Chapter 182 - The Fact Behind Myrtle Shade

Miss Rose Perez's cardiologist brought up her concern to her fellow specialists, and they had a similar observation. Their cases of cardiomyopathy multiplied, and all were associated with Myrtle Shade. Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. It is one of the common adverse effects of illegal drugs, especially methamphetamines because it speeds up the heart rate and thus, putting stress on the heart, increasing the risk of its failure.

This concern caught the attention of the Department of Health, and so investigations were conducted. However, their claims of high antioxidant content and other health benefits were otherwise proven and not the suspicious addictive compound.

For months, the mystery of where the substance came from stayed unresolved. Those patients who submitted themselves for the investigation still had that substance in their blood after repeated tests at different intervals. Even with strict monitoring. Yet, when they tried to remove the Myrtle Shade from their daily intake, their blood was cleared off from the substance. However, after a series of reports from the Department of Health that they found no suspicious ingredient in Myrtle Shade products, the complaints of the cardiologists were silenced.

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The next day, Cherry went to the office and found Allie standing in front of her desk, talking to a lady. She smiled and waved a hand before proceeding to her office, but Allie waved back, gesturing for her to come over.

"Che, I would like you to meet Miss Shiela Ferrer," Allie started her introduction, shifting her gaze between Cherry and Shiela. "And Miss Shiela, this is Miss Cherry Perez,  our company's vice president."

Cherry gave Shiela a big and warm grin, offering her hand for a shake. "I already heard about you, Miss Ferrer, and I am glad to see you finally."

Shiela smiled back timidly, intimidated a little by Cherry's beautiful outward attributes. "I'm glad to meet you, as well, Miss Perez."

Cherry chuckled before replying. "Since we are now looking forward to a long term partnership, how about calling each other by our first name except during board meetings?"

"I'd love that," Allie replied, "I believe that a successful business partnership comes from a healthy relationship."

"So be it, Shie?"

Shiela nodded and smiled shyly to both of them, too overwhelmed to grasp for the right words to say.

There was silence for a moment, and somehow, Allie tried to break it. There was no common topic yet to talk about except for business matters. "By the way, Shie, I would like to invite you to our island getaway on Sunday."

Shiela's eyes widened in surprise and awe that even if she was just a newbie in the company, Allie and Cherry welcomed her warmly. "Sure, Miss Allie. I felt so valued for being invited. Thank you so much."

"Speaking of that, Zheen, I'm having a second thought."

Allie's face sank in frustration. The outing wouldn't be as fun as having her around. "Why?"

"It's because I met mom two days ago..."

"What?" Allie exclaimed loudly, startled by the news. A few days ago, they met her in Vietnam, and they were all so careful not to mention it. They knew that her mom was her greatest wound, unhealed even with the passing years.

Cherry then proceeded to tell her the whole story about how they met and how she decided to forgive her without bringing up the past. Forgiveness means forgetting everything that happened without the need to rule out who was at fault.

"I'm sorry, Che, but I am glad that you have reconciled. Finally, you can now move on fully without the load in your heart," Allie said as she wrapped her with a warm and comforting hug.

"Yes, but I am so bothered. Mom's means of coping up with her guilt and loneliness is through the use of narcotics, resulting in her worsening heart failure."

Allie's eyes grew wide in shock. She met her mom a few days ago and, in the way she talked, never gave them some hints of her addiction. Shiela got horrified as well, judging by the startled expression of her face but she still felt out of place to share her opinion

"Did she admit her use of illegal drugs?"

"No, Zheen, and I believe she is telling the truth. What her doctor and I get confused about, is that she and the rest of the patients who suffered the same case, confess their love for Myrtle Shade."

"What's wrong with Myrtle Shade? I also love that!"

"No!" Shiela suddenly exclaimed, and the two ladies who unintentionally put her out of the conversation turned to her with wide eyes.

Shiela suddenly turned pale, and they saw her hands shaking at her side. Allie moved swiftly towards her, held one of her hands, and took her to the couch. They did not realize that they were just standing the whole time.

"Shie, what's wrong?" Allie and Cherry almost asked simultaneously, worried at her almost fainting disposition.

"It's the Myrtle Shade."

"How much do you know about Myrtle Shade?" the two ladies chorused, now sure that there was something amiss in it.

"It's not in the coffee. The coffee comes from the choicest Arabica beans so that no one could find fault in it. It is also superior in taste because the company sets strict rules in brewing, storing, and blending. You know, these factors affect the taste of the coffee."

Cherry and Allie looked at each other and locked their gazes for a while, sending both of their speculation that Shiela knew many things about the substance.

"What do you exactly mean?" Cherry whispered, trying hard not to scare Shiela away. Little did anyone among them knew how she wanted to strangle Shiela to speak out what she knew about the substance.

"I'm sorry for scaring you both, but please don't drink Myrtle Shade as much as possible. As for the reason why, I can't tell you."

Cherry sank in despair. How could she place both of them in a hanging situation? "Shie, please. What do you know about it? My mother's health lies in it. You can trust both of us."

Shiela's eyes suddenly turned red, and tears slipped in her eyes. The two ladies understood the seriousness of the matter. After a long wait that made Cherry and Allie stare at each other anxiously, Shiela finally opened her mouth to speak.

"it's not in the coffee, but it is in the creamer, in which the inspecting authority may have overlooked. The substance comes from a plant that looks like a Myrtle, and its effect is ten times more powerful than methamphetamines."

Shiela looked up and found Allie and Cherry's faces in utter shock. She got more worried, but these women easily trusted and treated her like a real family member. Thus, they also deserved her trust.

"Che, Miss Allie, I could get killed because of this information."