Armando is on the way back to the company where he is working. While he is traveling in his rented car, he tries to contact the mother of his girlfriend. He doesn't have time to visit their house as he still has working hours especially now today that is a weekday.
After a few seconds of ringing, the opposite line picked up the call. He deeply breathes first before spilling the sensitive information. He is not totally confident that he will tell her the only truth but he doesn't have a choice but to let them know what the state of their princess is.
"Hello, who is this?" Allena answered his phone call with excitement.
He swallowed and prepared himself to speak up. "H-Hi. It's me, Armando, Hale's friend. How are you today?"
"I am a little bit worried. Do you feel the same way?"
"Uhmm... I will be straightforward with you... To be honest, I am more worried and saddened. I hate to say this but..."
"What is it? Tell me!"
"H-H-Hale is..."
"Just what!"
"Hale is in jail..."
Armando mentally broke down. He mishandled his phone and then sobbed again. The truth he cannot tell frankly is this. It repeatedly broke his heart and soul.
The call was not yet turned down so his cry is blurry heard by Allena.
"A-Armando... Is it true? Is it really the truth? Tell me... Please tell me!"
Allena wiped the tears that were falling on her eyes. Her hands are trembling and her knees are softening like a jello. What she just heard might be the reason why she is feeling discomfort right now. She is not aware that her son is in danger and facing a consequence.
"H-H-Hello... I am sorry I didn't speak for a while. It breaks my heart, I don't know what will happen next to him."
"Then who the fuck sent him to jail?"
"Unluckily, Hale was sued by my boss. He was taking work immersion in Fuentabella Company."
"Is there a chance that my son will be sent out here? I don't want him to experience the living hell."
And Allena cannot control her temper. She has mixed emotions right now. She is furious because Hale might be jailed innocent. She is worried because she doesn't know what she's gonna do to convince the boss of that company so that the case would be canceled or rebuked.
She ended the call and immediately fixed herself. She called her driver to get the car ready. She went to her room to get some cash.
"If millions of pesos are the answer to my problem just to let my son free from jail, I would not mind how much I will pay for the damages done. But I am hoping that his boss has a soft heart and is easily convinced. If I need to cry, kneel, and kiss his feet, I will do them without hesitation. I will sacrifice anything."
~~~
The trainees are still there inside the training room. Harrison cares to visit there to check if Armando is now around. So far, his hired trainer has been absent for thirty minutes. He looked at his golden wristwatch to check the time. He smirked, bit his lips, and clenched his fist.
"Armando, where the hell are you? Why so much time visiting with that criminal!" He tsked silently and then entered the room.
"Good day, trainees. I hope you are well here. Please bear with us, Armando is coming in a few moments. Sorry for making you wait a long time."
Finally, the wait is over. Armando arrived and walked rushed to the room. He apologized for his absence and explained that he visited his friend who is one of the trainees. So far, everyone here is worried and feels pity.
Harrison is not interested in watching their drama so he left here and went back to his office after a few seconds. He will feel guilt if he continues to hear the sentiments of the students.
He has a cold heart but easily gets hurt and emotional. He is just pretending he is strict and has a heart of steel so that everyone would pay high respect to him as a CEO.
Meanwhile, someone makes a scene at the grand entrance of the building. It is a woman insisting on entering the place, she was stopped by the security guard because she was not allowed to come in unless there was an appointment.
"I need to meet and talk to the CEO, please let me in. Please! Oh please, don't stop me!"
One of the security guards ran into the office of Harrison to report what was going on on the ground floor.
He knocked on the door and eventually opened it. "Boss, someone is calling you outside. She badly needs to talk to you. It looks like it is a sort of emergency."
The boss already knew who it would be. He doubted Armando that visiting Hale might not only be the business but also he would report to the trainee's parents.
He went out of the office and then entered the available elevator.
"If you think you will change my mind, well, you are wrong. I am not the kind of person that can be convinced by pity and money. Not me!" He whispered.
Allena saw the person approaching her with the most sophisticated office uniform. She assumed that that person might be the CEO of the Fuentabella Company. She calmed herself then she was finally allowed by the guard to get inside the building.
"Follow me, Madam," Harrison requested her to go to the office.
She closed her eyes while heading to the formal place. She is preparing what she is gonna act, she grabs the opportunity to voice out just to salvage her son's faith.
"So Madam, what you gonna raise to me? If it is not an important matter, please get outta here. My time is precious," the CEO is being sarcastic.
"S-S-Sir Harrison, I knew that Hale is taking a work immersion here in your company. I already knew that my son was sent to jail."
"Then? Oh, you just want to confirm who sued him, wouldn't you? Well, it is me."
Surprisingly, Allena kneeled and formed her hands asking for a favor. "Please, Sir Harrison, free my son. He is innocent."
"Stand up, I am not a god. And who told you that he is innocent? You know, I am kinda disappointed you are tolerating his wrongdoings. I saw it in my own eyes that he stole everything here in my office."
Allena felt insulted, she stood up and showed her true feelings. Acting is over, she must show that she is totally angry.
"And you have the confidence to insult me? How could you! I don't know how you acted this way! I thought you were such a respected person, but I proved that you are so arrogant and merciless."
"Call me what you want! Boastful, hard-hearted... I don't care! You are wasting my time. Just get out!"
"No need to shout at me. I will voluntarily leave here. But mark my words... I WILL PROVE TO YOU THAT MY SON IS INNOCENT WHILE YOU ARE THE GUILTY!"
She immediately exited while her heart was racing. She thinks that she needs to meet a competent lawyer so that she will not waste time. She must do something impactful because the time is ticking. She doesn't want to let her son be judged someday without a fair fight.
While she was walking, her phone vibrated and looked like she received a message. She checked it and she realized that Armando beeped her.
From: Mister Armando
Good news, Madam. I found the best lawyer in the Philippines. She defended many clients who were victims of frame-ups. Please see us tomorrow at the police department.
She smiled and celebrated herself with hope. The time has come that justice will be served. Because of this, she went to the church to ask for blessings from God. Her fight with her son is quite intense, so she must gain some emotional and spiritual support as well.
Armando just received a reply quickly.
From: Madam Allena
Thank you very much. May God bless us. The pay for the service will be shouldered by me. See you there tomorrow as well.
After one day...
The cells are quite silent in the police department. The majority of the people inside the jail are sleeping because they are recharging after the party last night. Even if they are inside the living hell, the police allow them to be happy since they are also human and innocent.
However, Hale remains awake in the morning waiting for someone to visit him. He is aware that Armando will come again with the lawyer and his parents. Well, his boyfriend didn't break his promise.
"A-Armando, finally you are there."
"Meet your family and our lawyer."