2 Chapter 2 (2/2)

”Where is the mystery in that?”

”Oh, you have no idea, Daryl. But for now, you can all go back to your desks. After all, I did say this was a quick meeting. I just wanted to give you an update, that's all. But hopefully, we'll have good news by next week.”

Everyone took their coffee and headed out while munching cookies as if they were kids who just finished a talk with their dad. Maria stayed with an expressionless face. Santiago settled where Linda sat during the meeting, then pushed the plate of cookies to Maria. ”Here. You can finish this. There are two more cookies.”

”Thank you.” Maria responded with a slight bow, then took one cookie.

”There's a reason why I asked you to stay and hopefully, you'll trust me when I say that this conversation that we're about to have should be confidential.” He said, quite nervously.

Maria nodded, still munching on her cookies.

Santiago noticed that she hasn't touched her coffee. ”You're not drinking your coffee.”

”I don't drink coffee.”

”Oh. Well, then I think I need one now. Let me have it.” He took a sip and looked at Maria who was staring blankly at the window behind his desk. ”Will you be able to keep a secret?”

Maria turned to him, still with a blank expression, then nodded.

”You look trustworthy, which is why you're the only one who has to know this.” He said with a careful tone.

Again, Maria nodded, almost choking on the cookie she was eating.

”Hold on a sec.” Santiago stood up and went outside for a moment. When he came back, he was holding a glass of water. ”Here. Drink this.”

Maria bowed as a sign of gratitude, then drank the entire glass of water.

”Are you feeling okay, now?” Santiago felt like he was talking to a nine-year-old kid.

Maria nodded.

He took a deep breath then started talking. ”I had the strangest experience yesterday and I didn't know how to explain it to anyone, but I'll explain it to you. Again, this is confidential.” He paused while Maria once again confirmed by nodding her head. ”There is a reason why that place is called Mystery Village. It's literally a mysterious place. When I went there, I met an old woman who later on turned out to be a ghost. But that's not the only strange thing that happened. I was able to open the gate to the apartment building where the owners live, but I couldn't enter the premises. I learned through the old woman…or ghost, that only someone with a pure heart can enter during full moon, and that's where you come in.” He waited for a reaction from Maria, but she just listened attentively to the whole thing without disbelief. ”Maria, do you believe in the supernatural?”

She instantly nodded, this time with excitement glowing from her face.

Santiago smiled at her reaction. ”I was scared at how you would react, but now I'm glad I'm talking to you. I sure do hope that you speak from time to time.”

She nodded.

”So, here's what we're going to do. Tomorrow is January 19. At exactly 10:28pm, there's going to be a full moon. I know it's Sunday and you're supposed to take a rest. Heck, we all need a rest, but I really need you to be my partner on this project. We need to close this deal by talking to the owners to convince them to sell the property, and if I'm not mistaken, you're the only one who can do this. Would you be able to partner with me on this task?”

Maria gave out an angelic smile. ”Yes.”

Santiago relaxed on the sofa with a huge hope that the old woman wasn't lying, and that Maria could really enter the apartment building on full moon. At the back of his mind, he was thinking, Let's see what happens tomorrow and I'd better not be a crazy man.