Chapter 8: The Governor's Secret Offer

Daniel's father invited me to the Sugarlandia Hotel to talk about the life situation of his only son. I went straight to the said place, asked for information at the counter, and sat in the lounge area of the hotel. I felt some doubts inside me, which I could not explain. Am I afraid, afraid of what? Afraid ..? Fear of rejection? Or am I not ready to meet the Governor face to face?

Governor Benjamin Montenegro is the governor of Negros Island; a high official in the Sugar Industry with a lot of political influence and a wealthy family in the south of the island. As reported by my investigator Mr. Rudy Neri, the Montenegro family has private armies to support them in political and private situations. He was elected governor of the island. A rich and powerful man!

I slowly walked through the lobby to the end of the building and found room 101 on the left side of the building. At the front door, I started ringing the doorbell. Two uniformed men met me and took me to a room that had nothing but a small table and two chairs along the wall. They made me sit in a chair facing the wall and left. After a few minutes, I heard the doorknob move slowly and felt someone enter the room. I didn't move, I just felt like I was still facing the wall.

I could smell his perfume. He patted my left shoulder and sat in front of me. He looked at me, eye to eye, but I kept my posture and tried to be a brave, responsible girl. He extended his hand to me for a handshake. I accepted the right hand and said, "Good morning Governor, it is an honor to meet you."

He didn't say a word but was looking at me; he slowly moved, called his men, and faced me again. My stomach twisted with fear, even my eyes kept moving in every direction."I am Governor Montenegro, father of Daniel Montenegro. I want to talk to you about my son. You know, there is no secret of Daniel that I don't know. Even you, I know everything about you. I love Daniel, he is my only child. As a father, I am ready to give him everything he wants in life. I think you know me as a politician who rules this island. With my social status, I cannot reveal the relationship of my son in society. I want it to be ... a secret thing."

I was listening, just watching him; the forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, lips, and the expression on his face. My mind then wondered what would be the result of me agreeing to marry his son, Daniel, marrying Raymond.

Suddenly, a man entered the door and put the black bag on the table, and left. Mr. Montenegro looked at it, and so did I, my eyes on the bag in front of me. I glanced around the room but couldn't help but face Mr. Montenegro. His eyes met mine, knowing that I fully understood what he wanted me to do."Veronica, I want you to take this bag, it's full of money, but I want you to marry Daniel. This money is not mine but it will help you in any way you want, to start a new life with Daniel. Take this money and marry my only son..."

I was amazed at his demeanor, the conversation that I had never thought of before. I was shocked by his behavior ... agitated, my stomach churned a little, and adjusted my sitting position. The dryness of my throat began to bring an uneasy feeling inside and out."Mr. Montenegro, does your son know about this meeting?" I asked coming from my swollen throat.

"No, he has nothing to do with it, except that he's at the farm right now. Would you like to visit him?"

"Sir, to tell you frankly, I am surprised by this event and I cannot make up my mind now. Can you give me a little time to think about it .... in a week, Sir?" I saw him, and his facial expression changed.

"Okay Veronica, we will meet after a week at the same place, just ask the information counter of the hotel for the schedule of our meeting. Thank you for your time and have a nice meeting with you."

I left the room feeling very tired. I sat down in the hotel lobby to compose myself. A few minutes later, I went home. With the incident weighing on my heart, I went to the kitchen, checked the fridge, opened a bottle of beer, and drank - bottoms up. I opened another one, for leveling up with what I had in mind. It bothered me a lot; why do I have to decide this way? Why choose me over these two men? And, why is this happening to me? What is important to me ... Money, Family Life, comfortable life ... or being me?

I slept the whole afternoon with a confused mind, I woke up to the blackness wiping out the face of the earth. Thinking of something exciting, I showered, dressed thoroughly; took a cab to Emily Villar's place. Next to the Riviera Café & Restaurant, I bought a bottle of cough syrup at the pharmacy store, put it in my pocket, and entered the restaurant going straight to the comfort room, the closet. I looked around for those who were interfering with what I was doing inside the cubicle. Negatively, I opened the bottle of cough syrup, drank the contents in one go, and threw the empty bottle in the trash. I quickly walked to the dining table of the restaurant and looked for Emily.

