A man's glory

Chapter 2 - The first meeting

Franco is anticipating his first meeting with that singer. He prepared the contract very well. This is the first time he will handle it personally.

"I assume this woman will do anything for money. She's no better than anyone else here."

All of the singer of the club will do anything for money. Even their souls are already pawned in this club. He is currently tapping the fountain pen on his table while waiting for the woman to come in his office. Suddenly someone knock in the door. He ordered the person knocking on his door. "Come in".

A woman in her 20's wearing a lacy white dress appeared in front of him. She had wavy black hair flowing down his chest. The woman is blue-eyed like a deep blue ocean that's hiding beauty beneath them. The innocent look is evident the way she is staring at him. She has that body like a goddess of Olympus. He knew this woman is no ordinary the way his chest is thumping wildly.

"Good evening Sir, I'm Miran Lorenzo, 21 years old. I'm currently on my 2nd year studying Economics. I stopped schooling since my father had an acute kidney disease. The woman introduced herself even before he asked her.

"Wait, I'm not asking anything from you yet. Please sit down." He motioned her to sit in the chair in front of him.

The woman obliged herself to sit not looking up to him.

"My apologies Sir, I was just a little nervous." She said in a shy tone.

"It's fine. I already prepared your contract. Please read it carefully. You have to remember every detail of it. Disobedience from the contract is considered breach of contract. We have our own way of punishment here. We have several laws in the cub but the golden rule here is, "What you see, What you hear, leave it here. Understood?"

The woman stared blankly at him before she answered.

"Yes, Mr. Milano, I will remember it carefully and act according to the contract". The woman replied confidently looking up to him.

"I see you haven't read the contract yet. I will give you 15 minutes to read and decide whether you accept the offer or not. Once you signed the contract, there's no turning back. " He said seriously.

The woman turned down his head and read the papers he handed to her. He observed the woman as she knitted her eyebrows and her blue eyes bulging while reading the contract.

Suddenly she glanced at him with widened eyes. Shock is evident on her face.

"Wait, Mr. Milano, I applied as a singer and not as prostitute. I know that this is a high end bar catering VIP clients and big personalities but I never expect that women working here is expected to render extra service. I'm sorry to waste your time but thank you for the offer. " She blurted out furiously. The woman became more attractive when she is angry.

Franco was dumbfounded.

How he wanted to strangle the woman's neck and bite her sharp tongue. She has the guts to shout at him. No one has ever spoken to him this way.

The woman strode out of the chair and hurriedly went to the door. Before she hold the door knob she glanced back at him and said "Still, It was nice meeting you Mr. Milano." the woman said nonchalantly. Before he could even utter a word, she quickly went out.

The woman was long gone in his office but her smell and presence was still lingering in his mind. He calls his private investigator. He needs to do something. The phone rang immediately. The person on the other line answered the call after it rang two times. “Hello, Mr. Milano.” The man answered politely.

“Hello, Jacob, I need you to do something for me. Find out everything about the woman with the name Miran Lorenzo. I want you to give me a detailed report of her daily routine. Even the counts of her breath, tell me everything about her. No one dares to defy Franco Milano. She will have a taste of her own medicine.”

He said in a furious tone. The wineglass he was playing with suddenly broke in his hands due to his tight grip. Blood was oozing down his palm. The man on the other line suddenly spoke due to his silence.

“Roger that Mr. Milano. I will report everything I will discover about that woman.” He said confidently.

“I’m counting on you. I want you to give me a result ASAP.” He said seriously. “Sure, Mr. Milano. I will work on it right away, Sir.” He dropped the call after hearing his pledge.

Miran POV

She just arrived at her apartment a few minutes ago. She hurriedly went home after his conversation with the big boss of the club. Stanley was calling her out when she walks out of the CEO's office but she did not care anymore. She called out a taxi after she went out of the club. She can still hear Stanley calling her name but she rides the cab immediately and never looked back. That man is a monster. He really thinks he can buy anything with his money. Of course, she needed money, but that doesn’t mean she will bring down her morale just like that. That was not how her parents raise her. She grown up believing that men and women are respected equally. We are not toys for men to play. We are not created for men’s entertainment. She just needs to earn a large sum of money for his father’s kidney transplant. If not for that, she wouldn’t even set foot on that luxurious club. She only wanted to work there because they offer large compensation compared to another club who hires talented singer like her. She knows that prostitutes were also working in that club, but she did not apply for one. She just wants to work as a singer. She inherited her singing ability from her late mother who were also a singer back then. She remembered how her mother played the piano while singing their favorite song. How she wish she could turn back time when she can hear again her mother's melodious voice. She already knows this is just her wishful thinking.

