CHAPTER 13A new girl was manning the cashier at the grocery store. Maria approached the girl and asked for Mr. Park.“He is not yet here.” The girl said with here Asian accent.“Is he still in the hospital?” Maria casually asked.Lucky that there was no customer yet at this time of the morning and the girls seems in the mood to chat. Maybe to drive away boredom.“Hell no. He never to the hospital that long.”Maria was astonished. She heard that Mr. Park was heavily injured and hospitalized.“But words got around that he was mugged the other day and heavily injured.”The girl seems lost, of what Maria was talking arched her eyebrow.“Well that was rumored but Mr. Park was never hospitalize. There were few bruises but not so serious.” The girl explained.Maria is beginning to get the picture. Everything was staged to look more serious and pinned down Samantha.“He was brought to the hospital alright for few stiches but sent home after.” The girl continued eagerly.“Is it true that huge
DETECTIVE Morgan’s hawk like face was the epitome of the bad cop in the city. But he is good of what he is doing as a cop. He can smell crime from a distant. His network made him aware of the latest activities in the underground. He has eyes and ears everywhere. He is the officer in-charge of Samantha’s case. He had handle many gory crimes such as murder, rape and even related petty misdemeanor committed in the neighborhood.He knew the area well and can pinpoint who is who among the local gang deed the score. Samantha’s case did not interest him at first but when he learned that Antonio’s gang rob the store and whack the owner, he smells money. With two families to maintain, Detective Morgan had to double time to earn more and support his mistress. His salary as a cop hardly met the needs for his first family so he has to be innovative.All the gang give their payoff share to Detective Morgan as protection. Learning that Antonio’s gang did the robbery irritated him. This is not the f
MARIA seated after closing the door as instructed by Mr. Park.“You told that bitch? What did she say?” Mr. Park excitedly ask.“She agreed. Just let her out.”Mr. Park concealed his excitement. He smirked and busied himself looking for something in his drawer.“I’ll think about it. I might change my mind.”“Please Mr. Park. Have mercy on her. You knew she is innocent.”“She is not innocent.” Mr. Park growled. “You can go now.”“Please Mr. Park. She already agreed to have sex with you as your condition for her release.”Maria’s words excite Mr. Park. It was his fantasy to bed the woman. There were times, that even he is having sex with his wife, Samantha was on his mind.“Alright. Tell that bitch that I will withdraw my complaints against her. Just be sure she will comply with the bargain.”“She will comply. Just let her out of jail.” Maria almost pleaded.When Maria left, Mr. Park seat contently as he imagined and plan ahead what he is going to do. First he will visit Samantha in jai
FERNANDO MOSLI was a burly half Italian half Pinoy former federal agent in his late fifties. He had already retired from service but because of his experience, he was still active doing some errands for wealthy business men. His expertise includes but not limited to tracking lost person, wanted criminals on extraditions and wondering wives of old but rich husband.He was based in New York but his families had already returned to their country to reunite with relatives and Fernando was left behind alone in the metropolis. He keeps himself busy with assignments that never ended. He was good and his ability supersedes his experience as investigator.He was surprised at first when Angelo Lopez called him the other day. It was quite sometimes when he last heard from the most eligible playboy he ever knew. He had served the man sometimes before and he like the man.He hurriedly drove his car to Manhattan where Angelo’s office was located. Parked his car in the basement and rode the elevator
MR. PARK take a short shower after paying the bills at the bank. He decided to return first to their apartment to tell his wife his planned alibi. His excitement grew as he thought about Samantha. This is it.“You not going home tonight?” Mrs. Park said without concealing her annoyance upon hearing Mr. Park’s alibi.“I told you. We have meeting with the associations.”The association that Mr. Park was referring was the association of Asian businessmen in New York. The alibi was half true because there is really a scheduled meeting to be held at the association president’s residence. After meetings it is always followed by drinking spray and light talks about everything that concerns with the migrant countrymen.“You have meeting before but you go home. What happened today?” Mrs. Park was beginning to doubt as she spoke.Mr. Park conceal his irritation to his wife. Just wait till I dumped you bitch, he silently thought.“I have to talk to Mr. Chu about the money I’m planning to loan. I
ATTY. RALF Villadolid, patiently wait in his car. After he dropped Samantha in her apartment he called Detective Morgan. He had one last favor from the detective. Of course it was a paid favor. He knew the drill. Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Typical rules from the underground. OMERTA or the code of silence do not usually apply in some cases. It’s the money that talks most of the time. The lawyer is perfectly aware of this and he played by their rules.His brown big eyes suddenly beam followed by a meaningful smile when he saw Detective Morgan’s car coming. Money really brings wonder in this world.The detective got off the vehicle first followed by the gang leader Antonio who seems to be following the detective afraid and against his whim. The local gang leader was wary of this sudden invitation.Atty. Ralf get off his car, a brand new Mercedes-Benz carrying his suitcase.“Hola! Antonio. We met again.” The lawyer greeted the gang leader.“Hey Ralf, what is this?” Antonio as
