Chapter 3 *His ruin*

Marley looked for any form of recognition from him but found none.

He didn't recognize her.

Marley had a flashback.

Flashback

“Daddy who is he?” A younger Marley asked her father gesturing to the unconscious man lying on the bed with bandage around his head and arm.

“Someone dear. I found him in the river while fishing.” Her father replied her while arranging some pills on the table.

Her father was a traditional doctor who enjoyed fishing in his leisure.

Marley adjusted her thick rimmed glasses and went over to the unconscious man on the bed.

She looked down at him.

He had cuts on his face and lips but he was handsome nonetheless. 

“I need to go get some herbs in the garden. Watch over him dear.” Her father left leaving her alone with the stranger.

Marley sat down beside the bed still admiring him.

He mumbled something shaking violently and Marley laid her hand on his quivering hand worriedly.

He calmed down after awhile and opened his eyes slowly.

Marley stared into an ocean blue eyes. The eyes roamed all over her face then across the room then back at her. It was now filled with confusion.

“Hello.” Marley greeted him awkwardly.

“Where am I? Who are you?” His voice was crooked and he tried to sit up but groaned in pain.

“I'll suggest you don't try to sit up sir. My father said he found you in the river with bruises. He has been taking care of you for the past three days and you have been unconscious since.” Marley filled him in.

“What's your name?” She asked him.

The man stared at her. “Anthonio.”

“Anthonio…..” The name rolled off her tongue and she smiled at him.

He didn't smile back but kept on looking at her before realization hit her.

“Ohh my name? Neils. My name is Neils.”

“Isn't that a man's name?” He mumbled but Marley heard him.

“It seems your head is still on track.” It was meant as a joke but Anthonio wasn't smiling.

“I see you can't take a joke. Well Neils is my middle name, I prefer it over my first name. My first name is too girly.”

“So just call me Neils okay?” At that moment her father came in with the herbs.

BACK TO THE PRESENT 

Marley swallowed the bile in her throat. 

It had been five years ago and even though she had grown older and her features more toned and matured and without any glasses to hide her grey eyes, he wasn't supposed to forget her.

About everything.

Was he pretending or had he lost his memories as the doctors said in the tabloid?

He surely shouldn't have forgotten he was the cause of her father's death, a man who was just offering help to a dying stranger.

Her chest tightened and she struggled to breath.

“Miss Neils?” 

Marley turned to see everyone's eyes on her.

Everything was already set up and Anthonio was already sitted. They were waiting for her.

She inhaled inwardly and sat down on the chair opposite him.

She needed to calm down.

She took the questionnaire slips and gave the camera crew cue to start.

“Good day viewers, we have a very special guest with us today, who plans to share a bit of his life's experiences with us.” Marley held on for an heartbeat to make the audience anticipate.

 “Anthonio Kalvey.”

She moved on with the questions, of his beginnings and motivation.

He answered eloquently.

Marley's hand tightened on the paper when she came to a certain question.

She looked at him and met his eyes.

“Hmmm, Mr Kalvey, this question has been on every netizen mind and it is about five years ago.”

She saw his lips draw into a thin line.

“What really happened? Was what the tabloids and Internet said true? It was said your car flew over the bridge and you drowned.”

Marley waited for his answer. For any clue that he remembered everything but Anthonio kept quiet, his ocean blue eyes a darker shade now.

“Mr Kalvey?”

“Didn't my secretary tell you guys that questions about the past and accidents won't be tolerated?” His voice was a deeper baritone now.

“Hmmm.” Marley gestured to the camera crew and they understood pausing the recording.

“She was shown the questionnaire and she had no problem with it.” Marley replied him.

Mrs Bling was already sweating in her pants. “I'm sorry sir, but Mr Peter said we shouldn't exempt those questions that it will be better to ease everyone's curiosity.”

Anthonio snickered. “Whose secretary are you?”

“I'm so sorry sir.”

“You are fired.” Anthonio declared and the secretary knelt down begging but Anthonio just sat there feeling unaffected.

Marley watched everything in silence observing him.

He had really changed. Alot. She felt and saw it.

His aura was cold and ruthless.

Anthonio placed a call to someone. “Pack all Mrs Bling belongings immediately. I mustn't meet it there when I come.” He ended the call and glanced over at Marley.

“Don't ask me those questions again. They are my buried past.”

Mrs Bling was still bawling and two securities came out of nowhere and dragged her out.

“Understood sir.” Marley said.

The camera crew hit the recording button and Marley asked him the remaining questions.

~~~~~~~

“Hello boss.”

“What did you find out?”

“Nothing boss. Absolutely nothing, no birth certificate, no knowledge of an high school or college. Just that she has worked in CNS for three years.”

“It's so strange boss. Marley Neils identity only exist around CNS.”

“Okay Bruno. Keep digging for more.” Anthonio ended the call.

~~~~~~~~

“He doesn't remember me or pretending not to.” Marley discreetly spoke to someone over the phone.

“I need to find out. I need to get closer to him. I need to find the culprit for my father's death.”

“I'm not thinking things. He is involved one wa

y or the other and I'm going to find out how. And if he is involved, I'm going to bring Anthonio Kalvey to his ruin.” Marley snarled.

“That I promise.”