The night made her more lonely than ever. Especially after her conversation with the owner of the club. She did not expect to be insulted like that by a man she just met. Most especially, when Stanley, the supervisor of the club treated her well during her one week probation in the club.

She was still reminiscing the past when her phone rang suddenly.

"Hello, Dr. Enriquez, why did you called at this hour? Did something happen to my father?" She asked nervously biting her lips.

"As of the moment, your father is stable. He just had a seizure a while ago. Thankfully the medicine we gave to him was absorbed by his weak body. He was fighting for his life. However, I need to remind you that as time goes by, his body is weakening more. We cannot be sure of the surgery's success if his body state continues to drop down. He needs to have the transplant done immediately. Otherwise, your father maybe put in a more critical condition." The doctor said in a concerned tone.

"I'm doing my best to earn for the operation but I don't know how to have that large amount of money in just a short span of time. If only I am compatible with my father's kidney." She said hopelessly as tears run down his cheeks.

"Well I understand, Ms. Lorenzo. I just wanted to update about the status of your father. Don't lose hope. There are charity organizations helping cases like your father. You can search for them online. Anyway, I have few more patients to round tonight. Goodbye Ms. Lorenzo."

"Goodbye Dr. Enriquez. Thank you for updating me about my father."

"You're welcome. My pleasure."

He hang up the phone.

One hour has passed after her conversation with the tending physician of her father but her mind was still in deep thought of how she could raise money in such a short period of time.

Franco's POV

Milano's Mansion

One month had passed. The charity event was held successfully for his company. The bar went high as usual although more VIP clients was looking for the singer with an angelic voice that made the crowd went wild. He was in awe that that woman catches the attention of big profile clients of his bar. The private investigator had a difficult time searching the whereabouts of the woman. She had no social media accounts. The private investigator he ordered to work for him set an appointment with him this afternoon.

He was fixing his tie in front of the mirror. He was getting ready for work. People may see him as the sole heir of Milano's wealth and don't have the need to work as he was born with silver spoon on his mouth. He was not only running the Dark Knight Club but he was also managing the MG Holdings. He was a sought after bachelor in town.

He went downstairs to have his breakfast at the long dining table of his mansion. This mansion is so big for an alone man like him. He had no siblings nor immediate relatives around him. He only had loyal servants and trusted employees who he treated as families. Although he only trust a few. He was thought not to trust anyone easily. In this world anyone can betray you.

He was greeted by his fifty-nine year old butler.

"Good morning Hijo. The breakfast is ready."

The butler ushered him to the dining table. As usual his favorite pan cake with strawberry syrup and black roast coffee was arranged meticulously on the dining table. He smiled at the old man and nodded. The butler bowed after pulling his chair. He treated this man like his second father. He knows him the best out of anyone around him.

He quickly finished his breakfast and strode out of his house immediately after receiving a phone call from Jacob. His private investigator assigned to investigate the woman named Miran Lorenzo. He had an urgent meeting with him. It was supposed to be in the afternoon. Jacob informed him that there was an urgent situation with the woman. It may be her chance to finally bring back that woman and made her beg on her knees to sign the contract he personally arranged for her.

The Coffee Bean

He was sitting in front of the window of the cafe. This is where he will meet Jacob. He was shocked to see the woman with a spicy attitude here. She was at the counter taking orders of the customers. So this is where she worked after defying him and refusing the contract. The woman smiled vigorously at the man inquiring at the counter. How he wished he could erase that smile from her. He wanted to strangle that man who charmingly smile back at him. He had this feeling that he owns this woman since he heard her voice for the first time. I will get rid of this feeling immediately. "I just need you to satisfy my craving. After I'm done with you. You will experience hell in my club. It's your fault you enter the lions den. Now, you cannot get out of my sight without having a scratch. " He whispered furiously while staring at the woman who was happily arranging the orders of the man. He looked down at his watch. Jacob is already pissing him off. He is now five minutes late. He is not the type who wait for someone later than one minute. If not only he is very eager to settle the score with this woman.

