Chapter 2

"SIR, HERE'S the report regarding the issue of that trading company that collaborated with us last month." His secretary started off.

Hero didn't immediately look up from the documents scattered across his desk. He was busy thinking of ways to deal with the issues that had been plaguing the company.

But despite the stacks of reports waiting for his attention, his expression remained calm and unreadable.

His secretary stood across from him with a tablet on hand.

"They have past records of bribery and embezzlement with the companies they collaborated with before."

"Why wasn't this flagged during the initial screening?" Hero asked coldly. "This information should've surfaced before the partnership was approved."

The secretary lowered her head.

"The background check was only conducted after the issue arose, sir. The file was approved before it reached our department."

Hero sighed and finally lifted his eyes from the document he was reviewing. His head was starting to throb in pain from all these issues. Napabuntong-hininga nalang siya.

"How much evidence do we have?"

The secretary straightened her back.

"Enough to terminate the partnership immediately, sir."

Silence filled the office.

Hero tapped his pen against the desk as he considered the situation.

"Then terminate it." He said with finality in his voice.

"But sir—"

"Remind me again of how this kind of people entered our company." He stared intently at his secretary this time. "How did this pass compliance?"

The secretary lowered her head again.

"The initial report submitted by the Compliance Department showed no irregularities, sir."

Hero's jaw tightened.

"And nobody thought of verifying it?"

Silence.

"A partnership worth millions was approved based on a single report?"

Napayuko nalang ang kanyang sekretarya, takot salubongin ang mga mabibigat na titig niya.

"S-Sorry sir..." nauutal na sagot nito.

Hero smirked. "Will your sorry recover all the money we lost?" Kalmado ngunit malamig niyang tugon.

Hero sighed and rested his back against the chair. He pinched the bridge of his nose before releasing a long breath. Hindi pwedeng ituon niya ang galit niya sa kanyang sekretarya. He can't just point fingers at anyone.

"Forget it." Mahinahon ngunit matigas niyang saad. "Who approved this partnership?"

The secretary hesitated before showing him her tablet.

"Vice President Ramirez approved the deal, sir. The file was marked low-risk before it reached your office." Paninimula nito. "The background check report submitted to us was clean, sir." She showed him all the documents and presentation and he didn't find anything unusual to it.

"Ramirez... hmm." He never received a report regarding this partnership, inaprobahan na pala kaagad. 

"I want a complete investigation. Dig into both the trading company and Ramirez. I want to know if this was negligence or something else."

Hero's eyes lingered on the name written across the report. Ramirez had been with the company for years. Longer than him.

He skimmed through the report again, his expression darkening with every page. "I am expecting that report to be on my desk within three days. Understood?"

The secretary lowered her head before answering in a stuttered voice. "Y-Yes, sir."

Hero nodded and dismissed her.

Hinilot niya ang sentido niya at isa-isang tiningnan ang mga reports na nasa harapan niya.

"Tuazon Trading Corp..." He lets out a humorless laugh. "fuck! I've lost a billion because of you."

He threw the report onto the desk and leaned back in his chair.

"Dad would've seen this coming from a mile away." Thinking of his dad, he immediately straigtened his back. "Shit, Dad will kill me if I won't resolve this one."

He dropped his head onto the desk, his forehead hitting the cold glass of his desk. Binalewala niya ang sakit habang paulit-ulit na binabangga ang noo niya sa desk.

"I have to cover up the losses." He groaned and dragged both hands down his face. "But where the hell am I supposed to get a billion?"

While he was busy thinking of where will he get a billion to cover up the losses, his phone suddenly rang.

Wala sana siyang plano sagutin nang makita niya ang pangalan ni Ramses ay kaagad siyang napatuwid ng upo. He cleared his throat and answered the phone.

"What?" He asked casually, hiding all the frustrations.

"Anong what? It should be how are you, my friend." Sagot nito na nagpabuntong-hininga sa kanya.

"Ramses, I'm a busy person so spare me with your dad jokes."

