Chapter 7 Dealing With A Coward

• “I will take Astrid as my girl no matter what the consequences are.”
• He swore in his heart desperately trying to suppress his desire she was feeling to the lady of the Lopezes.
• However, Astrid can see the eyes of Stanley of his desire he had for her. But she could not openly display her dislike and could just say politely to him.
• “Sorry to let you wait Stanley.”
• “You think so much, Astrid. Please don’t mention it. I was the one who informed your mom to have our dinner first before everybody else when I found out their meeting will take longer than expected. I hope that you don’t mind.”
• Astrid just smiled. She walks straight ahead with a fast paced leaving Stanley behind.
• As she was about to reach the glass entrance door of the luxurious diner, a big explosion suddenly was heard coming inside the kitchen. It was around thirty meters from her location.
• “Brroom, crashhhhh”….
• It sounded like fireworks, but it was louder. Soon, terrified chefs and cooks were coming out with bloody faces following the explosion.
• Astrid, who was close from the entrance of the restaurant was awe struck. It took her a long four seconds before thinking of diving for cover behind a pillar post nearby.
• Stanley on the other side was so afraid with the sudden explosion that he hurriedly run away nervously towards the entrance of the hotel building thinking the building might collapse anytime soon.
• “What? Is Astrid attempting suicide?---- Damn, why is she still holding up there?”
• Stanley looked back and was so shocked in disbelief. He was a rich kid who always provoked anyone in class or to his friends and will always give them a hard time. But now, he actually bowed his head in front of Astrid and left her just save himself from harm.
• Even though he practices martial arts and is a class fighter, his body is still human with flesh and blood. Afterall, he is unprepared from this kind of event. Furthermore, he is still very young and need to be vigilant to be able to enjoy his life and follow his desire.
• At that moment, Astrid was shivering under the uproar of all the people rushing out from the kitchen, she could see debris that were scattered inside the restaurant.
• There was a flume of black smoke coming out. Astrid eyes looks around to see what Stanley was doing. Alas, she could no longer find him from anywhere the lobby. He was long gone….
• “What the hell happened to him --- That useless skull fled?”
• A woman at the reception who is about ten meters away immediately run towards the people who were running out from the blasts while the other receptionist immediately called 911.
• Across the street outside the hotel, Stanley nervously settled himself silently thinking it was safe. In his belief, any misstep after the blast occurred, he would not be able to get outside the hotel.
• “My god, feeling the blast first hand was the scariest thing I ever felt eversince. I thought the building will collapse on me.”
• Stanley said while perspiring with cold sweat. He could not help but be relieved with a joy in his heart. Even if he was a strong man with martial abilities, no human being can match a deadly structure avalanche specially when the building is twenty-five stories.
• He overheard a woman beside him telling her beastie that there was a big explosion that sounded from the restaurant while they were chatting at the lobby. They immediately scampered hurriedly away after the explosion has sounded.
• “Whoa, we heard this loud boom!” The hotel just moved. I didn’t know what happened, but we have to get out immediately outside the building.”
• Another witness reported seeing people coming outside the hotel following the explosions.
• “When I heard it, I was in the sidewalk beside the building. It was so loud that some pieces of splinters fell above the building.”
• At that moment, firefighters were seen responding to the emergency situation. They were so swift that in a just a matter of minutes, they already barricaded the frontage of the hotel building.
• Soon, statements from authorities were flashed from TV screens upon the arrival of the broadcast media to the disaster scene.
• “Emergency respondence are now on-site at LA Super Hotel. Please be informed that the safety and well-being of the guests and people of the hotel that were injured are now taken cared off. Kindly avoid the area fronting the building.”
• “There is no indication that the incident was criminal in nature, however, the business shall be closed until further notice.”
• While in the meeting room at the 21st Floor from the same hotel, the Lopezes and the Ayala’s were very busy discussing the new venture project of developing a $2 billion luxury area.
• The project shall be operated with a new franchise brand that will require the venture or its affiliate to enter into a franchise agreement.
• They were discussing the specifics of the circumstances from the transactions when the doors suddenly opened. A security officer entered the meeting room.
