CHAPTER 5
ARNALD Lopez huge office was located at the penthouse of Lopez Enterprise at the thirty fifth floor. The building was situated at the center of Makati business district. Arnald business operations was housed and consolidated in this building. This serve as his fortress of his business empire that almost occupied a small pie of every industry. He practically owned shares in every leading industry.Angelo looked around as they and Samantha stepped out of the elevator. He was quietly impressed by the office interior which was almost parallel to many other offices abroad.Not for long, I will crash your empire, Arnald Lopez.Arnald greeted his daughter and Angelo, pleasantly but less warm. He talked to Angelo for a while.“So you are into import business?”“Yes sir import and export.”“Maybe we can have a drink sometimes. Maybe we can discuss business.” “That would be great sir. How about tonight at my yacht.”Arnald shake Angelo’s hand firmly and the later poster meaningful smile. Welcome to my game Arnald Lopez.Samantha go directly to her purpose. As to her surprise, her father signed a check and give it to her without any words. Very opposite to her previous encounter with her father that takes a lot of foul words before getting the check and sometimes, none.“Express my regards, to your mom.” Arnald finally said when Samantha vade goodbye.“I will Dad. Thank you.” Samantha said as she kissed her father on the cheek.Soon I could be a very good actress.AS they rode the elevator Samantha could not help but smile to herself. She knew now how to play with her father.“Your father seems to be a nice guy.” Angelo break the silence.“Really?” Samantha smirked. “Don’t be blinded with his sweet talks.”“What do you mean?”“He is not a nice guy. He is only nice if he wanted to. If he can gain something.”As he drove, Angelo begin to realize that Samantha despise her father. A good sign. He can make her his ally.“Can I meet your Mother now. It seems that she is a wonderful woman. “
Samantha’s eyes beam in excitement as she heard Angelo.“Wow that would be great. Mom will be happy to meet you. She is always asking for you.”Of all her suitors she considered Angelo as very special and she talk to her mother about the guy in their lighter moments. She even told her mother that she is really longing that the man will court her eventually and soon become her husband in the future.In an impulse, Samantha kiss Angelo in the cheek.Angelo stare at Samantha. The childish in her always touches his heart. There is something in Samantha’s beauty. It is the innocence of a child that always shows when she smiles. Again, he tried to control himself not to show any emotions. It troubled him that Samantha is already getting into him no matter how he tried to wave his growing feeling for the girl.It is not right. We are brother and sister.Angelo gritted his teeth to drive the thought away.Divina Montes warmly welcome Angelo. She already heard a lot about the man thru her daughter. Samantha are all but praises for Angelo, and Divina agreed. In person, she eventually liked the man. Her daughter was right. Good looks and oozing charm of Angelo can drive any woman to his arms. Not to mention the social standing and the wealth. It would be better if her daughter will marry the man.“I’m glad you came. I always told Samantha to invite you.”“Thank you, ma’am. I’m glad we met.” Angelo said and kiss Divina on the cheek.Angelo take a back. He smelled the foul breath of the woman. A stink of wine. He silently watched the woman as he seated in the sofa. He looked around the huge living room. The interior was already old. No wonder. The building was already two decades. And he remembered the woman he saw from the past. Divina aged a lot. But he can still vividly remember the woman who drive them away with his mother more than twenty years ago.Divina had already lost her royalty looks that Angelo remembered when he was seven years old. The lines in her forehead was already prevalent. Eye bugs and sagging chin were dominant. The woman seated in front of him now was opposite to the woman that summoned the security guard to drive then away twenty years ago.I don’t want to see those beggars in my building. Understood? Take them away.The guards hauled them away without compassion despite his mother’s protest. Marisa’s weak limb has no match with the strength of the guard as he remembered.Poor mother. You never experienced the luxury of life. But the time comes. Everybody will pay as I promised you.Angelo gritted his teeth. Trying to control his emotions. He was already tempted to show the woman who he really is. Tell her that he was the boy trying to see his father but mercilessly driven away.
