chapter 7

"Vince, son, there you are!" Susan said with a big smile. I immediately got up from sitting on the long couch when I heard this.

I quickly ran closer to the door. "!" With a big smile, he opened his arms to greet me with a hug. Its body is warm. Reason for me to smile sweetly.

"What are you two, come in first. Hiro will pass by." Susan said laughing.

My eyebrows arched suddenly. It was only then that I noticed that Akihiro was at the door, waiting. The stare he gives Vince and me is cold. I just ignored him. Smiling I pulled Vince onto the sofa. "Did you say you'll be home next week?"

"Well, mom called me. She said dad needed an assistant to give birth to Mr. Lopez's pet horse."

I nodded. That's true, Dad Ben really needs an assistant to give birth to Mr. horse. Lopez. Mr. Lopez is the old owner of the rancho next to ours. We used to get used to when Tatang Ben and Kuya Vince helped Mr. Lopez. That old man was alone. Her only grandchild is in another country. Unreliable, there is always a complaint when asked to stay at the rancho. So Vince is the only one who is asked sometimes.

"You'll meet later. Come to the dining room and have lunch." Susan exclaimed that Vince and I immediately followed.

Arriving at the dining hall, Akihiro was already there. He was holding his cellphone. It looks like you're texting. Even before Vince and I sat down, Akihiro suddenly stood up. Because of that we all turned to him.

"Eat first. I just need to take a look at the mango." He said quickly before hurriedly leaving. Shrugging my shoulders I just focused on putting food on my plate.

"They'll be less." I commented just seeing the sacks of ripe mangoes. "Why didn't you let me know right away?"

"Eh Sir, we already know the whole idea. Daddy Ben also told us that you know everything that's going on in the whole hacienda. So we didn't bother to let you know." It was very painful when Ishmael said that.

I let out a violent sigh before glancing at the more than a hundred sacks of manga again. Like I said that would be less. More than three hundred sacks are needed to reach the expected number of Lazaro Dried Fruits products. I think we can reach that because of the vast mango plantation. Another more than a thousand were harvested from one tree. But now, not even half has been harvested.

"What are we going to do now Sir? This is the only time something like this has happened." Lucio asked.

"I'm going to investigate this matter. I have a feeling it's no accident that we've only harvested over a hundred sacks today." I said seriously before glancing at the workers who were starting to lift the sacks of manga. "Then you can rest. Tomorrow I will call a meeting about it."

"All right, Sir!" Simultaneous response of the workers.

It was two o'clock in the afternoon when I got back to the big house. I even went through a stable. I glanced at the pregnant horse there for a moment. After that I also went through the vast paddy field. Ugh okay, I went to every corner of the hacienda to make sure there was no other problem other than. I have a suspicion of stealing the mangoes that LDF makes dried mangoes.

"Akihiro, you just got home. I'll heat the food so you can eat." Mother Susan greeted me as I entered the dining hall. I was not surprised that Mayumi and Vincent were no longer in the dining room. At two o'clock, the two were probably talking in some part of the mansion.

"Have you all eaten yet?" I asked before sipping hot beef stew.

"Yes, we would all be waiting for you. That's why Vincent is in a hurry to leave. He has something important to do with the business he will build in town."

"Are they together with Mayumi?" I know I shouldn't have asked that. But maybe when we were step siblings, I was worried about Mayumi.

"Ah, no. Mayumi is just leaving too. She will apply in town."

My forehead furrowed. "Why not just LGC? Or will he manage LDF or his Mommy's jewelry shop?"

Mother Susan averted her eyes. Mayumi seems to be conspiring to do this. God, what can I do with that woman just to make her obey me? It is also tiring to run the big business left by Tito Arnold. If I hadn’t just thought about Mayumi’s condition, I would have left a long time ago. But now, he seems to be able to do it himself. Maybe I can leave everything in Mayumi's hands.

"You know that boy. When he doesn't want to, he doesn't want to. Right now Mayumi wants to work for another company. Maybe she wants those who will be with her to treat her normally. Unlike LGC, for sure that everyone will avoid her. That's what Mayumi doesn't want, Hiro. She doesn't want people to avoid her just because she's a Lazarus. Do you know the only thing she wanted back then was to have a normal life? does he have money? "

I was just dumbfounded by the food in front of me as mother Susan said that. Am I being too strict? Urgent? If so, I'll give it to Mayumi. Maybe three months is long. When he proves something, then I will give him everything he deserves.