• “Sirs, madams, sorry to interrupt. There was an explosion below the hotel restaurant a few moments ago. The newscast is now live. Please open CNN channel.”
• Don Alfonso let out a gasp and after a moment of silence, he ordered his secretary to switch on the television.
• “Quickly, please open the TV immediately!”
• Dona Althea who was sitting beside his husband hugged his arms with a worried face.
• “Hubby, Astrid and Stanley are in the restaurant having dinner.”
• “Call her immediately, hurry up.” Don Alfonso spoke anxiously to her wife.
• Dona Althea nervously reached out for her phone and started to dial. After a few more rings, she was finally connected.
• “Astrid, my goodness, are you alright dear?”
• “Cough, Cough, Cough….”
• Astrid who was still sprawled near the door safely was coughing intently. She was unable to get up due to the turmoil where a lot of people are still going outside the diner for safety reasons.
• “I am fine, Mom. It’s just that I can see some people injured from the blast and flames can still be seen inside the kitchen. Rescue teams already arrived. Please don’t worry I am now being escorted to a safer place near the reception.”
• Dona Althea as tears already falling from her eyes said, “Is Stanley with you?”
• “Stanley broke free after the explosions. I don’t know where he went. I’ve already lost interest after seeing this guy walked away and left me.”
• “Daughter, please stay there. We are coming down with your mom to see you,” Don Alfonso emotionally said after listening to Astrid words.
• Both the couple who was beginning to be dissatisfied with Stanley leaving their daughter behind was at a loss for words. Afterall, what was more important was her daughter’s life. If she died from that event, his family will be completely ruined and destroyed for not looking after the protection of their only child.
• Immediately, Don Alfonso and Dona Althea left the room hurriedly while the rest of the group was still glued from the CNN current news.
• The anchor was reporting that at least five people were injured in the blast and an emergency medical services has been dispatched with an ambulance already operating in the area.
• “Some type of gas exploded, and authorities are verifying the cause of the blast to determine the accident. Emergency responders are still looking for any person unaccounted for. Please stay tuned for more information.”
• As soon as the couple walked out from the door of the elevator, they were immediately ushered by a group of fire officials. Some of the firefighters were still busy recuing workers still trapped inside the kitchen.
• Don Alfonso saw one person in critical injuries, three were in serious conditions and a female chef with minor injuries carried away to a waiting ambulance outside the hotel.
• “Mom, Dad, I’m here.” Astrid shouted upon seeing her mother and father being escorted.
• Dona Althea quickly run towards her daughter crying helplessly upon seeing her.
• “Are you alright Astrid?”
• “I am Mom, don’t worry! What I hate is when Stanley run away from me leaving the scene by himself,” she said while gaining herself some space and time to process her thoughts of emotions.
• “He left me.” Astrid whispered…. “He left me and run away, mom.”
• Her mothers eyes softened.
• “Sometimes people do terrible things dear, but you don’t have to be like him. Face the consequences, it’s the right thing to do. Be strong my child!”
• Don Alfonso took a deep breath upon hearing her daughter’s story.
• In that moment, he looked around and all he could think about now is how to go ahead with the emergency services and continue the operation of the hotel after these incident, knowing fully well that Astrid was already safe and sound.
• The accident had changed everything, but he needs to find a way to move the operation forward. The son of Don Antonio who had left her daughter behind already shattered his trust. But maybe, just maybe, he would still trust him after he could verify the real cause of his action.
• It turned out that Stanley intentionally leave her daughter during the commotion.
• In fact, at that time, the collaboration meeting was only a plan whether they will take a huge risk of pushing the take-over in the development of an existing hotel. But now it seemed that it is not all worth it from what had happened tonight.
• The dinner that was scheduled was not even in his plan but was instigated by his business partner Don Antonio de Ayala. Due to the technical issues that contributed to the planning error, it was something that has always been frustrating when these disruptions can cause late endings.
• It was the first time these issues arrived; therefore, he took it seriously and be very cautious about it.
• So, he thought of having a first-hand physical inspection at the other hotel, before sufficiently attending the formality of signing the taking over agreement. He already made up his mind that a site visit shall be included in their agenda when suddenly the accident at the hotel happened.