Monica
Encounter
The cold wind blew in our direction. My loose hair was swaying with the wind while the tall grass danced.
I am still hoping that my father will move. I am hoping that he is still alive. I am hoping that this is just a prank.
But it is not.
He's dead. He's not moving nor breathing. But his eyes are still looking at me.
"Papa..." I called. I don't have the strength to talk anymore.
I'll take it from here. You should rest.
I closed his eyes with my hands. His body wasn't that hot anymore and I cried even more when I thought about how we were now.
"Monica let's go," Helga said while helping me to stand up.
My lips parted when I saw the men who had previously been armed but were now also lying on the grass and unconscious. Even the one who shot my father was already bloody lying on the grass. Carter and Helga were also wounded. Carter had a cut on his left leg but was still standing firmly while Helga had a bullet scratch on her arm but I saw it also had a wound on her side.
"My father. Papa..." I am really out of words.
"We have to leave now because we're not sure if there's anyone next to them!" Helga pulled me away but I didn't say a word. She is still strong even though she has been wounded.
"No. Papa. He's dead." I whispered. My lips stuttered and trembled.
"Signorina, we can't stay here long. You're not safe yet." Carter replied as he approached.
"We can't leave Papa here," I muttered when I mentioned Papa.
"We don't have time, Signorina! I'll get back to Signor when I'm sure you're safe!" Carter shouted and pulled my arm closer to the car.
"Papa! He can't be left here! Papa!" I shouted. But they did not listen to me.
I scrambled to keep from getting in the car. Some parts of it had bullet holes and two windows had broken glass shattered to the ground.
"Papa!" I cried.
"Signorina, please!" Carter's plea.
I couldn't stop crying when I remembered my Dad. I can't accept that he's dead now. Mercilessly killed by any of that man.
"Papa is dead," I said in a hoarse tone. I hugged Carter because I had nothing to hold on to right now.
I still can't believe what happened to him today.
"I know, Signorina. It's my fault because I didn't protect him. And I won't repeat that mistake to you so I'll do everything to keep you safe." Carter said softly as he gently caressed my back.
"They killed Papa without a fight," I whispered as I pressed my head against his chest.
"Hush, Monica. We need to get out of here." I heard Helga say that.
"I promise I'll protect you, Monica. Even if I risk my life ... just be saved." Carter said which made me cry even more.
There are people who will do everything for me. To save my life. To meet my needs. Even if they risk their life, they don't care. The only important thing is that I survive. But me, what have I done for these people? What have I returned to my debts to them? I haven't done anything nice for them yet but they will still do everything for me.
Doesn't that seem unfair? They give everything they can but I remain worthless living in this world.
"Helga!" Carter shouted.
I turned in Helga's direction and she was weakly leaning against our car. Her hands were covered in blood as the blood flowed incessantly to her wounds on her arm and side. Her lips are also colorless and her eyes are slightly closed. I let go of my hug with Carter and attended to the weary Helga.
"Helga! No! Please!" I shook her shoulder but her expression did not change. Her lips remain colorless.
"Carter! Let's go to the hospital! Helga needs to be treated!" I ordered.
I opened the passenger seat and helped Helga get into it. I leaned over her so she could lean on something. Carter closed the door and turned to the driver's seat. He had already started the car but we turned in the direction of our new house.
"We must go to the hospital, Carter." I said.
"We can't stay away, Monica. It's better to treat Helga at home now that you're not safe." He answered.
"But we don't have anything in the house!" I shouted.
Carter did not answer but quickened his pace. I joined Helga who was still fainting beside me.
"Please hang on, Helga. We're gonna get this through." I whispered to her.
I am pretty sure that she heard me. Even if she didn't answer, I know she can hear me.
We got home after twenty minutes. I immediately escorted Helga into the house while Carter went straight to the kitchen. I removed the small pillows from our small sofa and laid Helga there.
"Helga?" I gently patted her cheeks.
I felt that she was still breathing so I was still complacent. Carter returned with a black bag. He pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels, hot water in a small basin and surgery equipment wrapped in black cloth.
"Where did you get these?" I asked. Where did he get them?
"We are trained for incidents like this," he said.
"Even Helga?" Is she a secret agent?
He approached Helga and laid her wounds on him. He tore the sleeve of Hega's clothes and the hem of his T-shirt to expose his wound. He prepared the utensils and dipped them in hot water. He effortlessly opened the whiskey bottle and washed his hands with it. He then wore surgical gloves.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked nervously.
"Just stay by my side and trust me," he said.
He poured whiskey over Helga's wounds. I saw that she had closed its eyes and was no longer complaining of pain. But I could still see the rise and fall of her chest. She's still breathing.
