I sat on the lounge across him and studied the documents in front of me. I can't believe what I'm seeing right now!
Montecarlos Shipping Inc. was secretly controlled by Ainsworth when my father was the director of the company. On the surface, the famed Axel Leroy Montecarlos was the face of the business but behind the curtains, he was actually a puppet of this man and now that he's gone, Ainsworth finally got full control of my family's hard work. Damn it!
Hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa papel kaya nagusot ito at sinamaan ang tingin ng lalaking nasa harapan ko. "You used my father for your shady family business." Panimula ko at tinapon ang mga dokumento sa lamesa. "Kinda smart… instead of hijacking trucks and shipments, you chose to own a shipping line for smoother transactions. Aside from drugs, guns, alcohol, and penetrating legitimate businesses, what else? Prostitutes?" Humalukipkip ako at sinamaan siya ng tingin, pertaining to the women a while ago.
Ainsworth laughed darkly while fixing his tie. "You do realize that you're stepping on a landmine right now with what you're doing…" Nagsalin siya ng inumin sa baso at binigay sa akin pero hindi ko ito pinansin.
"Maybe I am. However, that landmine is faulty." Natigilan siya sa sinabi ko. "I still have my shares in Montecarlos Shipping Inc. and I'm here to make a deal that will benefit the both of us, Ainsworth."
Alam kong sumusugal ako sa demonyo ngayon pero ito lang ang alam kong paraan para masiguradong walang hahadlang sa imbestigasyon ko! Kung makuha ko ang deal na ito, mas malaki ang posibilidad na mahahanap ko na ang taong pumatay sa tatay ko.
His eyes gleamed at my statement, as if I've finally caught his full attention.
"Speak." He commanded.
"MSI is still yours, provided that you won't change its name. You can do whatever you want with it and continue your dirty transactions. Hayaan mo lang akong mag-imbestiga sa loob ng mafia group mo."
"Ba't hindi mo na lang ipaubaya sa awtoridad ang kaso ng tatay mo and live peacefully like the other heirs out there?" Suhestiyon niya pero hindi ako interesado doon.
"You're one to speak about living peacefully. You have great credentials and you're also an heir but you chose to involve yourself with dirty business…" Ngayon, ako naman ang ngumisi nang ibalik ko sa kanya ang mga sinabi niya. He was stunned for a moment and I applauded myself internally.
"You're not just the pretty face, are you?" He watched me as I crossed my legs in an elegant manner.
Of course!
"I'm not a Montecarlos just for display." I replied proudly. "Also, as the mafia boss, isa ka sa mga pinaghihinalaan ko." Banta ko sa kanya pero parang wala siyang narinig.
"I can see that…" Hindi pa rin maalis ang titig niya sa mga binti ko. I had to tap my thighs for him to look at my eyes again. Seriously, nakinig ba siya sa sinabi ko? "…you're practically asking me to marry you." He licked his lips as if he liked that idea.
W-what?!
Napatuwid ako sa pag-kakaupo ko at naramdaman ko ang biglaang pag-init ng pisngi ko sa inis. Is he teasing me?! "What makes you say that?" I tried to maintain my calm composure pero nahalata pa rin niya ata ang pagkabigla ko sa sinabi niya.
He combed his hair back coolly like it was nothing to him. "Letting me control one of your family businesses, and having full access and control to my mafia without any problem… those are just some of the privileges of being my wife." Humalakhak siya nang makita ang hindi maipintang ekspresyon ko. I felt my blood boil because of embarrassment at realizing that he was actually making sense.
Calm down, Adora! Remember the damn deal!
"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't do labels, Ainsworth… lalo na ang pag-aasawa. I hate being tied down with a ring…" Iginiit ko at sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. Naistorbo kami nang pumasok ang isa sa mga tauhan niya at may binulong sa kanya. Napatingin si Damon sa akin pagkatapos tumango sa tauhan niya kaya umalis na ito.
"hmm…fine. I'm letting you investigate as long as you don't meddle with our activities and do your job as an associate." He drank his liquor and I saw his adams apple move again. It looked very seductive! Nag-iwas ako ng tingin nang mahuli niya ako.
"You may leave."
I rejoiced as I walked out of the VIP room pero nakasalubong ko si Sheena sa hallway na nakangisi sa akin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil sa nakakaalarma niyang tingin. "An associate should just stay where she is and avoid digging her own grave…" Pagpaparinig niya nang lagpasan niya ako. Sasagutin ko sana siya pero pumasok na ito kung nasaan si Ainsworth.
Anong problema niya? Oh well.
At the sea of people on the dance floor, nahanap pa rin ng mga mata ko si Donovan sa isa sa mga tables malapit doon. Lalapit na sana ako nang mapansin kong may kausap siyang babae kaya hinayaan ko na lang ito at umuwi na.
"Oops! Tama naman yung solution mo pero mali lang yung pagkakalagay mo ng equal sign at parentheses… may deductions pa naman…" Turo ni Jacob Ranke nang i-check niya yung part ko sa problem set namin. So far, I proved myself right… He's useful.
Huwebes na at nasa café kami ngayon na pag-aari daw ng kapatid niya. It's cozy enough to my liking and the furniture accentuates the theme of the place very well. The place was surrounded with books and the aroma of coffee was calming. I'm enjoying their matcha smoothie because it's masarap! I think I found myself a new favorite hangout.
"I don't get it… Equal sign lang naman at saka parentheses but it does not change the fact na tama ang mga sagot ko." I argued pero tumawa siya, his dimples showing again and he looked at me meaningfully.
