Book 2: Chapter 18

March 2020

Seattle, Washington.

“Is it settled then?”

The beautiful Brooke Enriquez swayed her hips as she went to the desk of the company president and handed the papers he meant. “Yes. Signed, sealed, delivered.”

“Good.”

“Are you referring about the bank in Bacolod, Philippines, that small bank?”

Brooke faces her father, Darwin Enriquez, who was in a swivel chair next to Nicholas.

“Yes, dad. Nicholas bought it even though I was skeptical if he could still get anything from that bank while most of the business he managed was all here in Seattle. You even sold our tiny bank before in San Agustin because Nick suggested it didn't earn you enough money until you put your shares in big banks."

“Yes, Nick... why is that? You have not returned to the Philippines for almost 8 years, and you have not been able to return to your former hometown for almost ten years. Why only now? ”

Nick adjusted his necktie before speaking. “I have my reasons. That bank is small-scale, it only has about seven branches left in its franchise in the Philippines. However, as businessmen, we like to gamble, Darwin, right? ”

“Come to think of it, San Agustin Bank was formerly owned by the Reyeses, right? The affluent family who was caught and indicted for being a Gambling Lord in Manila?”

Nick nodded.

“I see ... Well, those pots of golds the Reyeses lived off no longer belong to them but to the coffers of the Philippine government now. I still remember how popular those guys were before." His Vice President retorted.

“Yeah. And I used to meet Mr. Julio Reyes' son at the University of Texas. He didn’t make it to graduation, though, when his father was imprisoned. I heard he needed to go home to handle all the remaining businesses of his family.” Brooked added.

“Drex Reyes...” Nick muttered under his breath.

“You know him? Ah, of course, you talked to him when you process the acquisition of his 5 other companies and bought a 60% share of their bank franchise. ” Darwin asked but then answered his own question.

“He never talked to Drex Reyes, dad. Every acquisition and share buying went only through the lawyer and me. ”

“Oh right, I just remember.”

Darwin moved out of his swivel chair, ending the meeting, and is about to leave when he asks, “ Anyways, are you two going on a dinner tonight with the Japanese investors, Nick?”

“I think that won’t forego anymore, at least today.”

“It was canceled. We will be having dinner instead, right Nick?" Brooke smiled sweetly when she looked at Nick again who didn’t look back at his Senior Acquisition Manager.

"I see. Well then, I won't spend much of my time here. You might need to talk further about your relationship."

***

“Say...the electricity bill is here. “

Aling Maring walked upstairs holding the paper bill of the mansion’s last month's electricity to where Say is. Say who was on top of a chair wiping and dusting some picture frames.

"Did the bill rate lowered down, Aling Maring?"

From the second floor, Say heard the voice of their former cook who is the only one left to stay with her in the mansion after all these years. Aling Maring has other work in town but comes often to visit and help her in the mansion during weekends.

"I think it goes down a little. Good thing we only turn on a few lights at night and do not use other appliances here. ”

She smiled sadly, remembering that just last week she had sold a few more appliances on the third floor of the mansion. “There are almost no other appliances, Aling Maring, so I won't have any more problems. Has your youngest son arrived yet, so we can have our lunch? ”

"Oh yes, I forgot. Let me just grab my bag, and I'll pick up Jose at the elementary school nearby. Or if you want to eat first, go ahead. I know you will still need to visit your father's grave after."

“I will just wait Aling Maring. The school isn’t that far here anyway and I’m not yet hungry. ”

“Jeezzz, that’s why your waist stays that thin because you don’t eat as much. You only had coffee this morning, remember?”

Say just smiled at Aling Maring.

“Alright, I’ll go now. Be back later.”

When Aling Maring left, Say let out a heavy sigh. She wanted to smile as much as possible, but there are too many things occupying her mind now. She put down the feather duster she was holding as she looked around the mansion that was almost empty now but few antique pieces of furniture.

Eight months... The bank extension is only eight months, and I will lose... I will lose this house with so many memories of my family. No, I can’t let that happen. Mom is gone... And you too, dad... everybody else left but this house and a few other things. I won't give up just yet.

She heard the sound of a motorcycle coming from outside their rusty big gate, and then she heard someone taps their gate loudly. She gave a mental note to have their broken doorbell be fixed later.

"Ma’am ... you have a bank letter!"

Say dashed to the messenger outside, hoping that it was a letter from the San Agustin bank to approve the payment extension she requested for the mansion.

"Just sign here, Ma'am." After the driver left, Say quickly opened the letter.

I hope they agreed to extend the payment for another year to pay for the mansion... will they still agree when I have requested 3 times the extension for the last 2 years? Oh please...I hope they agree.

“If you are not able to make the outstanding payment in the next 30 days, then you will have to pay the total payable amount of PHP 225M under the terms and conditions of our agreement. If you fail to pay, then the Bank of St. Agustin will start legal action to foreclose on the mortgage/house, which will result in the property being put up for sale.”

Her eyes widened as she read the letter again, making sure it was correct.

“Thirty days ?! A month? And where will I get that amount to pay for the house and land, the mansion left by dad? ”

Seven years ago their family’s nightmares began. Her dad won his last election but his name was linked to gambling syndicates, Antonio De Plaza was included among the names of politicians who won for decades using dirty money from corrupt sponsors who do drug tradings, gambling, and grafts.

