CHAPTER TWELVE
The Turnover
July 12, 2010. Monday. They reached Isla Esperanza aboard Ramil’s private plane in time for lunch.
Vic’s driver had fetched them and driven them to the mansion.
As soon as they arrived at the mansion, Vic and Sandra welcomed them. The maids delivered their luggage into the same guest room where they had stayed in before. Then with their host and hostess, they went to the gazebo up the hill to have lunch.
Sandra talked to Aimee as if thwarting her. “So how was your honeymoon trip, Aimee? Mine was really fun. We hopped from one European country to another.”
Aimee knew what to expect from Sandra so, “We had it in Fiji for a couple of days. Every day is honeymoon for my husband and me.”
Ramil added, “It was just a few days break. I plan on taking my wife on a longer trip by December.”
Sandra asked, “Where?”
Ramil answered, “Anywhere my wife wants to go, a tour around the world perhaps if Aimee wants it.”
Vic then asked Ramil, “Are you planning for a child right away?”
Ramil said, “For all we know, she might be carrying our child already. I’m not getting any younger, Vic. Surely, I want to have an heir.”
Vic suggested, “You should plan on having more children. I just had a daughter. But she’s dead now. Sandra can’t be pregnant. So there’s no chance that I will have a new heir.”
Aimee said sincerely, “That’s sad!” She didn’t know that Sandra couldn’t be pregnant anymore.
Sandra walked out on them. “Excuse me, I don’t feel like eating anymore.”
Vic didn’t do anything to stop his wife. He wasn’t giving into Sandra’s tantrums. He told Ramil and Aimee, “She has been throwing tantrums every now and then. She was really upset when I ended our trip.”
Ramil asked, “Does she know about our impending business transaction already?”
“She still doesn’t know a thing about it. It’s better that way. She’ll just hinder everything,” he said. “So have you already made your own appraisal of my properties?”
He answered affirmatively, “Yes. Aimee and I had already agreed on the figures.”
“How much?”
He said, “You know how much they are worth, Vic. Our appraisal was a little lower than yours but we’ll settle with your asking price.”
“You aren’t the shrewd Ramil anymore,” Vic commented.
Ramil replied in a cheerful tone, “Guess, marriage is softening me a little bit.” He even gazed on his wife.
“I’ll accept your appraisal then,” Vic said. “Consider the rest as my wedding gift.”
He asked, “So, when do we draw the papers?”
“As soon as possible. Our lawyers shall meet tomorrow in my hotel at the north.”
“Yeah,” he agreed.
“Sandra will surely like to tour you around our hotels, Aimee. I already told her about it this morning and she had agreed. You might as well have the tour tomorrow while Ramil and I are working on the papers.”
Ramil looked at her as if telling her to agree.
“Okay,” she had agreed.
Vic told her, “Tell Sandra you would want to see the other hotels first. Don’t go to the north hotel yet.”
She understood Vic’s point, “I got your point.”
They had finished their lunch. They had all decided to take an afternoon rest.
Ramil and Aimee were seated on the bed talking about Vic and Sandra when someone knocked at the door.
Aimee opened the door and saw Sandra.
Sandra said, “I’ll be shopping. Would you want to come with me?”
Ramil approached them, “She isn’t going anywhere right now, Sandra. We need to rest. Vic already told us you’ll tour her around on the other hotels tomorrow. She should have enough energy for your tour tomorrow.”
Sandra felt defeated, “Okay. I didn’t know you could be so doting, Ramil. Guess your little wife here is softening you a bit.”
Ramil replied in a quite rude tone, “Let’s just say I just want what’s best for her.”
“Then you should have not brought her here if you want what’s best for her. You perfectly knew I wouldn’t be a good companion to her.”
“Well, my wife can handle all sorts of people, Sandra. So if you’ll excuse us, go shopping now. I want to spend quiet and intimate moments with my wife.” He closed the door.
He swiftly carried his wife into his arms making Aimee giggle from too much surprise.
She had put her arms around his neck as he walked towards the bed. “You’re really so rude with her.”
“She only deserves that. I know she’ll make your day not an enjoying one tomorrow.”
“Well, you just told her I can handle her.”
“You really should, honey,” Ramil laid her down to bed and kissed her lips. “Let’s sleep now, honey. I’m sure you’re as tired as I am.”
Ramil and Aimee fell asleep in no time.
At around six o’clock in the evening, a maid delivered them a message to meet Vic and Sandra at the north hotel for a formal dinner at eight o’clock.
They prepared themselves for the formal dinner.
Ramil had taken a shower first while Aimee was carefully choosing what evening gown to wear. She had settled on a royal blue bustier full-skirted gown with silver design details. She had paired it with the royal blue three-inch heeled pumps also with silver design details and a royal blue wristlet bag with silver design details as well.
When Aimee was already taking a shower, Ramil wore a black suit over a royal blue long-sleeved polo shirt, dark gray tie and black shoes and socks.
When Aimee finished her shower, he had helped her out in getting dressed. He zipped the back of her gown.
He opened up the velvet box containing the blue diamond jewelry set that Guada had packed for her. He helped her out in wearing them.
Her diamond engagement ring was with the wedding ring on her left ring finger while the blue diamond ring was on her right ring finger. The watch was on her right wrist and the bracelet on her left wrist. He put on the necklace on her.
She noticed that he wasn’t wearing any jewelry except for his white gold bracelet, white gold wrist watch and the wedding ring.
When they were done, they rode the car that was waiting for them at the driveway of the mansion.
