Chapter 3: A little Mercy
1943 Words
Though filled with doubt, Solaris felt a certain satisfaction still having the wooden jewelry box. She opened the box anticipating to see her treasured gifts, but to her astonishment, the box was empty. She cried heavily out of combined dismay and anxiety. July reached out to her to force a hug, knowing the moment demanded a consolation and he can only be the one to give it.
They shared at least an hour of solace with each other before they heard a roaring vehicle coming near. July sensed danger nearing which triggered him to get ready to start the car, but before July can start it, a group of men coming out of the roaring vehicle barricaded themselves at its front and swarmed it. One of the men who attacked was able to grab July from the car window next to the driver seat that was left open. Another one was able to take the steering wheel and took the car keys from July. On the other side, Solaris was being pulled out forcibly by two men. After only a few seconds, they were already taken out of the car and taken towards the nearing vehicle.
From the coming car, there came out a figure which struck them both with fear. It was Logan Russo. He focused his attention on Solaris while giving a piercing look straight towards July. After getting close to Solaris, Logan let out a sigh, a smirk, and a slight look away from her.
“Your pictures were all over the mansion. I have not removed them. Did you think you would get away from me?”
Her breathing came to a racing phase. She tried to gather her thought or at least a response to absolve her, but she only managed to let out a murmur.
“This is what is going to happen Ms. Arbezo." Logan gently placed his hand upon Solaris’ right cheeks, slowly he clasped her face and raising it lightly as he removes the distance between him and her.
“I have not gotten the cash payment that your mother promised. I was almost satisfied with the mansion, and it did come with good timing, but cash is what my people need from me, so I can easily pay them.” He said it looking impetuous and ego-centered.
“Unfortunately, I cannot sell the land. As it turns out, the land is collateral for loans left by your father, and that makes the mansion a ticking time bomb. So what you signed to is not within your capacity to give to anyone. Are you aware of this Ms. Arbezo?”
“I did not know. (voice raised) I was only renting apartments near to the hospital where I work.”
“So, what do you suggest we do now?”
Solaris can only foretell tragic outcomes since she cannot give any solution, but she felt a sense of satisfaction in knowing they failed to sell the land. With a solemn look, she bravely voiced out “I don’t know".
“Do you know who you are talking to?”
Solaris just shook her head out of honesty.
Logan let out a deep sigh. Feeling challenged and angered by her responses. “I apologize (smirking sarcastically). My name is Logan Russo. Do you even know me?”
Solaris was filled with dread upon hearing the name. The man is wildly known as a government liaison, a notorious runner of the countries underbellies, an eccentric, fascistic, uncompromising, and incomprehensible casino lord and business tycoon. Only now did Solaris realize that her mother must have been a lunatic to accept debt from the man.
“I am very sorry, I...”
Logan cringed and grunted “Stop". I will not accept this. Since you are the only link I have with your mother, well, let’s just say I am left with no choice but to keep you.”
Logan trudged towards Solaris and manhandled her; He grabbed her by the waist, raised her on his shoulders, and threw her inside his car. July kept screaming and fending off the men that were restraining him, but he too was dealt with great brutality: They punched him with such heavy blows and ganged up on him leaving the poor man on his knees before following their boss.
Logan drove while continuously ranting to Solaris.
“Did you believe you can trick me this way, you and your mother? To be honest I have not felt humiliated and disrespected for a long time. You and your mother will suffer. I have not decided yet, but you and she will suffer.”
Solaris was beyond feeling doubt on this point nor does she feel any jolt of brave inclinations within herself. What she feels is pure fear. Logan drove back to the mansion and from the car window, Solaris saw Lena and Bart being pulled out from their house and being thrown on the streets while their belongings were being destroyed or being thrown outside. Their house was being attacked and it is no mystery what caused the violence.
After parking the car Logan quickly opened the back seat door and forcibly pulled out Solaris he dragged her inside and threw her inside the living room.
“You will remain here until I find your mother and she pays her debt. If she refuses to come to your aid I will… I will be left to do unnecessary actions.”