He first cleansed the area around the wound with forceps and round cotton wool with an antiseptic solution. Carter's actions were careful but quick. And as I watched him in action I still couldn't get rid of the nervousness for Helga's condition.
"Please live, Helga." I silently prayed.
Fortunately, Helga's wound was only a bullet wound but she lost a lot of blood so she was put in this situation. Because of what Carter did, it happened immediately but Helga still didn't wake up.
Now he is covering her wounds with a white bandage. And even the wrapping was fast but perfect.
"Is she okay now?" I asked him.
"I attended to her wounds so it's not getting worse. Let's just wait for her to wake up." He said.
He tore his slacks to expose the wound on his left thigh. He took a deep breath before pulling the locust to sink with his fingers. I could hear him screaming in pain and I couldn't help but feel pain for him as well. Blood was flowing down his leg.
"Carter ..." I could do nothing now but watch him do what he did.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and neck. I was so grateful when he got the bullet in his thigh and just threw it on the floor. As he did with Helga, he also sutured her wound before applying a white bandage.
All I can help them with now is wipe his sweat and give him water. I'm still crying because I can't help but feel sad because it's all my fault.
"This is all my fault," I said while wiping his sweat.
"It's not your fault, Monica." He contradicted.
"You wouldn't be like this if it wasn't for me. Helga wouldn't be like that, you wouldn't be hurt, Papa wouldn't die because of protecting me." I sobbed as another tear rolled down my cheeks.
"It is my duty to protect you," Carter said.
"You can still neglect your duty to save yourself. Just like what others did." Is there any value in protecting me?
"I swore my oath to your father. Even though he is not here anymore, my promise will remain alive. And I will keep you safe until the very end." He said.
I don't want to let myself dive in relief again. Because if I do, they might turn their backs again. Leaving me alone in the end. Hanging above while gripping the thin air.
His wound has not healed yet but Carter is starting to move again. I can't follow him because I can't leave Helga alone here. He went to the kitchen again and returned with an envelope. He gave it to me but I still confusedly accepted.
"What is this?" I will ask.
"You are supposed to fly back to Italy tomorrow," he said.
Italy? Tomorrow?
I opened the envelope and it contained my one-way ticket to Florence and my Italian passport. That ticket is set for tomorrow at just before dawn. And there is another ticket from Angeles, Pampanga to Manila and I have to leave now because this flight is now, at three in the afternoon.
How?
"You may have questions right now but please reserve them. We have to head straight to Clark right now." Seriously?
"But we can't leave Helga alone!" I hissed.
"She won't be alone here. Trust me. Please, let's go." He was the first to walk out of the house.
He even got into the car and restarted the engine. I looked at Helga again, even though I didn't want to leave right now. I just need to follow Carter for everyone's peace of mind.
"Can you drive despite your injury?" Can he?
"Don't think of me. I have to do what's right." He answered.
We are now on a different route to Clark International Airport. I can't quite imagine that now I'm leaving for Italy despite everything that happened today. I was still shocked and could not erase from my mind what happened to my poor father who was killed without a fight by men I did not know. Helga is still unconscious due to the wounds she sustained. Carter, who even injured his thigh, still chose to do the duty just to save me.
Three lives were sacrificed for me. Three different lives that have one duty, to keep me alive.
Why do they have to do this? Why do they need to protect me? I am nothing but a mere girl who lost everything.
We arrived at the airport an hour before the flight. To my surprise, Carter pulled out a suitcase from behind and placed it next to me.
"Helga packed this for you last night. This only includes your personal belongings and necessary stuff." He said.
"So this was planned," I declared.
"Yes. Your father booked two tickets with different dates. The one I gave you was for an emergency like this. So you're right. This is planned." He said.
I accepted the suitcase in my right hand while my ticket and passport were on the left.
"Will you come with me?" I asked.
"No. I have to stay here. I promised you that I will take care of your father's body after this." When he said that I was sad again. I remembered the last thing Dad said before he died.
"When will it stop? I don't want to involve other people anymore." I felt new tears dripping down my cheeks.
"This will be over soon," he promised.
Enough of the lives wasted because of me. The sacrifices made by people who want nothing more than to save me are enough.
"You have to stay alive to find justice for your father," Carter said. He wiped my newly dropped tears using his index finger.
"Even if you're far away, I'll keep my promise to protect you." He whispered. Enough for me to hear.
The saddest part of being attached to someone; to a father, to a friend, or to someone, it is always hard to let go. It is hard to forget the memory, the only memory I have with my father where I felt his deepest sincerity and true motive to protect me.
I woke up with tears on my cheeks. Feel the coolness of the air coming from the air conditioner. Here I am again after almost eight years of my absence.
I wiped the tears from my cheeks and stood up. I pulled back the curtain to let the sunlight in.