Her father was removed from the office and replaced by another new ruler, his own vice governor from a different political party - ending the 40+ years of De Plaza’s Political reign. Everything was taken from them from then on and that includes all the luxuries her family enjoys.

Her father started to get ill and succumbed to his death 4 years ago. But before he died, the rest of their wealth was almost depleted as the remaining savings they had were used to have him treated.

All the cronies, friends, sponsors of anything related to their previously wealthy and powerful clan were gone - afraid perhaps to associate themselves to them out of shame.

Throughout their family's misery, she began to sell some of their family's property until the mansion was loaned to the bank.

The bank was owned by Drex’s family, so they were able to help, at least in being lenient for her to pay on time — but when their names were caught in the graft and corruption of the former governor and Mr. Julio Reyes and his gambling ring colleagues have also begun to squander and lose their wealth — Drex's family ended up giving up and sold some shares of the bank and is now owned partly by another private entity.

So now, what will I do?

****

Nick was unable to use his own key on his Bachelor’s pad when he saw that it was not locked and the door is partly opened. He opened the door and saw Brooke in his living room, wearing her beautiful and seductive smile.

Brooked step closer and then handed him a glass of wine.

“A celebration for another business deal closed. Wine, Nick. Here...”

“There’s no need for celebration Brooke. We still haven't done anything to the financial loss of that small bank.

“Well, if we can’t celebrate about business, let’s just celebrate about us.” She sips the wine in her luscious red-lipsticked-lips and then offered him the glass again. Brooked pulled herself closer to him and started to remove his necktie, all the while giving him some little kisses on his jaw and earlobes. Nick grabbed the glass of wine he was holding and carefully pulled himself away.

“There’s no us, Brooke...you know that.” There was finality in his voice. He threw away the contents of the glass from the sink nearby.

Brooke sighed and suddenly seemed tired in front of him. “Nick...we made it in bed already. Once, twice... I don’t know how many times we did it and I haven’t asked you any label about this easy bed-partner relationship because I don’t want to be silly pushing you. I want you to decide when to label this relationship..."

“It happened...because you initiate it. “ He interjected quickly.

“Because you want it too...don’t you? Here, let me make you see what I’m talking about.” And his business partner tried her tested ways to lure him to her seduction menu. Brooke kisses him eagerly.

“You want me, Nick...you want me...”

"Brooke..."

Brooke continues to drown him with her hungry kisses that typically get into him but not now. Apart from the fact that he was tired from his long meeting, he also did not want to repeat whatever happened to them. Brooke is still his Vice President's daughter.

“Brooke, stop it.”

“Kiss me, Nick...Kiss me.”

“I said STOP. Stop it, Brooke.” Along with his loud voice, Nick pushed Brooke around to the side of the kitchen sink. Then he saw her beautiful face goes ballistic.

“What’s really the problem, Nick? I know you’re a man and I have no doubt you like me - whether I initiate the sex or not. But why do you seem numb and un- affectionate? You're hot one time and then suddenly you're cold as stone. You're indecisive about your feelings. And what's that left of me? I've tried my best for the past 8-10 years and nothing, there's just nothing from you." Brooke demanded coldly, and Nick couldn't help but listen to every word she said because it was true.

"If there was any girl I would know that maybe you'd like, I might understand. I might leave you alone. BUT THERE WAS NO ONE. No one since you lived, worked, and studied here in America. I was always with you, Nick... I was the only one who patiently waited for you... watch until you become successful in your business ventures with the help of my dad. Could you at least let me understand a little what something is pulling you back from a real relationship? ”

Nick saw that Brooke was almost crying. No matter how spoiled or blunt she is, she is telling the truth. He sighed.

“I’m sorry Brooke. If you'll stay here in the pad tonight, I'll just go somewhere else." He picked up his coat again and walked toward the door when he heard her voice once more.

“Is this because of someone named Samantha?”

He suddenly turned around when he heard the name he didn't want to remember anymore. “What do you know about her? How did you know Samantha?”

“I don’t know her. And this is the first time I uttered her name.”

“Then why –“

“The first night we were in bed, the first time I ever have had you alone for myself...in your climax...you called someone’s name. Somebody’s damn name!”

He lowered his head in guilt. “B-brooke...I’m sorry –“

“I did not tell you because I do not want to start a fight with you. But her name stuck in my mind. Because you called her names not just once but for how many times - whether you're drunk or asleep or in your fucking climax. You uttered her name a number of times I couldn't count it!"

Nick shot back at Brooke - unable to speak knowing that if he was not in his sane self, he still couldn't forget the name of the woman who had given him so much pain.

“Did she hurt you? Is she the reason you don’t want to enter into a real relationship? How big is the hole she left in your heart that it hurts you that much to be with anyone again?"

Nick averted his eyes and started to walk again. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But I want to!” shouted Brooke.

Brooke stepped closer again to Nick and touched his cheek. “You may have not heard it before this declaration, Nick, but I love you... And if trying to make you enter a relationship is by mending that old broken heart of yours, then I will help you...in your own way.”

“What do you mean by that, Brooke?”

Brooke points to the center of his chest.

“I can’t be here in your heart without letting go of somebody inside, whether that’s of hate or revenge...I want you to get it out, out of you. I’ll help you. It’s time to get an act of revenge and inflict pain on someone that hurts you the most - do it in a more painful way... And when you’re done with her, you can come back to me - with arms wide open I’ll be here...”