Chapter 51: Mission - Shanghai, China

The restaurants are also meeting places for North Korean intelligence officers and North Korean agents. Officials, businessmen, and overseas workers also frequent the restaurants to recruit targets for foreign intelligence services, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), China's Ministry of State Security, and South Korea's National Intelligence Service, as well as other spy agencies.

Around 7 in the evening, Oliver and I went to the Chinese Restaurant on top of Al Guhrair Center as scheduled. I told Oliver to go inside the restaurant alone, and I waited on the mezzanine floor where I purchased a cup of espresso coffee. Five minutes had passed, and I received a call from Oliver telling me to come up, but I told him to change the meeting place and that they should come down to the mezzanine floor.

"Okay Marco, I'll tell her. Wait for us at the coffee shop."

I waited for almost 10 minutes when they appeared suddenly in front of me.

"Marc...hurry...come...quick...!" I stood up quickly and followed them at once carrying my cup of coffee to the car near the KFC store at Al Riqqa Street. Oliver started the engine of the wheel and drove past the street going to Clock Tower Roundabout through Al Maktoum Bridge...to Al Nahyan Road.

We settled at the Pakistani Restaurant with broiled spicy chicken, green salad with yogurt, white rice, and cola. Talking about something very important was not conducive to this place, I said to them. So, I suggested another venue, a fine dining restaurant on the other side of the road. I positioned myself at the wall facing the dining area to view the guests inside the restaurant. On the other hand, I can also view Janet and Oliver at the same time. Within the scope of my instinct, I used my knowledge at The Farm, and Janet was within this range. The male server approached us at the table.

"Oliver, Janet, want to order something we can eat while talking? I'd like espresso and a sliced of tiramisu cake," I said at once without glancing at the menu.

"For me...same for you Marc. How about you Janet?" While she's not answering at once, I have time to size her up. At last, she said, "Same for you Oliver, Mr. Marco," shifting his eyes between us.

I initiated the conversation, "Janet, I would like to be frank with you as much as possible. The same with Oliver who's more than friend to me... his father Mike Luna, my best friend and partner before, that's why, I'm totally honest with Oliver." I looked at them squarely for 30 seconds, "I'm hoping that each of you must submit to my command when it's needed. Truthfully, I want you too, to be my business partner...well, in China of course. How about that Janet? Are you with us?"

"Yes Mr. Marco, I'll be with you, I'm sure about this partnership," Janet said happily, looking at me.

"Okay, then, right now, we're in the process of getting licenses and other legal matters. I think, within a week, we could start the second phase of the plan. I suggest that you can be with us daily. We need you for this plan." I observed them both again, "Oliver are you okay with this?"

"Yes Marc."

"Frankly speaking, get hold of your feelings...both of you... while we're on this endeavor. Stay focus...I know that the two of you been in relationship. Is that true Janet Liang? Come on, I need your reason or reasons right now."

"Marco, yes, I loved Janet and we're dating," Oliver said without any reservation.

"How about you Janet?"

"Yes Mr. Marc, I love Oliver so much."

"Okay then, I respect your decision Oliver, and for you too, Janet. But, I warned you, this is totally for business endeavors. I rented a flat in Deira where we could begin. Janet, kindly bring with you all the documents that you have, and the same for you Oliver. I want these documents to be checked by myself first." I sized them both by looking at them straight into their eyes. The thing that matters to them, that I doubted was constrained deep unto their hearts. I knew through my instinct that I couldn't succeed with my mission if these two people in front of me, were defiled with my wishes and my determination to penetrate China.

"Okay, then, let's proceed with our celebration because tomorrow is a day to remember, that our wealth will be doubled a hundred-folds through our Chinese brothers," I lifted my wine glass in front of them.

Oliver and Janet raised their wine glasses as well and said smiling, "Cheers!"

XXX

After a month of processing the documents and connecting with some people in Shanghai, The three of us found time to study very carefully the geographical location of Shanghai and its government system; Making most of our time exploring and discovering some other facts about Shanghai.

