Chapter 36: The Billionaire's Dream

We happily continued our conversation while drinking when Mike noticed Danielle Gustilo and Roger Ferrer come inside the bar, seated, and ordered.

"Marco, look, it is Danielle ....and Roger Ferrer..." Mike whispered to me.

"Where...What table?"

"Over there....near the counter..."

"Ohhh....yes, it's them....back me up, okay?" I went to their table, seated in front of them, and looked at them without saying a word,

"How's the night Danielle?"

"Marco.....Marc just going out with Roger...my life is boring for the past months...you know..." Danielle answered.

"Can we talk personally, just you and me.... without the presence of an alien from Mars-like your companion now?"

"I'm not an alien you rotten....." Roger answered.

"Go...go...out!" I suddenly clamped my palm to Roger's fingers and twisted it.

He went outside and Mike followed and observed him. When Mike came back, I gave him money for the payment of our food and drinks.

"Mike, drive my car....follow me to Jumeirah Beach...here's the key..."

"Okay Marco, I'll follow you at the back..."

I held Danielle's hand tightly towards her car, "Where's the key?" I said seriously to her. She got on her bag and handed it to me, "Now, get inside!" Pushing her to the front seat.

I drove the car headed to Jumeirah Beach without saying a word and Mike followed us. I parked the car in a parking lot in front of the house, opened the car, and pulled Danielle out. She opened the door and seated on the sofa.

"Now talk!" I shouted at her. "What's the meaning of this?" While Mike served us hot coffee, "Why you're not answering your phone?" She's not answering me that I banged the flower vase at the wall.

"You want to know Marco?"

"Yes, I want to know everything!"

"I'm bored with my life...You have your own family, but look at me....nothing!" Danielle answered while crying.

"We have children Danielle...I love them...and I love you!"

"Loving me...more than your family...huh Marco?"

"We have an agreement, Danielle...We talked about this before, isn't it?"

"Yes but I want that to be canceled!"

"Or...are you taking revenge with me?"

"You're thinking that....you fool!"

"Why, Roger teaches you to do that?"

"Roger Ferrer can give what I want in life now...he proposed to me....a marriage...Can you give that Marco?"

"Ohhh, don't you dare me, Danielle!"

"Yes, Marco!"

I grabbed Danielle's neck and slapped her checks while Mike held me tightly away from her.

"Danielle...go to your room!" Mike commanded her while still holding me.

Mike and I seated for a while, got a bottle of Tequila, and continued our session.

"Like where's the lemon?"

"Sorry, I forgot...for a while..." He got a sliced lemon and put it on a table.

"Mike, what do think of my situation?"

"Marco, I could not give you a word that can describe your situation with Danielle....even me, I have issues with my woman....but I think, follow what's best for you."

"And...some more..."

"And....secured your children in Bacolod City...."

"And..."

"Do you love Danielle beside Ayah.... your family?"

"I started to love her since she was here in Dubai....have another child...and now....." My word are lost in the stillness of the night my tears suddenly fall without knowing it.

"Pareng Marco...I understand you..." Mike held my hand. "You know what, I remember when we first met at the pier, I saw you as a fighter...."

"Yes Mike....a new love blossomed for Danielle...but she ruined it instantly."

"Marco...let's go to sleep...we have a lot to do tomorrow I think?"

"Okay, let's sleep here on the sofa...wake me up at seven in the morning Mike."

"Fine....okay Marc."

We slept together on the sofa not knowing what happened while I was sleeping. Mike woke me up and I instantly asked him.

"What time is it Mike?"

"Six-thirty in the morning."

"Where is she?"

"Still.... inside the room."

"Okay...call her....I'll take a bath first."

When I finished taking a bath I observed that she was not at the dining table. I put on my clothes and asked Mike about Danielle.

"I knocked on the door but she's not answering Marc."

I dialed her number, and waited but still did not answer the phone.

"Mike let's go."

I worked early in my office; listed all the people that I want to talk to through the telephone, emails, and personal meetings. I checked the stores' productivity, revenues, expenses, and stocks for the last three months when I was on vacation. I called up Ayah Isabel first over the phone.

"Hello Ayah, how are you and the children?"

"I am fine Marco, and you?"

"Just a little headache, but I'm fine."

"It's early morning there...how's Bryan and Donna?"

"They're good...Bryan started to organize the people and check the documents. By the way, Lina asked me to work with Bryan in Makati, so I accepted her on Bryan workforce."

"Good my love...thank you for your leadership...how's Lina? She's still living in Imus, Cavite with her son?"