Ramses on the other line laughed. "Anyways, its been almost five months since we last seen each other. And that was when you nearly killed—"

"What do you want?" Putol niya sa iba pang sasabihin nito.

"Remember the girl you hit while driving five months ago?"

Hero's jaw tightened. Ramses won't let him have a peace of mind of a moment. Dinadagdagan pa nito ang problema niya.

"What about her?"

Ramses shook his head on the other line. "she's alive."

Hero rolled his eyes. "I know she's alive. You would've called me a lot sooner if she wasn't."

"She's okay now."

"And so?"

Ramses exhaled heavily. "You didn't even bother visiting her or asking how she was."

Hero leaned back against his chair and stared at the ceiling.

"Ramses, I paid for her treatment. From the hospital til her rehabilitation period. I made sure she received the best care possible. Ano pa bang gusto mong gawin ko?"

"Maybe basic human decency?"

Hero scoffed. "Don't start it. I know she's doing well, and I know you two are living in the same roof, kaya ikaw nalang gumawa ng basic human decency na yan."

"No, you don't start it. Five months, Hero, you didnt bother asking me how she was. Do you really not care how she lost many months because of you?"

Silence fell.

Hero rubbed his face with one hand.

"I've been busy," sagot niya dito.

Ramses laughed sarcastically on the other line. "Busy losing a billion?"

Hero immediately sat upright.

"How the hell did you know? Are you spying on me?"

Ramses shrugged his shoulders. "I have my ears everywhere, Florin. You want my help? Besides, a billion pesos is not easy to hide, especially from your father."

Hero groaned and leaned back against his chair.

"In return?" He asked, knowing every favor and help he asked will have an exchange at the end of the day.

"Hmm," Ramses hummed thoughtfully. "what about you come here and meet her."

He froze.

"What?"

"The woman."

"No. Its better that way."

"You didn't even let me finish."

"Hindi na kailangan."

He won't.

Iniisip niya lang naman kung anong mararamdaman ng babae kapag nalaman nito na siya ang nakasagasa dito. That he was the reason she lost nearly half a year of her life? He can't bare to face her.

His guilt was already heavy enough. Seeing her in person would only make it worse.

Sapat na sa kanya ang malamang okay ito at nakakalakad na. That's what's important to him.

"Five months, Hero. The least you can do is look the woman you nearly killed in the eye."

Hero rubbed his temple.

"Come on, Ramses. Put yourself in her shoes. What would you feel if you met the one who put you into a miserable state?" He let out a humorless chuckle. "She won't be happy to see me. Worst case? She'll sue me." He explained his reason.

"Hindi naman natin sasabihin ang totoo ah, I just want you to meet her."

"And what do you think I'll feel if I saw the woman I nearly killed because of my recklessness?" He shot back. "If I look at her, I'll just remember what happened."

A brief silence followed.

"Hero, listen. Vivian is a kind hearted woman. Promise, I'll help you deal with your billion-peso problem."

Hero let out a loud breath. "Why now?"

"Cause I'll be on a business trip for a month, maybe longer. I need someone to look on her."

Nagsalubong ang magkabila niyang kilay sa sinabi nito. "So you want me to babysit her?"

Ramses chuckled. "If you want to put that way, sure? Just a month or so, I'm worried. I don't want her to be alone."

Hero sighed in frustration while thinking everything thoroughly. Ramses will definitely help him, he know that he's a man with word.

The problem is that he's not ready to face that woman. The accident happened so fast that he barely remembered her face. What he remembered clearly was the blood on the road.

But the billion loss will haunt him forever if it cannot be resolve immediately. Worst is that the boards will know and so is his father.

Hero clicked his tongue.

The board was already asking questions. His father would eventually notice the discrepancy. And if anyone could help him buy time while the investigation continued, it was Ramses.

He let out another long sigh.

"One month."

Ramses grinned on the other line. "One month."

"Okay, deal. And after that, you're taking responsibility again."Hero closed his eyes.

"Deal." Ramses said with a victorious laugh echoed from the other end. "I'll send you the address."