Yes. This is the sun. I can finally feel it. Just like how I wanted.
In Italy, there are four climates. Not just summer and rainy season. There is summer, winter, spring and fall. And when summer is not that hot compared to the climate here in the Philippines.
"You abandoned me, remember?" Matteo immediately showed up in my morning when he called my number.
"I was busy, okay? Try being the company lawyer of Carluccio's. I'm pretty sure you will understand." He complained.
"Don't worry, cugino. Once I get the company back, I won't give you much work." I said.
"Should I wait for a hundred years for that to happen?" He chuckled.
"Don't you believe me?" It is not new to me that he is always against my will. This is not the first time that he opposes me.
"Not like that. My only thing is I don't want you to rush your action." Said Matteo.
"I've planned this for almost eight years. I've thought about what I'm going to do and I'll make sure I get everything." I am determined.
And that was my plan. I will start today.
The hotel elevator is going down. Now I'm going to my condo to start what I'm going to do. On the ground floor, the elevator stopped and I immediately got out when it opened. I went straight to the reception and handed two cards; one for the room key and one for my credit card.
"I would like to check out," I said.
Teddy D. Corporal. He is still the man from last night. But the only thing that changed is that he can't look at me straight.
"Mr. Corporal," I called.
"Ma'am?" He immediately answered. Now I caught his eyes.
"Don't worry. You are not fired." I gave him my sweetest smile.
He bowed his head. "I am really sorry, Ms. Carluccio. I will never do that again." His trembling voice said.
"That is all I need to hear. You are forgiven." I said.
I haven't let the driver go off yet because we still need to go to my condominium. I first went to my condo to see it and change my clothes. I don't want them to see me like a shrink just because I no longer have the company. But I will do everything to recover it.
Walking down the road to the office, my chest throbbed. I was nervous about the scenario that I might perceive.
Has much changed? How are the employees there? Are they well cared for? Is their salary right and enough to provide?
"Ma'am, we're already here." The driver announced to me when the car stopped in front of the building.
"Thank you," I replied.
I got out of the car and looked at the whole building. At the height of this building, to my knowledge, three floors were owned by the Carluccios. It was built to be the employees 'office.
I wasted no time and went inside and walked straight.
I stand out in the crowd since I am wearing an all white suit. The blazer is a cape sleeved in style while my trousers is a wide leg that is almost covering my red stiletto.
"Excuse me, Ma'am. May I know your appointment?" I stopped when I heard the receptionist's voice.
Do I really need an appointment at my own former company?
I approached her without removing my cat eyed sunglasses and my hand in my pocket.
"Do you not recognize me?" I asked.
"Please remove your glasses so I can recognize you," she said arrogantly.
What's with arrogant people nowadays? I keep on encountering one.
To make her stop her suspicion I removed my glasses and faced her. I even brought my face closer to get her to know me better.
"Ms. Monica," the receptionist recognized.
Being a Carluccio still has an impact because the employees still knew me.
"Yes I am," I reassured.
"May I know your appointment, Ma'am?" She asked.
"Do I really need to tell you my agenda here? Am I not welcome to visit my former company?" I question back. He doesn't need to know.
"I'm so sorry, Miss. I won't ask again. Can you please log your name here for our record?" She showed me a notebook in which people who visited or had an appointment at the office were written.
"I can do that," I said and picked up the ballpen to write.
I wrote my full name. As well as the time of my visit and I even signed at the end of it. When I finished I gave it to her. She looked at my writing and I waited for her to say that I could continue. I saw the shock in her eyes when she read my writing. She looked at me and my writing alternately.
"What?" I asked demandingly.
"Nothing, Ma'am. You may go inside." She said while stuttering.
I put on my glasses again and walked towards the elevator. Upon entering I hit the right floor into my cousin's office. I didn't tell him I was going now. All he knew was that I would now rest in my unit. But my plan changed, I had to start it right away.
I have two objectives on building my plan. First is to get everything that's taken to me and my family. And second is to find justice for my father who was killed by some heartless raccoons. These two things have become my mindset every day I wake up. Reminding me for my ultimate goal to accomplish.
The elevator door opened. I'm now walking down the hallway to Matteo's office. The sound of my heels echoed throughout the hall. When I was in front of his office I opened it. Thankfully it wasn't locked but it wasn't my cousin who popped inside, but his secretary.
"Where is Matteo?" I asked.
"He's in a meeting right now, Ma'am. You can wait here inside his office." Did she know about me?
"Where does the meeting take place?" I asked again. I will not wait for him to come back.
"In the convention room, Ma'am." She answered.
I couldn't wait for what she would say next and closed the door.
Convention room. The boards of directors must be there.
