The dinner was good and they decided to cast away the thought of Don Leonardo and his daughter. The three of them tried to be casual and enjoy the foods and wine. But Samantha’s mind was full of anticipation about the safety of Carlo and Angelo. She loved her brother and she truly care for him. If it was true that he is now stepping in a thin line with the Mafioso, it will be dangerous.She also feared for Angelo’s life. When she watched the movie God Father, she learned that Mafioso are ruthless and they kill everyone who cross against them or their interest. She was not sure if this is happening in real life. She never knew a Mafioso or met one. Unless she will believe the rumors that Norberto was a Mafioso. Norberto doesn’t look like a ruthless man after all.She also feared for her life. Marisa Madrid’s threat was now sinking in but not seeing Angelo was one thing. The man was the father of her daughter and she secretly enjoyed seeing him like now.“So, what will you do?” Samantha
Life was so volatile. It changes every time we made choices. What we are today is the product of our previous choices consciously or otherwise.Angelo was dazzled by the many thoughts that flashed in his mind. The news of Carlo’s death was a sudden realization that his plans for vengeance against his father does not includes morbid and horrible death. He wanted to hurt Arnald Lopez but now he realized that he had gone so far. First he hurt Samantha, the woman he loved but it does not affect Arnald. Now he wondered how will Arnald react to the sudden demise of his favorite son.Carlo’s death was all over the news. He saw Samantha on television crying for his brother’s death. Angelo felt a sudden frisson of alarm when Samantha was interviewed by a TV reporter and was aired on the national broadcast.“I am sure that my brother’s death was planned by someone. He was murdered by business competitors.” Samantha said crying.“Do you have any idea who did this to your brother?”“He got death
MOURNERS came. The remains of Carlo Dimagiba was viewed at the known Funeral Chapel in the metropolis. He was transported back home along with Angelo and Samantha. Marisa was insistent to join them but Angelo was firm in his decision not to bring along Marisa Madrid. He knew that it will be chaos if the two women will be together. He knew that Samantha still suspected Marisa’s family that has to do with the demise of her brother.She still has that lingering thoughts that Carlo was murdered not only for money but for the bigger reason. And she still believed that the two afro were connected to the Mafia.All the mothers of Arnald Lopez siblings came one at a time. Except Divina Montes who opted to stay with Samantha’s daughter. Samantha yield to her mother’s request to stay because of two reasons. First, Divina was not very fit to travel because of her ailment. Second she needed someone to look after Baby Divine and the nanny.First to come of course was Antonette Madrigal. Carlo’s mo
The hallucination of truth is dangerous but uncovering it is more lethal. Samantha arrived at the airport light headed. Jetlag came into her. The long hour travel crossing different time zone was really tasking physically and mentally. She felt so tired, took a taxi and headed directly to her apartment.Carlo’s demise and burial still came into her nerve. Her half-brother’s death brings out many changes in their lives specially to Arnald. Her father was no longer the same man she knew. Arnald seems to regress from the world and beginning to escape from reality. The death of his favorite son devastated him that much.As she embarked in front of her apartment building she felt excited to see Baby Divine again. It was almost two weeks since she was gone.She hurriedly took the elevator to her apartment. She was about to knock but the door was unlocked. She pushed it and she was surprised of what she saw.Frank was there talking to her mother and she saw that her mother was happily talkin
It was dark at first and then there was sparkling light coming from a very far distance. It grew bigger and bigger. Samantha tried to figure out where she was. It was as if she fell down to a deepest pit of darkness. As the light grew bigger she heard whispers of people talking incoherent words.And then the light almost blinded her as she opened her eyes. She was in a room, all white and medical equipment were all over her. Her memory came rushing. She remembered now. She was run down by a motorcycle.She tried to move but her body ached specially her stomach. A uniformed nurse came to her smiling.“Hello ma’am. I’m glad you are awake now. But please restrain from moving. Your stitches might open up.”“Stitches?” She was wondering and her hand run down her stomach. It has heavy bandage on it. “But I was just run down by a motorcycle. What happened to my stomach?”“You have stub wound. Probably a knife as we thought. That is why you lost a lot of blood and you are lucky that no vital p
ATTORNEY RALF VILLADOLID was quite surprised receiving a call from a familiar number. It’s the Boss that he never met but a very generous one. Atty. Ralf was on vacation on his villa at the outskirt of the metropolis. His villa was huge enough to be different from a mediocre line of villas at the lower part of the hills.This villa was the fruit of his labor working with the underground Bosses. His connection supersedes his name. He had all the clientele on high places mostly corrupt politicians trying to buy out their freedom from corruptions they made. Swindlers who had corrupted millions from innocent businessmen. All crooked prominent people all over the continent became his client. And they paid him generously. That is why he had that kind of money to spend with his simple luxury. Lamborghinis and Ferraris are lined up on his garage. The million dollar’s yacht and this villa are the fruits of his ingenuity and genius mind that can turn truth upside down and freed even the guiltie
After few more weeks, Samantha was already fit to return to work. She advised Norberto over the phone.“That is good to know.” Norberto’s answer was nonchalant.The following morning Samantha was surprised when she received an early call from Norberto. She was already dressed up for the day’s work and anticipating heavy traffic again.“The Boss sent somebody to pick you up. He wanted to ensure your safety this time. There are men with you.”“What do you mean. Sort of bodyguards?” Samantha asked uncertain.“Yes. They were professionals.”“Really? Why would the Boss send me body guards?”“The Boss doesn’t want to take chances this time.”Samantha could not believe that the Boss was really concerned about her. She never met the man and refused to meet her. Who was the Boss really? Why this mysterious man was helping her? He bailed her from jail before and gave her a job?She was still deep in thought when Angelo arrived.“Why are you here?” she asked. “Today was not the end of month.”Th
THE first movie they produced was really a blockbuster. On the first day it already earned a gross income that almost covers the entire production cost. It was shown not only in the US but all over the world.It fascinated Samantha that Mafia stories about crimes, vengeance and deceit is sellable. The movie was not actually an action pack kind of movie. It has blood alright but the story carried an emotion. The pacing was fast but contextual. It was about an immigrant boy who came from a very poor country ruled by a dictator actually. The dictator killed everyone who opposed his reign. Unrest grow, uprising started and many took their arms and went to the mountains in hiding but from time to time they strike to get even with their misery. The boy’s family was slaughtered on his sight. The boy lived and thru the help of a distant relative, he was smuggled secretly and managed to migrate to the US.He started to work to feed himself but as he is working the local boys in the area bullie
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