Chapter Fifty-Three: Back to HQ

Chapter Fifty-Three: Back to HQ
I spent the whole day in the office reviewing the projects after I called Karlo on the phone. He was also busy because he was working on a resort in Pangasinan and needed to meet some of the investors. When I finished signing two of the projects, I browsed through Google, where I could see potential universities where I could enroll Melanie.

Whenever we talk, I can analyze her words and distinguish her wisdom about every topic. I am more educated than her, but she could have a better future if she just had a diploma to get a better job rather than just being a maid in our mansion.

“Dara?” I called through the landline to reach my secretary in her office. “Can you please check your WhatsApp? I want you to call someone from De La Salle University and mention that I want to have a conversation with them.”

“Yes, Mrs. Rodriguez,” she said.

I hung up the landline and continued taking care of the documents. After a few minutes, a private call went through my line. It was from the registrar of De La Salle University. I mentioned Melanie’s enrollment and requested the list of requirements she needs to meet to get in with my financial support.

“I’m done…” I said exhaustedly as I dialed Timothy’s number on my phone. “But I only managed to review and sign nine projects. Three I declined because of some factors. I will explain to you tomorrow after the meeting.”

“Okay,” he answered. “Anyway, it’s almost time to go home. We might as well go to the headquarters. Have an early out. Dara will guide you to punch out.”

“Sure.”

And again, I ended the call. It’s already almost six pm, meaning it’s time for us to go to the headquarters of Red Cartel. I stretched my arms and stood up, now arranging all of the paperwork on my table. I fixed my dress and took my bag before exiting my office. Thankfully, Dara was in my sight because her place was just outside my office. When she saw me, she stood up with a bright smile on her face.

“Mrs. Rodriguez, good afternoon,” she greeted me.

“Hello, Dara,” I greeted back. “Can you please show me where to punch out?”

After I was done punching out, I saw Timothy from the elevators waiting for me. He was on his nonstop phone again. When he saw me approaching, he still didn’t end the call and just guided me inside the elevator. I texted Karlo.

Me: otw to hq

Karlo: what?

Me: on the way to the headquarters.

Karlo: Oh, I didn’t get that.

Me: You still belong in Generation Z. Did you live under a rock or something? Are you not on TikTok?

Karlo: I don’t have any social media accounts, Minerva. I also prefer completing the sentences rather than using shortcuts to avoid misunderstanding.

Me: You explain too much.

“Who is that?” Timothy asked when he noticed me texting

“Just my husband,” I answered while still texting Karlo.

I heard him scoff beside me. “So now you acknowledge Karlo as your husband, huh? Before, you hated calling him that. Even you have frown faces whenever you have photographs with him at public social events.”

“Tss,” I hissed and stashed my phone inside the bag. “It’s not like a big deal.”

“I don’t know. Maybe because you are still keeping that stupid Ian even when you are already married.”

My head spun around to face my cousin. “Watch your words. You and Karlo don’t know anything,” I warned and glared at him.

He shot an eyebrow and stared at me like I was a fool. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Karlo knows about your relationship with Ian and your contact with him even while you are married. He just doesn’t open it up with you.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “And why is that?” I crossed my arms.

“Hmmmm,” he murmured and also caressed his jaw, thinking about any sensible reason to answer my question. “Maybe because he loves you so much he would care more about your happiness?”

Sudden guilt showered over my system, couldn’t comprehend how he could say such a painful thing to me. Just imagining Karlo knowing that I was so distant because I didn’t break up with Ian is bothering me. Is he a martyr or something? Sounds heroic, huh?

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just my assumption. I just know he knows,” Timothy tried to lighten up his answer.

“Whatever,” I just dismissed and rolled my eyes. “Let’s just go.”

The elevators opened in the parking lot. We approached each other’s cars. He led the way as I followed. During the drive, I noticed the cars trailing behind, making me conclude that it was the bodyguards.

I looked around and saw that the night had fallen. Stars were emerging. The moon was shining so bright I had to take a photograph with my phone. I heard my phone beep. It was a text. For some reason, I got excited because it might be from Karlo.

Karlo: I’m already here at the hotel.
From what I remember, it was not far from our mansion. I confirmed it when Timothy took the same way our home is headed. I didn’t reply to Karlo and just drove.

“Are you ready?” Timothy asked.  

I watched the mediocre hotel in front of me. It was so subtle and not too extravagant to be suspicious at all – that inside was the secret Red Cartel organization that my grandfather founded. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the night breeze from the city.

“Yeah,” I answered and looked at him. “Maybe I am born ready for this, Timothy.”

“You bet,” he said, now winking and offering his arm for me to link with my hand. “Shall we?”

I nodded.

We went silently inside the hotel. There were just three to five people in the lobby, busy talking and booking rooms at the reception. I noticed a bellboy who was arranging some luggage for a guest he was talking to, but his eyes were glued to us. Timothy then whispered in my ear.

“Don’t worry. He is one of us. He’s reporting on everyone who goes in the hotel so we would know their identities.”

I didn’t respond, because I already got what he meant. We went to the elevator. The bodyguards stayed in the lobby and scattered as if they were just normal people blending in publicly. Timothy and I were now alone.

“Karlo is here also,” I shared.

“Yup. He is always first,” he agreed.

I pressed the thirteenth button on the elevator. Timothy scoffed, but I didn’t comment anymore. While going down, he squeezed my hand on his elbow, trying to comfort me with that gesture. The first thing I saw in the elevator was Karlo in his business suit. Our eyes met. I felt my heart beating just by the look of his eyes.

Oh, if any woman had any contact with him, they would eventually fall in love. I don’t know if I should feel lucky that he is my husband or nervous that he might find another if he ever gets sick of me.

“Hi,” he mumbled.

“Hi,” I greeted back.

“Uhhh, hello?” Timothy inserted.

“Come here,” Karlo said.

Timothy stepped forward and let me go so he could approach Karlo. Karlo glared at him. My cousin clicked his tongue and scratched his nape.

“Sorry, bro. I thought you meant me!” Timothy said.

I rolled my eyes and walked towards my husband. He smiled at me, while I just hid mine because I didn’t want to be obvious that I was happy to see him. Our hands intertwined, led by him. I cleared my throat so I could compose myself properly, even though my insides were panicking in excitement.  

I saw the placard on the door again that says Red Cartel. Karlo typed in the PIN on the door and placed his thumb on a small detector. The doors opened when the technology recognized him. I squinted my eyes when it opened and revealed what was inside.

It was not my first time going there and seeing all of the assassins training. The small arena below us was full of assassins performing combat against each other, and I think they were having a personal competition. I even saw Glaidel encircling the two girls fighting at the center of the arena, and the other assassins watching were cheering with names.

“You can do it, Taylor! Bring that bitch down!”

“I think Samantha will win!”

“Yo! Will you shut it out?!”

I furrowed my eyebrows and watched the combat. The two women were displaying skillful and painful moves against each other, and Glaidel was just monitoring them. I looked up to Karlo.

“What are they doing?” I asked him.

He regarded me. “Those two must have fought again, so Glaidel has to punish them,” he answered, which made my mind.