“You cannot just take away people like…”
“If you think I will let you get away as your mother think she did, you are more than welcome to follow your father in the grave right now. I don’t care what type of i***t you think I am, but I will not tolerate you and your mother making a fool out of me.”
“Nobody here is fooling you (angrily voiced out). That is the last thing I will do. Before you assume anything between me and her, I would like to clarify this. I don’t want to have anything to do with her. She left me.”
Logan stared at her for a good amount of time before exclaiming “Alright, then find me a way to settle all of this or help me find your mother.”
“She ran away with another man. I don’t know his name. I can only recognize him.”
Before Logan can respond a woman, who seemed to be a house help, rushed down from the second floor, mildly out of breath from the run that she made.
“Sir, your mother has been severely gasping.”
Logan ran upstairs into his mother’s room leaving Solaris behind. Solaris instantly inquired further with the woman left with her. Being a nurse by profession, she felt an instant need to serve.
“What was her medical condition Mam'?”
“She had some sort of heart disease.”
“Does she have a nurse? Or does she have anyone monitoring here beside you?”
“There is, but she only comes every morning”
Solaris rushed to aid. After arriving at the room and noticing that the room door was open, she immediately entered and saw a scattered Logan holding medication and a gasping woman laid on the bed suffering from anxiety. She immediately grabbed those medicines and started inquiring “Does she have any allergic reaction to aspirin?”. Logan immediately responded “I don’t know “baffled by the sudden interference of Solaris. “Do you have any medical records of hers?” She inquired readying herself to perform CPR “Quickly”. She climbed on the bed and administered CPR while spotting the names of the medications which were now placed by Logan on the bedside table. While she is continuing with her compression rhythm she gave it at least a few seconds pause to check the woman’s breathing. She was relieved to see that her breathing normalized. Solaris checked the medication and saw some of the records and saw nitroglycerin prescriptions.
Logan just observed on the side still in shock of what happened. Solaris gazed at him and advised “I am a nurse. I will give her some of the nitroglycerin here that she was already prescribed before. She is stable but I would suggest…”
“I am grateful, but please, you have already gone beyond your limits”. He said the discerning statement with such a stern face. The man looked petty and hoisting up his ego to an ambivalent Solaris.
Logan primed his gestures; flicking his fingers and stretching his hands, establishing a collected composure before releasing the least expected words “Thank you.”
The tension build-up has subsided within both of them, and they mutually agreed that they could have a peaceful exchange and perhaps a common ground. They both headed back to the living room leaving Logan’s mother to her rest. It is the unexpected mercy of fate itself to be allowed a chance to be further understood by the person you wanted to understand you within critical times. Solaris never intended to influence Logan’s disposition but fate allowed it. Logan rested on the nearest arm velvet armchair that he can sit unto and so did Solaris. They stared at each other for a meaningful moment before Logan uttered.
“In my line of business three million will not ever be insignificant. I will allow you at least a period to come up with the amount, at which point you must be kept within the mansion.”
“Why will you still keep me here?”
“Because I cannot disregard that three million and the only way I may have a link still with your mother is through you.”
“She will not come back for me.”
“That will be within our judgment, for now, let me decide on it. To continue, you will be temporarily residing here and employed by me.”
“I cannot just leave my job; I have worked in that hospital for years.”
“Your employment will not require you any amount of time. It will be conditional: That as long as we are not given the three million owed to us, you will remain to reside here indefinitely providing your services.”
“You cannot require me this. I don’t owe you anything. My mother is the one who owes you.”
“Do you remember the document you signed? It entails that we can be allowed remedies in that instance of not being granted full benefits of the supposed transfer of the land to us. The remedies Ms. Arbezo of your incapacitated transfer may be payment of the amount required, allowing us compensation for the payment, or at the very least imprisonment if you are unable to grant us the option. Do you understand?”
“Can’t I just come back here once I have the money?”
“Letting go of my payers had never been a good sign of leadership with the business I run. I give these terms to limit the losses your mother had inflicted on me. It is up to you Ms. Arbezo, do you agree? He stood and walked towards Solaris and stood in front of her.
Solaris nodded and gave Logan a sincere look. She does respect the man for allowing her these terms knowing that she might have met worse.
- Writer