"Yes, Marco...his son in high school now...but I think Lina has a suitor right now."

"Actually I hired Mike Luna as my assistant, I felt he's still wanted to take Lina back? Just talk to Lina about it and I'm the one to make a move for them."

"Tell Bryan to call me here in Dubai...I want to talk to him."

"Okay, Marc...I love you....take care always...."

"Love you too...give my kiss to all the kids."

"I will Marc, bye."

I made a strong instant coffee in the office kitchen and dialed Edward's mobile number, "Hello, good morning Edward the King!... Get up!"

"Good morning Marco...I'm still sleepy....you greedy-dragon-in-the...."

"Wash your face....you moron..."

"What's up?"

"How's your food business? By the way, where are you right now? Bantayan or Bacolod?"

"Of course here in Bacolod....with my business."

"Can you come here to Dubai this coming Thursday? We'll organize the concept of our new business partnership...."

"I'm quite busy....but for sure, I'll attend because this is the first time I can experience the "City of Dreams." Kindly tell Ronnie that I'm coming...what do you want me to bring?Pinipig, latik, siopao, siomai...say it my friend...I'm excited!"

"Hey, you crazy boars...don't forget my Philippine mangoes...green and yellow..."

"That's all?"

"And Bibingka...."

"Wheww.... great of you!"

"Seriously, I need some Filipino recipes that we can utilize with our food business. Also, bring samples of packaging materials from different manufacturing companies there in the Philippines....and don't forget the cost of each. And, prepare a report about the Philippine fast-food industry."

"Okay Marco, I'll do it starting today...too much assignment for me...."

"That's good for you....you can do it....you crazy businessman!"

"Okay Marco, bye!"

"Bye Edward!"

Before I resumed calling my father, I called Mike for our lunch which he suggested to be eaten in the office kitchen.

"Mike how about a food delivery from our store in Al Riqqa?"

"Okay, I'll call them."

"Just call me here if the food's ready okay?"

"Yes, Marco."

I dialed my father's cellphone number, "Papa good morning..... Still, sleeping? How are you?"

"It's you son, Marco, we're fine...I'm waiting for your call."

"I see ....where is Mama?"

"Still sleeping...I'll wake her up?"

"No Papa...Kindly send the list of our relatives who would like to work here in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. I'll apply for them their visas, be sure they have complete documents, especially passports. I'll give you the person whom you have to submit in Bacolod City."

"Okay son, I'll do it as soon as possible."

"Yes, father, please...if you cannot do it, tell Brother Manuel to help you."

"Okay, son Bye."

I dialed Danielle's mobile number but still, she's not answering it. I stood up and called Mike to come with me.

"Marco, our lunch is ready....where are we going?"

"Wrap it up...we'll eat lunch in Jumeirah Beach house.?"

"Okay, just a minute..."

We traveled from Al Riqqa Road passed through the Clock Tower to Karama, turned to Dubai Ports going to Jumeirah Road. We hurriedly parked, open the door and call Danielle. Nobody's answering when we knocked on the door of her room which was locked. I tried to call her for the second time but still, she's not answering.

"Mike, get something that we can open this door," I ordered.

"Okay, Marco."

Mike gave me a hammer that instantly banged the doorknob and came inside. We saw Danielle sitting in bed reading a pocketbook without looking at us, "What happened to you huh," I said in a loud voice, "What you want now?" She continued reading the pocketbook without saying a word. I approached her and sat on the bed beside her.

"Danielle, I can't go on with you when you're behaving like that...please talk to me..." She looked at me with hatred in her eyes, then back again reading her book.

"Say it to me...what I'm going to do...please Danielle..."

"Leave me alone...alone!" She shouted at me.

"How can I leave you with your situation here?"

"I can manage by myself..."

"Are you telling me that you don't love me anymore?" She didn't answer, instead, she stood up and went to the kitchen where I followed her.

"And why are you following me, you bastard!" She shouted at me with all her might, hatred in her eyes, the fiery face I always wanted....besides loving her? She shouted at me on my face and I slapped her face with force. She slumped on the kitchen sink, gets a knife, and stabbed me; but I held her hand tightly and the knife dropped to the floor. My temper got broiled, I clamped both palms on her neck and Mike suddenly released my hands to her. She choked running to her room and locking the door.

I punched the tiled wall with my right hand that blood oozes instantly. Mike held my hand, got his handkerchief, and tied it, "Marco, let's go to the hospital...quick!"

