Chapter 2: The Price!

When Dr. Calvo exited the ward, Miguel at the moment has studied the woman who almost faltered before him. The woman who has pale yellow hair, with a mole on the right check underneath her immense eyeglasses and darkish bushy eyebrows, but a height like that of any beauties in a pageant slowly approached him.

Andrea alleviates her eyeglasses and with her huge braces, she timidly greeted him. She felt awkward and nervous as Miguel gives her cold shoulders. From Andrea’s back, Trina appeared swiftly and merrily said, “Helloooo! Can you recognize her? She’s Andrea, the one who saved you… And, I’m Trina by the way, her friend.”

On his comfortable spot, Miguel scrutinized the ladies back and forth and asked, “Do you have food? I’m hungry.”

Trina and Andrea’s jaw almost fell on the floor. They stared at each other and shared the same thoughts; what a weirdo! He asked first for a food instead of asking who they are or what happened. Of course, Miguel would ask for a food because it was so late at night, yet he didn’t have his dinner while Andrea and Trina have already eaten when he was still unconscious.

“Ah! Andre, I’ll buy his meal.” Trina offered.

When Miguel hears the closing sound of the door. He instantly focuses his attention to Andrea and asks distantly, “So, you’re the one who brought me here?”

Andrea was undoubtedly shock by his question. She abruptly kneels in front of him and said, “I am really sorry. Please don’t sue me. I didn’t mean to drive speedily that time and interfere in your way. I didn’t even know that I’m in the wrong side of the road. I just want to go home immediately that I drove faster.”

Miguel is momentarily surprise to realize that the woman in front of him was thinking she’s the reason why he had a car accident. She has no idea that the accident was not merely her fault, but someone has the guts of plotting something so he could be killed. With this realization, Miguel smirked as his lips move upward and he negotiates, “Okay I won’t sue you, but there’s a price for this. Are you up to the price?”

“Ha? But, I don’t have money.” Andrea replied awkwardly.

“It’s not about the money.” Miguel reprimanded.

Andrea sensed something from his inkling statements so she immediately hugged herself as she rebuked, “No! My body is priceless. FYI, it’s not for sale Mister!”

Miguel raised his brow as he swiftly scanned her from head to down. He smirked and replied, “Pfft! I’m not interested with nerds. I just want you to allow me to stay in your place just for few days and you take good care of me until I recover. In short, be my caregiver.”

Andrea fell silent from what she heard. She raised her brow because she didn’t expect that kind of candid answer.

“Is this the price of embarrassing myself for wrongly accusing him? pfft... yeah, I almost forgot! Who would be interested with my appearance?” She thought.

“I’ll take that YES as an answer.” Miguel said coldly upon noticing Andrea’s silent reaction.

“And since you said that you don't have money, then don’t worry because I’m going to pay you.” In a gloomy tone, he added.

Andrea slowly gets up while biting her lower lip like she wants to say something.

“Yes? Is there something else you want to say?” Miguel urged her.

Andrea replied in between her hesitation, “But… I-I d-don’t know you.”

Miguel stared her with a piercing kind of look before he lazily answered, “You can call me Miguel!”

“But –" she paused when she saw his intimidating gaze. “…That’s not what I mean.” Andrea wanted to say but the words are stuck on her throat. The way he looks at her made her uneasy - making her heart to race erratically. In between her uneasiness, Andrea breathlessly remarked, “But If you will be paying for a caregiver, then you should get a professional one. Those who has an experience –”

“Why would I? Are they the reason why I was confined here?” Miguel interrupted to whatever she’s going to say.

Andrea’s jaw clenched. She lowered down her head as she accepts defeat.

“Yeah, right! I’m the reason of his accident. So, I should take care of him. It’s the price of my carelessness. I should accept it, after all, he’s going to pay me. Most importantly, he’s not going to sue me.” She thought quietly.

“I’ll talk Dr. Calvo first. Let’s talk our set-up when I come back.” Andrea said gloomily. She was about to leave when she remembers something. She went straight to the couch and groped something on her sling bag and immediately found a phone there. She then gives it to Miguel as she said, “I think this is yours. The man who help me carried you here gave me this. I didn’t get his name because he disappeared. Uhm! maybe you have a family? And you want to call and inform them?”

Miguel grabbed the phone on her hand. He’s certain that the person Andrea talks about was his cousin, Marcus Jackson Villaren.

“Tsk! Such manners! He didn’t even know how to say thank you!" Andrea mumbled as she turned her back at him.

With his brow creased, Miguel asked, “Hey! Are you saying something?”

