7 The Diamond

At the Marino mansion, Rafael and the rest of the Marino siblings were eating breakfast at the dining table while Karl was in the living room, meeting with the police and some of his personnel.

"Senator Marino, do you have an idea who might be the mastermind on the attempt on your life?" asked the Chief of Police.

"Your question is as good as mine," Karl sips a cup of tea while reading a newspaper. "Nobody wants to sniff out the life of a lowly politician like me."

"But the fact is you are a former warlord and you are a war hero in disguise."

"Look, stop talking about my war experience, it would only cause more harm than good," Karl gave a sharp glance at the chief of police. "I'll tell you when I found out who sent those assassins."

"We will conduct our own investigation too, we will protect you as you did for us in the past," the Chief of Police shook the senator's hands before leaving the area, followed by Rafael and his siblings who went off to school.

-------

It was nine o'clock in the morning; Kanna was just looking out of the window of their classroom staring blank like there was no teacher in the class. She gasps her breath and stares at the teacher, seems like her mind is confused yet it was like Good Friday for her.

The class finished early, Rafael and Kanna walked towards the cafeteria and sat down on a bench while the young man bought food, however he noticed that his girlfriend was gloomy and silent, far from the unusual. Kanna looked at his boyfriend and looked down.

"Is there something bothering you?" Rafael offered a snack to his girlfriend.

"Nothing," Kanna blankly glanced at her boyfriend.

"Are you sure? Because I will ask you for dinner tonight."

"You will?" Kanna smiled.

"Yeah, after class we'll go to the mall near Innovare," Rafael kisses his girlfriend's forehead, causing Kanna's face to blush.

-------

Later that day, Rafael and Kanna strolled down the mall and sat down on the bench fronting the famous Mall Pool holding each other's hand and gazing at the enormous pool.

"We've been together for seven months," Rafael wrapped his arms around the lass.

"That's why you invited me for dinner?" the young lady leans her head on the young man's shoulder.

"I am the luckiest man on the planet and I am proud that you are my girlfriend," Rafael said. While there was excitement and joy, the rain literally poured, prompting the couple to seek shelter; literally they were soaking wet, lucky for them that the Innovare Headquarters was just a few blocks away, and so they sprinted towards the building enjoying the heavy downpour of the rain while holding each other's hands. They quickly entered the building, but were blocked by a security guard at the entrance.

"Where are you going?" the guard asked.

"Thirty-fifth floor, Riko Marino's office," Rafael replied, showing his ID card.

"What is your purpose?" the guard queried, checking the young man's ID.

"I came here to fetch some documents for my mother," Rafael responded. Thus the guard gave the keys to Riko's office.

"This was father's office before he became a senator, Mom was so artistic that she changed everything when she occupied this," Rafael told Kanna as they both took off their wet clothes, placing it at a heater.

"Don't they have any CCTV's here?" Kanna looks around the office with much curiosity.

"Mom took them off a while ago," Rafael answered, the two went in front of Riko's heater, to dry their clothes and themselves, they looked unto each other and slowly leaned each other's lips, Kanna quickly put a hold of herself.

"This is not right" she said unto Rafael, who had already slumped on the floor. Just like his father, Rafael is also prone to burnout. The lass quickly wrapped her arm around the young lad to warm him. She stood up and took an energy drink at Riko's refrigerator and gave it to Rafael to regain his energy. The office door suddenly opened. The couple was sat frozen by Karl's presence and a beautiful lady standing behind him who in turn were both thunderstruck by what they saw.

"Oppa, I didn't know Rafael was this aggressive," the lady chucklede, covering her mouth.

"Why, what are you doing here?" Karl asked Rafael.

"Dad - Aunt Tiffany, we - we were soaked wet in the rain so we got ourselves dry here," a stuttering Rafael explained, covering Kanna with his coat.

Karl smirked and shook his head, trying to get a hold of his laughter "Yeah, I might understand that, you may take the car and go wherever you want. I'll call you if I want to go home."

Without a qualm, Rafael and Kanna quickly left the room, leaving Karl and Tiffany in the office.

A timeless beauty with a body that can challenge the youth, a face that never aged and as fine as a wine for a Korean-American, Tiffany is Karl's deputy, a K-Pop Superstar, she refers to him as her "Oppa" she also works as his assistant back at Penthouse Seven. After Karl's semi-retirement, Tiffany temporarily assumed all of Karl's positions because of the protocol in Philippine politics, but her loyalty to her "sunbaenim" has never faltered to which the two had each other's back whether it's good. Back at the Innovare office, Tiffany sat down in front of Karl's desk, sipping a cup of coffee, while Karl made the same gesture. "Now Tiff, what would you like to ask from me?"

