AGTML

Chapter 2

A Conditional Friendship

“Where is she? It’s already an hour past eight!” Jean impatiently declared.

“Why did you bring me here anyway? I am supposed to enjoy my vacation.” Elmo exclaimed.

“Just bear with me Moe; she is a friend of mine and I believe she needs you with her problem.”

“And what makes you think that I’ll help her?”

“Because I am your lawyer!”

“Nah! Won’t do…”

“Oh C’mon!”

Elmo was preparing himself to leave when a woman wearing a red velvet dress approached their direction.

“Sorry Jean I’m late.” Julie apologized.

Elmo’s POV

Wow, is she Jean’s friend? She’s breathtaking! Jean you creep, I know you have something to do with this set up haven’t you? You know I am not going to offer any help to your friend so you conspired with her to use her charms. Sorry, but though she is indeed beautiful my decision is final I am leaving…

“Hi I’m Atty. Julie Anne San Jose” Julie introduced herself as she extended her hand to Elmo.

Elmo just stared at her hand and clears his throat “Pleased to meet you Julie, I’m Elmo Magalona.”

Julie felt a little embarrassed by what Elmo did.

Julie’s POV

What’s wrong with this guy? Is he the one who Jean promised to hand me help? Is he capable of helping me? He looked so innocent and naïve. You better not screw this up Jean! Whatever this is all about, this ought to be good!

“Moe please hear my friend first then decide after…”

“Why do I have to listen to her dilemma if I already decided to leave her own problem to herself?” Elmo snapped.

“Moe, please this is the only favor that I’ll ask you… at least consider her problem first”. Jean begged.

“Sir Magalona, I do not know what caused you to act stubbornly but if you are indeed whom Jean said that can aid me, please I beg you, I need your help.” Julie seconded.

“You called me Sir? That’s odd for a lawyer to lower herself, unlike someone I know.” Elmo gazed Jean “Okay I’ll hear you out, but don’t expect for a positive response from me.” Elmo added.

“Thank you!” Julie uttered gladly.

“Don’t thank me yet. Anyhow let’s indulge ourselves first to these dishes then we’ll talk it out.” Elmo said.

As the three were dinning in Crudo, indulging their best stellar sashimi, tuna fish roast beef with chestnut honey and sparkled with Champagne with a rock, Julie told Elmo everything about her dilemma in PSJ, including its current position and problems that it’s encountering. Jean also provided Elmo a brief history of Julie’s Company when Jean was still one of its advisers.

“Ah so you are a President of an Insurance Company. It’s peculiar to see a person like you to divulge much information to someone you didn’t know.  You must be very desperate and careless.” Elmo opinionated.

“Yes I am desperate Sir…” Julie tried to explain.

“Do away with the ‘Sir’ just call me Moe.” Elmo interrupted.

“Okay, but… as what I am saying, Indeed I am desperate but I am not careless.”

“Oh yes you are Julie, because a President of a business firm will not easily divulge a lot of information to someone like me immediately. As president, such confidential facts should be protected from the likes of me.” Elmo added.

“What do you mean? Of course I need your help that’s why I’m telling you these.” Julie explained.

“Okay let’s cut to the chase, do you have what it takes to face all the risk that you are going to encounter in case I provide you some aid?” Elmo asked.

“Yes, considering the current situation of my company right now, there is nothing left for me to lose.”

“Very well, how much was your share in the company and how much was your debt?” Elmo enquired.

“The share that I inherited is worth 30 million all in all and our company owes 26 million from two different local companies.” Julie answered.

“I see…”

“So you are going to help me?”

“Probably, I find your company interesting, I’ll leave you my contact infos and call me if your time permits, then we’ll talk the terms out.”

“Thanks Mr. Magalona! You do not know how grateful I am.”

“Don’t thank me yet.”

***

After exchanges of ideas between Elmo and Julie, the three called it a night. However, Elmo and Jean continued their conversation in another Restaurant.

“Thanks Bro, thanks for helping Julie.” Jean sincerely stated.

“I am doing this not because of her. I have my personal reasons why I decided to lend her a hand.” Elmo explained.

“For more than a year, I am your counsel in all of your cases, yet, until now, I can say that you are very unpredictable Mr. Psychologist.”

“Don’t call me that, I do not have my license yet.”

“Haha! Who needs a license if someone is as good as you?”

“Shoot!”

“So what’s the plan?”

“There is no plan at all… by the way Jean, why do you want me to help Julie?”

“Just like you bro, I have my personal reasons. But if you tell me yours I may tell you what’s in my head.”

“I don’t need to, I already know it.” Elmo kid around.

“A man full of secrets huh? Well it seems it’s getting late already, and Hey! Don’t forget our deal okay? Their firm is my client already! Doubled professional fee.” Jean winked “Oh before I forgot, tomorrow, Julie’s ‘grandpas’, the old shareholders, are going to sell their stocks in the market. You can pay them a visit if you want.” Jean added.

“Not interested… I’ll just call you whenever I need your help.” Elmo reassured.

Elmo’s POV

I have to admit that Atty. San Jose is breathtaking. But for a President of Insurance Company, she is ignorant. (Scratches his head) I am just reacting to the stimulus that she has presented. I will not do this for her; I believe that through her company I will be able to find out who caused such misfortune to my family. Julie is a good tool to bring those culprits to light. I’ll put an end to their greed.

The likes of her are easy preys to greedy predators. It is very surprising for a person like her to be entrusted with such big company… or maybe she is just putting up an act since she needs my favor. Women are naturally unpredictable. I have to admit their beauty truly clouds a person’s critical judgment. I have to be careful.