SPINSTER'S PLANS GONE WRONG

CHAPTER 5: Yam, On the Aftermath

When she stirred in the morning in his arms, she was so thankful that he did not wake up as she removed his arms around her. She quickly cleaned herself up by using a washcloth. Then she put on the designer undergarments and business suits that he purchased for her, which even came with a note saying -

Yam,

Consider this complete set of outfits as my birthday present.

Oli

She smiled and then she put her dirty clothes and flat shoes inside the paper bag. The complete business suit he bought for her had definitely covered her hickeys. The inner top was a chiffon loose turtleneck batwing sleeve white blouse, while the jacket and trousers were salmon in color. He also purchased a pair of nude pumps for her to match with her nude designer handbag. Then she put on her pair of sunglasses and silently walked away from his hotel room.

In her mind - Good thing I always bring a pair of sunglasses inside my handbag. I have a perfect disguise as I go out of the hotel.

The guard on duty had hailed a taxi for her. As she rode the taxi, he told the driver to transport her to Odessa Commercial Building, where Mariam Acosta and Associates Accounting and Law Firm had its three-floor office space. Her car was still parked in her designated parking area when she emerged from the taxi. Their office's own security guard as well as the commercial building management's security guards had greeted her good morning as she entered the main door of their office space and she greeted them back too.

She was already done with the preliminaries of legal documents for their petition for nullity when Dexter and Kathleen arrived at the office at exactly 9 AM.

Kathleen immediately went to her office, "Where have you been, Yam? Your parents told me that you did not come home last night."

She answered, "I had messaged them that I wouldn't come home last night at Victory Homes. I went out to drink for a while at MG Sports and Music Bar, then I checked into a hotel to celebrate alone. Then I came here early to prepare all the preliminary legal documents for the petition for nullity that we will submit within this week if all the evidence is collected and verified."

Kathleen said, "Our investigation team has already been working on them since yesterday," and then noticed her designer outfit, "Did you also buy yourself that expensive suit, Yam?"

She answered casually, not actually confirming it, "Well, you are not the only one who is allowed to buy me a designer suit as a gift, right?" To change the topic, she asked, "So do you have other cases for me, Kat? Or should I take on some work from Julie's department?"

Kathleen answered, "Just focus for now on Louisse Manzano's case, and your administrative functions. And yes, you might take some work from Julie's department, but in moderation."

She responded, "Yeah, that is what we usually do anyway. You can also give me some of your pro bono consultation. I will give two hours of my time for that, from 10 AM to 12 NN today."

Kathleen gave her approval, "Okay."

Mariam did not want to feel idle because it would only make him think of the wonderful night she had with Oli - How will I be able to keep you off my mind, Oli? I can still feel your touch. It was way very different from my experience with my ex. With you, I keep on asking for more. I feel so cherished in your arms. Your kisses are addicting.

Kathleen noticed that happy glow in her eyes and said, "You seem very different today. You look much happier."

She just said, "Well, I turned 30, then I should turn over a new leaf. Aside from work, I will already spend time again on some of my hobbies. I need to enjoy life even if all of you are either getting married, having a baby or being proposed to."

Kathleen asked, "What about your baby plans?"

She replied, "I'll save more money so I can go to the USA for an anonymous sperm donor," and then teased her, "So you need to find more big-time clients for our firm so that we will have more money."

Kathleen said, "Or better yet, just try to find new love, get married and have a child or two the natural way."

She debated, "Easier said than done. Do you honestly think that I just simply reject my suitors? I just don't feel any attraction towards any of them. So I am just using work as an excuse."

Kathleen then stated, testing her, "Or perhaps you are still in love with Carlos."

Her immediate reaction was, "No way! I fell out of love with him the moment I discovered that he was not the man I thought he was. I was actually living in a make-belief notion that he was so perfect for me when I was still with him, that he could not go wrong. But he did, time and time again. First, with my sister and the rest just followed. He used Dexter as an escape-goat for his own mistake. He has been applying underhand tactics just so his clients would win. He is already a stranger to me now, Kat. His true colors came out when he became a lawyer. So, I am very thankful that I did not get to marry him."

On the other hand, upon waking up, Oliver Del Castillo, had received a call from his maternal grandmother, Doña Ofelia Quirino, also the current Chairman of the Prime Care Medical Center, Incorporated.

Oliver responded after a few rings - Yes, Lola.

He heard his grandmother immediately asking - Who is the lady you spent the night with?

He said, not answering the question - So you are having me followed as usual.