"I've been sent here to recruit another executive for Singapore," Tiffany told him "Well, I need a female one, not just one but two. One here and one in Singapore it's one of the publishing companies and she launching one here in the Philippines."

"There are many fishes in the sea, so it's not impossible to find one."

"Just right Oppa, I thank you for trusting me to continue what you started and I want Jiena to cover it soon."

"I'm sure there are other things that you want to tell me." Karl picked on his nose, staring at Tiffany who explained her presence.

"I also came here because I'm investigating a Malaysian Drug Ring."

"Stephanie, I've retired from busting drug rings since I've finished my business with Bang Du."

"You defeated Bang Du, it's good, but the Red Scorpions and the Canadian drug syndicates are still there and now the Malaysian drug lords are trying to settle here in the Philippines."

"That's not my job to eradicate them, the jobs go to the authorities."

"They always involved us in war; we've been fighting them immemorial."

"I have kids Tiffy, there are ten of them, I cannot afford to fight and die because of this goddamn nonsense of people obsessed with white powder."

"But you'll die the with same thing," Tiffany pointed out, prompting Karl to stand in front of her and pinch her cheeks and said, "You're the Penthouse's Ultimate Femme Fatale, you are the successor of the Caracal so you can do it."

Later that night, Karl and Tiffany summoned a conference of business executives who were affiliated to Innovare and also the people in charge of the subsidiaries of their corporation. It was a long table where prominent and highly respected people from the company sat down.

Antonio, the chairman of the company and the sitting Don of the whole company, also on his portfolio is he is the proprietor of the Innovare security outfit, the so called "pillar of the company".

Chad, handpicked by Antonio and the trio as president of the company after one of its leaders, Kenneth pursued in focusing the multimedia control.

Kenneth Chow controls the Multimedia business; the oldest of the subsidiaries of Innovare Inc. Karl controls the central organization and the political influence of the company, making it the reason many looks up to the influence of the company.

Charlie Ong, also a senator controls the Innovare, his skills in programming and software development led to some of the most deadly and powerful weapons that the company has created.

Arjan, Karl's longtime business partner holds all the assets relating to legal gambling and prostitution. Being the co-owner of Wha! Entertainment which includes Club Wha!, Wha! Casino and all of its subsidiaries, he is also part of the planning committee of the commission.

The entertainment and film outfit were under the hands of Marco Valle. When Karl asked him to lead the film outfit and a talent agency, other film outfits made a huge profit out of their mainstream plots, but Marco's unique mind and ability surged the outfit to its prime.

Gustav Ojeda, also a senator and a son of a sugar baron controls the entities of Western Visayas, making his sugar company as a front of his smuggling and casino businesses. Caring and aloof, Gustav is one dangerous man to deal with.

Teddy Boy Lagman, a mayor of a local town in Abra, is controlling a vast private army in the area, oftenly, the commission borrows whenever they do a raid at an enemy warehouse.

Rod Wang, the lord of casinos and illegal gambling has long been a financial supporter of the Marinos and their allies in politics in exchange for protection and intelligence gatherings.

Aside from the executives, also present in the meeting were soldiers and associates of IDEAS Inc. nationwide.

Reynaldo Monterolla also known as Nenotchka "Baby" Motorola, a known owner of a group of beauty parlors and legal bars, he or she uses a special gun that resembles like a blow dryer. At first Charlie, Kenneth and Marco couldn't agree on whether Baby can join the group but they had no choice but to let her join the team because of her wit and resourcefulness.

The next was Lilian Amantor, a jueteng queen in the northern part particularly Pampanga. She controls a group of goons in the region. Her husband was ambushed by their rival family particularly of the Ferrero and Serrano. Lillian was hesitant at first, she told them she didn't want another war and her husband's death was enough, but when the rival family beat up her son, she eventually joined the team, after being attacked by the Ferrero crime syndicate.

T. Y Hashim, then Governor of ARMM was quickly influenced by Karl Marino because of their friendship way back during the war days. He holds a network of friends and associates in ARMM and Zamboanga and was also a key factor in the rise of Innovare's Mindanao operations.

Kamat Ayan was a notorious gang leader in the eastern part of the Philippines. He and his men joined Karl Marino's team after the former gained their respect after a competition; they knew Nardo to be a sharpshooter and believed him to be a bearer of a powerful talisman.