FREEDOM is the sweetest when you tested how to be unfree. This is what Samantha had realized upon her first step from jail. It changes all her perspective about life. Born of silver platter, Samantha have not taken life seriously but now it is different.The first thing she did was hugged her baby the whole day. She missed Baby Divine so much. Atty. Ralf Villadolid promised her to have a call after few days. Meantime he advised Samantha to take her time. Samantha could not wait to meet her benefactor which in her mind it was no other than Angelo Lopez. She felt excited.The following morning Samantha decided to look for work. She woke up early, feed Baby Divine and asked Maria to baby-sit while she was out. Maria gladly obliged.“Can I talk to you for a while.” Maria said seriously before Samantha could take another step.“Okay.” Samantha felt uneasy upon hearing Maria. She sensed trouble. “What is it Maria?”Maria retrieved a letter from her pocket and handed it to Samantha.“Mrs. Le
AS she opened the door, Franco Sevilla was on her doorstep wearing the casual smile on his face but this time more intense and shows concern. Worries painted all over his expression.“Thanks God you are here.” The man said looking at her from head to foot as if trying to figure out some difference from the last time they met. “Are you okay now?”“I’m trying to be okay Frank.” Samantha answered truthfully.Franco Sevilla was at his fifties. Samantha knew the man when she transferred in this apartment. He was a good rugged looking man with his casual t-shirt and jeans. But Samantha could sense that the man was handsome during his days.They were from the same country and during her pregnancy days Frank use to give her some herbs and healthy foods for her and the baby inside her. It was also Frank who helped her to the hospital during the delivery of her baby. The man did the routine of a husband she never had.At first Samantha keep her distant from the man. Her first impression is that
WITH so many things occupying her mind, Samantha was surprised to see Angelo Lopez in her office accompanied by her secretary Becky Sanchez.“He insisted Boss.” Becky reasoned.“That is okay, Becky. You can leave us now.”“You are very hard to find, Boss.” Angelo said mockingly. “Cannot reach your phone and the apartment was empty and no neighbor can tell where you transfer.”Samantha understood Angelo’s resentment. Because of the fast turned of events in her life, she actually forgotten about the man. Due to Franks advice she terminated her subscription with her old cell phone, instead she used burner phone. An inexpensive phone designed for temporary call. According to Frank it will be safer so that no one can track her. She forgot to inform Angelo about it.Also due to Frank’s insistence they already move to the mansion. Her mother resisted it at first but when she realized the gravity of danger to Samantha being Frank’s daughter she eventually obliged. She already realized by now t
MARISA was overwhelmed, elated and more than happy seeing her new face. She was even more beautiful now. The doctor had really done a miracle on restoring her damaged face. She cried and hugged Angelo with too much happiness.“I think this needs for a celebration.” Angelo suggested silently feeling overwhelmed too. The burden that was lurking inside him and the fear that Marisa could not make it suddenly disappear.“Ohh… honey. I am so thankful.” Marisa said with misty eyes and then turned around. “Thank you Doctor.”“Thanks the Lord ma’am. I am just his instruments.” The doctor humbly answered. “The miracle was from him.”Marisa nodded in silence. She believed the doctor. In her past reading of the holy bible she contemplated much about her past and she realizes how lucky she was. A blessing that she should share to less fortunate. She was so touched and now she had promised herself that she will do good deeds in the future.They dined happily that evening as a celebration. She now r
FRANK was thinking if he will tell Samantha everything about his secrets. When his wife and son Roberto was killed in the car explosion, he vanished for a year. He also spread rumors that Franco Ortega was also killed in the incident. His youngest daughter Beverly, orphaned at two years old was raised by his wife’s parent.When he resurrected, he became incognito and very careful. He transacted business online and made some slight changes in his appearance through plastic surgery. He became Frank Sevilla. In his absence he stayed at the hotel he inherited from his grandfather. That was the time he met Divina Montes and Samantha was born.He looked at Samantha and contemplate whether it is her time to inherit the organization. He sensed that she had the quality of a good leader. In her few months as Chief Executive Officer of the company, Samantha showed prowess in decision making. Decision making makes or breaks a leader. Poor decision went astray while good decision made it through.
