[ NEXT MORNING ~ SAN VICENTE DE PAUL HOSPITAL ]
Mariano woke up and made to disconnect the syringe from his body but, the doctor came in.
” Sir Mariano” He called as he went to him.
” You shouldn’t think of removing the syringe yet. I need to observe you today, then you’ll be free to leave tomorrow morning” He said and Mariano frowned.
” I f_cking h@ťě the smell of this place… and I need to get back to work” He snapped.
” But as a doctor, your health matters” The doctor persisted and Mariano laid back on the bed, not wanting to argue at all.
The doctor smiled and did a little bow before leaving the ward.
” Is she doing well” Mariano wondered.
★★★
[ EDUARDO’S MANSION ]
Eduardo walked into the house and tiredly slumped on the couch, dropping a bag next to him.
” Did you two settle your differences?” Menodora asked as she sat next to him.
He said nothing and just stared at her instead.
” I’m sorry, all this happened because of me. I thought about it all night and I think it’s best I leave… I can’t be the reason for the misunderstanding between two brothers” She muttered.
” Have a place in mind?” Eduardo asked and she shook her head.
The only place she could go is Dorian’s place but she can’t, since the bad guys go there often.
Eduardo stood up and pulled her up too.
” You can stay here as long as you want ” He said, before pulling her into a hug. She didn’t hug him back until he broke the hug.
” Here, breakfast and lunch ” He handed her the bag he brought.
” I’ll come home early so we can eat dinner together. I need to go to work now” He said and she nodded
He peck her hair before he left the house. She smiled slightly as she went to the dining.
She opened the bag which contains food packs and her mind went to Mariano.
” Is he eating well? Is he refusing to eat because he’s feeling too guilty?” She wondered. When she realized her thoughts, she shook her head and continued what she was doing.
★★★
[ JESSE’S MANSION ]
It’s been a week after the incident at the clubhouse, yet Frida kept denying having anything to do with Attorney Bills.
Jesse has decided to give her a break for a while cos he’s tryna use Gladys’ life in exchange for what he needed.
He was running out of patience too.
Larry didn’t ki|| Bijoux as planned cos he saw it wasn’t necessary. He suggested using Gladys as the bait which Jesse gladly accepted.
“I should ask her first, she might know him” Jesse said as he left his room. A maid mistakenly bumped into him, spilling the water with her on his body.
The girl’s eyes widened, but before she could apologize, he planted a bullet in her skull.
He got to the sitting room and sat loftily. Larry came in too.
” Boss..” He bowed.
” Bury the body ” He muttered, placing his both legs on the table. Larry bowed and dragged the body out of the sitting room.
” Gladys, Gladys ” Jesse muttered softly as he stared at the gun in his hand.
★★★
[ FRIDA’S MANSION ]
Frida knocked on her daughter’s door and reluctantly, Gladys went for the door.
” What? Wanna scold me again?”She asked and Frida entered the room. She took Gladys to the bed and made her sit. She sat next to her and held her hands.
” Gladys… ”
” I’m serious mom. Ever since I started working at the clubhouse, I’ve had séx with just four people including Jesse. But since then, Jesse has been the only one I’ve been getting intimate with and he told me he loves me… I’m just going to the club to see him, that’s all. I’m not loose, it’s for Jesse alone, so can’t you let me do what I like?” She asked gently.
Frida sighed sadly as she stared at her daughter who had a pleading expression on.
” Gladys, I know I was wrong for asking Menodora to work at the clubhouse and I just discovered she never had sèx with anyone. Please, you shouldn’t try to make my clubhouse lively by pretending to be Menodora.. please! ”
” She never had sèx with anyone? What? And you believed that?” Gladys asked while Frida nodded sadly.
She thought she’d be ruining Menodora’s reputation by asking her to work at the clubhouse, she wanted her to feel like an outcast among her peers, but her daughter was doing just what she wanted Menodora to do.
” I’ve been wanting to ask, Mom” Gladys sat properly.
” Go on ”
” Attorney Bills, is he still alive? Cos I once entered Dora’s room and found a note in one of her books. Something like; “ if anything happens to me, meet attorney Bills then you’ll have a good life” was written on the note ” Gladys said.
” Well, I heard he got into an accident and died… I even attended his burial” Frida said.
” Ahh… I see ” Was all Gladys said before holding her mom’s hands firmly.
” I can quit working at the clubhouse, but please don’t tell me not to date Jesse ” She pleaded and Frida kept mute for a while before nodding slowly.
Gladys happily hugged her while Frida forced out a smile. She disengaged from the hug and left the room.
” Yeah!, I can date Jesse now” Gladys said happily, jumping on her feet.
” Bills, are you still alive? If yes, then I need to find you, take what I want, then ki|| you myself before any d@mn human does” Frida muttered as she watched her daughter from the keyhole.
