Chapter 35: The Recruitment of Mike Luna

We seated at the school open canteen and I told Edward to order our snacks while I went to Marco Junior's classroom. When I arrived, the teacher was explaining something in front of her class. I saw Marco talked to her teacher where he approached me and give me respect.

"Good morning Daddy, my teacher wants to meet you inside the classroom?"

"Yes, sure my son." We went inside the classroom smiling at them.

"Miss Bueno....classmates....this is my father...his name is Mr. Marco Fernando!" Marco Junior introduced me.

"Good morning Miss Bueno.....good morning to all!" I said.

"You know Mr. Fernando, we have regulations here in school that when a parent visited his/her child in school...the student must introduce him/her parent on his classmates....and he's excused from class if he/she wanted to," the teacher said.

"Okay then, Marco Junior...let's find your little sister."

We visited Shaira Rose in her classroom, and I did the introduction too, then, left together with her maid, tutor, and the driver. I asked Edward to go to the shopping center to accompany my family while I was with the two kids.

"Daddy where are we going?" Marco junior asked.

"We're going shopping....eat in a fast food...what do you think?"

"Yes Daddy, I love it!"

"How about you beautiful lady?" I asked my daughter.

"Yes...Daddy...."

We drove along North Drive where we dined inside the Shakey's Pizza Parlor. I ordered a whole Pepperoni Pizza, salads a pitcher of soda.

"Marco Junior, Shaira......you like this pizza flavor?"

"Yes, Daddy," Junior answered.

"Okay let's eat now?" I said.

"Daddy, let's give thanks to the Lord first."

"Okay, lead the prayer, Marco Junior."

Marco Junior led the prayer to us, which gave me the heartfelt pride of being a father to this boy.

"Marco Junior, you're the eldest and you should give a good example to your sister. No matter what happens, just call me, okay son?"

"Yes Daddy, I will."

"You're in high school now...what course are you planning to take up son?"

"I will take up Bachelor of Arts first, then, another course, be like Papa Ben."

"Great my son....don't forget to pray always...okay son?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Would you want something to buy son?"

"Yes, Daddy.....computer notebook Daddy...."

We went to the computer shop nearby, search for a computer notebook and bought one.

"Thank you, Daddy!"

"Welcome my son....and for my beautiful princess, what do you like?" I hugged my little princess who just smiling and kissing me.

"Okay, I will buy you a big teddy bear....huh Shaira Rose?"

"Yes...Daddy!"

I bought a big Teddy bear for her in the next shop and I brought them home.

"Daddy, where's Mommy?" Marco Junior asked me.

"She's in Dubai, she's fine, and loves you so much."

"Okay, Daddy Bye!"

The two kids hugged me tightly and I left to go to the shopping center. I looked for them inside the center and found them eating inside the new restaurant.

"Ayah where's Edward? I asked.

"I saw him in the kitchen of the restaurant?"

"Why?"

"Larry's there inside the office."

I walked toward the counter and asked for Edward.

"Sir, just a minute I'll call him," The cashier answered me.

Edward appeared from the office and smiled, "Marco, how's your shopping spree with your kids?"

"Fine....and why are you there...in the office?"

"Look my friend, this is my new restaurant."

"Ohhh...I see... Let's eat my friend."

"Okay, but wait, when will be our partnership...for the new restaurant business?"

"I will organize the existing business here in Bacolod City....then, I'll be in Dubai for this new endeavor, okay Marco?"

"That's great Edward!"

"You'll stay here in Bacolod?"

"Tonight.... our flight going to Manila."

"Okay, take good care of your family...just call me if you want something for Marco Junior."

"Thanks a lot, my friend."

"Okay...take care...bye friend!"

I telephoned my manager in Dubai to get the reports and told me that everything was running smoothly. I dialed Danielle's number but her phone was closed. Again, I dialed the manpower office in Al Maktoum Street and asked about Danielle.

We came back to Bacoor, Cavite, and had a serious talk with Ayah Isabel, Bryan, and family.

