Alcavar Dynasty: THE BLACK SHEEP [COMPLETE]

Thirty Two: 17 Again

J A N I C E

"Good Morning, Ma'am, coffee, and mails."

Bati sa akin ni Laurice na syang assistant ko dito sa office. Today is gonna be another day. Malapit na ang launch namin ng bagong product, which is in February kaya kailangan ko nang matapos ang lahat ng kailangang tapusin para makapag focus sa gaganaping event. Inilapag nya ang kape ko at ang mga mails for me. Napansin ko kaagad ang may kalakihang papel, it has a red ribbon in it and it is lightweight,  wrapped with brown paper and my curiousity is piling up.

A newspaper?

Mabilis ko itong binuklat. The headline shook my world.

"Lorraine Alcavar: In Jail for Money Laundering"

"No! No! This can't be happening!"

I looked at the publishing date and it was three years ago! I rushed to my secretary.

"Laurice! Call Captain Parrali, tell him we have a flight back to the Philippines. NOW!"

Matigas kong utos sa kanya.Agad namang dinampot ni Laurice ang telephone habang tumatango sa akin.

"I'm flying back to the Philippines. I have an emergency. I'll explain it soon."

I sent the message to my husband, went back to the parking lot to get my car. I do not like to have a chaffeur, though my husband keeps insisting that I should have one.

My phone rang while I'm driving.

"Are you insane? You can't just do this to me, Janice. I know why you're leaving, because you're not coming back, am I right?"

Napailing nalang ako.

"I am coming back. I just have an emergency right now, Okay? A good friend of mine might be in danger, I just need to know if she's okay. I need to help her. You're gonna help me, help her. Right?"

Tanong ko na may lambing sa boses. He took a big sigh.

"Yes. Anything to make you happy. Just please keep in touch. Love you."

Ibinaba ko ang tawag pagkatapos at nag focus na sa pag mamaneho. My heart is beating so fast. Sobrang pag aalala, takot at guilt ang sabay sabay kong nararamdaman sa ngayon. I shouldn't have left. I really shouldn't. I kept beating myself up while on the trip. All I can do is think about her, what she could've been through.

"I just really hope that you're okay, Raine."

I whispered to myself. Paglapag namin ay agad akong tumawag ng mga lawyers, nagtanong, nag reklamo at kung anu ano pa. Nalaman kong they're illegally holding her up in there. I didn't waste any time at ginamit ang lahat ng makakaya ko para lang ma iproseso na agad agad ang mga papeles at makalaya ngayon din si Lorraine.

"Eh ma'am, alam nyo naman pong holiday ngayon, kaya pasensya na po kayo hindi ko po kayo matutulungan."

Sambit ng isang piskal na kausap ko sa phone. I was able to reach him, thanks to some friends.

"Listen, I came all the way to London. I didn't eat, didn't sleep, just to get here. I'm gonna pay you 1 Million pesos just get your fucking ass in here and release her! Or else I will file a suitcase against everyone, including you for illegally holding her up in that fucking jail! That woman, suffered three years of her fucking life inside that place. All I'm asking for you is one day. One fucking day to process some fucking papers and release her! NOW!"

Hindi ko na napigilan ang galit ko. I don't understand why no one bothered to help her in her case.

"O-okay, Okay Mrs. Cariones. I'll be there in an hour."