★★★
[ WAREHOUSE ~ 7 PM ]
Santario couldn’t stop thinking of his time with Dorian. Having séx with her was something he wouldn’t mind doing every day.
For some strange reason, he discovered he was missing her. The way she speaks casually to him, the way she smiles, the way she twerks on his Ďïčk. Everything about her fascinated him.
” What’s this feeling?” He wondered.
” I think you’re in love ” Bob appeared, breaking into his thoughts.
” What did you just say?” He asked with raised brows.
” I said you’re in love” Bob repeated and Santario Ç0çƙed his gun and pointed it at Bob.
” You’ve got a death wish? I’m in love? Absurd, I don’t have emotions” He said and Bob chuckled
He sat on the space next to him Santario. He poured alcohol into two glasses and handed Santario one of the glasses.
They both clicked their glasses together before drinking.
” Who’s she?” Bob started.
” Dorian” He replied, sipping from his glass while Bob chuckled.
” Don’t fall for her. If Ruby finds out, she’ll be in danger ”
” I don’t mind protecting her with my life ” He muttered inaudibly but Bob heard him and cleared his throat, trying to hold his laughter.
” What if Ruby sees her?”
” And I just said I’ll protect her” He said loudly and Bob burst into laughter while Santario stared at him weirdly.
” You’ll protect her? Hahahaha ” He laughed dramatically.
Santario stood up and made to leave, but Bob quickly stopped and pulled him back to the chair.
” You’re getting the wrong idea okay? I’m just fond of her. I find her interesting, that’s all ” He sighed and Bob nodded with a smile.
” I thought you were supposed to find Attorney Bills using Gladys?” Santario suddenly changed the topic.
” Yeah ” Bob nodded.
” Having Gladys is a piece of cake, so chill” He stood up.
He held Santario’s shoulder and gave it an assuring pat.
” You should tell her how you feel. Maybe you’ll start acting with your full brain since she’s occupying more place in your head” He chuckled and Santario hit his hands away.
He chuckled again and left.
” Love? ” Santario muttered, gulping down his drink.
★★★
[ EDUARDO’S MANSION ~ 9 PM ]
” Eduardo said he was gonna eat dinner with me, then why’s he not here yet?” Menodora wondered and glanced at the time again. It was 9 pm already, and still no calls from Eduardo.
” Did Mariano also eat dinner?” She asked, a bit worried about him.
” Should I call him? Is he getting better? ” She sighed as she stared at Mariano’s number on her phone. She had seen his number on his business card while she was staying with him. She had saved it back then but never called him even once.
She leaned back on her seat, her eyes not leaving his number.
★★★
[ SAN VICENTE DE PAUL HOSPITAL ]
Mariano’s eyes were slightly closed as Menodora occupied all his reasoning faculty. Her teary face the night he R@P£D her was vivid in his memory too.
” I miss talking dirty with you… I really miss your rudeness” He muttered.
Soon after, the door to the ward opened slowly and his ears pricked up.
He didn’t bother to open his eyes as the foot sounds of whoever it was got closer. He opened his eyes gently and noticed it was a doctor.
He wanted to close his eyes again, but he realized something was off. None of the other doctors had nose masks on and it was past his bedtime already and no doctor was supposed to be in his ward.
He found the guy in his ward suspicious so he pretended to be asleep as the guy came to him.
The masked guy brought out a syringe from his pocket and wanted to inject it into the IV drip but he changed his mind after glancing at Mariano.
He made to inject Mariano in the neck but Mariano quickly kicked his face and the syringe fell off the guy’s hand.
A hot fight ensued.
Mariano was starting to get weak because of the pain in his chest. The masked guy kicked him on the spot he got shot and he groaned painfully, but he still didn’t let his guard down.
The masked guy seemed to know the spot perfectly.
The guy got the syringe, and went to Mariano again, ready to inject him. Mariano kicked his face again and he staggered.
The syringe fell and Mariano picked it up. The guy brought out a knife from his lab coat and charged at Mariano. He ducked and went behind the guy. When the guy faced him, he injected the syringe into the guy’s neck instead.
The guy staggered backwards, but he quickly gave Mariano another kick in the chest. Mariano fell to his knees and the guy rushed out.
His wound opened again and blood soaked the bandage wrapped on his chest.
” Arghh!” He screamed in pain and few nurses rushed to his aid.
★★★
Menodora’s phone rang and she picked up immediately when she discovered it was Eduardo.
? I won’t be able to come for… for dinner, so eat without me. I… I’m sorry” He said, trying to hide his pain.
? Eduardo, are you okay? She asked but the call ended immediately.
” Did something happen to him?” She wondered.
Eduardo fell on his bed weakly and closed his eyes firmly as he groaned in pain.
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TBC…