C5 Chapter 5

Ruben kept coming to look for her. He would drive to the club every night when it would be assumed that he was engaged with work or setting up some meeting with members of other companies on behalf of his father.

“I have a lot to do if I must lead a branch.” He had told his parent one of the days his father questioned his recent late night keeping. He wasn’t sure if they believed him, but they didn’t raise the topic again. He had felt terrible lying to them.

He sat in the dark inside his car and waited like he had waited for five days after she warned him off. Ruben had convinced himself that he had come searching for the little girl, whom he hurt thirteen years ago, to make amends. Yet he knew that was not all. Her forgiveness would not satiate him. Those brown eyes of hers that were filled with pain aroused something within him. There was something more he had wanted from her. Though he could not point out what it was.

He could not sleep peacefully since their last encounter and it was starting to bother him. There was not many people could talk with. Opening up to Alberto was not going to help. It would only start a round of a long drawn out argument that would make him feel worse than before.

He resigned and made his way to the only person.

“I think you should forget the past and move forward,” His Godfather had said to him when he came visiting. It was easy to open up to the retired preacher than his own parent.

“How can I move forward when my past is always haunting me? This particular past stares back at me. It reminds me of how unworthy I am to call myself a Saviola. It reminds me of the fact that i don't deserve to take over my father's company," Ruben had replied.

“You said you have met this lady and she doesn’t want to see you.”

“Yes, sir. I don’t know what to do.”

His Godfather said nothing for a while. He took a bite from the beet he picked from a small saucer and chewed slowly.

“Life has a way of laughing at us. You make a start and then move forward.You think you have everything going on for you.” He chewed again and swallowed. “Then your life is thrown in a maze when you least expect it. What are your parents saying about this?”

“We never discussed it," Ruben said.

"Ah." The old man stroked his chin. "That is quite unfortunate."

His God father had prayed for him, warned him and wished him the best.

“You have to speak to your parents. They are your parents and your spiritual head.” The old man had said in a final tone.

Ruben had already lost the hope of seeing Juanita that night. He wondered whether it was worth it. Seeking a lady who wants nothing to do with him. He brought his car to life and made to drive out when he saw two ladies chatting and walking out of the club. He killed the engine, stepped out of the car and waited for then to approach.

“Hey! Excuse me!” he called out.

They turned simultaneously, looked him up and down and flashed him one of the fakest smiles he had ever seen.

“Hello handsome," One of them said.

“Check out the hunk,” The other added and they giggled seductively.

“Sorry, I'm looking for someone.” Ruben looked from one lady to the other.

The ladies sunk their faces in disappointment.

"And who is that? Is the person sexier than me?” One asked with an air of hostility.

“Who is that? What's the person's name, handsome?” The other lady asked, trying to slip her finger inside his shirt from the unbuttoned collar. Frowning slightly, Ruben took her hands and dropped it.

“Her name is Juanita," he said.

“Juanita? Who is Juanita?” One asked.

“Oh, Juanita! Fire Princess! ” The other said as recognition suddenly lit her face.

“Ah! Fire Princess! The one that always bring her child along?”

“Child? What child?” Ruben asked. His eyes lit up as curiosity crossed his features.

“Hey, what is it? Do we look like people you can interrogate? Are you a cop?” One of them gave him a suspicious gaze.

“No. I am not a cop," he quickly replied.

The ladies' suspicious gazes didn't waver. Ruben discovered it was getting late and he needed to get home on time so as not to add to his parent's ever growing worries. However, the ladies before him had the advantage and the ball was in his court. But he was no novice. He knew they wouldn't give him information unless he spoke their language.

He reached into his wallet and pulled out some notes. He handed them to the ladies who accepted and counted them.

"Oh, fuck me!" One of them exclaimed. "This is eight hundred dollars!"

"Mama mia, this would cover quite a lot for the week!" The other chimed in.

Ruben cleared his throat,bringing their attention to him.

"So where can I find her?" he asked.

The two ladies stared at each other momentarily and then turned their gaze to him, flashing a knowing smile.

It was a miracle Ruben saw her. He had already walked past her but when he took a closer look, he realized she was the one seated inside an abandoned shed, with her legs folded to ger chest. It looked like she was hiding.

“Juanita," he called her.

She was startled. Shaking her hands and mumbling words, she moved further inside, away from him

“Juanita, what is wrong with you? Are you okay?" He tried to touch her.

“No...No.. Stay away from me!” she cried out, her body shaking vehemently.

He ignored her cries and gathered her in his arms.

“Come, let’s get you out of here.” He led her towards his car. She made no effort to struggle.

When she was secured in his car, her emotions reached a tipping point and she let it all out.She broke down and wailed even more than she did when her mother died.

****

The stranger had seen Juanita leave the hotel room. He waited for about few hours before he sneaked into the hotel room, slipped his hand glove, moved towards the window and retrieved the hidden camera.

He looked at the lifeless body of the Mayor in disgust.

“Old fool. I thought you had nine lives,” he said.

He spat on the corpse and walked out, carefully closing the door behind him.

The dead body would be found the next day. The newsmen would carry it The hotel and the police would go on a search for the killer. The stranger had gotten his job done and it came with a souvenir.

He would look for the girl, but at the right time.