I deliberately studied some other facts about the place, in which my knowledge continue to grow and the excitement inside of me turned out positively possible.

As the days passed while waiting for our departure, I encouraged Oliver and Janet to take advance precautions for our job to penetrate the enemy lines.

I met different people not known to me personally and even keeps the fire burning within me. The unknown makes me vulnerable to discovering and playing the time within specific limits of my feelings.

As I said, boredom captured me when I have no exciting mission to fulfill.

I am a Billionaire and I am a Spy now.

XXX

Marco Fernando Junior POV
Shanghai, China

"Yes Papa Ben, I am here inside my apartment. I will wait for you. Bye."

Still holding the phone, Marco Fernando Jr. digests his thoughts about what reason his Papa Ben would do if he tells him about visiting the Philippines. He was almost two years now in Shanghai, China without much importance to his well-being. The remnants of the past about his parents could not totally erase from his mind even though his grandfather, Papa Ben was trying his best to change his outlook on life. Working in Shanghai, China was the starting point of his life to forget about his mother, Danielle Gustilo, and his personal life too.

In Biao Apartment (East Gate) near The Philippine Consulate in Changning District, Yan'An Road, where I lived, and also, near our Chinese food business Dongbei Ren, the things that I have almost done in the past years made me realize how vulnerable for me to decide with my life.

Somehow I have doubts that my Papa Ben deliberately demolished the bridges with my Billionaire father, Marco Fernando, my little sister Shaira Rose Gustilo Fernando, and the five children of my father with another woman named Ayah Isabel Gonzales Fernando. But, first I have to settle my life first with Hershey before it's too late.

After 30 minutes of waiting, I glimpsed the face of my grandfather Governor Benjamin Gustilo. I hugged him and say, "Good morning Papa Ben, how are you? Hope that you're all good," as he bear-hugged and kissed me on my face.

"Marco Gustilo Fernando Junior, my beloved, I am great and kicking as a stallion in the wild...ha..ha..ha..Do you prepare something to eat for both of us?"

"Yes Papa Ben, as always, a sumptuous breakfast as the way you want it!"

"Great, my son, great...come we will start at the table."

As we were heading to the table, I observed the way he walked with his demeanor. A man with discipline and very secretive about his job, but very vocal with his perception in the political arena.

"Come Junior, take your seat and start the prayer...come."

I started the Lord's Prayer and the blessing for our food and well-being, "Amen."

"Amen, bless you my son and your life, Amen." He solemnly said in front of me.

"Thank you Papa Ben." He smiled at me, then, grinning his white teeth, a habit.

"So, how are you my son, any updates about your decision to continue studying here in Shanghai, or you want to close the chapter of your life with your loving mother, Danielle?"

"Yes Papa Ben, please give me time to think it over. You know what I was going through with my life during my high school days and...and, what happened to my son? I think, Papa Ben time will heal those bad memories, and I will decide which way to go on, something beautiful I could come up with?"

"What's your plan son?"

"Papa Ben, please give me time to think it over, for a week, can you do it for me?"


"Yes sure my son, my blessing for you always. Keep it positive this time."

"Papa Ben, I was thinking the other day about my little sister, Shaira Rose and my father's family?"

I saw his face change and his emotion failed to be controlled inside him. I sensed his battle for these people for a long time. Even, my mother Danielle, his lone heiress, and daughter, whom he loved so dearly.

"Marc, son, don't be fool by them, but they are your family after all. I will divulge you some other new updates for your sister Shaira, in the coming days...and your father too, and his family. Well, for the meantime, I have to go, thank you my son for the breakfast!"

He stood abruptly and hugged me, saying goodbye, and kissed me on the forehead before he left. His walks are still the same as he came to a while ago.

I stayed the whole day sleeping and thinking about my past and all the decisions I made. It broiled down with my past high school life and the values I have to change. My heart and mind keep on hunting me to persuade the continuing the love life I had started.

XXX