Chapter 21: Chapter 21

“OLD WOMAN, this is me.”

Amadeus heard Florida gasped on the other line. “How dare you call me old woman, you pompous… Amadeus?” She stopped lamenting when she finally recognized his voice. “Amadeus, is that really you?”

“Yes, this is me.” The corner of his mouth twisted. He was the only one who dared to call her ‘old woman.’ Nobody would dare do that. After all, Florida aged gracefully, and she took pride in that.

Amadeus was standing on a hill, the highest area in the village where there’s reception. He was talking to the male neighbors when Topher told her that he’s coming with Esmeralda.

He only memorized her number, and his secretary was the only person he could trust at the moment. His situation was sensitive, and he had to be careful about his true identity. He had to be cautious while he was still in San Luis.

Florida suddenly broke down crying. "I'm so worried about you. I saw the devastation brought by the typhoon. Many people died and were injured. There are missing bodies, too. I called the resort, and I found out that the typhoon would pass through the area. I have talked to the manager. They told me you didn't arrive at the resort."

“I never reached the resort.”

"I thought… I thought something could have happened to you when I did not hear any news. I saw that there were landslides and floods in that area. Bridges were broken, and cars got swept away."

“You did not report to the authorities that I’m missing, did you?” That would cause quite a stir in media, and his company did not need that right now. He had enemies pounding at his door. He should be careful.

“I almost did if you did not call. You’ve been missing for days. You would usually go missing for a week, but not in a place that was devastated by the typhoon. What happened to you?”

He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. He did not have the time to explain everything. “I’ll tell you everything once I’m back in Manila. All I can assure you right now is that I’m somewhere safe.”

He could not tell her that his car got swept away, and he almost died. The old woman would only panic more.

“Where are you? Can I search it on Google Map?”

“Barrio San Luis.” And he gave her his exact location.

“I know that place. That’s where your brother’s fiancée is from. I read her file. Don’t tell me you went to her in the middle of the storm just to tell her to leave your brother alone? Amadeus!”

“Of course not,” he said and saw Esmeralda glanced at him from the corner of his eye. She was standing on the trail going down the hill.

She was the girl who wrecked his system. The kiss was unexpected. He had no plans on kissing her last night, especially that she was marrying his brother.

He knew it was wrong to kiss her. But he saw how her eyes begged for it last night. She liked him. Just when he thought that he wanted to possess her, she pushed him away. And it was a slap to his face when she told him she was getting married to someone else. He had to let her get away that validate their feelings.

She was not talking to him and not even looking at him since this morning. She was very conscious. While he could not take his eyes off her. He was attracted to her. There was no doubt it. And she was also attracted to him. She was a big temptation.

She was forbidden, the enemy. He must stay away.

“What are you doing there?” Florida asked in a high-pitch tone. He was sure that she won’t stop nagging him until he told her the truth.

"This is not the time for your questions. The people need help here. They can't be reached by assistance from the government. Other places were hit harder. The bridge coming to the site was broken, so they could not just go to town to get relief goods. The reception has returned just now."

“Are you starving there?” she asked, worried. “Were you hurt? Do you need immediate medical aid?”

"I am fine. They're taking good care of me. They have saved food, but I doubt if there will still be left the day after tomorrow." If there's one thing he was thankful for, Aiden had built a good house for Esmeralda. "They also need help with the reconstruction of their houses and help them with their crops. The field was completely destroyed by the typhoon. I want people from the foundation to check it. Don't worry about the funds. I will handle it."

“Looks like you’re being too generous on them…”

“They saved my life.” And he owed it to them for the rest of his life.

They were naturally good people. In a world where he needed to be tough, and being generous was just a show to build your image to people and help the business, the people of San Luis changed his view. They were helping strangers without asking for anything in return.

“Fine. I am sending in help. We have people who are helping out with the victims of the typhoon.” She laughed. “And instead of donating, you are one of those who are receiving donations now. You have an extraordinary vacation. Must be memorable.”

“I can’t wait to get out of here. I just want to rest in a different place,” he said in an exhausted tone.

He felt like the people of San Luis were changing him. Jeremy was changing him. Esmeralda was changing him. It was not supposed to be this way. He did not want to be soft. He had been so guarded and tough for a long time, he could not afford to let his guard down.

He was Amadeus dela Merced. He was a man with a mission.

`“I got it. And we got a lot to talk about," Florida said with a warning before she hung up. Amadeus felt like he was a kid about to be scolded by an elderly.

He went to Esmeralda, who was sitting on a log, and handed her cellphone. "Thank you."

“Have you talked to your family?” she asked as she took the cellphone from him. She was careful to get in contact with him.