His grandmother's response was - I am doing it for your own protection. Who is she? Are you serious about her?

Oliver answered - She is Atty. Mariam Acosta, a tenant in the commercial building you owned. I like her a lot and I believe that she is the one for me. But let me pursue her my own way, Lola.

His grandmother's response was - I will let you pursue her your own way. Anyway, it is the first time that you actually get keen about a particular lady. But I will still have her investigated.

He told his grandmother - I do not mind if you want her investigated. Just please do not meddle when it comes to my plans to pursue her. I know that you just want what is best for me, Lola. You have been my sole protector since Mom, Lolo Osvaldo and Lola Rebecca died. But please trust me in my judgment of this lady.

Lola Ofelia gave her approval - I will. But focus first on your designation as the Acting CEO.

He affirmed - Yes I will, Lola.

Lola Ofelia also told him - Samuel and his team would still be watching you from afar. I still do not trust any member of the family of your father's second wife. I am also suspicious about some of your cousins on the Del Castillo side. So stay on guard with all of them.

He agreed - Don't you worry, Lola. I am always cautious with all the people around me.

His grandmother then informed him - Anyway, your residence in Victory Homes is already prepared for your occupancy. Internet service and telephone service were installed yesterday. The security system has also been updated. You can already check out at the hotel and live there, since you don't want to live with me.

Oliver then tried to change their topic - Well, I need to get ready for work now, Lola.

Lola Ofelia said - Okay. Bye.

As soon as the call ended, Doña Ofelia asked her secretary to summon the General Manager of Odessa Commercial Building and requested him to bring the personal information of all the tenants. She also called up Samuel, the chief security officer of their family, and the bodyguard she assigned for the protection of her grandson when he was travelling the entire world for all of his endeavors .

Samuel answered the call - Yes, señora. Any concerns regarding Boss Oliver?

Doña Ofelia responded - I want you to ask our intelligence team to conduct a comprehensive background check on the lady my grandson is interested in. Her name is Mariam Acosta. She is currently a tenant in Odessa Commercial Building.

Samuel affirmed and then asked - Yes, señora. Does Boss Oliver know that you want the lady investigated?

Doña Ofelia's reply was - He always knows what I am about to do, even if I don't tell him. But yes, he knows that I want the lady investigated.

Samuel said - Well, I think it is actually a good thing that he got interested in a lady. I have followed him for nine years around the world. No lady had piqued his interest. A lot of ladies also flirted with him, but he was very choosy about whom to have casual flings with. His every move is well-calculated. He knew that there could be no room for error. This lady might be very special for him to get interested in her.

Doña Ofelia admitted - That is what I am thinking as well, but we still need to be sure that she is from a good family and that she is a good lady. I do not want any lady with a hidden agenda to get near my grandson. He is still a man with carnal needs. If they already spent the night together, then this is not just a casual fling for Oliver. He even told me that he wants to pursue her.

Samuel remarked - So he is serious indeed. Then don't worry, señora. I will ask our intelligence team to prioritize the comprehensive background check on this lady.

It was exactly 8 AM when Oliver arrived at the Office of the CEO of Prime Care Medical Center. His father's secretary immediately gave him the list of his activities. The first item was a meeting with the executives of the Prime Care Medical Center in Madison City. which included the President, the Vice Presidents, the Medical Director, and the Chief of all the Medical Departments. Jonas Medina was there as the Chief of Surgery Department.

As the executives presented their reports, they were all surprised by all the questions that the Acting CEO had thrown at them.

Jonas was thinking - How can he be so knowledgeable at medicine? He has just spent these past nine years gallivanting, participating in poker tournaments, and studying musical compositions. He even knew all the medical breakthroughs and complex procedures. How can this be possible? Is he some kind of medical genius? But he did not even top the Physician Licensure Examination. He also did not excel in medical school and in his medical internship. Wait, he did qualify for the general surgery training program of Johns Hopkins Hospital but he did not continue it. He just wasted such a great opportunity. Each year, that university only chooses seven individuals for that program. If he finishes it, then he might be eligible to take the American Board of Surgery examinations and then apply for a number of advanced clinical training in subspecialties like my subspecialty, which is cardiothoracic surgery. But then he did not. He did not want to join Prime Care Medical Center, but here he is, designated as the Acting CEO, just because he, his maternal grandmother, and our father, with all their combined shares, make up the majority stake of the corporation. I thought that Papa would recommend me as the Acting CEO, but in the end, he still put his vote to his legitimate son. But I am still shocked by the wealth of knowledge Oliver has regarding medicine for someone who is just a licensed physician. He must have read a lot. That is the only way he can acquire such rich knowledge of complicated surgical procedures and various medical treatment procedures. He even recommended so many excellent ideas in each medical department.