After eating I immediately went back to mangahan. There were a few other workers I caught cleaning. Among them are Mang Ismael and Mang Lucio. Those are the only two I know very well because they are also the ones I am always instructed to lead the manga harvest.

I quietly approached them. The two turned their backs so they didn't notice I was behind them. I was about to call one of them when I heard what Mang Ismael said.

"Shall we tell Sir Hiro what we know?" Mang Ismael asked.

"That's right. But I think of my family, Ismael. My eldest can't stop studying. It's our only hope to pay for Lorenz's expensive tuition fee at school." Mang Lucio replied.

Strong tikhim I did. The eyes widened as the two turned to me. "I'll pay for it. Just tell me everything you know. Talk, Mang Lucio."

"S-Sir ..."

"Okay, I know you're scared." I nodded before putting my hands in the pocket of my pants. "But I should be the one who you should be scared of. Now, talk."

"Damn it to hell!" Annoyed, I said when the car I brought to town ran out of gas to apply for a job. Why didn't I think of refueling earlier?

I slammed the car door shut after I got out. I'm at the hacienda again. The only case was that it was thirty minutes before I got home. It will be a long walk before I can finally get home. It's okay for me to walk, it's just that it's five o'clock in the afternoon. The sky is darker today than yesterday. That means there is a chance of rain. So if I don't hurry, heavy rain will catch up with me on the road. But if I chose to stay in the car, I might be able to go home late at night.

I took a deep breath before pulling the cellphone out of my bag. Its battery is only fifteen percent. If I call home someone will surely pick me up. The problem is, will anyone answer especially since I know everyone is busy taking care of dinner. I was just shaken, I should give it a shot. Maybe someone can answer somehow.

I was about to type in the phone number at home when it suddenly misted. Slow in the beginning so I ignored. But suddenly it seemed to be raining stones because of the excessive size of the raindrops. I hurriedly reached the car door. But my eyes were just so masculine when I couldn’t open them. It's locked inside! I tried to find the key in my bag, but I failed to find it. So I mirrored the inside of the car. The key's inside, fucked!

I have no choice. I turned to my cellphone again. I dialed our telephone number. The phone rang three times but no one answered. I cursed. I'm already irritated! It was still cold because I was in the middle of the road and the only thing around was the flower garden. The wind is strong. God! I wish there was a stray guard or a worker coming home! But I doubt it. At five o'clock the hacienda staff returned home. And if there is any left, they will surely spend the rain in the little hut near the house.

My phone died. I would have been nervous so I just saw a light from the car or some car coming. I was suddenly encouraged. I waved at the driver, even though I knew it was unlikely to notice me because of the heavy rain. Moments later I stopped waving when I noticed that the car seemed to be speeding up. My eyes widened as its headlights went up. I slowly backed away which eventually turned into running. I let out a shout as it unconditionally hit my parked car. I wasted no more time. Frightened and trembling my knees forced me to run away. I chose to walk the flower garden.

I started crying. Who's after me? I don't want to die!

I felt someone following me so I accelerated my run even more. Even though I was already wounded by the sharp leaves and branches of the plants I did not stop. I need help! I need to get home!

But wait, if I can go home, am I sure I’m safe there? What if the person who wanted to kill me was also at home?

A wide one I came out. I saw a light from a booth. So I quickly went inside and immediately closed the door.

"Who are—." I quickly turned off the light. I also immediately covered the mouth of the man inside.

"Come inside! Maybe that's where it's hiding!" I gasped when I heard the voice of a man outside.

"Oh God, please help me," I said almost without a voice.

"Mayumi?" I cried even more. Weakly I sat down on the floor. "Damn it. What's happening?"

I shook violently. I was afraid to speak because someone might hear my voice. I just hugged my knees tightly and quietly cried. I can still feel my body's trembling.

The door slammed. I immediately looked around the booth. I have nothing to hide. Shit!

"Fuck!" Akihiro said emphatically before pushing me horizontally. He quickly took off the polo shirt he was wearing. I couldn't complain anymore when he covered me and without saying a word covered my mouth. He also slightly raised the hem of my dress. He tenderly caresses my thigh! And he's fucking kissing me!

"Who's there — oh!" The man was stunned when Akihiro faced him. "Sir Hiro, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. We thought the cat we were chasing came in here. All right, we'll go first."

My grip tightened on Akihiro's shoulder. He knows the men chasing me ?!