Forget Me Not, My Darling

She Is A Beauty

Philippines

Mactan- Cebu International Airport

At exactly 10 in the morning, a white private passenger jet landed on the runway. After a few minutes, the plane opened its door and Lian came out in a three-piece suit with a shirt and a white striped tie. Shades with a golden rim covered his eyes and a rose-gold watch perfectly fit on his left wrist that glimmered as it was exposed to the sun when he lifted his hand to re-adjust his glasses.

Cord followed along as he continuously read a report to Lian. As they were approaching the terminal a group of people in formal suits and dresses came to greet them. They fell in line and simultaneously greeted Lian.

“Welcome to the Philippines, Director Franco,” the group said.

Lian slightly nodded his head in acknowledgment and said, “It is alright, this is not the first time that I came to the Philippines anyway.”

Lian continued walking and the group of people followed along. A man with graying hair but is still young-looking runs to catch up with Lian. He seems to be the one with the highest position in the group because Lian did not mind him walking alongside him. 

The group came out of the terminal and two vehicles were waiting in front. Lian and Cord entered the first vehicle. And the other group of people waited for Lian to enter the first car before they entered the other car.

In the second car, the group started discussing things about Lian and his capability to be the next head of the company.

“Is he the next president of our company?”

“Don’t you think he looks too young for that kind of role?”

“Hush, he has been trained to do business since young. Besides, he is a natural businessman. He is born to do business.” The man with gray hair hushed the whole group.

As they were traveling a twin-rise building slowly came into view, as they came nearer the building appeared taller and taller. When the car where Lian rode stopped, someone immediately opened the car door for him. Lian stepped out of the car elegantly like the perfect being he was. As Lian entered the building, people filed out from their cubicles and formed into a line greeting him from left to right.

After tiring back-to-back meetings with the different departments of the Philippine branch, Lian was finally able to breathe in his car. He rested his head on the steering wheel of the car. It took him just a couple of minutes to compose himself. He breathed out a sigh of relief and started the car. He is tired but did not want to sleep in the car. While cruising down the highway, he kept on thinking how good his mattress will feel after a tiring day.

It is already one in the morning, and he wanted to go back as fast as possible. He stepped on the accelerator going a hundred per hour, not minding traffic rules since he know that the road would most likely be deserted at this ungodly hour of the day.

He saw the traffic light turn yellow on the next intersection, so he hastened and drove faster, hoping to not get caught with the red light. He saw no other cars and sped up his car, however, a civilian suddenly sprang up on the pedestrian lane. His car was going too fast, and he was too late to react. By the time his car already stopped, his windshield was broken and there was a dent on his bumper. He immediately went out of his car to check what happened. About five meters away from his car lay a person.

The person’s clothes looked like that of a woman's uniform in his company to Lian for some reason. He hurriedly called for an ambulance and went to check on the person. He was relieved that that person was not bleeding, however, that person was facing down so he was not able to tell if the person was a man or woman. He assumed that the person was a woman based on her clothes and long hair but can’t confirm it. Not too far away, he spotted a bag. He went to pick it up and realized that it was of the person’s since it matched with the color of the person’s blazer jacket.

The ambulance came in no time at all and took the girl, he just realized it was a girl after the medics turned her around when they strapped her on a stretcher, to the hospital. He naturally came with them to deal with the mess he made. The girl was immediately rushed to the ER then was declared for an emergency operation. While waiting he took out his phone and contacted Cord.

After a couple of rings, Cord picked up the phone.

It was late in the middle of the night when my phone started ringing. As much as I wanted to ignore it, it was the ringtone used when an emergency arises. I picked up the phone while fighting off my sleep, but the next thing that I heard was like a bucket of ice-cold water that was poured over my head, waking me up in an instant.

“I am in the hospital,” Lian’s voice came through.

Lian sat on one of the hospital benches, waiting for Cord to come over. He was tired but he can’t rest. He can’t let down his guard even for a minute because he was afraid that he might miss something important. Not long after, a nurse came over asking for his assistance. He got up, took the girl’s bag, and followed the nurse to the nurse’s station.

