"Hija, please! I fear for your safety! Bumalik ka na rito and let the authorities do their thing. I feel restless without your presence here!" Grandma pleaded on the phone as I sat in front of my vanity mirror to fix myself. Last night's event was still fresh in my mind and I don't want to let her know that I'm now connected to the mafia group my father worked for. I don't want to lose another family member!
"Grandma, I'm good with the security you hired for me and they're doing a great job in blocking out the media so far. Besides, I have to manage the properties here while mom is gone!" I tied my long, black hair past my shoulders into a low ponytail and wore my pearl earrings.
Wala pa ring balita kung nasaan si mommy. According to the news, several bodies have been found but others were miraculously alive in nearby islands sa Visayas! Malaki ang pag-asa ko na isa ang mga nanay ko sa mahahanap na buhay and I sent more people to focus on that part of the country.
"Oh, Adora! I'm just… really worried!" Nanginginig na ang boses nito, tanda ng nagbabadyang pag-iyak. "What if your father's murderer was also behind your mother's accident?! Margaux's body hasn't—"
"My mother is not dead until I see her myself!" Tumaas na ang boses ko at natahimik ang kabilang linya dahil dito. Tears were forming in my eyes again as I realized that even my grandmother has lost hope with our situation. No, you can't be weak, Adora! Enemies will take advantage of your weakness and you can't let that happen, especially now that you're alone!
"Hija, I'm sorry—"
"I have a business meeting with Genevieve today in Montessori, grandma. I have to go now. I'll visit you when I can. Take care." Pagpapaalam ko kahit na masama ang loob ko at umalis na ako.
LEFEBVRE, mother's clothing brand in France is under my uncle's care at the moment while I finish my studies here in the Philippines. He is also a fashion designer and I entrusted the business to him for a while to sort my problems. My mother has helped him a lot of times in the past that's why he agreed to help as his payment for her kindness.
One of my worries right now is one of our family businesses, Montecarlos Shipping Inc. because as much as I want to handle it, I have no trust in my expertise as a freshman in college!
"The shareholders of your grandfather's cargo shipping line have immediately appointed a new director and he's really good at his job." Panimula ni Genevieve Bustamante nang itanong ko sa kanya ang kalagayan nito without my father. "By the time the shares are transferred to your account, you can appoint a new director, if you wish. However, I wouldn't advise that right now, Adora. He has already established his name in the industry and MSI is as strong as it was right now when your grandfather was still the director."
May inabot siyang envelope sa akin na ang laman ay tungkol sa tinutukoy na bagong director.
"Dan Montavius S. Ainsworth…" It's him again. Binasa ko ng malakas ang kanyang pangalan at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang mahabang listahan ng credentials niya. Impressive! As an heir like me, he was able to run one of his family's leading businesses successfully while studying in college! Aside from that, he's five years older than me.
Sunod kong pinagmasdan ang kanyang mga larawan and I believe that these are his most recent pictures because he looks more mature here compared to his graduation picture. In one of them ay may suot pa siyang glasses and I thought that it made him look hotter than he already is!
"I advise that you keep him by your side. He's a keystone to the survival of the business. Maraming kalaban ngayon sa indutriyang iyan at kailangan mo ng isang tulad niya." Ibinalik ko na ang mga papeles sa lalagyan para pag-aralan ang ibang impormasyon nang mas mabuti pag-uwi ko.
"Thank you, Genevieve. I'll review these later and you're right, I have to keep him by my side. I'll prove the board that I'll be able to run the business successfully as my family did." She nodded in agreement and smiled at me.
I have to earn his trust and I have already taken steps, Genevieve. I'm afraid I won't be able to tell you that, though.
As an associate of Ainsworth's mafia group, I was briefed that all I had to do was take orders from Sheena Miller, the Vice President of Alpha Epsilon Pi and the nameless org where Donovan recruited me. I hired a private investigator to investigate further on Dan Montavius Ainsworth and I learned that he is the boss of Ainsworth's Mafia, as well as the person my father served as his right hand.
Aside from being an over-achiever, who knew he was abusing his power by committing crimes too? Donovan told me that my father was betrayed in the mafia. This means that everyone in that mafia group right now is a possible suspect and that does not exclude Donovan or Damon. However, I cannot act impulsively as that would lessen my chances of completely penetrating their world and finding that son of a bitch.
