Chapter 9: Missing Package.

The furnace inside the house reduced the icy atmosphere in the entire living room. 

Because of the chilly wind that blows around due to yesterday's rain, everyone selected a special dress that covers their overall body.

Kassy and kiki wagged their tails as they hurried to the living room, they had just woken up from their sleep. But what type of dog wakes up soo late like the two lazy pet dogs of the family?

Kassy is a golden doodle while Kiki, a whoodle. Both little classy hybrid cuties were the best friends of the family.

Their cute barks alarmed the rest of the little grandchildren of the Chavez family. Their voices were heard in the living room suddenly, playing around.

In his bedroom, Carl entered and found his bed soo rough. A little flashback; he was called on by Mr. Edgardo for an urgent delivery early in the morning yesterday before he could even think of arranging his bed and other things he found on the floor.

He'd only brushed his teeth, he didn't even have breakfast before he left the house. Soo deferential and dutiful he was, but did not know he was only attracting the title, servant, to his name.

On the floor, he found his picture of when he was a toddler. In the picture he held hands with his beautiful mother with glowing smiles on their faces. 

Small tears came down from his eyes. He wished she was still alive. Her existence might have created road for him to be successful as mothers mostly being the key to their children success in life.

This was the last picture his mother gave to him before she passed away. Then, he was five-year-old.

Since then, he lived with his father who struggles to make a living for both of them.

Each time he thinks about his dad, soft tears would crawl down his cheek. He knew what his father went through to train him in college for him to pursue his dream of becoming a computer programmer.

Although, Carl also had vast knowledge in the field of business and managements due to his past experience in his teenage life where he worked under hardened managers just to survive.

Izan Cortes, his father, wanted him to be a medical doctor since himself is also in the field of medicine, but Carl loves to code since he first laid his hands on a laptop which was his mother's last gift to him before she died.

"How would he survive without me around?" Carl thought, threw himself over his bed with a small vapid smile on his face. 

"Does he have all that strength to go about looking for registered drugs and equipments to work with in his small shop?" He was bothered.

"He needs someone to watch over him, that work requires a lot of mental efforts. It could weight him down.."

His eyes goggles around the white ceiling of his room as his thoughts keeps expanding..

He ponders in his heart;

"What if he's ill and don't have enough to take care of himself?!"

_

It has been a while since he called his dad on phone. The mistreatment he faces in his in-laws home caused his mind to be unstable for sometime.

In a minute, his mind flashed. He immediately pull his head up from the bed and sat with an unsettled look.

"Why hasn't he called?" He cogitated.

It is already a week and he has not heard from his dad.

He quickly reached for his phone which was in silent mode. Soo stunned he was to see 44 missed call already tolled on the screen of his phone.

"What happened?" Immediately, he exclaimed.

The two different phone line that has called him belongs to his best friends who lives in Highlands City, his home.

Carl became nervous and anxious.

"Why so many missed calls? Did something happened?" Thoughtfully, he grilled in his mind.

He checked his missed calls, expecting to see his dad's line but was disappointed. Not a single call came from him.

He decided to open his contact to search for his line.

He found it under his thumb, but before he could dial, a heavy knock banged on his door which startled him deeply as his phone almost fell off from his grip.

His mind quickly drafted back to his environment.

"I hope it's Camila, " he wished.

He stood up quietly as he leaped to his door.

Religiously, he draws an invisible holy cross before him with his left hand as he had his right hand on the knob.

The knock sounded a little agressive. He feared, wishing it is non of his brother-in-laws who is knocking on his door.

"They will not trouble me since Mr. Edgardo is back home already. " he thought for a second while rubbing his forehead.

His mind clicked suddenly when he remembered something.

"Mr. Edgardo!!!" Transiently, his mind lightened in a flash;

"The Lavaliere!!" He exclaimed quietly in shock. He threw his face to his bed and circulates it all over his room when he remember it was not long since he entered his apartment.

When he came in, his phone was the only thing he felt inside his pocket.

The clothes he wore before has now become a rag for dust in the storeroom as he already change on another wears.

"Oh gracious Lord!" His voice shook with fright as his eyes widened.

Again, the knock banged heavily on the door. He then heard the strong voice of Alvaro, one of Mr. Edgardo guards who follows the great man everywhere he goes.

"Mr. Carl!" Alvaro's deep voice caused a tremor in Carl's soul.

