CHAPTER 33


    Ortega informed everyone at breakfast that he and Lilian would be gone for a day or two and that Thalia should look after Vanessa in the interim.


    Danie and Marcus concurred.


    The recently reunited couple must have felt overwhelmed by the agents in the property and desired a calm, romantic setting


    Lilian and Alexander departed the farm just before noon.


    "At longst, it''s just you and me." Marcus remarked.


    "As well as at least twenty security guards.” Danie said


    "I''m already here, Dani; why do you require them to defend this location?” Marcus despised the fact that the house was crammed with Ortega''s men


    in every nook and cranny, and he despised Simon for faithfully doing his duties!


    “Itis for our own protection. "Wait a minute, do you have a beef with them?" Danie yelled at Marcus since she was well aware that Marcus would


    always find something wrong with her bodyguard.


    "I want us to be alone, but Simon has been with you the entire time!" He was enraged at the appearance of Simon.


    "He was only going about his business!” She yelled at Marcus for being unreasonable in his treatment of Simon.


    "He knew I could protect you better than he could, yet why does he keep reappearing?” He questioned Simon''s timing whenever he and Danie


    were bing affectionate.


    Danie made a sarcastic remark about Marcus. “Are you envious?"


    Was he resentful? Indeed, he was envious of Simon! The man was younger and more attractive than he was. Simon was extremely personable and


    possessed an uncanny ability to make Danieugh uncontrobly. "I am not envious of that gentleman, Dari. I''m only stating the apparent reality


    that Simon was no longer required!"


    "All right, fine. You were acquainted with their supervisor. "Go to him and tell him to reassign Simon," she added. If Marcus had just told him the truth


    about his jealousy of Simon, she would not have insisted on having the security near by. He was simply too obstinate at times!


    “All right, I''m going now." Marcus responded sternly, but on the inside, he was overjoyed that Simon would be out of Danie''s sight, and he had the


    ideal employment for him.


    Danie waited in the living room for Marcus to arrive so they could depart together. She needed to go to the office today to sign some paperwork for


    the renewal ofpany permits, as well as to check her boyfriend''s business n. His idea to turn their private beach into a public beach and build a


    high-end resort was put in paper, and she needed to verify its practicality. "Oh, it''spleted?" When Marcus returned in less than 10 minutes, she


    inquired.


    "Yes, let''s proceed to your office immediately." He stated as they proceeded towards the garage. holding the woman''s hand.


    "Do you agree that I should enroll AJ in a nursery school next month?" She would be too busy supervising the building, if ever, to teach AJ the


    fundamentals.


    Marcus reasoned that while AJ was at school, he would have Danie all to himself, which was not a terrible n at all. "Yes. I''m sure Patty would


    wee the opportunity to join her on a daily basis." As he stated.


    "That is correct." She returned her response. They were heading to the office when she noticed Gerald crossing the street. "Isn''t that correct.


    Gerald?" She directed her finger in the direction of Gerald.


    Marcus slowed the car to examine, clenching his jaw when he recognized Danie''s bestfriend’s style. "No, Gerald was not there. They simply...had


    the same appearance." He responded.


    "I believe that is him: please halt the vehicle for a while." She gave themand.


    Marcus was unresponsive and sped away. much to Danie''s consternation. "Dani, you''re going to bete." As he stated.


    "Aren''t you adorable when you act childishly, my love?” Danie teased the man for being simultaneously charming and jealous. For goodness sake.


    they were no longer teens, and yet he was still intimidated by someone else''s presence. Simon came first, followed by Gerald.


    He made no response and continued driving until he reached the two-story structure that housed the Reyes’ real estate firm. He stopped the car and


    then opened the door to allow Danie to exit; he then followed her into the building.


    "Are you not returning home?" Danie enquired. Their arrangement was that he would drive her to work and thene home to check on her


    greenhouse.


    "At ater time," he said. "It would be beneficial if I were present when you reviewed the paperwork,” he continued.


    “Oh, all right, if you say so." Her office window overlooked the famed Sumilon Ind. It was just a few minutes by boat, and she thought it would be


    nice if she and Marcus could spend the night on the ind alone. "By the way, where do you believe Paloma is now staying?" The woman was


    obstinate in her opposition to Lilian''s reconciliation with Alexander and departed from their home.


    "I''m not sure. I''m very perplexed by her attitude; after all, she and Alexander were once extremely close." Marcus returned thepliment.


    "I agree, and I''m wondering whether Alexander did anything awful to Paloma." Danie stated as she began her task.


    Her father''s firm did not require more workers because it required just minimum paperwork. A secretary or an office assistant was sufficient to help


    her, but as the resort''s building progressed, she may have to engage extrabor, with the remainder allocated to their contractors.


    "Hmm Marcus, whe will be our project''s target market?" Danie inquired when she was unable to locate it in the proposal.


    "Those who can afford, Dani.” Although it would be a high-end resort. Marcus did not want to restrict their services to the wealthy. The middle ss


    and the impoverished may stail avail for as long as they could afford it. There have been cases where the impoverished gained ess to monies and


    used them to indulge themselves.


    "I see," she replied, although she would have appreciated Marcus borating on the exact segment of their target market. However, the man was


    competent and she trusted him at the time. “All right, let''s go on to step one; we''ll choose a contractor for the job."


    "I am acquainted with someone.” he said


    They discussed almost everything about her new business venture, but at the end of the day, Marcus has never had the opportunity to spend


    significant time with Danie since he arrived. She was perpetually busy and, on most instances, she put their daughter and Vanessa first. He wished


    Lilian would return sooner!