Lunes na at kakatapos lang ng klase ko sa Calculus. May homework kami na by pair pero ayos lang naman sa akin kung magsasarili ako. Madali lang naman ang problem set na binigay kaya kampante pa ako. Nasa cafeteria na ako para bumili ng apple juice dahil uhaw na ako nang biglang may kumalabit sa akin.
"Hi, Adora. May partner ka na sa Calculus?" tanong ng hindi ko kilalang lalaki na medyo namumukhaan ko pero hindi ko lang matandaan kung saan. Mas maliit siya sa akin pero may hitsura naman siya. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil sa pang-iistorbo niya sa akin.
"Hindi mo ba ako natandaan? Kaklase mo ako sa Calc at kasama mo ako noon sa Final Rights." Kumurap ako at biglang rumehistro sa utak ko ang nangyari noong gabing iyon. Natandaan ko na siya! Siya yung lalaking naka-salamin pero ngayon hindi niya suot iyon kaya hindi ko siya nakilala agad. I still don't know his name, though. Pagkatapos kasi naming magbati ni Donovan ay uminom na kami para magcelebrate.
"Ah…ikaw…" Pilit akong ngumiti. "Who are you again?"
"Jacob Ranke. Nice to formally meet you." Nilahad niya ang kanyang kamay at tinanggap ko naman ito. "Wala pa naman akong partner doon, but I don't really mind." Sagot ko pagkatapos kong bilhin ang inumin ko at naglakad na palabas ng lugar na iyon pero sinusundan niya pa rin ako. While doing so, I noticed a pair of eyes watching me from one of the tables. Hindi ko na pinakialaman iyon dahil sanay na ako. Marami akong manliligaw, even back in France and I know a dozen ways to play with them but I'm not in the mood right now.
"Bakit naman? Kung gusto mo, ako na lang partner mo para masiguro natin na perfect tayo doon." He smiled, his dimples showing. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagkairita sa sinabi niya. Is he implying that I'm dumb? Calm down, Adora. He's being nice and he's a math major too so he'll be helpful kung may hindi ako maintindihan sa mga susunod na lessons. I sighed and faced him to give my sweetest smile that made lots of gentlemen fall on their knees in the past.
"Now that you mention it, oo nga naman. We can't point out our mistakes unless someone checks it for us." I flipped my hair back and gave him my number. "Contact me on your free time. Next week pa naman ang deadline at pinapatawag na ako ni Sheena. I believe I'm taking my first orders as an associate." I giggled. Napahawak naman si Jacob sa batok niya habang nangingiti sa akin. I knew it; this guy's hitting on me. Oh well, at least may mapapakinabangan ako sa kanya sa ngayon.
"O-okay, I'll text you then, Adora. See you!" Kumaway siya sa akin bago tuluyang umalis at pumunta na ako sa sinabing meeting place ni Sheena. Sa Ajax street lang ito, malapit sa Montessori kaya ginamit ko na ang sasakyan ko para makapunta doon.
Pagkatapos mag-park ng sasakyan ay dumaan muna ako sa hilera ng mga flower shops bago lumiko para makapasok sa Ajax street dahil masikip lang ang lugar na ito at hindi masyadong pumapasok ang mga sasakyan. Nang makita ko na ang sinasabing flower shop na may kalumaan na ang disenyo ay pumasok na ako.
Akala ko mali ang pinasukan ko dahil isang babae na hula ko ay nasa 40s na ang nandoon. Maganda siya at halatang may lahi. Nakangiti lang siya sa akin at sinuklian ko naman iyon bilang paggalang. Sa tabi niya ay si Sheena na busy sa pagtipa sa kanyang cellphone. Nang makita niya ako ay sinenyasan niya akong sumunod sa kanya. Pumasok kami sa isang room na nakatago sa shop na iyon. Nagulat na lang ako nang mahagilap ng mga mata ko ang mga naka-display na baril sa kwartong iyon. Are these smuggled?