After Oliver's meeting with the executives, he had another meeting with the legal team from Medina and Associates Law Firm. The legal team was headed by Atty. Carlos Medina.

Oliver did not like the guts of Atty. Carlos Medina. He was counseling him to cover up for the medical malpractice of one of their general surgeons because it would greatly affect the reputation of the hospital. His take on the issue was very different from the things that he wanted to do to address the issue.

He expressed his point of view, "So you are telling me not to punish the evildoer. Is that right, Atty. Medina?"

Carlos responded, "It would be what your father would do, Mr. Del Castillo."

His reply was, "But then I am not my father. The evildoers must pay for the consequences of their action. I cannot be a part of the cover up for what that general surgeon did. He has been proven to have committed medical malpractice which killed a patient and you are telling me now to cover up for that. I am sorry, but I cannot allow this, not when I am the Acting CEO. That general surgeon is a threat to society. He should not be allowed to operate anymore."

Later that evening, on the local evening news, Oliver Del Castillo's official statement regarding the malpractice case.

One of the reports stated - The Acting CEO of Prime Care Medical Center, Incorporated had released his official statement regarding the malpractice case of one of the surgeons in their hospital in Madison City. His official statement shocked the medical community. Let us hear his official statement -

His official statement was - I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgment. I will abstain from harming or wrong doing any man by it. These are just a few of the words of the Hippocratic Oath that every doctor swore to uphold before being given the great honor and privilege of curing the sick. Prime Care Medical Center, Incorporated prides itself on employing only the best in the medical field. Thus, we humble ourselves and deeply apologize to the family of the patient who died at the hands of a general surgeon employed in this hospital. This doctor failed to uphold his Hippocratic Oath and so he had already been dismissed as a member of the elite team of doctors of our hospital. He had already been referred to the Filipinas Medical Association as well as to the Filipinas Board of Surgery for further punitive actions. He must face the consequences of his wrong doings. As a member of the Board of Directors of Prime Care Medical Center, Incorporated, and as the Acting CEO, I will do my best to make sure that our hospitals will live up to its primary goal of providing the best possible care to all of our patients. I will rid our midst of incompetent medical practitioners in order to continuously achieve our primary goal. To the family of the patient, we deeply apologize once more. Thank you very much.

Mariam was just listening to the official statement at first from the TV monitor in her office. In her mind - That is the way to do it. A surgeon like that should not even be allowed to operate. That doctor is a big disgrace to the hospital and to the medical community. But wait! The voice seemed familiar.

And when she looked at the TV monitor, she saw the man she had spent the entire night with. He was wearing a designer suit with a pair of eyeglasses for his eyes. She could not believe it - He said he was a doctor, and now he is the Acting CEO of Prime Care Medical Center?! So we might see each other again. No! This can't be happening. As much as I like him very much, I cannot see him again.

And then she heard Kathleen saying, "So, Oliver Del Castillo has already returned to claim his place in Prime Care Medical Center."

She decided to ask Kathleen, "Do you personally know that CEO, Kat?"

Kathleen said, "Yes. Our grandmothers are the best of friends. Mamu Ofelia , his maternal grandmother, owns this commercial building. Why do you think I was able to get you this office space three years ago? I used my connection."

She then said, "That CEO seems to be an upright man letting the general surgeon pay for the consequences of his wrong doings."

Kathleen said, "He has always been like that. But then, he is believed to have spiraled down after the death of his mother, Dr. Odessa Quirino-Del Castillo, one of the top general surgeons in the country. He qualified among the seven elite surgical residents at Johns Hopkins Hospital, but it is believed that he did not take his residency and just spent the next nine years of his life as a professional poker player touring the entire world to participate in poker tournaments. He won some and lost some, but such an endeavor made him a very rich man. He does not depend on his elders for money. His father, CEO Rodolfo Del Castillo, who just recently had an accident breaking his ankle."

She then asked, "So which among the speculations are true?"

Kathleen said, "According to Lola, not all the news about Oliver can be true. Some could just be a smear campaign to discredit him as a doctor and as the heir to the Prime Care Medical Center, Incorporated. My grandmother firmly believes that Mamu Ofelia would not allow her only grandson not to succeed as a surgeon. So the news about him not continuing his residency could be fake news," and then suddenly asked her back, "Why do you seem interested in Oliver Del Castillo?"