Contract And Marriage

Maximus

“What kind of work is this?” I asked harshly before throwing out the architecture team’s recommended designs. They all looked terrified before they had their heads down, unable to look me in my eyes. I don’t care about their feelings and couldn’t stop myself from getting angry either.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Sir, they’ve been working nonstop for two weeks on those designs,” Aries interjected, drawing my ire. Of my employees, he was the only one who was strong enough to say something or to talk back to me.

“And what are you implying? That it’s my fault their designs are useless?” I snapped at him, and he quickly shook his head.

“Why don’t we stop first and take a break?” he suggested, making me look at him, trying to understand what he wanted to accomplish by saying that. I took a deep breath and nodded before he turned to the architecture team. He was the only one I couldn’t scold too harshly, but sometimes I couldn’t help myself. Thankfully, he always understood. “You go ahead and take a break.” They stood and left the meeting room one by one after Aries spoke to them. I looked away and decided to pay attention outside the window.

Then, I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes, and gently massaged my temples. I could still feel Aries’ gaze, so I opened my eyes. “If you’re tired, sir, you can take a few days off. The other projects are fine; it’s just this township project that needs your attention.”

“And yet you want me to take a break.” He smiled before answering.

“You need it, and so does the team. Our architecture team comprises talented and capable architects and designers, and I know you know that. I just don’t want you to say something harsh to them out of exhaustion.”

“Thank you, Aries,” I said softly. “But I don’t need a break, though. I want to go home first.” I stood up from my seat, and he stepped aside to let me pass before I finally left the meeting room.

I was in the parking lot, sitting in my car. After starting the engine and turning on the air conditioning, I stayed there for a few minutes. Then, I remembered when Mariano took me to Los Angeles after I told him about my plan to return to the Philippines.

***

“Mr. Mariano?” the police officer asked hesitantly. I saw my brother nod before smiling slightly, and the officer continued, “This way, please,” and we followed him. I don’t know why I was here; I just thought that my brother wanted me to get out of his mansion.

“What did you find out?” my brother asked as soon as we entered what looked like an interrogation room.

“We discovered an accident somewhere on E. Shoreline Dr.” I frowned when I heard that. Was there a new incident my brother was dealing with from one of his transactions? “One of your men contacted me, and I was having difficulty with the case I was following.”

“I remember him telling me about a match to the samples he sent you,” my brother replied.

“Yes, Mr. Mariano. And if you are somehow related to her, I’m sorry to say that she might not be alive anymore,” the police said in a low voice. I didn’t know who they were talking about. Still, from what I heard, it seemed like the police were handling a case where my brother knew either the victim or the suspect, who unfortunately might be dead.

I noticed my brother looking at me, deepening my frown before he spoke again. “Did you find the body?”

“Unfortunately, no,” the officer said sadly. “But we don’t think she’s alive either because when we followed the blood trail, it ended at the shore.”

“She?” I couldn’t help but ask, especially since they were talking about a woman. I felt an inexplicable fear and suddenly thought of Sarina.

Mariano just looked at me and didn’t answer. Even the police officer said nothing and just handed over an envelope. What’s inside? Why is my brother being so secretive now? Was I thinking right? Does it have to do with my wife?

“That’s a copy of all the results,” said the police officer.

“Can you continue your investigation until you find out what happened?” Mariano insisted.

“Can you answer me? Who is she? Who is the woman you’re talking about?” My anxiety turned into fear and worry. What if they really talking about Sarina? It just dawned on me that Mariano wouldn’t need me here if this were related to his group’s transaction. It’s clear this involves me, so I can’t help but be annoyed at him for staying silent.

“Shut up, Maximus. I am trying to negotiate here,” my brother replied before turning back to the police officer, whose face was full of confusion. Maybe he was wondering why I was acting like this. “Please, officer. Don’t stop the investigation unless you find the body. Don’t just conclude based on a particular lead. There are many reasons why you might find some blood near that area, but it doesn’t mean she died there.”

“We found skid marks on the road, so we deduce she was hit by a vehicle. But the problem is, the CCTV in that area wasn’t working properly for over a week before the accident, so we’re having a hard time moving forward with our investigations since we need to check every car captured by the CCTV in other areas that might have taken that route. So, I can’t promise you this will be easy. You know how many cars pass by that road,” the officer said before looking at me, and then they said their goodbyes. We returned to the car afterward, but Mariano still didn’t speak except instructing the driver to head straight to E. Shoreline Dr.

I followed my brother out of the car when we reached our destination. He walked somewhere until he stopped near the Los Angeles River. There was a bench where he sat, and I sat beside him.

“Here,” he said, handing me the envelope the police officer had given. I took it with trembling hands and opened it, pulling out the contents. I didn’t want to look, but I wanted to know how this related to me. Fear gripped me as I finally took out the documents and looked at them.

The first thing I saw was the report about the DNA matching, and I was shocked to see Sarina’s name. “No, this is not true,” I said in disbelief. How could I accept this? There’s no way that I’d accept this.

“You heard the police; they are still investigating. It will just take some time,” Mariano said, trying to calm me before I broke down.

“He said the victim is probably de-” I couldn’t continue, knowing I was referring to my wife.

“Listen to me; just like I told him, many things might have happened. Look, Sarina went missing at the airport in Las Vegas. Why would she be dead here?” he asked, but I didn’t know how to answer. My mind wasn’t working because of what I’d read. “Think, Maximus!” he yelled at me because I still wasn’t responding, but my tears kept flowing.

“I don’t know what I will do if I find out she’s gone forever, Mariano.” My tears began falling, and I lost count of the times that I cried over a woman. This never happened to me. Even after my parents died, I never shed a tear for them. Not because I don’t love them. I just thought that I should be strong since it was only me and my grandmother who was left in this world. I should take care of my old woman since my uncles and aunties were not fond of her, and vice versa.

“Shit, Maximus! You have to think rationally!” Mariano exclaimed, looking at me like he never knew me. He had seen me at my worst, and I am not afraid of letting him see that side of me. He’s my brother, and at this time, he was the only one I could count on. But–

“How do you expect me to do that!!” I shouted back at him. It was as if he thought accepting all this was easy.

“Sarina went missing in Las Vegas, Maximus. Don’t you get it? How did she end up here? Didn’t it occur to you that she managed to escape from her kidnappers?”

Because of what he said, I looked at him. Could that really be the case? But what about the blood the police found here? It still didn’t make any sense. “If Sarina managed to escape her kidnappers, it only means she’s a strong woman and will try her best to get through whatever she’s going through. Believe in her, Maximus. You, more than anyone, should know her better. The police are still investigating, and so am I. So, don’t lose hope, and be strong for your wife.”

Could it be possible that she’s still alive? I would trade everything I have just to have her back. There’s nothing more I could wish for than to see her again.