"What's wrong, friend? Are you okay?" Emily asked.

"Hurry up... hurry up, hurry up!! Give me a slice of lemon..go..go .."

Emily handed over a slice of lemon and I sucked on it like a baby, closed my eyes, and got comfortable."Queen Emily, can you give me two shots of espresso coffee? I'll charge your account, I'll pay you next week? After the espresso, a cup of American Coffee, okay friend?"

Emily looked at me angrily. She knows very well why I ordered like this. "Veronica, there's no problem with the coffee my friend and there's no problem if you borrow. But the problem is why it's like that again. Why, what's the problem?"

"Isn't it payday today? Let's go around Bacolod City my friend! I'll wait for you, okay? I'll tell you something tonight, a big buck!" I exclaimed.

"Alright, take your seat over there Veronica, be calm, and have a coffee, please wait for me my friend until I come out."

I positioned myself in the corner of the dining section and disguised myself so the customers wouldn't recognize me. I immediately started drinking my two shots of espresso, then slowly gulped down the Coffee Americano. Within minutes, I felt myself enjoying the chemical reaction of cough syrup - a bottle. 120 ml. I waited for Emily until ten at night. We left the restaurant together, hailing a taxicab going to our favorite disco house. Once we were inside, the music soothed my energetic, energetic self. I danced down the aisle, while Emily continued to hold my right arm, telling me not to make a scene. We sat near the wall facing the dance floor; a suitable place for us to view the entire dance floor and the disco-goers. Emily ordered a bottle of Jose Cuervo Tequila, a plate of beefsteak, and a plate of seared tuna. "Waiter, please, more lemon slices .... and salt too."

"Yes Miss I got your orders, what else Miss?" the waiter asked.

"Oh, by the way, may I know your name? Are you new here?" Emily asked.

"My name is Joel Castellano Miss ... I'm new here. This is my second job as a waiter after graduating from the University of Negros Occidental. I tried to find a job in my course but I failed. So, here I am working, waiting for my fate at the restaurant."

"I see ... me too, working in a restaurant for a long time now; living alone ... I separated from my husband with two children. Nice meeting you Joel. Visit me if you have time in the Riviera Café & Restaurant on Lacson Street.”

"Okay Miss, I'll take your order. Thank you!"

"Okay, Joel can you please give us bowls of hot soup too?"

"Yes Miss ... okay."

Emily asked me if I wanted to eat white rice to settle my stomach. I nodded negatively.“So, what do you want, Kinilaw and just beefsteak ... or hot noodle soup? "

"No, I want to dance, the music is good!" I said and immediately got up, went to the dance floor, and started dancing to the music. I felt the ground move under my feet, the lights move in different directions, and beads of my sweat fall to the floor. My energetic dancing was suddenly stunted as slow music began to play. I held on to the dance floor railing catching my breath. I stood there for a few minutes and finally let out a loud cry, "Wheeeewwwwww, it's delicious!"

All the customers looked. I saw Emily approaching where I was standing, pulled my arm, and led me to our table."Hey Veronica Villamor, what are you doing? People are looking at you. Be human my friend okay?"

I just nodded, I started drinking a shot of tequila, with salt and sliced lemon, and three slices of beef steak. Then, I ate the fried rice and took a bite of a bowl of soup. I was so satisfied and satisfied that I asked Emily to order more."What? Slow down, Veronica, I'm not rich enough to order more.."

"Hey… hey Emily is my best friend… next week, I'm rich… a rich creature! You shop, you swim in drink… until the end of the world… and… and .. we will buy everything ... as in everything! I shouted, losing my shame in the crowd of people."

"Hey, Veronica !! Stop it ... stop it !! What's wrong with you, friend?" Emily asked angrily. "What happened to you? Are you crazy? You have no money in your pocket ... All right, let's go!"

"Joel, bill please ... how much?"

"One thousand five hundred pesos Miss," Joel answered.

"Here, two thousand pesos, keep the change," Emily said.

"Thank you mam!"

XXX