Chapter 48: CIA HQ at Langley

It was really a phenomenal adventure when dealing with this kind of journey. Even before, I thought that life in other cities was bound by the creation of non-sense people who divulged their lives in such a rubbish endeavor.

Nonetheless, with my eager mind, I continued living as if I'm trying to find something that can boost my inner self. Instantly, this travel motivated me to gain access to the unknown. Really depressing but with my constant searching for the unknown I found it very refreshing.

I could constantly receive enormous answers to why these people wanted to capture my senses, in a way that I could not fathom why I am doing this crazy thing. My way of dealing with people, especially Americans conformed to my standard of knowing something different from my usual lifestyle. It's not merely just to deal with them, but to encourage myself to know more about them.

I knew where I stand because I am famous and a Billionaire...and getting bored without excitement.

My past endeavors are mostly from the Gulf countries in the Middle East and Filipinos who in one way or the other respect me for what I've gone through with my life. The past gives nothing from what I construed as the movers of my present situation. There's nothing can be deprived of my journey in life in which I, for one, know the real meaning of the future.

As I stepped onto American soil, I felt an inspiring moment wherein I came back as a person, not a tourist willing to explore only the beauty of America. Those were the days when my life was bounded by my caprices and whims to discover things on my own. That's selfishness I'm sure, but not destruction? Moving forward across the continent was not merely a chance but destiny to explore the beauty of mankind.

A certain Mr. Harold Buckwell picked us up at the airport lounge and drove in a limousine. I glanced sideways on my left side where Oliver Luna was seated busily with his thoughts too.

"Oliver...Oliver...are you alright?" I asked him without thinking why and the sudden words coming from me made Oliver jerk instantly while I hold his right hand. "Are you okay I said?"

"I'm fine Sir Marc. It's just that...beautiful...you know, first time in the USA..."

"Ahhhh I see. Okay, compose yourself we're approaching the hotel."

We entered the hotel with a feeling of importance, the way I envisioned in the past. I thought that the time has come for me. Even though we're on the soil of the American people, the same feeling I felt for them, was friendly and helpful. But what I didn't understand was the thing that I'm going to accept because of my children's security.

I reached this far for me to understand the meaning of what I was doing in the past. Nothing seemed in place for my family, when in fact, I had everything to provide for them. It really matters this time, when I have the energy and resources for them in case the worse comes to the worst.

Mr. Buckwell accompanied us to our room, handed in an envelope, and say goodbye. I read the content, put it on a side table, and lie down in bed.

"Oliver, call and order some food for us...and a bottle of vodka, and...orange juice," I said while looking at the ceiling.

"Okay Sir Marc...for a while."

"Oliver, just call me by my name, that's all."

"Okay, if that's what you want...Marco..." Oliver answered doubting his action.

After 5 minutes had passed, I heard a knock at the door and Oliver opened the door. "Sir, your order...for Mr. Marco Fernando," the waiter said to Oliver while pushing the trolley with our order.

Oliver answered, "Thank you, kindly put it on the table."

When the waiter left, I stood up and walked towards the dining where Oliver set the table. He was amazed by my sudden appearance, "Ohhh...Sir.Marco?"

"Yes, it's me, have a seat we'll eat, for tomorrow is another exciting day for us. We'll be together for this isn't it Oliver? I need you...you'll always with me...altogether," while pouring shots of vodka for two.

"Yes Marco."

I raised my glass, "Cheers!" Oliver raised his glass too and said, "Cheers to our success Marc!"

We enjoyed the food and talked about different topics and I intended to discover some facets of Oliver's personality. As far as my knowledge's concerned, still, my trust for him deepened to carry the job ahead which I knew endangers his life. It's his willingness to serve me because of his father's fault? Maybe not...maybe yes? I thought.

The next day Mr. Harold Buckwell fetched us at the hotel and brought us to the CIA HQ at Langley. We directly went inside a huge room, seated ourselves, and left. We wandered our eyes to this amazing place where for the first time I noticed something different from a usual room.

"Good morning Sirs!" A tall guy greeted us behind our backs. We stood up and answered, "Good morning!"

"Please be seated Mr. Marco Fernando...and who's with you Sir?"

"Sir, this is Mr. Oliver Luna...my aide and confidante."

"I see...how are you Mr. Luna?" while extending his right hand to Oliver.

"I'm fine Sir."

"Well, first of all, let me introduce myself, I'm Mr. George Cooper, in charge for this matter which I have to deliberate the core elements of the subject. Mr. Fernando, I suggest that your orientation will start as soon as we finalize the components. Right now, we have other things to begin with at the second floor. Okay, come with me please."

I stood up, "Mr. Cooper, we came here together, and it means that the two of us will be together for this orientation?"

"Okay Mr. Fernando, I'll see what I can do."

"Okay Sir."

On the second floor, we entered another room with numerous people sitting at the front of the rostrum. We seated at the back while Mr. Cooper approached a man and talked. After a minute, he went to the rostrum and spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen...good morning. Mr. Fernando's here for the program, to be discussed by us which all of you, I presumed, one way or the other, connected with this program. First of all, let's welcome Mr. Marco Fernando and Mr. Oliver Luna!"

Everybody stood up, including us, and Mr. Cooper encouraged us to introduce ourselves to the front. We obliged together and followed the ceremony and afterward received two confidential folders from Mr. Cooper.

We went to our hotel room, refreshed ourselves, ate some comfort foods, and open a bottle of wine. "Let's celebrate Oliver!" I shouted.

"Marco, are we celebrating, for what occasion, may I ask?"

"Our time has come...it's just a beginning, I mean, this CIA thing, isn't it?"

"Yes Marc...but it's very dangerous for you...for both of us..."

"No Oliver, this is what I'm waiting for...I feel it!"

"Okay, I'll be with you Marco...all the way...I...I mean my whole life..."

"Are you sure Oliver, the same as your father Mike?"

"Yes Marco, I knew all about you and my father...your relationship...I mean, everything about him and you. You know, I want to be different from him, but I cannot deny when I am with you. I'm younger than you, but I need a life too...a family of my own someday."

"Do you have regrets, Oliver?"

"No Sir...nothing whatsoever...at present I am with you, but not sure in the future, maybe..."

"Well, fine for me," I said hugging him as a son...as a friend.

"Cheers! Are you ready?" Oliver answered with a smile that I noticed at once, a smile of his father Mike when comfortable talking with me.

We opened the folders together and read the contents. Study it very carefully. Browsed online for some information that we cannot understand, discussed some un-agreeable situations, anything until we slept holding our coffee cups.

The next day I woke up while Oliver was already preparing our breakfast, casual-dressed and ready to go. He prepared our luggage and personal belongings. As I expected, everything's in place for our trip to the Training Center called THE FARM.

"Well...well...the ever-ready man...everything's ready! I love it, man! Nice...nice," smiling to myself that what I expected from him showed up, really working.

"Bathroom is ready for you and breakfast of course...and before we leave, check the report on your laptop and your emails."

"Okay, thank you, Oliver," and I went to the bathroom to freshen-up feeling contented. The way my feelings were in the past when I aimed for something which I knew I can.

XXX