No Time For Love (4)

That Saturday night after our talk with our grandparents, JP and I went to pick up Jeff and Dan for a drink. We went to Shane's Place at L Road. We were greeted by a little chubby not quite tall waitress whose smile was quite warm and polite. I looked around to see if Marie was there but I didn't see her. I asked, "I don't see Marie, where is she?"

"Sir, she said she'll go home for a short vacation but I doubt if she'll come back, maybe no." the girl said worriedly.

"When did she go?" I asked.

"Just last week sir! " The girl answered.

"Okay, please get us regular beer each." I said as the four of us started to catch up again with each other's lives.

"So what will we do with your employees after the merge?" my big brother asked Dan. He was the heir of the Brent's Construction Company.

"Those who are handling the existing projects may stay until their projects are done. The ones with frozen projects maybe laid off. I think that's practical. However, we will surely give them their legal claims." Dan said.

"Do you need help in the settlement of the claimants? I hear there are quite a lot of them?" My brother was quite generous. He wants everything done in order and free from anomalies.

"I suppose the lawyers can handle this bro, the money from the sold shares should be more than enough to compensate those people. I never imagined this would come. It's all because of the eagerness of my dad to expand the business that he ended up losing." Dan was shaking his head.

"Which place has your company reached so far?" Have you ventured somewhere in the Northern Province?" My interest was piqued.

"Yup! That's the farthest we ever reached. Its a vacation house of a white man who married a local girl from there. It's near the Northern Province University. " Dan answered not noticing my widened eyes.

"So your men out there will stay until the project is completed? Do you have their names?" I asked.

"I just know the foreman. A certain Engr. Lester Moran. He is quite good and meticulous at his work but he drinks a lot. " Dan said lifting his drink to gulp.

"But why did you not mention this when we went there last time. You should have visited their work" I said reminding him of our test drive adventure.

"Ha ha, you didn't even get to see your girlfriend there, how can I manage to distract you from your mission? Besides, they are not kids. I saw the blue print already. What's the use of having a meticulous foreman." Dan said lazily.

"You've gone there?" My brother turned his head to me a bit surprised.

"We went to test drive my new wheels bro." I simply answered.

The whole evening was spent with catching up until it was time for the bar to close. We were recognized by the pregnant lady owner and smiled at us. We bid goodbye and left. Afrer we dropped Jeff and Dan, we headed home. I told my brother about my plan to buy the location I wanted in the Northern Province. He suggested that I'd change my career instead so I can help him in the company but I have high regard for his problem solving ability so I didn't think he needed much help.

We made a plan to meet with the village leaders in the surrounding villages of the Northern Province University. We planned to present our proposal and then ask villagers if they have some piece of barren land to be developed. This way, we will not appear to be oppressive and opportunistic to the villagers. Off course, we will not buy every piece of land they might sell. We wanted to see if the site I wanted will be brought out for development. Who knows? But I will offer even a double price for it in case it won surface in the open. I have to....for her.

My brother gave his go signal for this. After we got home and I was settled on my bed, I planned how to carry out these things as soon as possible. This Christmas break, it's either camping with my girlfriend or gathering intelligence for the company.