“Ha? Ah! I said, Gwapo ka sana, bingi at masungit nga lang." She responded in a different language that she's sure he didn't understand.

"What?" He asked, creasing his eyebrows.

"Nothing. I'm just talking to myself if what are the things that Dr. Calvo wants to talk about.” Andrea lied sheepishly. Literally hiding her laughter.

"Go and check it for yourself." Miguel replied emotionlessly.

Andrea nodded as she quickly walk outside the ward. She actually felt guilty for her white lie.

When Miguel was left all alone, he studied himself briefly. He saw himself wearing a patient’s gown. Probably, he drenched his clothes in the heavy rains! He recalls what had happened and remembered that he was driving and was at the phone with his cousin when the accident occurred. They talked about their family gathering when he noticed that something was wrong with his car’s lever. He told his cousin about the situation he was into and give him his exact location before he dropped the call so he could focus on driving. Fortunately, it was raining heavily that he chose to drive slowly. He tried not to panic even the rain pours heavily. As he drives along and turned to the Lake Avenue, he was flabbergasted to see a woman on a motorcycle going towards his direction. He horns the lady but then aware that it couldn’t help any longer as the woman stopped at the middle of the road. He glimpsed a tree at the other side so he chose to bump the car there. He was still in a conscious state when he saw the scared lady trying to pull him, but completely lose his consciousness when he saw the approaching figure of his cousin. Fortunately, his cousin is heading the same direction as him. As he remembered the last thing that happened, without second thought, Miguel practically rang his cousin’s number.

“Marcus, where are you?” Miguel immediately asked as soon as the line is connected.

Miguel can guess that Marcus stops from driving while he hears him say, “You’re awake now? Thanks goodness! You scared the hell out of me Dude –

“Did you check the car?” Miguel interrupts him.

“Tsk. Tsk. You mind first your car instead of your safety? You’re really something man!” Marcus scolds as he added, “But yeah! I have checked your car Miguel and I was about to call the cops when you suddenly called.”

“I didn’t mind buying a new car Marcus. I just ask about it to know if what did you notice? How’s your investigation?”

Marcus gulps as he retorted, “The brake in your car was really tampered Miguel and I think what you’ve said to me before your accident makes sense. But, we need to be sure and collect a solid evidence.”

Hearing his statement, Miguel froze, and his expression became dark as he responded, “I want you to do something for me Marcus.”

Marcus listened as Miguel narrated his request and plans.

“What? You’re taking a leave from the company? But how about the company’s 50^th annual celebration? That would be two weeks from now Dude. Oh! Come ‘on Miguel, are you giving up the CEO position and plan to give it to your eldest brother? You knew exactly that your dad will pass his position to you at that moment.” Marcus berated after hearing one of Miguel’s plans.

“Of course, I would be the CEO. Grandpa will not allow anyone to replace dad other than me. You know that!” Miguel strongly affirmed. He paused for a while as he demanded further, “Just trust me with this Marcus. I just need your help for this because you’re one of the persons that I trusted the most. I promise that I’ll come back on or before the company’s 50^th annual celebration. Will you trust me and follow my lead?”

With a heavy sigh, Marcus concedes as he replied, “Do I have a choice?” He paused but he added worriedly, “But how about grandfather and Adam? I’m sure they would be agitated if the news about you will come out.”

“Don’t worry about grandpa, I believed that he would not easily get shaken to whatever news he’ll receive about me. As for Adam, don’t be bothered because I will personally call him.” Miguel replied.

“I guess you’ve decided already, and I can’t stop you any longer. So, I’ll just do my part and do what you have requested. If you need anything, you know where to contact me.” Marcus remarked, accepting his cousin’s plan.

“Thank you, Marcus.” Miguel said gratefully as he bid goodbye.

After calling Marcus, Miguel dialed his younger brother’s number. He doesn’t want to make his own brother felt anxious because if there’s another important person that he protected also the most, it was his younger brother, Adam Mikael Jackson.

When the call ended, Miguel’s head started to ache. He closes his eyes as he tried to sink in the situation he was into. He, who holds the second-highest-ranking executive in the Jackson Corporation, a leading company in real-estate business was conspired to be murdered. 2 weeks later, he will be replacing his dad, Simon Jackson as the next CEO of their family’s enormous corporation in Brixton City. He knew that it has something to do with this why someone wants him dead. He has someone in his mind if who’s behind this conspiracy, but he has no evidence yet to prove his claims.

Miguel's fists formed into a ball as he yelled silently, “I swear to the Heavens and Earth that I’ll unmask you very soon!”