Ronaldo "Apeng" Desaludo was an expert drag racer in Cebu, he and his men were involved in the underground racing activities, he became part of Karl Marino's team because he had dreamed of working for Innovare underground and the president.

M G. G. Hasa was known for his sneak attacks and was a frequent inmate in the correctional; he just wanted to be reunited with his family, so Karl Marino promised him freedom and to reunite his family in return to work for him at the Innovare Inc.

Another one is Emerson Luang also known as Ka Bering, was a former leader of the New People's Army, he led an underground insurgency against the Government for the continuous extortion of the people by the five families. Marino offered him and his men secret amnesty in return for his service for him and IDEAS Inc. but it was the hardest thing as Marino underwent another duel challenge just to win his loyalty.

And finally Chloe Cecilio, a cute and intelligent girl but has the capability to kill a man in a matter of seconds, whenever the guy is attracted to her, Chloe's dream was to join a beauty pageant but everything faded after she was raped by Leonard Fontierra, Albert Fontierra's brother. Vowing revenge, she joined Karl Marino's team.

When asked about the associates and the button men's backgrounds, Karl would only say that they're investor and stockholders of the company, the meeting was so very secretive that at the Innovare Building there was a wall that divides between the commission hall and the rest of the company; it was like if someone enters the hall, you'll have no connection with the outside world.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Karl greeted the commission and sat in front of a long table, with Tiffany sitting behind him.

"Now, this will be short but planned," Karl said, "Tiffany and I will launch an assault against the northern faction, but it would be a surprise."

"That's great, but what about the Police?" Charlie asked.

"Everything is under control," Tiffany answered, "It's untraceable."

"Listen, from this day onwards, Tiffany shall take over most of my positions in the Southeast Asia region," Karl told everyone who reciprocated the announcement with a resounding standing ovation.

"I think we have no problem as long as Penthouse Seven is with us," Teddy Boy said.

"A legend and his veteran deputy guiding us, I guess nothing is impossible," Antonio said, flattering both Karl and Tiffany.

----

The next morning, Rafael entered his classroom, he looked around and noticed that his girlfriend wasn't around, later Kanna texted that she couldn't come because of personal reasons, that same day, their instructor introduced Erina to the class who was glad that she knows someone from the class, so she sat beside the young man.

"Just when your request for transfer got approved?" Rafael asked.

"Yesterday, Mrs. Marino arranged it for us," the lass answered.

"Mom is really changing," Rafael murmured.

Rafael toured Erina around the campus per orders from his instructor, the lass was so glad that the man whom she had a secret crush toured her around, to which some students were surprised thinking Rafael is cheating on Kanna with the transferee, as for sure everyone was jealous of their relationship, the boy next door, the sexiest male student alive, the varsity player, multi-athlete, good-looking, smart man and his counterpart, a girl next door, the third hottest girl around, the prettiest and possessed the same qualities as her boyfriend. As they walked toward the feared hallway, Jiena was waiting for them, smiling like a demon.

"Looks like Erina is enjoying the tour," she glances at the lass.

"Is this your idea?" Rafael asked his twin sister.

"Why would I do that?" Jiena shrugged off his claim and went back to her classroom.

After their class, Rafael speedily went into a diner; he looked around and sat in the corner, facing his boss, Kanna, who was just looking at the window of the diner. The young man ordered food and came back with it, but the lass' face was gloomy, as if the weather condoled with her.

"Your face looks gloomy, is there something bothering you?" Rafael asked.

"I heard you were with Erina at school," Kanna staring at the window as she avoided eye contact with Rafael.

"Yeah, but they instructed me to give her a tour."

"And you accepted it."

"I didn't want to, but they were forcing me, what's wrong with you, getting angry for no reason!"

"You know what, I'm fighting for you, I know that Kyoko and Bianca doesn't like me, because I love you, and you're not valuing it" Kanna cried, walking out of the diner, it was raining as she walked through the streets, Rafael was trailing her, trying to get her attention until they reached the yacht docks, all soaked in the rain. The young man grabbed the lass' arm and forced her to face him. Without hesitation, Rafael swiftly locked his lips unto Kanna.

"Listen, you're the only girl that I love, nobody else, why would I look at other girls when in fact you're already here with me?" Rafael tightly embraced her.

Kanna was bewildered by what Rafael did to her, it was a mixture of joy and relief; she felt the comfort as she was given an assurance that what is hers will always be hers. "I shouldn't have doubted you, I'm so sorry for doubting you, I was just carried away by our problems."