"Ayah, take care of the children's welfare, hired professionals for them if you need. I want you to love them as much as I do. I'll provide you with a personal mobile phone for our communication. Send them to the best school in Manila when they graduated from elementary school. I want you to transfer to a condominium if you want to, just tell me. And for you Bryan, I want you to manage the manpower agencies in Makati and Ortigas branches. You know, Edward and I are planning to put up a new fast food concept in Metro Manila, Dubai, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The futures for these endeavors are very high in terms of monthly revenues. That's why I began my feasibility studies last year. I'll stay there in Dubai, then, in Saudi for these reasons and I need both of you to help me. Ayah, Bryan, you get what I mean?"

"Yes Marco, I'll submit to you my plans about our children and family," Ayah answered.

"As for me Marco, I'll do what you say," Bryan said.

"After organizing these works; legalities, documents, etc.... I'll be back in Dubai next week."

XXX

It was in the year 1993 of August when I went back to Dubai after my vacation.

My scheduled flight going to Dubai was on time on the evening of Saturday, the 14th day of August 1993. I was contemplating every detail of what I organized behind with Bryan and Ayah. The things that troubled me were the organization of my future business partnership with Edward.

Danielle did not call me even once while I was on vacation, nor anticipate my call on her mobile phone. The information which I had when I called the manpower office, really bothered me, but I had the notion that Roger Ferrer and Ryan Mallari were behind this problem.

When I landed at Dubai International Airport, again, I tried to call her but in vain. It was eleven in the morning that I directly reported to my office for I missed my work and to iron out any possible problem that may arise. I called my assistant to relay a message about an emergency meeting them.

The things in my mind were to reorganize the present placement of personnel and their new job responsibilities, the new approach to building sales, the lowering of in-store expenses, innovations, and additional outlets in different areas around the United Arab Emirates.

Since the manpower agency was different from the food business, I separated the strategies of the two entities when I reorganized my direction.

Around four in the afternoon, my assistant summoned me to my office and our meeting was ready in the conference room. I walked briskly towards the meeting place holding my laptop and folders. I seated and greeted

them all, "Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, everybody's present?"

"Sir, only Madam Danielle is absent," my assistant answered.

"Reason please..."

"I telephoned but her mobile is closed,"

"Any report about her when I'm away?"

"For the first month, she's with us but lately....not regular in attendance."

"Okay contact her today to report to me. First of all, kindly make reports for your respective management group for the past months, decipher the problems and solutions and for the overall impact and give your personal suggestions for the following; the opening of the new outlets, product innovations...any innovations that are helpful with our operations and any suggestions are welcome. I need your reports tomorrow evening. Understood?"

"Yes sir," they answered in unison.

"Okay dismissed, thank you to all."

I took a short rest to regain my strength and to think of the best possible action when the worse comes to worst. The more I experienced the food business, the more my maturity was showing in terms of overall management. As I studied in advance and the experienced that I had with my friends, I was thinking that this was the time to talk to them to work for me.

I started my round-up for my plans with Danielle at Jumeirah Beach around five in the afternoon riding in my car. I reached the house, opened it with my own duplicated key, entered, and looked around the house. I sensed something went wrong with this house, even the arrangement of the beddings. I continued searching around the house where I found an attaché case and three long folders. I hurriedly carry the items to the back of my car and left.

I stopped and parked at the parking lot near the Satwa Roundabout; walked towards the store where I worked before. I asked for Ruel Mondragon and we talked about the meeting next Friday morning. Then, I went to Bank Street to meet Mike Luna.

"How are you, my friend?"

"Fine Marco."

"What happened, any problem?"

"I'm troubled....lots of bad things happened to me...I heard you went on vacation?"

"Yes with my family...remember those days?"

"Yes, that was before when I planned to work here in Dubai...I thought everything's okay....how's..."

"I talked to her....she's also worried...I think it's your fault Mike...can we talk this over next Friday morning in my flat?"

"What about?"

"Helping you?"

"You helped me a lot Marco, what can I say...okay Marc, you're the boss!"

"That's my Pareng Mike...lady-killer...ha-ha-ha-ha-ha..."

"Beautiful ladies...always a problem..."

"That's right....only once in a while...not always..."

"Pareng Marco, speaking of beautiful ladies, I saw Danielle with Ryan once,then, with Roger, only two weeks ago..."

"Shhhhhh shut up! Can you come with me now...can we talk about this matter?"

"Where?"

