reservation.

Zadkiel squinted his eyes sharply as he spotted someone from the corners of his eyes. The scene was so annoying and it made his blood boiling.

“Sir, there is a table reservation for two but it was under the name of Axton Mortel...” the receptionist lowered her voice and bit her lips after she spoke.

“That was still me...” he replied coldy.

“Oh, I’m sorry sir but... but can I have a look of any of your Identification cards?” The receptionist stammered nervously as she glanced at his handsome features. The guy looked so cold and it made her shiver on her spot.

“Are you telling me that I stole someone’s identity?” Zadkiel clenched his fists as she questioned the receptionist.

“No! No, sir.. it’s not like that... i-it’s a part of our p-policy sir...” the receptionist trembled in fear as his guest’s voice roared.

Just then...

“What’s going on here..?” A man’s magnetic voice butted in from behind.

Zadkiel clenched his fist even tighter. He was so angry for some unknown reason and he couldn’t understand why. He tilted his head and took a side glance above his shoulder. There he was, the man that strangely made him furious.

Arkael Mitchel Casimiro!

“Talk to your receptionist Mr. Casimiro. She was doubting my identity.” Zadkiel stated coldly, he was trying himself not to burst in front of the annoying man.

“Excuse me sir, please don’t get us wrong. It was a part of our establishment’s rules to ask for some valid identification cards for some security reasons...” Arkael took the opportunity to explain their rules for reservations. He wasn’t really aware of whom he was talking to.

Zadkiel was fuming but still he kept his composure intact. He took out his wallet, retrieved his ID card and dropped it off to the receptionist’s desk.

The receptionist’s eyes widened like saucers in shock as she starred at the card which was thrown directly on her table.

‘Zadkiel Axton Mortel the CEO of MORTEL Group’ her face turned deathly pale as she uttered his name in her mind. She was speechless!

Arkael on the other hand took a good peek at the golden ID card on the table. Upon reading the stranger’s name his lips made a slight curve. A strange feeling rose in his heart.

“You’re Mr. Mortel of The MORTEL Group...” he stated indifferently as he glance at him. Something was stirring inside him.

“I am, so can I go now for my reservation?” Zadkiel whom was fuming, starred daggers at the man who was responsible for stirring up his anger.

“Uh-uhm, the sixth floor Mr. Mortel...” the receptionist muttered softly as she lowered her head, looking embarrassed.

The fuming man picked up his golden ID card, slid it on his shirt’s pocket and turned around without saying anything, leaving the two persons on their own privacy.

“Wait!” Arkael shouted out as he ran after Zadkiel. He was the dignified CEO of the AMC Group but he was running his heels off just to catch up with his fellow CEO.

Zadkiel paused on his tracks, tilted his head in defiance and starred at the man with annoyance and confusion. “What now?” He asked him coldly.

“Hey, don’t get me wrong. I just want to take the lead towards your reservation...” Arkael stated nonchalantly as he stood in Zadkiel’s front, breathing heavily.

“I’m not a child! And I don’t need your help!” Zadkiel replied coldly and proceeded to take his steps towards the elevator. His heart was drumming violently against his chest and it made his mood gloomy. Why the hell was his heart beating so fast when this annoying man came to him closer?

“Come on man, aren’t we both men? Why are you acting like a hostile bitch?” Arkael joked to lighten each other’s mood. “Follow me...” he added and headed towards his personal elevator. He pressed the button for an entrance but when he glanced at his back, he couldn’t find the person anymore.

He shook his head in dismay. ‘That man was a total stranger. Why are you paying so much attention to him? He’s even more arrogant than you!’ His inner self shouted on his mind.

*********

Zadkiel was leaning on the wall at the small corner. He was hiding himself hard as he couldn’t really define what he was feeling at the moment. How come this unknown feelings resurfaced upon meeting that annoying man in person? His head throbs as he thought of it.

Not good! Not a good idea even! He is a man, he was sure of that! Did he just missed his childhood brother? Heaviness was filled on his heart as he thought of his past.