I smiled. It will be easier for me to execute my plan if they are complete there. I won't have a hard time doing this over and over again.
I made my way to the convention room. My heel sounds again as I walk. There were only five rooms between it and his office so I didn't rush to get there.
"Yes. That's right. He improved everything."
"We should congratulate him once he comes,"
"He should be here any minute,"
I heard them talking as I was in front at the door.
Are they praising him because of the improvement of the brand? I am aware about the breaking record that Francis made to advertise the brand even when I was in Italy. We have a branch there and I am pretty sure that he also managed that.
But it will not be long before they glorify his name. Because I will claim this soon. Its eight-year management is enough. Carluccio has to come back.
I turned the door knob and opened the two doors wide. I saw the shock on their faces and even my cousin could not believe my presence now.
"Ciao," I greeted.
I gave them my widest smile while walking through until the end of the table. I placed my favorite textured leather black bag by Dolce and Gabbana on the table. I slowly seated my butt on the swivel chair while crossing my legs in front of them and felt my sudden presence in the room. I removed my glasses and gave each of them glaring daggers while smiling.
I look like a psycho. But I don't care.
"Monica. You didn't give me heads up." My cousin said.
"Why would I do that? Am I not allowed to visit?" I smiled.
"What do you mean? This is a convention room. And we are having a meeting right now. If you want to visit, you can wait inside my office." He said frustratingly.
"You didn't give me a heads up about this meeting," I tapped my nails on the table making the utter sound.
"What?" He's confused.
Sige. To make everything clear. I adjusted my seat and faced them all.
"Who do you think holds the second biggest share in the Carluccio's?" I started asking.
I can see the confusion on their faces. Others remain shocked and disbelieving.
"He is an Italian business tycoon," my cousin answered.
"That's correct. He holds about twenty six percent of the share. So it is rude that you didn't even tell me about this meeting. I also wanted to congratulate the President." There is sarcasm in the tone of my voice.
"What are you saying? What do you want to convey?" My cousin asked, confused.
"That I still have a share in this company," I said.
"But Francis took over from your father. You don't have any share in this." The old man on the board said.
They are clueless. I am surprised.
"Don't you remember it?" The other old man asked.
"Of course. I remembered. I remembered it all." I said while gritting my teeth.
I remembered it all. How I ended up here. How my life became miserable. How I woke up everyday by killing all of you in my mind.
"You don't really know what I mean?" I asked.
No one answered. They all just stared at me cluelessly.
"Fine," I stood up, "I'll show you." I said.
I took a marker and approached the white board. I wrote my name and made sure they were capitalized for everyone to see.
Monica Patrice C. Marchetti
That is how I wrote my name on the white board.
"Here fellas," I faced them, making sure that they would see what's written on the board. "This is my name," I declared.
They all gasped and were shocked about something that was written. Even my cousin Matteo is still clueless about this.
"Marchetti?" They said.
I dropped the marker and placed it in the previous spot. I sat back in the chair in front of them with a smile on my face. But my eyes indicate otherwise. Dark and full of anger.
"You changed your surname?" My cousin asked.
"I am Mr. Paris Marchetti's wife," I announced.
They were even more surprised when I said my husband's name. And that name is familiar to them because Marchetti holds the second -largest share in Carluccio's. Francis' share was just five points away.
Marchetti. Paris Marchetti is my husband.
It made me smile while looking at them. All shocked.
"This is really unbelievable," some of them drank water because of my sudden confession.
"You are married?" Matteo asked. I only gave him a smile and left him shocked.
"It's a long story folks. But yeah, I am married." I said.
I stood up and took my bag. That's all for now. I can't surprise them because I might finish early. I will not allow the Carluccios' name to remain tilted. I promised my grandfather that I would take it back. And I will not disappoint him like what happened to Papa.
"Looks like I won't be able to reach Mr. Rodriguez. Just please send my regards to him." I said.
I could still hear them whispering as I passed behind them. Can't believe the controversy I have revealed.
Even before I opened the door, it opened from the outside. Francis appeared in front of me. We were both surprised at our reunion.
A lot has changed in him. His body became more muscular. His face has matured and he has grown even taller.
"Mr. Rodriguez!" I greeted.
I let out a fake smile just to ease the silence between us. I extended my hand for a shake.
"I came here to congratulate you. My husband is a busy man so I personally came here to give honour for your success." I said.
He did not accept my hand. Instead he just looked behind my back then looked at me. When I realized he wouldn't accept it, I just put it in my pocket.
"Okay. I won't be long. I promised your receptionist that I will be here for only a minute." I chuckled. He didn't change his expression.
I turned to my cousin. "I'll give you a call later, Matteo." I said.
I turned around and passed between Francis and his secretary. I left that room and walked away with a smile on my lips.