"Which place do you like?"

"Le Rendezvous disco in Al Nasr Leisureland..."

"Okay then, I'll talk to your manager, emergency is the reason..."

"Ohhh you're the best Pare!"

I talked to Mike's manager, the favor was accepted and we left the place. Still, outside the mall, I asked Mike, "You have something to do in your flat, I can help?"

"What Pareng Marc?"

"You know me isn't it...I'll help you any way I can...the problem is you....you don't trust me....you decide without thinking...am I right Mike?" I touched his feelings. "Look what happened to you?" I touched his feelings.

"Look what happened to you?" I put my arms around his shoulders. "Where's your flat? Come on, we'll going to your flat." We went to Mike's flat in Karama. He was renting a room which amounted to 600 dirhams a month with his girlfriend.

"Marc, I don't have food to offer to you, just instant coffee," Mike said.

"It's okay, thank you."

"So, this is your life with your live-in partner?"

"Yes, Pare...it's hard for me now..."

"Why do you like this situation, because of a woman? How about your wife and son in the Philippines?" Mike dropped his eyes down to the floor, when he looked at me, tears started to form. "I cannot control myself Marco, I needed a woman by my side always."

"You are not trying your best Mike. I'm happy for you because you wanted to work here in Dubai, for your family....or for your selfish desires? Yes, we need women but not to interfere with our goals in life...we are the driver not them? If you want my help, then, change for the betterment of your life because I don't want disorganized people in my company. If you accept my offer, come with me in the car; I'll wait for you there for 5 minutes at the most."

I left him instantly without looking at him; sat in my car waiting for him. After two minutes, I saw him coming nearer to me.

"Marco...Pareng Marc, I'll go with you," he said looking at me into my eyes, "Then, come inside, we'll eat or drink?"

We ate in a Filipino Restaurant on Al Riqqa Street. I ordered grilled chicken breast, Indian poori bread, green salad, and ice cream as dessert. I slowly chewed my food which I observed him eating...I thought, he has not eaten this kind of food before?

"Mike, you want something more to eat? What do you like?" I asked him.

"Just order another grilled chicken for me."

"Fine Mike," as I ordered another grilled chicken. "Can you tell me now about Danielle, what you saw?"

"Yes, they're together at our coffee shop and talking each other....seemed some understanding between them."

"I see, okay."

"How about your live-in partner?"

"Yes, we're partners but she's having the monthly salary that I cannot move with my own. But, our way of living isn't good. Only that, I used her every time I want to..."

"If you want, I'll talk to her personally because I want you to work with me. I'm opening up more stores in the future. Are you in or just a little vague?"

"Pareng Marc I wanted to change my life...okay we'll talk to her."

"Great Pareng Mike...good....."

"I'll finish my food..."

"Yes, because I'll buy something for you, pants and a polo shirt..."

"Why?"

"Look at you? We'll have to drink in a hotel."

"Yes, okay Marco."

We went to the Al Guhrair Shopping Center, and bought Mike's Lacoste perfume, pants, a polo shirt, and shoes. I wanted him to dress like me, with a pleasing personality and a great lifestyle.

"Marc, I'll change my clothes inside the dressing room?" Mike asked me.

"Yes over there..."

"Pareng Marc...see, you like it?"

"Yes, I thought you're an actor, Kevin Costner!"

"I'm back in circulation again!"

"Okay let's go!"

"Where?"

"Marriott Hotel in Murraqabat Road..."

"Yes okay."

We headed to the hotel, found the bar, seated, and ordered a bottle of tequila.

"Drink Pareng Mike...no problem...."

"Okay, Cheers!"

"Cheers to us!"

"Mike, I wanted you to be with me and assist me with my job. I'll offer you 2,000 dirhams per month as your salary and other free benefits coming from me personally. You can stay with me I'll provide a room for you...It's better than working in a coffee shop with a salary of 1,000 dirhams. I'll process your documents here in Dubai...Are you with me?"

"You're so kind to me Marco..."

"Remember in Manila...You helped me and Ayah?"

"Okay Marco, I'll work for you."

"This coming Friday, we can meet in my flat...I mean a meeting with the group. You want an appetizer...beef steak?"

"Yes, Marco...Your shot now."

XXX