Chapter 10: Assaulted

Awi left my office when Cora arrived. My friend frowned. I think she is jealous because she saw Awi and I eating and laughing together.

"Why are you pouting?" I asked smiling. I'm done eating so I cleaned my table. Cora sat in the chair across from me. From a frowning face it became relaxed. She smiled.

I also rubbed alcohol on my hand before I took out my check book from the drawer.

"Study carefully the businesses you're going to enter," I advised her in a very nice way so she wouldn't be offended.

"Yes. I've studied that. I've been going back and forth on that property for months," she answered.

"Okay." I have written ten million pesos.

"Goodluck..."

"Thank you, friend." She accepted the check. She stood up and hugged me before saying goodbye to leave.

Awi immediately entered when Cora left. She has a big slice of watermelon in her hand.

"Someone came by to sell fruit." We split it.

"Why did Cora leave right away?"

"Ah... Just took something." I don't want to tell her about Cora's coming here. I don't think that I should disclose it to her.

After work, Awi and I went to the gym. My body is so sore because we work out for more than an hour. I'm sweating profusely and can barely walk but I feel good.

Jacob wasn't there when I got home. Maybe he is with his friends again.

I didn't want to worry about what was happening in my life so I just slept. The next morning, I went to the aesthetic for some procedure.

I went straight to Daddy's house after. I texted Jacob to let him know I was here.

Miraculously, he replied okay and just say his regards to Daddy.

"Daddy!" I said excitedly when I saw my father.

"What happened to your face?" Daddy asked when he saw me.

I laughed and removed my face mask. My face is red from the treatment.

"I just got a facial, Dad."

Dad smiled and caressed my hair.

"You look beautiful."

"Oh, Dad. You're always saying that even though it's not true."

"It's true. You're beautiful, my daughter. You're beautiful inside and out."

Of course he's my dad. Of all people, he's the only one who think that I'm beautiful. If I didn't look like them and Mommy when I was a baby, I would really think I was adopted.

"Have you eaten yet? Come on, join me for snacks."

"Just salad or fruits for me, Dad." Dad looked at me in surprise.

"I'm happy for you..." Because he used to know how hard it was for me to go on a diet and start working out. I really don't want skin care either.

"Thanks, Dad."

While having a snack, we talked about Cora. He said she didn't come home until last night. Where did that woman go? Did she encash the check already?

"By the way, dad, did Cora tell you about the business she plans to open?" She is no different from Daddy and she treats her like a father. She'd ask anything she wanted. Bags, clothes, shoes, jewelry, travels... Anything.

"The restaurant? Yeah."

What restaurant? I was confused.

"I know that she can't do it yet, that's why I didn't invest. I told her to study everything first or start small. That's a wrong business at a wrong location."

"Restaurant?"

"Yes... She didn't told you?"

"Ah... Maybe I just don't remember. She wants so much business."

Dad laughed. "That's what I told her. Don't be in a hurry. It doesn't happen in a hurry, because the business must be planned well first."

"So, Dad."

I will talk to her. We haven't been able to talk properly about that. I wanted to help her. Apart from wasting money when she fails, she will definitely get depressed.

"By the way, Precious. How are you and Jacob?"

"We're fine, Daddy. We're both busy at work." I winced. I shouldn't have told him that.

"How can you have children if you are both busy? You should travel... When do you plan to go abroad?"

"Ah, we haven't discussed anything yet, Dad. Besides, Dad, I want to get fit before I get pregnant. With my weight, it will definitely be difficult for me to conceive. And if I do, it might be difficult for me and my baby. I'm overweight, I might later have complications such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes-"

"Okay. Okay," Daddy cut me off.

"I'm glad that you're taking good care of yourself. I'm happy."

"You're really drama, Daddy. You're sure you're not sick, right? I've talked to your doctor, he said that you're okay. I believed it, but when you say that, I really doubt it."

"I'm fine, Dear. Next week is my general check up. You can join me if you want."

"It's good that you mentioned that, Dad. Alright, I'll go with you so I can relax."

He laughed heartily. "I can't die yet. I haven't trained you to manage our businesses. And are you even familiar about our properties?"

"That's why I don't want to study because you'll be managing our businesses for a long time, Daddy."

"Work together with Jacob. You have potential in business and he is also good. You're a good team."

Good team. I wish him to be a good husband to me too.

I didn't went home to Jacob's house. I texted him that I will sleep here. I said Daddy was looking for him. He didn't reply. That's why when he suddenly came around at nine o'clock I was surprised.

He smiled at me because Daddy was with us. He even put his arm around me.

Dad smiled. "Have you eaten?" Daddy asked him.

"Yes, I just came from the dinner meeting."

Daddy invited him to drink a little first. I can't accompany them anymore because I'm really sleepy. It is up to him which room he wants to sleep in.

I was fast asleep when I received a call from an unknown number.

"Hello, is this Ms. Precious Real?" said a woman from the other line.

"Yes, who are they?"

"Ma'am, this is at St. Benedicts hospital. I just want to say that Ms. Cora Dorcas is admitted here."

My body suddenly trembled.

"W-Why? What happened to my friend?"

"She was stabbed, Ma'am. According to the police, she was assaulted."

That ten million! Oh my God!

"A-Alright, I'm going there."

I was stunned for a while because I was really surprised by what happened. Oh my God! Where did she go and is she still carrying that large amount of money?

I took my bag and hurried downstairs. I didn't even change my clothes. I found Daddy and Jacob in the living room. They're not drinking anymore, they're just talking.

"Oh, Dear. Where are you going?"

"Dad, it's Cora, she's in the hospital!"

"What? Why?" I could see the worry on my father's face.

"They said she was assaulted."

"Was she hurt? Was she shot? Stabbed? How is she doing?"

I couldn't answer Daddy's questions. I silently prayed that my friend would be alright.

We got to the hospital. Jacob also joined us. We did not wake up Cora's mother because she said she was not feeling well earlier. We will tell her tomorrow. We'll just ask our driver to take her here.

Cora was already in the private room when we arrived. There were big bruises on her face and her arm. There was also a knife stab near her stomach. I feel sorry for what happened to her.

Her surgery has just finished so she was still asleep. Maybe she will wake up tomorrow morning.

I sent Daddy and Jacob home first.

"I'll stay here.

"Are you sure?" asked my husband.

"Yes. You and Dad should rest. You've been drinking."

I smiled sparingly. Before he left he even kissed me on my forehead which made me very happy.