"Welcome, Miss Milton. Please take a seat. The congressman will be with you shortly," said a woman dressed in a black formal suit, introducing herself as Congressman Saccoth's assistant.
"Thank you," Patricia replied, settling onto a plush white sofa in the congressman's lavish living room.
She wore a long, floral-printed dress, her hair flowing freely over her shoulders and down her back. A delicate flower headband adorned the crown of her head. As she glanced around the room, her eyes landed on the many framed photographs of Congressman Saccoth and his family displayed across the walls. He had three children, one boy, who appeared to be around Alisha and Zach's age, and two girls who looked to be in their early teens. Patricia smiled as she studied their happy faces.
Then, her gaze fell upon a peculiar photo. Slowly, she rose from the sofa and stepped toward it. The image showed her father and Congressman Saccoth standing side by side, both smiling broadly, with a derby racing arena stretching behind them. Patricia picked up the frame, tracing her fingers gently along the glass, feeling an unexpected sting of tears in her eyes.
"You still miss him, don't you?"
The sudden voice from behind startled her. She turned to see Congressman Saccoth approaching, dressed in a crisp white shirt, black slacks, polished shoes, and reading glasses resting on his nose.
"Oh! I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to intrude," Patricia said quickly, placing the photo frame back on the shelf. A blush crept onto her cheeks, betraying her embarrassment.
Saccoth chuckled lightly. "It's alright, my dear. I… miss him too."
He stepped beside her, his gaze lingering on the photograph. "This was taken after your father's tenth victory win. I'll admit, at first, I was jealous of him. I used to be the star of the show. Back then, I had won six races in a row. But then your father came along and shattered every record, surpassing my victories by winning eight races and in just within two seasons!" He let out a hearty laugh at the memory.
Patricia smiled, intrigued. "So what happened?"
Saccoth sighed, his expression softening. "I realized there was no point in being envious of someone so clearly gifted, a true prodigy. At first, I kept my distance and gave him a cold shoulder since we were competitors and all. But… as time passed, your old man had a way of working himself into my heart. By the third season, we had become friends. That photo was taken to commemorate our new bond."
Patricia studied his emotional expression as he looked at the picture. "I knew my father had a best friend… but I never knew it was you. How come he never mentioned you before?" she asked.
Saccoth turned to her, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "Don't worry, my dear. We have plenty of time to talk about that… over lunch." He gestured for her to follow him. "Please, follow me."
Patricia followed Congressman Saccoth through the sprawling garden, taking in the vibrant array of flowers, towering trees, and manicured hedges. The air was rich with the scent of fresh blooms, creating an atmosphere of tranquility. He led her to a grand gazebo, nestled a short distance from the house, where a table laden with delicious delicacies awaited them.
Saccoth gestured for Patricia to take a seat, and as she settled in, a few attendants began serving their meal before he politely dismissed them.
"Please, help yourself, my dear," Saccoth said warmly. "Madeline was very particular about making sure you were served the best dishes in the house."
Patricia raised a brow. "Madeline?"
"My wife," he clarified with a nod.
"Oh!" Patricia exclaimed in surprise.
"She truly wanted to be here and join us for lunch, but unfortunately, she had to attend Maria and Annabelle's dance recital," Saccoth continued. "But don't worry, you'll be seeing her often, especially now that I'll be training you."
"That's good to know. Thank you," Patricia replied as she began eating, savoring the rich flavors of the meal.
"There's no need to thank me, my dear," Saccoth said, leaning back slightly. "It was clear to me how much you loathed being stuck with Jethro. That guy is a weasel and a complete jerk. To be honest, I'm quite curious about how you ended up entangled with him…"
Patricia sighed and carefully wiped her lips before replying, her tone measured. "I believe today's session is supposed to satisfy my curiosity, not yours, sir. I'll answer your questions when I'm satisfied with mine."
Saccoth chuckled at her straightforwardness. "Of course, of course, my dear. You're right. We should feed your curiosity first before mine." Then he tilted his head playfully. "And please, don't call me 'sir.' Call me Uncle Philip or Uncle Beddy, whichever you prefer."
Patricia nearly choked on her food. 'Okay, I get that you were buddies with my dad, but there's no need to be so… familial. Jeez.'
Clearing her throat, she composed herself as Saccoth continued.
"I visited often," he said, his voice nostalgic. "You may not remember since you were just a little girl. The last time I saw you was at your siblings, Zachariah and Alisha's third birthday, if I recall correctly. I actually brought my son, Peter, along so he could spend time with your siblings, mostly with Alisha. Did you know that your father and I had already decided to arrange a little matchmaking between Peter and Alisha? Something about strengthening our friendship even further."
Patricia nearly choked again. 'Dad did WHAT? Oh, Alisha is not going to like this when she hears it… Not. At. All.'
She set down her fork and cleared her throat. "Wow… You're right. I was just a kid back then, since I was only six. But if you and Dad were so close, why didn't he talk much about you? And why are you only revealing yourself to me now instead of years ago? I didn't see you at my father's funeral. Why didn't you come? Why didn't you reach out all this time? I mean… why now?"
