CHAPTER 3
1100 Words
For several days, I waited for my handsome driver to arrive, but no one came. Did Philip go against his words? No, it’s impossible! The older man was always true to his words, and I itched to confront him about it!
I was in the garden, admiring a field of grass that was enclosed with well-trimmed hedges and flower bushes, when one of the associates approached me. His facial expression told me that he had something to tell me, and it was urgent. I motioned for him to sit beside me, but I stopped him with a single wave of my hand when he began to talk.
A fountain stood proud in the center, and its flowing water offered a gentle sound to someone like me who’s meditating. Assorted species of flowers bloomed in the garden, and they tried to take all of my attention. They had no idea that my mind wandered somewhere else, to a place with someone on my side who loved me unconditionally.
“So, what is the fuss all about?” I asked him after I finished admiring the exquisite garden in Philip’s residence.
“Have you heard? We have a new boss, and he’s ruthless!”
“Ruthless? In what way?”
“I’m not yet sure if it was true, but TJ Madrigal targeted several of our enemies lately. It was coldhearted, and he’s kind of scary. Have you seen him before?”
“TJ Madrigal?” I asked in confusion. The name didn’t sink into me yet, but Philip did something unimaginable on my behalf if Michael was telling the truth. “They could be just rumors, Michael.”
Michael smirked at my statement, and my brow automatically lifted in response. “I don’t think they’re only rumors. Boss will choose his successor soon, and I bet that TJ is the man, but who is TJ?”
All of a sudden, my head became itchy, and I needed to scratch it. “Whoever he is, let’s just respect the old man’s decision.” Michael grinned, and his crooked teeth became visible. “You rushed to see me because of TJ?”
“No. Boss told me to fetch you,” he replied.
“Where is he?”
“He is in the library with someone new,” Michael replied.
“Someone new? What do you mean? A new associate?” I bombarded Michael with several questions, and he just shook his head in disbelief.
“Why don’t you go there now to see it for yourself?”
“God, I hate you!” I cursed at Michael for being useless, but the bastard only laughed at my outburst. He and I were of the same age, and Philip both rescued us from the organ syndicate. Since then, he was my brother and the rest of the boys who were also rescued at that time.
Suddenly, my heartbeat was faster than before. I could feel the excitement rushing through me because I assumed that Philip’s visitor would be my driver eventually. Why? Philip wouldn’t let anyone in easily!
I didn’t know how much time I spent admiring the rare plant outside the oak door of Philip’s library. It has small, heart-shaped leaves, which were usually purple, and its flowers could be white, red, or yellow. It’s highly unique for a single plant to bloom with different colors of flowers, but Philip got his hand on it.
“Come in!”
His voice terrified me as usual, and I expressed a deep sigh before pushing the door. My eyes immediately scanned the entire library, but nobody was there except for Philip Madrigal. “Michael said you asked for me, Papa.”
“Sit down,” Philip ordered.
When Philip played with his favorite pen, I knew that there’s something serious going on in his head. “Is there a problem?”
“You must have heard about what I’ve done to establish your reputation in our world,” he started.
“Is it necessary to ruin them, Papa?”
“Yes,” Philip answered coldly. “Starting today, everybody knows what you are capable of doing.”
I could only shake my head in disbelief that my name became famous overnight. Although it wasn’t my doing and Philip arranged everything, it was solely for my benefit. “How about my condition, Papa?”
“It’s done,” he replied, and before I could react, someone entered, and my jaw dropped. I glared at Philip for hiring someone with curly hair, chubby cheeks, and a bulging belly. “He’s not handsome,” I mouthed.
“He’s not the driver,” he replied.
I was about to inquire about the identity of the curly-haired man, but someone else entered, and I gasped for breath! When I glanced at Philip, he only nodded his head as if telling me that he could never be wrong in choosing a person.
His hair was black as midnight, and its length, which reached his shoulder, added more charisma to his already charismatic appearance. What caught my attention even more was the man’s almond-shaped and brown eyes that stared at me. From the way he scanned the entire library with a discreet movement of his peepers, I could tell that he’s smart and dangerous at the same time.
Oh, I liked him even more, especially when he stood proudly in the presence of someone like Philip Madrigal. His confident stand told me that he wasn’t scared at all. However, I wasn’t prepared when he smiled!
Oh my god!
How could someone look so perfect? From his thick brows to his few day’s whiskers and down to his toes, he’s perfect to me. “I hope he’s the driver,” I whispered into Philip. He nodded his head, and I grinned like someone who just won a lottery. “What’s your name?”
“Enrique Navarro,” the guy replied, and his voice was also perfect to my ears! It’s well-modulated and husky at the same time as if he just got out of bed from all-night lovemaking.
“I want to see how good you are at driving,” I told him, and Philip gaped in horror.
- Writer