We went to the car while Mike held my hand and told me to carry it with my left hand. He drove going to the nearest hospital and admit me to the emergency section. I was treated but luckily there was no bone fracture that I was released at once. We went to Jumeirah Beach to clear our mind and shouted at the shore while crying. The hurt that I felt was relieved with the help of the sea breeze that touched my face and heart. Mike approached me on the shore coming from the car. He extended his hands to my shoulder and comforted me.

"Mike...sorry..." I said.

"No problem Pareng Marco.... Still here for you."

"Mike you have to resign from your job and I'll process your papers back here in Dubai. Are you willing to have a vacation in the Philippines?"

"Yes, Marco I'll submit my resignation tomorrow."

"Okay then, let's go...let's have our lunch...you like pizza?"

"Anything Marc...."

"Let's drive to the Pizza Hut store in Jumeirah-Satwa Road...come..."

Again, Mike drove the car going to the Pizza Hut store. We ordered a whole Pepperoni pizza, salads, and cola. Both of us ate hastily so I ordered another whole Hawaiian pizza.

"Mike your wife is working with the manpower agency in Makati, Ayah hired her."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes trust me...I talked to Ayah this morning."

"How is she?"

"Of course, she's back to her form again...sexy and single. Why are still interested in her?"

"We have a son remember, how's my son?"

"Your son's studying in high school...why your son, you're not providing them."

"Sorry Marc, but this time I have to talk to Lina about this...when I'm going to the Philippines for vacation."

"Good...try to return to her because she has a suitor right now."

"Thank you, Marc."

"You want something more?"

"I'm full Marco."

"Okay let's go to Al Riqqa....in my office."

We returned to my office in Al Riqqa Street which was on the second floor of the first store outlet. The four-store outlets really gained profits because of the in-flocks of foreign nationals to Dubai City after the Gulf War.

The international news announced that the Allied forces were willing to reconstruct Iraq after the destruction. Manpower requirements were needed for these endeavors and I was targeting more contracts from different companies.

I approached my attorney who was maintaining our legal business transactions about the possibility of transferring all the businesses to my name. I received a positive answer from him and talk to him about the approval of manpower visas for the new staff that I was planning to hire. I told him to issue documents of transfer which I was planning to be executed by Danielle Gustilo.

I telephoned Joel Arevalo, Arnold Castillano, Susan Magtoto, and Vivian Montoya for the forthcoming meeting on Friday.

Also, I contacted the two manpower agencies for a possible meeting with them and assigned them to submit reports about the operations. Mike Luna submitted his resignation paper to his employer and was accepted. We went home to my flat, took baths, and dressed up. It was six o'clock in the evening when I finished the daily duty that I asked Mike to accompany me for another mission.

"Marco, what's our mission tonight?" Mike said.

"We have to visit my friend Ryan Mallari on Deira's side." We steered going to Ryan's flat where we directly went upstairs and knocked on the door, "Good evening, Ryan's there inside? I said to a man who opened the door. Ryan appeared with an angry face to us.

"Why are you here?"

"You're my friend isn't it?" Teasing him with a smile. "Can we talk?"

"Come inside..."

"Can we talk inside your room Ryan?"

"Sure...come inside..."

We went inside his room while Mike was at my back ready for any trouble.

"What can I do for you?"

"You can do a lot for me if you'll answer me honestly."

"Why....do you expect me to answer you honestly?"

"Yes...you will... I know."

"Then...what is it?"

"You connived with Miss Danielle and Joel Arevalo to implicate me with my vices here in Dubai?"

"Yes....that was before...but not now."

"Are you saying that you don't owe me what you've done to me?"

"Marco...please..."

"You owe me something and I need payment, right Ryan?" He didn't answer me. "How about with Danielle and Roger Ferrer....are you helping them while I'm away?" Still not saying a word, he's just looking at me.

"Answer me.....I need your answer!" I shouted at him fiercely.

"Roger Ferrer loved Danielle so much....he talked to me in helping him..." Ryan answered.

"How....can you elaborate for me?"

"I told some information about Danielle....that's it."

"What information?"

"That she's kind of a wealthy person...that's all."

"Why?"

"Because he liked Danielle....he's in love with Danielle..."

"So, where's Roger right now?"

"Still working in Al Fahidi store....same company."

"Good....don't ever help him anymore... here are the 5,000 dirhams as a gift from me...Come on, take it." He accepted and thanked me. "I have an offer for you....do you want to be with us?" I mean to work with my company?"

"Yes, Marco....actually I don't have work right now..."

"Do you promise....to be loyal to me?"

"Yes, Marc...yes...Actually I heard that Roger and Danielle have a date tonight at Le Rendezvous Disco at Al Nasr Leisureland."

XXX