He was tapping his fingers on the table when Jacob entered the cafe hastily. He was out of breath as he greet him nervously.

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Milano. I almost lost this documents because of that woman who bumped into me a while ago. Anyway, I won't waste anymore of your time. These are the reports you need."

He handed me the folder containing information of Miran Lorenzo. The woman who set my body on fire a while ago. I am very eager to know what this woman have in life that made her so proud even in front of a powerful man like him. I immediately opened the folder and browse the files. The picture of that woman was attached in the first page. She was smiling vigorously while facing to the side and looking at the beach view in front of her. Her long black wavy hair was flowing down her cheeks up to her fair white shoulder. The white dress she was wearing in the photo make her look like a Goddess that went down from the mountain of Olympus. He could not understand his feeling while looking at the photo. Before he could even fathom his feelings at that moment, he was shrugged by Jacob’s question.

“Mr. Milano, are you okay? You seem in deep thought but you haven’t read the files I gave you. You’re just holding that photo for a long time.” Jacob said worriedly.

“No, I’m fine. I’m just wondering, what took you so long to give me these reports?” He asked Jacob.

“Miran Lorenzo is a very private woman. It seems like she didn’t even exist. She has no social media accounts. It was like she was raised in a very secluded place. Her parents are very cautious of her personal information.” Jacob said in a serious tone.

He looked at Jacob in the eye before he speaks. “I see. Then this woman is not so ordinary. Let me finish reading your report before you can go.

“Sure, Mr. Milano. Take your time.” Jacob replied.

He read Miran Lorenzo’s biography. She was born in Linosa Island. It was a small island that lies in the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and Tunis. The only way you can get there is by sea or by plane. A very secluded island. That island has only few populations. She was born on June 24, year 2000. Her Mother is an Italian national. Her name is Luisa Altamirano. A woman who was born in Milan Italy.

Miran’s father was a member of the tribe in Linosa, Island. His name is Valentino Lorenzo. Miran Lorenzo’s parents were not married but Miran was registered under her father’s last name. She was an only child of the couple. She was loved dearly by her parents. Her father worked both as farmer and fisherman. They were not from a rich family but they are abundant in so many things. Miran grew knowing that having a complete family is more than enough for a person to be happy. She does not value material things such as expensive clothes, bags, shoes and accessories. Like any woman would be longing for. She was fonder of growing flowers and taking care of pets that have no home. She takes care of more than seventy cats from the forests and birds that has no home due to deforestation. She leaves it in their province in Linosa. Her mother, Luisa thought her very well in life. Even Miran’s talent of singing was inherited from her mother. Luisa Altamirano played piano, violin and sings like a professional singer. Her daughter grew up like her. She was a sweet, innocent and loving daughter to her parents. They were a complete happy family until that night when the tragic event happened. Miran’s father was at their farm that night. She was with her mother at home. She noticed that her mother was agitated about something. She kept on looking at the window each time. This started when her mother received a letter weeks ago. She cannot be calmed since that day. She will only be at peace when his father was at home. However, tonight a storm will come in their island. Her father needs to secure a fence on the newly planted vegetables. They were only two in the house. Her mother was securing the lock of the windows and the door. She cannot help but ask her mother what was going on. Her mother answered her calming herself, that everything is fine. She suddenly ordered her daughter to go follow his father and tell him to go home urgently. They need to talk about something. Miran was hesitant at first to follow her mother’s instruction but he did not bother to ask more question. It was only six in the evening. It’s not that dark outside. She grabbed the umbrella by the door and ready to go outside. She looked back at her mother and said “I’ll be back, Mom.” She said with a smile. Her mother nodded and said “I’ll wait for you my dear”. She approached her and hugged her. “I love you to the fullest my dear sweet rose.” Then her mother bid her goodbye.

