The Beast

Know your Enemy

It was breaking news all over the TV and when Ivy was sure that she had had enough, she turned off the television set. Hugo rushed into Ivy’s office immediately.

‘’Who could have done that to your future in-laws?’’ Hugo asked in desperation.

‘’I wish I could answer you, Hugo. I have no idea who could have done this. I’ve not known any enemy of that family so far. We both know how secretive Diego is he refuses to tell me anything concerning the privacy of his family.’’ Ivy replied to her friend.

‘’Miss Ivy San Marino, you should find out everything about your soon-to-be family. I don’t want to be bombed when handing over your ring under the wedding.’’ Ivy opened her eyes in shock.

‘’Stop with the exaggeration already, Hugo. That’s not funny. After what just happened, my wedding with Diego is going to be postponed till they’ve been able to settle this family problem. Maybe what Dad says is true. I might not truly get married at eighteen.’’ Ivy said with her head down.

‘’But can this problem be settled?’’ Ivy looked into Hugo’s face trying her best not to answer that question. She knew for a fact that a part of the Montoya wealth had been burnt to ashes but Hugo had a point. Could they ever retrieve all that money once again?

‘’You make training exciting, Ivan Ardiente. I’ve dedicated eleven years of my life training you so that you’ll be able to face the Montoya’s,’’ Victoria said as she led Ivan to her office in the mansion.

‘’I’ll never fail you, Mum Victoria. Failing you is equivalent to failing me and that’s not on my agenda.’’ Ivan smiled. Victoria opened a folder on the table and handed it over to Ivan.

‘’Everything you’d have to know about the Montoya’s is in there. The first picture is that of the last Montoya son. He’s Diego Montoya. He’s secretive, open-minded and very attentive. He’s nineteen years and about to be engaged to Ivy San Marino daughter of George San Marino and owners of the San Marino Food Company.’’ Victoria paused.

‘’He doesn’t look like the manipulative type but instead, he looks like someone who needs help. Someone who wants to speak and doesn’t know who to speak to. I’ll use my friendliness and trust against him.’’ Ivan’s smile broadened.

‘’Next photograph is that of the second son of the Montoya family, Eduardo Montoya. He’s the most responsible amongst the three. He’s an artist by the talent and an accountant by profession or to be much specific by force. He loves painting as compared to counting. He sells his paintings online under the anonymous name, Ethan de la Cruz. He’s married to Blanca Altamira Montoya daughter of Amelia Altamira owner of the Altamira shipping company. Warning, the Altamiras are dangerous.’’

‘’Whose dangerous past Ivan Ardiente? I’m going to use Ethan de la Cruz against Eduardo Montoya. That’s so simple.’’ he took his phone from his pocket in search of a painting lover.

‘’The eldest of the three sons is Damien Montoya. He’s the caring and most sensitive of all the brothers. Twenty-six, persuasive and doesn’t stop till he gets what he wants. He’s the next to kin after his father. The mummy’s boy and the most romantic type but if he wants something, nothing stops him. He’s single after recently divorcing Jessie Alcantara.’’

‘’There’s one thing in this world that can stop Damien.’’ Ivan smiled.

‘’What can that be if I may ask?’’ Victoria came in more concerned.

‘’Me.’’

Santiago stood out first followed by his three sons and they were all surprised with what they saw. An entire entrance of journalists waiting to ask questions concerning what had just happened. Diego walked to them.

‘’I’m going to speak on behalf of the family and the Montoya company as well. Please address all your questions to me.’’ Diego said as the three stood behind him. Security was tight as they tried to pave way for the Montoya’s to go.

‘’What can you say about the bombings at your art galleries?’’ one journalist asked.

‘’All I can say is that it was planned and woe is unto that person who initiated this all. If you’re watching, know that we’ll come for you soon.’’

‘’What is the current status of the Montoya galleries? Would everything be back to normal?’’ the other journalist asked.

‘’Currently, we are trying to figure out something that would help us financially. It happened so soon that we were caught off the guard but I’m sure that everything would be back to normal soon.’’ Diego replied cunningly.

‘’Now that your have lost millions of money and your two major investors are gone, how can you get back to your feet?’’ another journalist asked quickly and Diego looked worried. The journalists seemed to be eager for the answer to that question.

‘’No more questions,’’ he said as he led his family right out of the Montoya industry to their car amidst the various questions from the press.

‘’They already know about Eli and Christian’s resignation. Who could have told them?’’

‘’My lovely detective. You look as gorgeous as ever.’’ Raphael said as he kissed Detective Billet on the chicks.

‘’Ralph and his compliments.’’ Billet touched her hair carefully trying to brush the edges away.

‘’I’m quite serious, Billet. You’re the sexiest detective I’ve ever seen or heard of.’’ Raphael continued in admiration. Billet wasn’t the swollen-headed type. She walked right into Raphael’s personal office without permission. Her diamond white dress glowing under the white led bulbs.

‘’I saw your message, Ralph. I chose to come now after literally hiding from everyone at the military camp. What do you want me to investigate?’’ Billet asked immediately Raphael closed the door behind him.

‘’There’s an enemy out there who could be my greatest ally. From what I’ve gathered so far, he might be stronger than I am. This is a personal mission, Billet. I don’t want Jessie to find out any details of this mission. Find out the person responsible for the bombings of the Montoya art galleries. I might find a friend in him. Who knows it might be a she.’’ he laughed.