    However, there was an ancient proverb that warned that you should be careful what you wish for or you may receive it. He had barely returned from


    Danie''s office when Lilian, Alexander, and an uninvited guest came.


    At first, he believed his mind was ying tricks on him, but as he rubbed his eyes, he saw Philip Madrigal was still alive and well! "What are you doing


    here, Pa?” enquired he.


    "Is it the proper way to meet the man who allowed you to see the world?" Philip chastised his kid for having forgotten his manners.


    Marcus was forced to admit his father, Lilian, and Alexander into the house. The couple immediately began searching for their missing daughter. “How


    did you learn about Alexander and Lilian?" she inquired.


    "That is how it urred, Marcus. If I


    did not insist OA apanying


    them, I woulthave no way of


    knowing yaur location," Philip stated:


    When Alexander informed him that


    Marcys was in Oslob, a town inthe


    south; he was skeptical, at least until


    he-arrived at Oslob, a half-drive day''s


    away. His elderly body was


    exhausted and he desired rest, but


    his son appeared to be angry to see


    him.


    Marcus had a suspicion that there was more to his father''s narrative, but he refrained from pressing the topic. "Excuse me for a moment," he


    murmured, as he needed to notify Danie about his unwanted guest. "Are you thirsty?” Marcus inquired of his father following his conversation with


    Danie.


    "Do you have a spouse?" Philip wondered because his son''s face was soft when he spoke on the phone with someone.


    "She remains my girlfriend," he responded.


    "Girlfriend? And you''ve already made your home here? I have to speak with the girl''s parents!” Philip yelled, imagining that his son had be a


    freeloader on the family of his fianc@@e.


    "I would appreciate it if you would refrain from interfering with my personal affairs, Pa." Marcus didn''t want someone like Philip interfering in his


    romance with Danie, even if the man was his father. He was still awaiting the proper moment, and he didn''t want the woman to believe he was


    being pressed by his father.


    "Don''t you believe it''s past time for me to intervene?” Consider yourself! You''re a shambles!" Philip lowered his gaze to Marcus.


    "If you have nothing constructive to say, then say nothing.” Marcus said, and was shocked as a sneaker sailed through the air, calling out Danie''s


    name before colliding with his face.


    "That is not the proper way tomunicate with your father, Marcus!" Danie rescued Philip from Marcus’ verbal abuse. When Marcus phoned, he


    simply stated the unwanted guest; however, Lilian also called to inform her that Marcus'' father was in the home, and upon her arrival, she instantly


    thought that the elderly gentleman conversing with her boyfriend was Philip Madrigal.


    "I merely advised him not to intrude in my private life!" Marcus attempted to exin. but the woman only sneered at him and dismissed him.


    "Why don''t you simply assist Simon in caring for Sky?" Because the guy felt insecure about Simon, he assigned the young man to look after her dog,


    Sky.


    Marcus sat on the sofa and listened in while Danie spoke with his father. He desired to caution her against being too close to Philip, as his father


    was not a saint!


    "Would you kindly provide some refreshments?" Danie directed Marcus to get to the kitchen and prepare something for herself and Philip.


    Marcus was enraged, yet he was


    compelled to obtain something for


    his father. Nosthe elderly gentleman


    was not permitted to remain more


    than two days! He would just allow


    him to récoup his lost energy fromyY


    traveliag, and then he would request


    Tyler''s assistance in locating-his


    fatker! What was Tyler''s reasoning


    fSP allowing the elderly guy to travel?


    arcus immediately called Tyler''s


    phone and reprimanded him. "Come


    here and bring him home," he


    directed Tyler to do. He sent Tyler


    the address and denied him the


    opportunity to say no.


    He returned to the living room, bringing a tray of drinks with him. Marcus offered Danie a ss of chilled pineapple juice as his father drank coffee.


    "I appreciate it, my darling. Excuse me, sir; I''m checking up on my kid. Marcus will walk you to your room,” Danie stepped aside to allow them some


    privacy.


    "I enjoy herpany," Philip stated


    "She''s taken,” Marcus responded,


    and both guys burst outughing at


    their shared cheesy joke. There was


    no animosit#between them when I


    he elected''o leave their house “


    followinga session of ~—


    life-threatening conditions caused


    by his lifestly. They just do see


    each other very much, and-both


    guys preferred alone. "Sotell me


    why you''re here," he inquired as to


    the true reason for his father''s


    presence in Oslob, as there was no


    way it was due to him!


    "It is due to Sharon. "I have a feeling she is nearby," Philip said.


    "I anticipated it! You''ve been fascinated with that woman for far too long! Perhaps it is time for you to give up on her," Marcus pleaded with his father


    to forget about the woman he had met only once.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    "Are you sure you can forget about Danie, son?” Philip inquired.


    "That is a different tale, Pa.” There is no simrity between Danie and the woman named Sharon whe had a one-night affair with his obstinate


    father and couldn''t understand why he was so captivated with the woman when it was obvious she wasn''t interested in him!


    "I am aware, yet I am hopeful that I will see her before I die." Philip returned thepliment


    Marcus was troubled by the prospect of his father dying, and hisment served as a wake-up call. "Do you have any information on how to locate


    this woman?"


    "Do not be concerned: I have already retained Ortega''s services to assist me in locating her. “From what I''ve heard, he’s the finest," Philip stated


    "Indeed, he is.”