"While you're here with me, I will always be the happiest man in the world" Rafael said embracing his girlfriend.

It was raining cats and dogs, making their clothes soaked wet, the two lovers gone into idiocy as they happily ran before taking shelter in a parking lot of a building hoping that their clothes would dry up.

The couple gawk at each other, that magnetic aura as they slowly lean their faces, locking their lips. Suddenly they heard footsteps in which they hid behind the cars, lying down in order for them not to be seen by those men.

Much to Kanna's surprise it was his father, standing near his car waiting for someone to arrive. Moments later a lady arrived, her face was like a Japanese woman, her skin was as smooth as porcelain, her hair was long and her smile was captivating.

Kanna clinched her fist, suspecting that her father had an affair with another woman. As they continued to look closely at the two, Albert handed over a case to the lady who returned with a smile.

"You're really a good boy," The lady told the Fontierra patriarch who stood firm, waiting for his reward.

"Where is the money that you promised?" Albert asked.

"Oh, relax Nao and I will still check if it's real," the lady assured

While the lady and her friend scrutinized the object that Albert gave to them, the two slowly opened a box in which they were mesmerized by what they had seen, a shiny necklace studded with colorful diamond, pure twenty-four karat of diamonds. The ladies cheered as they finally got what they wanted; in a blink of an eye someone whipped the necklace, slipping it off from the hands of the lady.

"You shouldn't take something that isn't yours," Tiffany uttered, taking the necklace into her hands.

"Well, if it isn't my former protégé," the lady uttered.

"You disappoint me Marika, we thought you were working hard in Japan, and now you're a member of an international syndicate," Tiffany said, "And I am not your protege to start with."

"I don't want to hear any of your rants; I'm tired of being a shadow of Karl, Javier and Takako," An irritated Marika raised her voice.

"Who could have thought Marika's former sidekick is also here to face her death, it's an honor to meet Tiffany Yoon," Nao said, attacking Tiffany who quickly took her baton, blocking the femme fatale's attack, "Just what as what I expected from the Successor of the Felis Fist."

"Is that all you got?" Tiffany responded, going on an offensive mode, kicking the femme fatale, striking her with the baton. Albert took his pistol and pointed at his nemesis, luckily, the femme fatale threw a dagger and subdued the Fontierra patriarch's pistol.

"Don't think about it," Tiffany warned, Marika leaped and tried to grab the case that contains the necklace. Unfortunately, the former lashed her and Albert, hitting them both in the shoulder. Tiffany bended her knees, clenching her fists. The braces on the right arm glowed and struck Nao with a punch, throwing her from a distance. Albert fell down, shocked by what he had witnessed, Kanna stood up and ran towards her father, covering her from the rage of a Kenshi.

"Looks like I'm getting this one, Tiff," Marika said as she and Nao tried to jump on the window, Tiffany quickly threw a chain and took the necklace like they were fishing. Albert, infuriated by what he saw, grabbed his pistol and walked towards the Kenshi. Kanna had used all of her efforts in trying to stop her father, Albert quickly pushed her and pointed the pistol at Tiffany, grinning, shaking as he took the box again into his custody.

"There is only one man who'll stand and rule here that would be me!" he yelled at the weakened Tiffany "I will not let you get in my way, not your master! The North Faction will rule the whole of the Philippines."

Albert quickly sprinted away, leaving a weakened Tiffany who was immediately rescued by medics and was sprinted away by a medical vehicle.

Rafael witnessed everything. He glanced at Kanna whose shock at what she was immeasurable, shaking her head in disbelief after seeing her father commit a crime. Rafael held her hand, trying to comfort her as she slowly came into her senses and asked to be accompanied home.

------

At the Marino Mansion, Tiffany rested, lying her back on the couch, shaking her head in disbelief. Karl sat at his chair, closing his eyes with his feet relaxed on the coffee table.

"Oppa, I failed," Tiffany's voice retreated.

"It's not like that it's the only Ghanian Diamond in the world," Karl said.

"What do you mean?" Tiffany queried.

"There are three of it," Karl explained, "I have one, the other one is in Japan and the one that Marika got is possibly a property of a rogue sage that I have sold somewhere."

"You don't -."

"Yes, Tiffany, it's probably his," says Karl. "Just let him have it and we'll see what he is up to."

"As you say," Tiffany obliged to his Sunbaenim's decision and sped off at a hotel.