Miran went outside to follow her father in the farm. She was halfway through it. She was on top of a mountain but she can still see from her view where their house is sited in. She continues to walk in big strides when suddenly she heard gun shots. Her heart began thumping wildly. She was like been poured by a cold icy water. She looked back at their house from her view. “Mom….” She went down immediately from the mountain hoping the gun shot was just from a huntsman hunting a deer from their village. Although at the back of her mind, she knows that no hunter will trespass the property of her father. There is no one who will hunt at this time, especially when a heavy storm is set to landfall this evening. The wind is starting to blow heavily and the rain is pouring already. While she was drawing near the house, her heart continues to pound wildly. Her eyes are clouded with tears. She hoped that her mother will greet her open arms and comforts her that nothing happened and everything is fine. She knows that her mother has a problem and she is hiding it from them. She finally arrived at the back of their house. She did not enter through the front door. She was thought to always enter through the back door for security reasons. She inserted the key on the door knob and open it quietly. She was shocked to see the men in black uniform ready to set outside their house. She covers her mouth with his palms and tears run down her cheeks. She thought it right. The gun shot was from their house. She remained silent until the men were gone. When she is sure that all of them were gone, she hurriedly went to her mother’s room. She was shocked to see her mother covered in blood and lying on the floor. She run to her immediately and hugged her. “What happened Mom?” Her mother replied in her last breath. “No one will know about you. You are only my daughter. I love you dearly my sweet rose. Please don’t cry. I will always guide you from the heaven. Remember that.” She smiled sweetly before she closed her eyes.

Miran was just sitting inclined to the wall while holding her mother’s body. Her tears cannot stop. She was just staring at the wall silently. She had so many questions but who will answer her with it. She was staring at the wall like an hour ago. She was lost in nowhere when the door at the back opened. She knew it was her father who finally came home. Her father run immediately and search the house. He was holding her bolo knife when she sees Miran and her lifeless mother on the floor. Her father gone wild. He asked furiously. “Miran, what happened here, what happened to your mother?” Miran was just looking at him intently. “I’m asking you. Speak up.”

“I don’t know what happened, shouldn’t I be asking you Dad? Why all of this happened? Why is it my mom?” Miran asked in a hurtful tone.

Her father cried loudly and spoke. “No, why this all happened again. She already leaves everything behind. Why do they need to kill such a harmless woman?"

Her father said while crying. He was devastated than ever. It was only now that she saw her father in this state. He used to be a strong, unwavering man. He never cries or even show any weak side to her and her mother.

The burial of her mother went well. It was done after three days of mourning. Her father was lonelier than ever. He only drinks alcohol day by day. It’s been three weeks since her mother died but her father never eats anything after what happened. He only sleeps the whole day and when he woke up, he keeps on drinking alcohol. Then one morning, she cooks his favorite pasta which her mother always cooks for her father. He finally eats well. However, this was the only food he eats. He never eats anything other than this. After he eats, he will only drink alcohol. This routine continues to happen every single day. Then one day, her father fainted while drinking alcohol at midday. She asked for help from their faraway neighbor to bring her father to the hospital in town.

Her father was diagnosed with acute kidney disease. He needs to be transferred to a big hospital in the city for further treatment. The hospital facility in the town cannot accommodate patients with a condition like her father. The folks in their village and government offices helped to fund her father’s case. Government officials collected donations to earn funds for her father. He needs to be transferred immediately to a well-equipped hospital, otherwise her father will be in danger. The people in their town already knows that Miran is already an orphan of her mother. She cannot lose her father too. Her father was a good villager and has a good reputation in town. He helps the authorities to preserve the island by guarding it from trespassers who wants to destroy the island by illegal logging and illegal fishing. After three months of collecting funds, her father was finally admitted into the one of the biggest and famous hospital in Milan, Italy. However, she needs to earn a large sum of money for her father’s kidney transplant operation. Her father was confined for almost a year in the hospital and he needs to be operated immediately. Miran only has six months before the scheduled surgery of her father.

Franco dropped the paper and stopped reading the report. He looked at Jacob with a playful eye. He grinned at him and spoke. “This is where the fun begins. It’s getting more interesting. You really are something Jacob. How can you have such a detailed report of a woman from a remote area?”

“Well, it’s better if you ask me how much did I spend for that report?” Jacob replied mischievously.

“No worries. We have no problem with that. I can pay you double for this information. It depends after I finished reading your report.” Franco said to Jacob nonchalantly.

Franco continued to read the next page. He turns to Miran’s present life.

