Francis took a quick shower in Marco's resting room connected to his office. Just like a bachelor's pad, it has everything he needs. It was Marco's home when Athena wasn't in his life yet.
Francis's clothes were already inside. Anthony had it prepared in advance and placed it in Marco's pad. He was astounded at the boss and employee's preparations for him. 'I knew it! He cares for me,' Francis said to himself. Francis left the room as soon as he dried his hair.
Marco was still reading the documents when he came out of the room. Francis looked at the coffee table and saw a laptop on top.
"Hey! Aren't you going to feed me?" He complained. He's been on the road for hours and just got something to eat when they stopped for gas.
Marco looked up and signaled him to sit. Francis sat on the two-seater couch in front of the laptop, pouting. He turned it on and inserted the USB drive. A few minutes later, Anthony entered the room with food in his hands.
The smell of food disrupts Francis's attention. He watched Anthony enter the room and put the food on the other side of the coffee table.
"Continue," Marco said in a low voice. Francis was about to set aside the laptop and grab something to eat. He didn't know that Marco was paying attention to him.
He resumes watching the video one after the other. He then opened both videos together and minimized them to see both at a glance. He was sulking while his eyes and hands were busy. He watched it frame by frame and then matched them together. Francis was surprised that the women's bodies were identical. Francis watched their body movements and body parts and entered the data. People have unique body parts that can help you identify them, even in a crowd. Like fingerprints, each person's body motion and mannerisms are different. Even twins have their habits and characteristics.
The women in the video might not look alike, but their movements and mannerisms were the same. Francis glanced at Marco calmly, but he was excited mentally.
Marco stared at him with a blank look. He doesn't know why Francis suddenly looked at him and yet did not say anything. "Result?" He asked. Marco got up on his chair and sat beside Francis. He looked at the laptop and prepared himself to listen to what Francis had found.
"Based on my analysis, although two women don't look alike and the hair color is different, the way they move their body and their facial mannerisms are the same. Each of us has unique characteristics, even twins." Francis explained. He then showed him an interactive image of the woman at the party, and he clicked on her hair and face. Seconds later, the computer revealed the actual appearance of the woman.
Marco blinked his eyes and shook his head, thinking that it might be just an illusion. But when he looked at it again, it was Athena. 'No wonder I was drawn to her the moment she entered the ballroom,' Marco said to himself. It was a relief that nothing happened to her that day, or else he won't be able to forgive himself for not realizing that it was his wife. He has a lot of what-ifs, but things have happened already.
He then remembered how she acted around Benjamin Baltazar. He saw her schemed against Benjamin to trap him, but why? Marco has a perplexed look while his eyes are still on the computer.
Francis saw him puzzled, and in deep thought, so he moved to the other side and grabbed the food tray. He smiled when he saw the logo on the food tray. It was from his favorite restaurant. He was grinning wide as he ate his food. He did not pay attention to Marco anymore. He did what he wanted, and now he needs to take care of his hungry self.
Marco stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. He put his hand inside his right pocket, and when he touched his cellphone inside, he took it out and dialed Anthony's number.
"Sir?" Anthony answered his phone right away when he saw the name in the caller ID.
"Check all the information about Benjamin Baltazar's appearance in the conference and what happened after they left." He ordered. "You have two days to do it," Marco continued before hanging up the phone.
Anthony scratched his head at what was going on with his boss and Benjamin Baltazar. He is sure that there's no entanglement between the two regarding business. They only watched him from afar to take precautions because of the rumors that Benjamin would enter the business circle in City S.
They had heard about Benjamin and his nephew Anton Baltazar from business people in another city when they attended a conference a few years back. Marco ignored it because he hates people talking behind somebody else's back. And to him, hearsays are hearsays unless the person experiences it first-hand. Anthony, however, is different. He always listens to hearsays. For him, there's no smoke without fire. So, if someone says negative things about one person, there's a ninety percent chance that it is true. So, he naturally remembers Benjamin Baltazar. That is why Anthony mentioned to Marco before the conference that he is bad news.
Anthony walked out of his office, went to the room next door, and stopped at the first desk. It was the desk of the lead secretary, Mrs. Dee.
"Mr. Anthony, do you need anything?" She asked. Even though Mrs. Dee has been working at MC Group for decades, she's still respectful to Anthony because he is second in command. Most of their boss's instruction comes from Anthony because they don't talk to them personally. They can't even go to his office without his permission. They need to go through Anthony.
"I'll be out and won't be back for the day. Sort the papers according to their importance and leave them on my table. I'll take care of it tomorrow." He said while rubbing his forehead. His all-around job gives him a headache, but he's sticking to it because his boss pays him well.
"Does he know?" Mrs. Dee asked with concern. The last time Anthony forgot to tell Marco that he would be out of the office, the secretaries faced the wrath of their boss.
"I'll stop by his office," Anthony replied. He knew what Mrs. Dee was worried about, and he understood. If he is scared of him when he's angry, these girls are more afraid than anyone else.
"Go! Hurry up," Mrs. Dee got off of his chair quickly and pushed Anthony out of their office. She was pushing him out until he reached the hallway.
Anthony looks at her frowning. Mrs. Dee did not stop gesturing for him to enter Sir Marco's office. She waited by the door and watched Anthony enter their boss's office. She sighs and turns around to go back to her desk when Anthony is out of her sight.
"Sir Marco," Anthony tried to get Marco's attention, who was standing by the window.
Marco looked back and saw Anthony standing a few feet away from him. He just looked at him and did not say anything. He waited for what Anthony had to say to him. They just talked a few minutes ago on the phone and gave him a task to do. 'What is he doing here? Did he not hear what I asked him to do?' Marco doubts that he did not hear what he said earlier.
"Sir Marco, I will take care of your order personally, so I'm asking for leave." Though nervous, Anthony has to let him know of his plan because it will be troublesome if not.
Marco stared at Anthony keenly, and he was satisfied that he stepped up to do the task personally. Marco believes in his ability, and Anthony has proven himself before, so he trusted him.
"Okay, you have two days. That's it." Marco said sternly.