Secrets of the Cactus Men
6| Husband without treasure

Flores shouldn't be rash. If he wants to make Philip give up, then this is not the way.

“The satisfaction is very awkward, Philip.” Myah broke the silence. Philip looked at it cynically. “Better you go from this.”

Philip became a fool. He is like a man who has no shame. Philip sat down casually, even eating a plate of fried rice that Flores had prepared this morning.

“Philip, are you ignoring me?” Myah was getting upset. He threw away his face, lightly clucking in frustration at Philip's ridiculous attitude this morning.

Philip smiled in anguish. “Why should I go, Mom?” ask Philip. He looked at Meyah carefully. “This is my home.”

Philip was a patient man all along. He continued to side with Myah even though the old woman was constantly lowering her pride. However, like all had a time limit, Philip had lost his limit of patience.

A smile Philip threw for Marc. “He who shouldn't be here, Mom.”

Flores is guilty. He caused a strange situation this morning. It all started from her frustration with Philip who was reluctant to tell her about her family secrets. Philip just kept saying that he had no parents. He had lost a family figure since his first cry in this world.

Myah smiled. “Cih, are you proud of my daughter's house that was transferred into yours, huh?”

“Mom ...” Flores tries to prevent her mother from continuing the humiliation for Philip.

“How dare you admit that this is your home?” Myah laughed crisply. “Basic shameless!”

“Mom, I ..”

“Flores, how is Elisa?” Marc is quite good at understanding the situation. He interrupted a conversation he did not deserve to hear. “I heard he'll be in ballet lessons next month.”

Flores looked at Myah.

“True, your mother told me about Elisa,” Marc said when he saw the interaction between him and Flores was not going well.

Flores put the spoon quite roughly. The sound of the clanking of spoons that hit the glass table seized the attention of Philip who had been trying to be indifferent.

“Marc, I'm sorry. However, can you leave after you finish eating?” Flores smiled bitterly. “There's something I want to talk to my mom and husband about. It's very personal.”

Marc flinting. She had witnessed how Flores had become colder to her. Marc was guilty in the past, he chose to leave Flores. But now he regrets it. Flores is the perfect woman he wants to be.

“Why should Marc go?” Myah who represents speaking. His smile was so sincere when he looked at Marc. “You must hear what success he has achieved this year, Flo.”

Myah rubbed Marc's shoulder. He gave Marc his full affection like his own son.

“I don't need to hear that kind of thing, Mom.” Flores responded with a ketus. “So, he can go from here.”

Myah remains stubborn. “He managed to become a major shareholder, by 30 percent, in the company Teggi Regency.”

“You know for yourself what Teggi Regency is, don't you?” Myah really showed high enthusiasm in the middle of her story. “The largest media company in the city!”

Flores sighed. “I said I ...”

“He owns 30 percent shares there. You know how much money he makes from that, Flo?” Myah did not give up. He kept on corrupting Philip in his way. “He holds the highest office there.”

Myah rubbed Marc's arm. “If only he had become my son-in-law.”

“Mom, can please not ...”

“I'm done with breakfast, Flo.” Philip suddenly interrupted their conversation. Anger had been struggling in his heart ever since.

Flores looked at Philip who immediately got up from the chair and walked away. Unfortunately, Flores had no power whatsoever to defend Philip. Always this way, Philip was the easy target of his mother's humiliation and he could do nothing at all.

“The repairman only got money from bends.” Myah refers to Philip's departure. “Very low when compared to 30 percent shareholders in Teggi Regency.”

Philip's looking. The sight of Myah who had thrown a smile meant contempt for him.

Myah continued. “Marc's earnings have increased this year,” said Myah as she looked at Philip. “Minimum 100,000 dollars always goes into his savings account as the net income of a successful entrepreneur.”

Flores lowered his eyes, stamped his saliva, inhaled and exhaled many times.

“You need how many years to get that much, son-in-law?” ask Myah while chuckling. “Ten years? Or ... hundred years?” He laughed out loud.

“Mom, please stop,” Flores whispered. Damn, Myah ignored Flores.

Philip sighed. “I can also do it, Mom.”

“With what?” Myah chuckled again. “With paper money exposed to oil stains?”

“Mom!” Flores shouted out loud. His face flushed red because of the overflowing anger.

Myah shook, she was surprised because this was the first time Flores had snapped herself in such a loud voice.

My father pointed to himself. “You .... just snapped at me?” ask Myah. His face protested.

“Look! This effect is because you are too stupid to live with a poor husband like Philip,” said Myah ketus. “He taught you bad things!”

Marc took his chance from the chaos in front of him. She reddened Myah's back and rubbed it gently. “Mom, stop. Don't snap Flores.”

“This is all my fault,” timpal Marc again with meekness. “Better I just get out. I'll wait for Mommy outside,” Marc said again.

Philip smiled smirkingly. “I'll be out.” He gave up and resigned. “Again, I will be busier than a businessman who has become a major shareholder of a prestigious media company.”

“I have to work a thousand years, every day, from now on to make 100,000 dollars.” Philip closed his sentence. He left the dining room, without waiting for permission from Flores.

Flores rubbed his face violently. He knows he is guilty. Flores was supposed to throw Marc out.

“I want to go to the bathroom.” Flores. “You can continue your breakfast and leave here,” Flores timpal again.

When he left, Myah stopped him. “Why should we go?”

“Because Philip is gone!” Flores jerks in annoyance. “Didn't Mommy just want to demean her?” ask Flores with a ketus. “Then Mommy succeeded. So, Mommy can celebrate Mommy's success by drinking with Mommy.”'s new boy Flores looked at Marc fiercely, before finally leaving them.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

Inside the kitchen, Flores leaned her body against the wall. He rubbed his face a few times, trying to sip the pain in his heart. Philip was humbled, but the pain was felt also by Flores.

Flores gave a rough sigh. He took a cigarette in the kitchen drawer, took a cigarette and a lighter, then bit it. When he was about to light the tip of a cigarette, Marc's arrival caught his attention. The man took a cigarette from the sidelines of Flores' lips and threw it in the trash.

“What are you doing?” ask Flores with a ketus. “Who told you to enter my kitchen without permission?”

Marc smiled sweetly. “Smoking is not good for your health. What if Elisa knows?”

Flores threw away his face. “It's none of your business. Stop caring!”

Flores was about to leave, but Marc pulled his wrist. “Lottie Holding on the verge of bankruptcy, Flo.”

“Your father's company is dying.” Marc gave a statement.

Flores. Marc looked at him with disbelief.

“You can ask this of your brothers. Those who know better,” said Marc. “As time goes by, this situation will affect your company as well. You're holding the last branch of Lottie Holding.”

Flores was silent without words.

Marc took out a piece of paper and gave it to Flores. “I will help the crisis that your family is experiencing,” he said.

“Who do you think you are?” Flores grinned.

“I am the owner of CnY Group. The most influential property company of the last five years in this city, Flores,” said Marc proud. “Now I am also a major shareholder of Teggi Regency.”

Flores threw away his face. Marc's greatness is incredible.

Suddenly Marc grabbed Flores' hand and grabbed it. “My help will affect the state of your family, Flo.”

“Without help from me, your family's parent company will go bankrupt as well as all of its subsidiaries including yours.” Marc gave an affirmation. “The survival of the Harlow extended family depends on you, Flores.”

Flores took off Marc's hand. He turned his face away. Both of his eyes sparkled, holding back his tears. Flores knew enough without having to explain at length.

“Consider my offer, Flo.” Marc closed the conversation. “Start a new life with me and I will get your family out of this crisis and the threat of bankruptcy.”

Next.