"Display lang yung matandang iyon sa labas, as well as the shop." She answered my silent question as she pulled out a briefcase from one of the cabinets. "Deliver this to Ainsworth or his men kung hindi mo siya maabutan doon." She gave me the location at malapit lang iyon dito. In fact, doon kami madalas gumimik ni Donovan or my bloc mates.
"Donovan Ainsworth?" Paninigurado ko.
Natawa siya ng bahagya. "Damon. When we say Ainsworth, we're talking about the boss, Dan Montavius and we address Donovan as he is." Tumango ako para at least maliwanagan ako para hindi pumalpak. Mahirap na.
Lumabas na ako ng kwarto pero hinarangan ako ng ginang. Nagulat na lang ako ng bigyan niya ako ng isang pink rose kaya tinanggap ko ito kahit na naguguluhan sa ginawa niya. "uhm… how much is this?" kukuha na dapat ako ng pera sa wallet ko pero pinigilan niya ako.
"I'm giving it to you, hija. You're so beautiful… like your soul." Napaatras ako sa sinabi niya at nag-iwas ng tingin. Agad akong nagpasalamat at umalis na para pumunta sa club. Hindi pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang sinabi niya kahit na nasa sasakyan na ako.
What are you talking about, Madame? Such a false assumption and you even don't know me that well for you to show such kindness to me. People will take advantage of you if you keep on doing that!
Nilapag ko ang bulaklak sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko at tinitigan lang ito ng ilang sandali. My name, Fleur is the French translation of flower, which my mom gave me because of her obsession with flowers—one of the signature designs of LEFEBVRE.
Umiling ako sa mga nagpaalala sa akin ng mga bagay-bagay bago ipinaandar ang kotse.
There's no such thing as free lunch, Adora. Remember that. Lahat ng bagay ay may kapalit.
Nakarating na ako sa Saint's, ang club na sinabi sa akin. Wala akong naging problema sa pagpasok dahil lagi naman na akong pumupunta doon pero nang makita ako ng mga bouncer ay agad nilang tinuro sa akin ang VIP room sa pinakataas na lapag ng nasabing club. Nang buksan ko ang pinto ay agad kong nakita ang taong hinahanap ko.
There he was, the boss of Ainsworth mafia in flesh and blood, sitting like a king in his throne! He was in business attire but his necktie was loose and a few buttons were open, revealing a glimpse of his toned chest. May mga babaeng nakapalibot pa sa kanya na masama ang tingin sa akin na para bang istorbo ako sa incoming orgy nila.
Agad nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya nang makita niya ako. His serious eyes were piercing through my soul, as if he was watching me naked, with all my lies and concealed truths erased to see and judge the real me. Bigla akong nanlumo sa mga tingin niya pero hindi ako nagpatalo at sinkulian ko siya ng seryosong tingin. Isang taas lang ng kamay niya ay agad nagsilabasan ang mga babae at sinarado na ang pinto ng VIP room.
Tumikhim ako at naglakad patungo sa mesa na nasa harapan niya para ilagay ang briefcase dito. My heels were making a sound while hitting the marbled floor at dahil hindi marinig ang malakas na tugtog galing sa baba, ay naririnig ito sa kwarto. The lights were dimmed inside pero kahit na ganun ay nakikita ko pa rin na pinapanood niya ako habang umiinom siya ng alak. He shifted on his seat habang tiningnan niya ang suot ko. I wore something casual today but my short shorts showed my long legs.
"Heto na ang ipinadala mo…" I broke the silence as I placed the item on the glass table. I watched his adams apple move as he swallowed his liquor. "Open it." He commanded. Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya pero sinunod ko lang ito.
Nang buksan ko ito ay gulat ako sa nakita ko. Mga papeles ito-- documents na tungkol sa kanya at sa pamilya niya, their businesses and even about the mafia group! Nakita ko rin dito ang Montecarlos Shipping Inc. among the stack of papers. Gumapang ang kaba sa dibdib ko nang nahuli ko ang nakakalokong ngisi sa labi niya.
Shit, how did he know?!
"I believe kulang pa ang binigay ng private investigator mo tungkol sa akin so I was kind enough to fill in the missing plot holes for you. Anything else you want to know about me, Fleur Adora Lefebvre-Montecarlos?"