“Care for a drink?” Divina ask Angelo.“Mom it’s too early.” Samantha came to a rescue with a tray of coffee for Angelo and juice for her mother. “I will prepare lunch for us so you better entertain Angelo while I’m cooking.”Divina was in a good mood while talking to Angelo. Meeting the man is good enough to light her day. Angelo was a good catch for her daughter. The check she got is a bonus. She is now excited to go to casino later.The food was good. No wonder Samantha was a good cook. This makes Angelo to like the woman even more. She remembered her mother’s cooking when the woman is sober and prepare for a good meal. Samantha could be good housewife and mother. The more reason he tried to control his feeling with his sister.As he drove to his office Angelo was so upset to himself. He wanted to wash away his feeling with Samantha but the more he tried the more he was lurked into it like an addictive vice. Samantha’s sweet smile always plastered in his consciousness.He took his phone and dialed Steve Serrano’s number. “Hey Steve. Are you free today?”“Yes boss. I’m always free for you.”“Good I will drop by your office today.”STEVE Serrano was a stout good looking man. His height was compensated by his personality. At five feet three inches, Steve always wear that ready smile that made him likeable. His position as casino manager requires it. He deals with a lot of different people and he has to deal with them fairly to maintain them as casino patron.Steve immediately stand up upon seeing Angelo enter his office ushered by his secretary. He is as tall as his swivel chair. Nevertheless’ Steve shows agility despite his height.“Boss! What a surprise. Come please seat here.” Steve shake Angelo’s hand and ushered the man to the office sofa before giving his secretary instruction to bring them drinks.“I have something to discuss with you.”“It’s seems important boss. You came all the way.” “It’s business.” Angelo answered seriously.Steve Serrano was one of Angelo’s men from the old time when they were point man collecting casino’s money for those unpaying patrons. After Angelo, Steve rose from the rank and eventually became the casino Manager. He learned the trade well. Steve was amiable but ruthless to those who do not follow the casino rules.“I heard you loaned money to Divina Montes.” Angelo ask without preamble.“Oh yes she was a good costumer but lately she lost a lot. Her excessive gambling almost dried her properties. As a matter fact there are land titles and property certificate which was pawned to us as guarantee.”
“How much are we talking here.”“I’m not sure of the exact figures but it was more than twenty million worth of properties including her shares of stocks at the family business.”“I will pay you with all her debt but you have to transfer to me all those property certificate. Let her sign a contract.”That night, Divina Montes signed a document without much thinking in favor to a certain Angelo Rosanes. In addition, the woman received an outright two million in cash that made her happy without any suspicions of who Angelo Rosanes is.Angelo smiled when he received the call from Steve. Rosanes is his mother’s maiden name and was actually his legal surname. He is using Lopez just to play with his father’s surname. Soon he will destroy that surname.CHAPTER 6M/V Marisa is a fifty feet long yacht moored along Manila Bay along with other yachts owned by prominent family. Angelo named it as tribute to her mother. The foods are already ready and the caterers and waiters are on standby waiting for instructions.Angelo glanced at his watch. It was almost seven o clock but a little early for the arrival of Don Arnald Lopez. He took a sip of champagne and look around. The sun had long gone and the western horizon was but a shadows of darkness which is in contrast with the night image of the metropolis. The towering buildings were well lighted but on the northern part was a silhouette of houses of the slam duelers. It was the part of Tondo where he grew up.Angelo remembered those days when he slept at night without foods in his stomach. He literally knew the true meaning of hunger. Growing up without a mother and father is like growing up in hell. There are times that his conscience was losing and the fiber of morality flew away because
CHAPTER 7Angelo almost panic when he woke up. He was disoriented at first remembering where he was. Although it was common for him to wake up in somebody’s bed with hangover of course but today is different. When he remembered where he was he almost jump out of bed.Samantha’s bed.Angelo immediately realized that they were both naked. Samantha was still sleeping. Angelo gathered his clothing with care not to awaken Samantha. As he stared at the nakedness of her, he noticed the red spot of blood in the white beddings.She was still a virgin. Oh my gosh, what have I done?He walked out of the room and slowly close the door without bothering to wake up Samantha. As he crossed the living room he was sure now that he was in Samantha’s condominium.“Good morning.”“Huh!” Angelo was surprise hearing Divina Montes. “G-Good morning.”“Would you care for coffee?” Divina offered as she prepared her own.“No thanks. I have to go.”“Is Samantha awake?”“I really have to go.” Angelo said rushing