Carl mutters with a low-pitched voice, "Where is that expensive piece of gold?"  

He however composes himself, turns the smooth knob and opened the door to answer the 6ft' 5 inch tall and muscular security guard of his father-in-law.

Despite Carl's already slum reputation and sarcasm in the Chavez home, Mr. Edgardo workers still have relative respect for him.

Alvaro, even with his naturally neutral look, he spoke warmly to Carl who has started to freak inside his body in one sight of him.

Not that he was scared of Alvaro, but it seemed like he has lost the expensive Lavaliere that belongs to Mr. Edgardo.

He could not remember a thing about the Lavaliere since it was in a small box kept inside his pocket.

His mind began to race fast to yesterday event starting from when he was locked outside the gate to when he got humiliated and assaulted by his mother-in-law and his brother-in-laws.

"Is everything alright with you, Mr. Carl?" Alvaro noticed and asked.

Carl eyes clapped twice, "Uh-h yeah, e-everything is alright. I was j-just having some brief thoughts about something you know," he lied, smiling indistinctly.

"Ok, I just hope it's not more than that Mr. Carl, " Alvaro replied.

Carl quaked, feared Alvaro may have guessed his thoughts.

Alvaro noted,

"Mr. Edgardo wants to see the expensive lavaliere he bought and assigned you to convey to him. Though I'm supposed to collect it from you, but he wants you to bring his gold directly to him."

Without wasting much time, he turned his back to leave. But before he leave, he said;

"His minutes are costly to be wasted. He is already waiting in his chamber, do not waste his time I advice you."

Having said that, he walked away completely.

Carl stood speechless at the front of the door.

He have managed to keep a good relationship with his father-in-law. But this time, it seems everything might go worse for him if he is not able to deliver his package.

A very small grey box is where the lavaliere was kept and driven inside his left pocket. He could remember.

He also remembered that he had a glimpse of the box at the gate. He watched his hand safely placing it back deep inside his pocket. He could plainly reminisce until when his conversation with the gatekeeper started.

His heart was already thumping.

He feared Mr. Edgardo might get soo furious and throw him out of the house for losing something soo expensive.

*

After Alvaro left his presence, minutes passed, and Carl decided to go to meet his father-in-law. 

To get to his chamber, he walked passed a wet bar where he heard his two miscreant brother-in-laws laughing crazily in the cold room as they were discussing about something. 

The bar was doorless that there was no rat that would pass that both brothers won't catch a glimpse.

When Carl was passing, they view him with contempt.

Exposing a villainous aura while watching him stroll away. They immediately chuckled after he was out of their sight and the sound of their chuckling was quite audible for Carl to hear and frown at.

He was soo angry at them, but could only get nervous at the time. With what they did to him yesterday, he began to suspect them for the golden lavaliere that he had lost. Their chuckling were quite extreme.

He did not have all the time to start thinking about that. Already, he could see the name Edgardo Chavez written on silver slate plastered at the top of the entrance door of his chamber. Inside was more like a royal chamber as the structure alone could serve as a house.

The door was open and everywhere inside was soo quiet. 

Quietly, he walked inside. Where he stood was only as middle hall like a living room as he could see four other separate chambers at every side.

Sometimes Carl speculates that father-in-law may have been a wealthy prince from time.

...

"He is in the living room now Mr. Carl," a voice slapped Carl's spirit from behind. He jounced and turns around responsively.

It is Elder Sebastien, Mr. Edgardo most trusted P. A.

An atom of fray tipped inside him when he caught the fearful look on Elder Sebastien's face.

But that has been Elder Sebastien's natural look for decades since he started working for Mr. Edgardo. No matter how one often sees his face, if he stays behind you and you catch a glimpse of him, you'll surely shudder.

Carl adjusted quickly.

"Ehm.. you said Mr. Edgardo is not here.. so ehm.. where is he?" He asked, perhaps did not hear what the man said before.

"Like I said, he is waiting for you downstairs in the main living room and he wants you to bring the gift that he bought for his beloved wife, Madam Vincenta, " With his old and rugged voice, Elder Sebastien answered gently. Having his left hand constantly resting behind his back.

Carl body went into stealth mode for a few seconds.

Elder Sebastien did not waste much time after he has informed the son-in-law of the family.

He went straight to one of the four chambers, left Carl soo thunderstrucked.

"What?! M-Madam V-Vincent-ta..??" His mouth hardly pronounce...