Chapter 48
Tanaga looked like the devil himself when he opened the door. He hated being disturbed, especially now, in the middle of his honeymoon. The Officer's boldness infuriated him. He stood in front of the official, glaring at him with a look that clearly said, "get the f*ck out of my face before I throw you overboard."
Ashley stood beside him, not saying a word. She watched Tanaga closely, curious to see what he would do next.
The Customs Officer immediately noticed that the wife standing next to the Japanese yacht owner was Filipina. He raised his eyebrows as he carefully examined Ashley, looking her over from head to foot. His expression changed to a smirk as he stared at the couple.
It was clear from his expression that his first impression of Ashley was wrong. After assessing the couple's appearance, he didn't believe these two were married at all. He'd already come to the assumption everyone was in cahoots, lying about the two being newlyweds on their honeymoon.
The Officer was about to speak, but Tanaga beat him to it. He'd been angry before, but the man's smirk pushed him over the edge. The tone of his voice made it apparent he was pissed off. It left the official speechless as he stared back at Tanaga in shock.
"You dare to knock at my door and make demands? What do you think gives you the right? Do you have any idea who I am? I will not tolerate the way you're trying to intimidate my wife and me!" Tanaga fired at the man.
"Leave now. Go back and wait with the captain. We'll meet you there shortly." Tanaga shouted at the butler and Customs Officer before slamming the door in their faces.
The official was stunned. He couldn't believe that a foreigner had the nerve to speak to a government official that way, acting like he was high and mighty. You wait and see, I'll detain this ship and I'll make you pay for this. Ha! You won't insult me like this and get away with it, not in this lifetime! The man thought to himself.
As the butler led the man back to wait as instructed, the official couldn't stand it any longer and said to the butler, "Tell me the truth, are they married? If they're lying, it's fraud. I can detain this yacht right here in the Philippines for the violation." The man said proudly.
The butler's eyebrows rose sharply at the man's threat, but he said nothing as he continued leading the man. Wait and see what happens when my boss gets in here. You'll regret the day you were born! The butler thought, laughing maliciously to himself.
Half an hour passed, and the man was still waiting. The Officer was growing more upset by the minute. Tanaga was determined to punish him for his behavior and the way he looked at Ashley. He would have made the man wait intentionally to get even. But the amount of time that had passed held other significance.
The moment the butler led the man away, Tanaga called the Bureau of Customs and asked to speak to one of the man's superiors. He explained who he was and voiced his complaints about how the official had behaved. The Officer in charge told him he would be there himself in half an hour to handle the matter personally. So, Tanaga and Ashley waited for him to arrive before they went to meet them.
Their timing was perfect. They walked into the mess hall at the same time as the man's superior. The obnoxious official stood up the moment he saw his superior coming towards him.
Tanaga and Ashley walked right up to the Commissioner and smiled as they greeted him.
"Welcome! Mr. Jones, it's good to see you! You should've told me you were coming, and I would have come to welcome you myself! I could have prevented you from being subjected to this offensive treatment altogether." The Commissioner said as he shook Tanaga's hand.
"I hadn't planned to come. My wife and I just recently decided to have our honeymoon here. By the way, I'd like to introduce you to my wife…This is Ashley." Tanaga said as he pulled Ashley closer to him, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"It's nice to meet you!" The Commissioner said with a warm smile as he shook Ashley's hand. I wonder what family she is from. I'll have to find out. Someday she might be useful. He thought to himself.
"It's nice to meet you, too," Ashley replied, a beautiful smile on her face. Tanaga quickly took the Commissioner's hand and led him to a chair. The moment he was seated, the butler served him refreshments.
"Commissioner, please, the chef's specialty stew…" the butler said, smiling mischievously at the Officer who had dared to offend his boss.
The man now sat gawking. He couldn't believe what he was witnessing; the Commissioner was practically kissing Tanaga's backside! The sight sent a shiver down the man's spine as he began sweating bullets.
The Commissioner didn't even acknowledge his subordinate. He sat drinking and chatting with Tanaga and Ashley. Later, Tanaga got up and walked toward the offender.
"I'm sorry I forgot that you were waiting for us…" Tanaga then called Ashley over, "Sweetheart, come here! The Officer needed to speak with us. We shouldn't keep him waiting after what he said earlier…"
Tanaga's words cued the Commissioner just as he had hoped. He stepped between them, facing the subordinate Officer.
"What are you waiting for? I'm here. You don't have any further business here, so leave! And don't let the door hit you on the way out!" Then he turned around and apologized to Tanaga.
The scolded man made his way out of the mess hall. The two men exchanged glances as he passed. The butler smirked at him, thinking to himself, I'd pray to the Gods if I were you. By the time you get back to your office, you'll be out of a job. Mark my words! Smiling with satisfaction, he walked towards the kitchen.