CHAPTER 8BUGGY her gay road show manager coldly accepted her news. His feign excitement upon seeing Samantha in his place changed drastically and reveal his true color. For Samantha, Buggy is her friend. In fact, one of her closest friend in her circle of few friends. Buggy used to be very supportive managing her career as a model but now, upon hearing her pregnancy he became adamant. Her pregnancy means Buggy’s loss. Commissions lost and deduction to his income.Buggy owned the bar located in the metropolis. A fruit of his labor as manager of many models. He also owns the modeling agency supervising Samantha’s career.“So what is your plan now?” Buggy ask as he refill Samantha’s wine glass.“I’m not sure yet. “She answered truthfully.Abortion came into her mind but her conviction is not strong enough to kill a baby inside her. Some part of her is excited to be a mother. In fact, motherhood is one of her longtime dream only if there was a father. She gritted her teeth as she remembe
CHAPTER 9FOR the first few months everything goes well for Samantha. She is beginning to like the job. Being born from wealthy family, job like this is unacceptable at first. It is a disgrace. But thinking about her daughter, she has to be strong and do whatever it takes to survive. She has no relative here to rely to. All her so called friends before are no longer available for her. Gone are the days wherein she can easily mingle with them.Those days are no more. A memory of the past. A memory of her heydays. Samantha understood that fully well. She is no longer among their level. But she can still start all over.Letting go of the past and accepting the present is easier to live a life. But sometimes life is not always fair. Mrs. Kim died due to her ailment. Mr. Kim was so sad and devastated due to the loss of his wife.“I had already sold this shop, Samantha.” Mr. Kim sadly announced after his wife was cremated.Samantha was surprise and eventually became wary. She didn’t see thi
CHAPTER 10MARIA was the Mexican nanny that Samantha hired when she is at work. She was among the immigrants granted with citizenship and had freely enjoyed the status so far. She and her husband had fled their country like others who were seeking for greener pasture. But her husband died before they were granted their citizenship. Her husband Luis was mugged and killed by the local gang. Her only son Luisito was so hurt that soon decided to join the local gang hoping that he will find out who killed his father so that he can avenge his Papa that he dearly loved.Maria was so depressed losing her husband and now his only son was always out of the house joining the gang. She earned meager income from doing household chores for some clients. Cleaning houses, washing clothing and taking care of kids for working parents. She worked hard to meet both ends. From time to time Luisito gave her money. She is savings for her plan to return to her country. She was afraid that her only son will m
CHAPTER 11She was on her seventh birthday dressed with floral blouse that is her favorite, a gift from her Dad. Her school mates and friends were happily singing happy birthday. Her mother Divina almost adore her little child while chatting with friends.“Blow the candle baby. Come on Samantha blow it.” Her mother was saying with her high pitch voice betraying such happiness as a mother.She was hesitant. She looked around for her Dad. She was hoping that the new big teddy bear promised to her will be delivered personally.“Make a wish, Samantha. Blow it.” Her friends more excited than her shout in unison. Once again she looked at the door’s direction hoping that her Dad will walk thru. “Blow it Samantha, your Dad will not come.” Her mom whisper.“He promised mom.” She said flatly almost in tears.“He will not come. I told you.” Her mother shouted at her. The expression suddenly changed. The face was a picture of so much anger. The eyes burning with rage. She was taken aback by surpr
CHAPTER 12SAMANTHA felt that fang of danger inside her when the lights out. She knows that any moment Big Bertha will move in and she decided what to do. She had enough pain for the past months and days. She had to fought back for the sake of her baby.Waiting took its toll. All the inmates were already sleeping but Samantha could not summon sleep no matter how she tried. She tried to distract herself by thinking about the good old days. She looked back to the time when she was still at the height of her career as a model. Every time she walked in the ramps, applauses follows as the lights focus on her. It happened wherever she did that cat walk signature that she had mastered long ago.Cat walk needs balancing skill. She had a lot of practice before she had perfected that signature walk. She run two miles in the morning and one hour at the gym. At first it was hard but her body responded well. Her stamina improve and the bonus was her lean physique. Her legs became stronger and when
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