UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

CHAPTER 0NE

Chapter 1 

Claire 's Pov

Sitting in the waiting area for almost eight hours without knowing what's happening inside the operating room is killing me. There are so many thoughts coming to me and thinking all the possibility is making me nuisance. I try convincing myself that he will be fine, that he will survive the operation and be healthy again. We hired the best medical team that can tend his condition and with all the Lab test that perform to him, the doctors agreed that this is the best time to remove the cancer in his prostate then will proceed to chemo then radiation.

After some praying and thinking, I decided to call my friend Vernice to ask for updates and she happily share to me the latest news and gossip in villa Prez. Before I borrowed the money there are some rumors that the "don" will be stepping down and one of his offspring will be proclaim as the new leader and the new don of the villa. Until now this rumor is still a mystery to me. Why all of a sudden don Afredo will be stepping down? He still capable of managing the mafia and everyone respect him even those who are in the government. If this rumor is true, who will be among of his 12 offspring will continue the business, Don Alfredo is a very strict and cruel in business but he is a kind and soft hearted when it comes to his family. He didn't force anyone of his kids to pursue the same path as his. He let his children to do what they want to do and he support them all. Some of them become lawyers some are Pediatricians; some are involved in legal business. Maybe it will be Greg being the oldest, it is just right to pass to him the mafia. May thought is cutoff when the door to the operating room open and comes the doctor. He asks for the family of the patient and of course it’s not me. So, I just stay in my chair hoping that someone will tell me what the doctor said. After sometime Beth "the wife" sit beside me and she said that the operation is successful and Chris will be transfer in recovery room. I didn't notice the tears in my eyes until she gave me a tissue. Beth and I had a strange relationship, she is the wife of my ex-boyfriend Chris. I guest after what we've been through, we built a respect towards each other that many will not understand. I don't blame them because who is on the right mind that entertain your husband ex-girlfriend who are still very in love to him right? But in time I proved to her that I will not cause any problem to their marriage. I admit I still love Chris but he loves his wife and family. It’s enough that I help him financially in his medication and know that he will be happy with his family. Maybe after he fully recovered in surgery, I will bid my goodbye for good. Anyway, I'm sure that I will be busy paying my debt to Prez gang and knowing how much it is plus interest, well let's say it cost me my whole life job and when things go wrong maybe it will cost my life.

===flashback===

Please Andrew let me borrow the money.

No Claire, it is huge money and you cannot pay it to mafia. You know the rules and I hate to say this but you will end up dead. They will kill for sure.

Please Andrew, he needs the money for his operation. I know you care for me and you know how much I care for him. If he dies, I cannot forgive myself because I know I can do something to help him. I'm still very in love with him Andrew so please help me.

Claire wakes up, he dumped you to be back to his wife and family and here you are begging for money to help his medication and for what? so he can be with his wife and family again. And that’s were left you huh? Indebted to the mafia who possibly will kill you because you cannot pay the money back. Stop being a martyr and think yourself for once Claire.

Fine if you will not help me, I will find someone who didn't give me a lecture and let me borrow the money

Come on Claire you know that no one can provide that amount of money inside the mafia or even outside the mafia and easily handed to you. There is always a catch in everything.

Don't be so sure about that. Didn't you forget that my father used to work in the mafia his whole life and I'm sure your father don Alfredo will lend me the money.

No, you will not do such thing. Yes, you will get the money but you didn't know the price it will cost to you.

I didn't listen to him and sent an email addressing to the Prez Gang leader. I even use the name of my deceased father to make sure that the loan from the mafia will be granted. After a minute or so there is already a response to my e-mail. This is fast I thought to myself. I open it and there is a caps lock word "CONGRATULATIONS" then followed by the terms of payment plus interest. I am familiar with the other details and rules so I skip reading it. I just read the last part asking for the bank account where they will send the money and an agreement paper that need my signature. I fill it up then I send it back. My heart is biting fast in anticipation what will happen next because it is the first time that I will borrow huge amount of money. That leave me thinking how fast the approval of my loan. It’s a day or two process in normal circumstances but I guest being the daughter of the deceased mafia member has its perks.

===end of flashback===