"It doesn't matter how things are correct in your perspective… Rules are rules, Adora. They're there to set a standard on how correct things should be because otherwise…" He trailed off to prove his point.
"Okay, gets! Lalagyan ko na…" I sighed in defeat as I wrote on my paper and handed it back to him to check on more possible mistakes. Sorry, Jacob. I'm the type who makes my own rules when I think that the standard set out there is bullshit.
I sipped my matcha smoothie at tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana.
It was a usual day in Montessori Street. Tall buildings, luxury cars passing by, and people who modeled their social statuses like no one else mattered to them. Tell me, Jacob. How does your standard of correctness apply here? Would they still care about that standard when money is power and survival?
I smiled when I saw a woman wearing LEFEBVRE's summer collection proudly. It was my mother's signature design. The color of the prints of her top matched her light skin tone perfectly! She looked as sophisticated as she entranced the shop in front of the building with grace. May mga photographer na umaaligid sa kanya so I think she's a model or something. I was busy appreciating her looks nang mapansin ko ang designer bag na nakasabit sa balikat niya.
Oh my! I haven't seen that bag yet! Limited edition ba yan?!
"Oh, san ka pupunta?" Nagulat si Jacob nang tumayo ako.
"I'm shopping!" I squealed in excitement as I took my bag. "I haven't shopped in a week because of so many distractions! I have to spend for the economy of this country!" I declared as I felt my cards in my wallet. I'll get to use these babies again!
I forgot to attend Beaumont's fashion show in Manila last week at baka isa iyon sa mga designs niya! How could I forget?! Shame!
Jacob shook his head in disagreement. "May General Assembly tayo mamaya. It is compulsory to attend!"
I whined. "Saglit lang naman ako! I'll be back in an hour! Mamaya pa naman yung meeting, eh." Hinarangan niya ako nang makita niyang buo na ang desisyon ko. Tsk!
"My sister says that all the time. An hour for you guys is more than four hours in real time!" Tumawa siya at naglipit na din ng mga notes.
"Oh, san ka rin pupunta?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay and looked at him with accusing eyes. "For a man who speaks about rules passionately—"
"Sasamahan na kita para siguradong isang oras lang." He cut me off. "Sa mall ba? Tapos naman na tayo eh. Ako na yung nagdagdag sa mga kulang mo sa solutions…"
Shopping is no fun with this guy around! I regret ditching my bodyguards! They're surely quieter than this guy. Kanina pa niya kasi ako pinepeste tungkol sa oras. Every shop I go to, lagi niya akong minamadali. Ugh.
"Adora, lagpas isang oras na. We have to go. It's almost 6 pm." Pagmamadali ni Jacob nang nasa Beaumont na kami. I rolled my eyes as I handed my card to the cashier.
Kawawa naman ang kapatid ng isang 'to! I wonder how she keeps up with someone like him. One should not disturb a woman when she's shopping. This is our stress reliever—our sanctuary! Poor sister!
"teka lang, ito na oh! You should have gone ahead if you wanted to attend the GA so badly!" I snapped. I bought the most expensive hand bag from Beaumont's latest collection and it's far better than the one I saw a while ago. Mura lang pala yung nasa babae kanina!
I flipped my hair back again and smirked as I imagined dozens of outfit styles that go with this bag.
Taas noo akong pumasok sa mansyon kung saan gaganapin ang GA. As expected, heads turned towards me as I entered. May ilan sa kanila ang sumipol kaya inirapan ko sila. We weren't late, thanks to Jacob pero marami nang tao nang makarating kami.
I guess I'm the only one who isn't taking things seriously. Iba naman ang pakay ko dito, eh.
Maingay na sa loob at dahil wala akong magawa, iginala ko ang mata ko para tignan ang mansyon. It was spacious, sure… because it's not fully furnished. Halatang walang nakatira dito.
I yawned out of boredom nang tumahimik ang lahat dahil sa presence ni Sheena. She was walking down the stairs with someone gracefully, like a debutant. Nakakapit siya sa braso ni Donovan who was looking at me with amusement. Tinaasan ko sila ng kilay.
Oh, wow? Parang kamakailan lang kay Damon nakadikit ang babaeng ito, ah? Is she an escort of the Ainsworth cousins? I snickered at the thought but she caught me so I stopped. Oops, don't forget that she's your boss, Adora!
Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin habang tinanggal niya ang mamahaling coat na suot niya, revealing her black body con dress that hugged her curves perfectly. "Oh my, isn't it getting hot around here?" She moaned as she scooped her long hair back, revealing her diamond earrings and sexy collar bone while fanning herself. Men gaped at her actions and I heard some of them hiss. Horny bastards!
Sheena smiled at me like she won the Olympics when she caught my irritated expression. It was like she was proving her territory in this forsaken place! How desperate.
"New orders from the boss, everyone." Donovan interrupted our silent showdown. "We'll sabotage an incoming drug transaction at Asahi Nakamura's art auction on Sunday." He flashed the picture of the man's face at the screen in front of us.
"Apparently, Nakamura-san sealed a drug deal with our enemies and forgot about our agreement. To think that he was one of our best dealers… such a waste! It seems like he's not afraid of our boss at all!" Sheena added and sighed dramatically as I rolled my eyes at her terrible acting. I turned to look at Jacob but he was listening intently.
"For this, we need someone who is well known in the fashion industry…" Napukaw ang atensyon ko sa sinabi ni Donovan dahil nararamdaman ko na ang gusto niyang iparating. I shook my head at him to signal my disagreement but he just nodded.
"Adora, we need you."