There was a knock at the Montoya residence and Blanca was the first to get to the door.

‘’Ivy!’’ she screamed and hugged her after several kisses.

‘’Are they home already?’’ Ivy asked Blanca in a haste still looking around.

‘’I was just watching them on TV. Diego had to answer some questions but I don’t believe a word he said. The business is in a much more critical condition.’’ Blanca confessed as she walked Ivy to the main hall. Mrs Mariana Montoya kept hovering to and fro in the main hall not knowing what to do. She hugged Ivy immediately.

‘’Everything is going to be all right, Mariana. Just have faith.’’ Ivy consoled.

‘’Hugo, where is Ivy?’’ these were George’s first words when Hugo arrived at his office. Hugo was shaking by the leg looking at Ivy’s father in the face. George San Marino was a stone-hearted man that everyone in his company feared including his daughter’s best friend, Hugo.

‘’Mr Mar-in-no, you’re daughter, you’re daughter, I mean Ivy is…’’

‘’Speak already!’’

‘’She at the Montoyas!’’ Hugo screamed the rest out loud in fright.

‘’At the Montoyas? She abandoned her work in the food company to go to the Montoya’s again. How many times should I explain to her that her job in this family business is more important than that sophisticated relationship she has with that Diego guy.’’ George screamed out loud.

‘’The Montoyas are going through a crisis at the moment…’’

‘’So she has to leave? She wants my business too to go along the drain like those Montoyas. That family is associated with evil and bad luck. I don’t want my daughter married into that home.’’

‘’But…’’

‘’But nothing, Hugo de Leon! I want Ivy here and now.’’

After listening to Diego’s replies for about the third time, the doorbell to the Montoya mansion rang.

‘’It’s them. Santi is the only person that uses the doorbell.’’ Mariana exclaimed as she rushed to the door. It was funny how she knew that fact of her husband at this time. She immediately opened the door and hugged her husband like never before.

‘’Mariana my dear, you worry too much.’’ Santiago smiled.

‘’I heard of all those casualties. I thought you were involved. You told me that you were going to the art gallery for an inspection. Santi, I was scared.’’ she hugged him again.

‘’You just reminded me of another thing, mum. We’ll have to pay for the health bills of all those who were injured. Reports indicate that about eleven of them have lost their lives and forty of them are still being treated. We’re lucky that this explosion happened on a minor exhibit. I don’t even want to think of what might have happened if it occurred tomorrow.’’ Diego said as he walked in. Ivy raced to hug him too.

‘’How serious is the damage?’’ Ivy asked.

‘’It’s really serious. There is so much to do. If we’d concentrated on making our school bags instead of donating PPE, we’d be having bags to sell during this moment. Our bag processing industries have also been temporarily shut.’’ Diego replied dully. Eduardo and Damien slowly walked in and shut the door behind them.

‘’You can ask my mother for help. She’ll be willing to help.’’ Blanca said pitifully. Ivy excused herself to receive the twenty-second call of Hugo.

‘’Finally, you received my calls, Ivy San Marino,’’ Hugo stated out exhaustedly.

‘’What’s with all the calls?’’ Ivy asked.

‘’It’s your father, Ivy. Mr Marino wants to see you immediately. He was yelling. I don’t know why he wants to see you but you should come soon.’’ Hugo narrated.

‘’He can yell all I care. Tell him that I’m at my fiancé’s and I’ll see him at home that’s if I don’t decide to sleep at the Montoyas. He should be helping them financially as of the moment and not telling me to get back to work.’’ Hugo felt like bursting up. A paranoid father giving birth to a stubborn daughter. Such a combination.

‘’You should tell him that in person. I’m not willing to be yelled at again.’’

‘’The next person on our list is Mariana Montoya. She’s the head of it all. Everything Santiago does is done under her direction. She pretends to be a saint but she’s the devil clothed as a woman. She’s no one to be messed with. She was the one who started the fire that killed my husband and child. I saw her myself. Any time Santiago doesn’t do what she pleases, she exacts those plans on her own. She’s the main target.’’

‘’She’s your main target but not mine,’’ Ivan began. ‘’My main target is Santiago Montoya. I saw him kill my parents in cold blood. He shot them to death. He didn’t seem to be following anyone’s directions.’’

‘’That’s how it seems like but everything he does is directed by his wife, Mariana.’’ Victoria continued convincingly.

‘’Victoria Ardiente, I’m looking beyond your words. I’ve never seen a picture of your husband and child. Why should I believe you?’’ Ivan approached fiercely.

‘’You speak of Amelia as if she’s a saint. She’s going to lend me money but I’m going to pay back with interest that is worth half of the money. I’d rather remain this way than to borrow money from your mother.’’ Santiago stated confidently.

‘’Then what do we do?’’ the three Montoya brothers jinxed and immediately there was a knock at the door. Diego was the closest to the door so he opened it. It was Rhian.

‘’Don’t tell me there’s more bad news. Has the bag industry been bombed too? What happened now?’’ Damien asked first. His ash suit didn’t look as good as before. The problems of his family business were surely weighing him down.

‘’We have an investor.’’