The Boss lead Samantha to a sitting room after they eat. It was a huge room with no windows but well lighted. There was a steel framed working table and a sofa. Aside from collection of antiques, the room was almost bare. No pictures or paintings hanged. Only a brown painted wall with high ceiling.The Boss took a bottle of wine and pour it into two wine glass and handed Samantha the other one which she eagerly took. She badly needed a drink after the incident of gun fire and surprises that had happened. Her adrenaline was still up and she wanted to eased a bit.“I know you are surprised seeing me here.” The Boss said after he emptied his glass. “I think we have to be introduced properly. I am Franco Ortega. But to you and your mother I am Frank Sevilla. I am sorry that I did not introduce you myself earlier. I have reasons.”“So you knew that I am your daughter all along?” Samantha said sounding like a statement of annoyance.“Yes. Since you were born. I was in the hospital when you
AS they speed away going to the office’s direction, Constantine eyes was wary and wandering. He was looking at every direction of the road. The bodyguard seated at the front also do the same. Samantha was sitting at the back and trying to relax but she could not. She sensed something was up to. The way Constantine and the other bodyguard was acting made her nervous. She touched the gun on her bag and adjusted her bullet proof vest.Samantha was thinking about her daughter and was almost tempted to make an order to turn around and go back. Constantine had fill her in about how dangerous Marisa Madrid’s family. An old mafia family that made things done by violence and guns. She glanced back and saw the other car following them. It was part of the three car convoy. Their car was in between and the first car leading them was speeding constantly.As they are about to cross the bridge, there was an explosion in front of them. The first convoy was almost hit and then there was another explos
Marisa Madrid was sleeping in her hospital bed. Angelo was staring at the woman who was fully bandaged on the face with broken nose and gunshot wounds on the right cheek. The wound was not fatal because it exited the soft skin of the jaw but the doctor said that it will need longer therapy to restore both the skin and the broken jaw.Marisa also suffered fractured bones and limbs. Other than that she was already out of danger and the good thing is that the baby was not affected. Angelo got a mixed emotion about what happened. He learned that Marisa provoked the fight but he could not imagine that Samantha was now capable to break somebody’s limb. What happened to the sweet soft woman that he used to loved? It seems that something had turned out within the woman that made her a killer.Marisa moved and open her eyes. She was wary at first but when she saw Angelo sitting beside her bed she started to mumble incoherent words. The bandage and the wounds made her difficult to talk.“P-Plea
ONE morning Constantine her driver/body guard handed her a bullet proof vest before they left the apartment.“It’s a vest. Like mine. Please wear it.” Constantine slowly said while helping Samantha unwrapped the black jacket like vest.“You are scaring me Constantine. Why am I supposed to wear a vest like this?” She said, starting to feeling nervous.“Protection Boss.”“Oww. Another threat I guess.” Samantha said to lighten the mood and then added a joke. “Or maybe we are going to a raid or something.”Constantine help Samantha with the vest and asked after. “Is your gun with you?”“Yeah of course.” She said touching her bag.She remembered Brenda’s word. “Don’t let yourself a willing target. Always carry your gun with you wherever you go. Consider it your best friend that you cannot live without.”“Let’s go then.” Constantine said and started the car.AS the car drove to the office direction, Samantha could not help but think. She never dreamed of a life like this. What she wanted wa
Divina was silent during breakfast and Samantha decided to respect that silence too. She was light headed that morning because of lack of sleep. As she watched her mother silently, Samantha was almost tempted to ask her who was her real father again but she had a second thought because Divina had answered that already and firmed in her conviction that Arnald was her father. Samantha had a second thought about it and she knew that asking will bring her nowhere. Now she realized how distant was Arnald to her and her mother in her growing days. She never remembered that the man had spent longer hour for her even during special occasions like Christmas and birthdays. She outgrown the thought that maybe Arnald was just a busy man.After high school she was sent to America to study college. It was Arnald’s idea and her mother could not say no but cry.Well maybe her mother was still expecting a second chance between them and Arnald like she was silently hoping for the second chance between
Divina remembered that when she confronted Arnald about the blind item, her husband did not confirm nor denied. She was so hurt and devastated. She loved her husband but she reached her limits. Like a scorned woman seeking for vengeance her first impulse was to self-distract. She began to socialized with old friends to forget but the pain always remained.She started drinking heavily and going out every night with old friends. Rich and adventurous friends who eventually taught her to gamble in the casino. Gamblers always had its beginners luck but it doesn’t last that long. House always wins and Divina had already been addicted to it. She lost heavily. She had almost dried her own savings, pawned all her jewelries but could not have the nerve to tell Arnald and ask for more money.The Pharmaceutical Company was now converted into a corporation from single proprietorship. As corporation it has a separate entity from the owner’s and she could not withdraw money without asking permission