Saccoth sighed deeply, the light humor in his tone replaced by weighty regret. "I'm sorry, Patricia. I truly am. I regret not stepping into your life sooner. Believe me, I wanted to help you. I wanted to take care of you, your siblings, and your mother in honor of my best friend. I wanted to make sure you were safe."
His voice lowered, and his eyes darkened with an unspoken heaviness.
"But I just couldn't…"
"El Diablo Enmascarado de Plata was onto me. I couldn't let him discover that I was helping your father gather evidence against him," Saccoth admitted, his tone dark with remembrance. "Besides, since he became the champion derby racer and the 'Golden Horse' of the club, being friends with your father would have cost me not just my career, but my life and the safety of my family."
Patricia's brows furrowed as she processed his words, her expression clearly asking for further explanation.
"You may not know this," Saccoth continued, "but Ricardo's hatred toward your father didn't stem solely from jealousy about his fame, his talent, or his ability to expose the his dirty dealings… No, my dear, that wasn't the root of it at all. It started long before that. Long before either of them were even born. This feud… it's carved into history. I don't know all the details myself, but it's said that the Montenegra and Milton families have harbored a deep-seated grudge for generations, each always at the other's throat. That hatred, festering over time, led to the tragedy eight years ago… and, I suspect, the misery you and your family have endured since."
Patricia stared at Saccoth, his words sinking in like a heavy weight pressing against her chest. She remembered the cryptic lines in her father's letter, the ones about carrying on the Milton legacy and seeking justice for their family. It had felt personal then, tied only to their little family of five. But now… now it seemed much bigger. If what Saccoth said was true, the injustice didn't start with her father, it was a wound passed down through generations.
'But what was the injustice?' Patricia's thoughts spun wildly. 'What happened between the Montenegras and the Miltons? Why has their hatred endured for so long, so much so that even their descendants are killing each other over it? I have to find out.'
"The answers you seek are hidden in those hard drives," Saccoth stated.
Patricia jolted from her thoughts, refocusing on him. "You don't know where the other hard drives are?" she asked, her voice tight with urgency.
Saccoth shook his head. "No. Your father never told me where he placed them. My mission now is to help you find them, to gather evidence, to bring Ricardo and his network down, to secure justice for your family, and for my friend."
Patricia's eyes narrowed slightly. "But you're a member of the club. How do I know I can trust you? How do I know you're not involved in the shady dealings yourself?"
Saccoth let out a hearty laugh, then sobered. "Oh, heavens no, child! I'm not tangled in Montenegra's dirty schemes, not directly, at least. I know about them, but I don't take part in them. Well… not 'entirely.' I do allow him to use some of my hotels for money laundering and drug manufacturing. Not by choice, mind you, the devil holds a knife to my throat. One wrong move and I'll end up buried just like your father."
Patricia took in his words cautiously.
"But your father trusted me, Patricia. He chose me to be your mentor and guardian for a reason. I want out of this madness, just as much as you do. I want justice for my friend and for all the people Montenegra has destroyed."
Patricia let out a slow sigh. "Alright, Mr. Saccoth. I'll take your word for it. Sorry for not calling you by your preferred names yet… I still don't feel comfortable with that."
Saccoth chuckled heartily. "It's alright, my dear. Take your time. I don't mind. Besides, we'll be seeing each other more often… though with 'Silver Snake's' brother entangled with you, things won't be easy."
Patricia's brows knit together. "Silver Snake? Who's that?"
Saccoth's expression darkened slightly. "Jethro Morales' brother, Alexander Morales, better known as 'Mr. X.' A venomous creature, Patricia. It would be wise to steer clear of him… especially his 'Black Tulip.'"
Patricia tilted her head slightly. "Black Tulip?"
"Yes," Saccoth affirmed. "His little treasure. The kid who goes by the name Jonathan Philde. He's X's most prized possession. There's something about him, something that X guards fiercely. Though he uses him as a whore, pardon my language, he only does so for select clients. And these clients… they're in the big leagues.
But it's not just X who protects him. Montenegra does too. There's talk that the 'Black Tulip' is the key to Montenegra's evolution, whatever that means. If I were you, I'd stay far, far away from them. Getting too involved with them could jeopardize everything."
Patricia's mind reeled with the new information. Her thoughts spun in a chaotic loop, barely able to keep up with all the new threats weaving into her life.
"We should meet again," Saccoth continued. "The day after tomorrow. There's more to discuss, more plans to put in place. And, of course, your training. Now that you're officially recognized as a seasoned racer, you'll be expected to compete in the next derby racing season. It's in two months, that gives us plenty of time to prepare."
But Patricia barely heard his words. Her heart pounded as adrenaline flooded her veins. 'Things have just gotten even more complicated.' She had unknowingly dipped herself deeper into the storm, and now everything was threatening to spiral out of control.
'This is bad. Really bad.'