The nurse gave him a form and asked him to fill out the patient’s information sheet. Lian looked at the nurse confused, but it seems like the nurse is already busy with another patient or maybe a patient’s relative. He then took the form and went back to the bench he was sitting on before. After reading the form, he realized that all that was being asked were general information like the patient's name, her age, address, etc.

He then went through the girl’s bag in hope of finding a clue as to what to write on the form. Luckily for him, he found the girl’s identification card, a resume with her name, and a portfolio containing photos of buildings and some complicated construction methods.

It turns out that she is Lady Marina Carno, a level two civil engineer in a construction company. Turning 29 in May, a native Filipino, and is supposedly applying in his company, CJ Holdings Inc. However out of all the information that he discovered, what caught his attention is her picture on her ID. She is a beauty.

While he was still admiring the photo of Marina, Cord came over gasping and sweating. From his looks, one can say that he just turn the marathon.

“What happened? What’s wrong? What are you doing here?” Cord’s barrage of questions fell on Lian. Lian studied Cord for a few seconds then asked,

“Why do you look like that?” Cord’s eyes widened and his jaw fell to the floor in exasperation. He can’t believe it. Despite the shock that Lian gave him, Lian seems to have the mood to ask how he looked when it seems that he is in deep trouble. Before Cord’s ears produced fumes, Lian gave him a task to do,

“Delete all records about tonight. From the road to the witnesses and this hospital. Make it possible that no one will be able to retrieve any formation about tonight's incident.”

Coord automatically went into job mode and prepared a list of whom he should call and ask for help. But before Cord could act out the plans inside his head, he was once again stumped dumb by what Lian said,

“And, Cord. Make a new identity for this girl, I will make her my wife. She will be one that I will be marrying.”

WHAATT???

“Marry? But you do not even know each other. Besides, you don’t know if she will survive the operation at all. Or if she will still be beautiful after the operation!” Cord exclaimed in total disagreement with Lian’s idea.

"Then we just have to make sure that she survives." Lian was adamant about his decision. Disgruntled by what he is currently hearing, Cord tried to speak Lian out of his ridiculous idea.

"How about her family? What if she's got someone waiting for her at home? What will you do then?" Cord tried reasoning to Lian.

"Well then, you just have to take care of it. Fake her death if..."

"I can't unless you want to be pressed with charges for reckless driving, murder, and many other charges a lawyer can come up to." Cord justified.

"It doesn't necessarily mean that I am the one on the scene," Lian said then looked at Cord with a cold smile.

"I'll trust you in this one Cord, do not disappoint me."

Lian stood up, picked the girl's bag then looked at Cord straight in the eyes. Cord stared back but is trying to control his legs from shaking. Lian's stare was too intense for his poor heart to handle.

Lian then tapped Cord's shoulder then went past him towards the elevator.

When he can no longer feel Lian's presence, Cord sat on the bench lian once sat on. His legs felt like jelly and he can hear the thumping of his heart on his chest.

'that was deadly,' he thought.

he then started collecting his thoughts and a plan to make sure that Lian's reputation to the outside world will not be ruined. He took out his phone and started making a series of calls, instructing people and appointing their jobs.

DING-TING

The elevator doors opened to a hallway directing to a room that seems to be an office. in the middle of the room was a U-shaped table with an elderly man sprawled on the tabletop. The table is in a mess. Paper reports covered the majority of the table, the desktop monitor is currently playing a surgical procedure and on the middle of the table was a plaque engraved with the words, HOSPITAL DIRECTOR.

Lian took a look at his surrounding. Paper was scattered everywhere, some were crumpled some were torn, some were even burnt by the edges. The hospital director seems to have forgotten to go home and just slept in his office. Not wanting to disturb the sleeping old man, he went towards the sofa in one of the corners of the room and brought out the ID of the girl once again.

She is beautiful, undoubtedly beautiful.

She has straight black hair, reaching just below her shoulders. Her eyes were doe-like, giving her an innocent vibe and appearance. Her lips were plump and red, like cherries ready to be picked. She looks like a mix of western and Asian beauty.

He can't get enough of her beauty.

He smiled thinking of his next step and his plans involving the girl.