Miran Lorenzo was working day and night. She had three part time jobs and one regular work as a promoter of the product in the mall. She worked as singer in the appliance store to promote a karaoke component. She has a very good voice so she got hired immediately in the company. However, it was only during Sundays. The reason why she worked part time as cashier, service crew and barista in coffee shops and fast-food restaurant. She worked the whole day and only sleeps two hours per day. She needs to earn triple of the daily minimum wage rate per day to earn such a huge amount of money for her father’s operation.

He holds his chin and looked at the woman in the counter of the café where he was sitting right now. He spoke to himself. “What a strong-willed woman. She prefers to work this hard than earn money in just one night."

Although at the back of his mind he was amazed by the woman’s determination. She preferred to earn money through hard labor than sell her soul to a man like him. He never thought he would encounter a woman like a her in this life.

He stopped staring at the woman and continue reading the pages.

The woman was an economics student, so she knows about business and economic conditions. She was an intelligent student who aims to be a lawyer in the future. The tragedy that happened in her life did not hinder her will in life. That is when she read the advertisement posted in the newspaper about his bar searching for a talented singer to entertain VIP clients and big personalities in the MAFIA industry. She must have red the salary offer and compensation benefits provided by the company. She thought really well. However, Miran Lorenzo was wrong if she thinks that she can earn that big by just singing in the club. There was a story behind everything. She had worked on probationary status at her club. It lasts for one week. During these times, he was in Macau, doing business meetings for his Holdings and meeting investors and big profile mafias. He had a busy schedule that time. If only he knew that such a woman exists in his club. She wouldn’t last that one week without having a scratch from him. She must have experienced good treatment from Stanley. That is why she took up herself so high in front of him. That man is a b***r. He never really learned from working from him for over a decade. He continued reading the papers.

Miran Lorenzo never had any relationships with any man. She was a woman who values her dignity so much. She was an innocent girl who treats every human beings as equal. She never gives high importance to wealth. She only works this hard for her father’s operation. She is also a woman who never runs from problem. She faced it wholeheartedly. She never wanted to be indebted to anyone. She believes that what you sow is what you reap. She is also an independent woman who can live by herself. She can defend herself from any enemies harassing her. She learned martial arts when she was seven. Her father thought her when she was young. He always says that one day it will help him survive in the world outside. It was like her father prepared her well for these times.

Franco Milano grinned upon learning this about her. She is not that weak and helpless after all. She was amused how this woman will defend herself from him. He wanted to see how she will react when he is holding her life at his hands. Will she beg to live or will she die fighting for her dear life. A nobody like Miran Lorenzo dares to defy a powerful mafia like him. She will experience hell in my hands.

“Let’s see how this rose will crush its petals from my hands. You will regret that you raise your voice at me and insult me with your stares that night. You will pray for my mercy because no glory will come to your life from now on.” He said it as he crushed the last page in his hand while looking intently at the woman who smiled happily in the counter.

The woman must have noticed that someone is staring at her. She looked straight to the portion where Franco and Jacob were sitting. She looked wondering why he kept on looking at her in a scary look.

He turned his gaze to Jacob. “Jacob, I want you to contact someone from the hospital. We have a new charity case to work on. Let us give mercy to those who work earnestly.”

“Sure, Mr. Milano. I will arrange it right away.” Jacob replied at him.

“I will expect good news from you. Don’t be late again on our next meeting. I will forgive you today since you give me everything I wanted. You may go.” He ordered Jacob. He handed him a check with a magnanimous amount of money. Jacob’s eyes widened and smiled from ear to ear at him.

“Boss, I spend a lot in my investigation but I never thought you’d be this generous to me.” Jacob spoke in amazed tone.

“Don’t mind it. It’s only a partial payment for a piece of your work.” He said not bothered by his reaction.

“I will arrange it for you again, Mr. Milano. This time, I will not be late.”

Jacob replied grinning.

Franco stood up from his seat and lends his hand to Jacob for a hand shake.

“Good job, Jacob. I never thought wrong about you.”

Jacob accepts his hand shake. “Thank you, Boss.Oh! by the way. I arranged our meeting here coz' I know Miran works here. You must have seen it yourself” Jacob winked at him before he left.

He glanced one more time again at the woman in the counter before he leaves the coffee shop...