Mika's POV
It took a moment before he sat down. He tried to look in my eyes but his nervous gaze just let me saw through him. He's frightened and seem to be hiding something.
"Mr. Montereal."
He quickly looked at me. "U-uh, yes? Umm, Ms. Axel."
I saw him gulped a few times before hearing Jean's voice from my earpiece.
[ Pulse rates increased. ]
I took out a picture from my pocket and threw it on the table. I saw him stiffened.
"Do you know this man?" I asked.
He quickly shook his head. "N-no."
"Familiar, perhaps?"
"N-no. Not at all, Ms. Axel."
"Ooohh, meany." Elisse said.
I smirked. "The name's Jack Vallera, age 33. He works for a big-time company as a janitor. Pyton, ever heard of it?"
"A-Axel's subsidiary company."
He seems uncomfortable at the topic. Hindi na siya makatingin sa mga mata ko.
"Indeed. But that's odd," I looked at him meaningly. "He now owns a dozen of villas, mostly at the southern region. Nine restobars, fourteen resort hotels, and a yacht."
"A-ano pong ibig n-niyong sabihin?"
"For a janitor, to own such properties," I looked at the picture. "Even if it's Pyton, he wouldn't have enough salary to buy them." I looked at the briefcase. "I wonder where'd he get the money to afford tho--
"W-why are we talking about this?" he asked before chuckling nervously.
I looked at him. "Cutting me off, huh?"
"N-No! I-It's not l-like tha--
"In that case," I sat properly and intertwined my fingers. "Let's cut to the chase."
[ 119 bpm ]
"I-I didn't mean interrupt you, Miss. I just.. I-I mean.. I-I don't know him and I d-don't have anything to do with him. So why a-are we--
"Do you have a brother?" I asked seriously.
His eyes widened and he stared at me.
"H-Huh?"
"You heard me."
"B-Bakit naman b-biglaan--
"I'm not a patient person, Mr. Montereal. I'm a busy person though I'm 16 years younger than you." I gave him a grin.
"So, drop your innocent act and answer my question."
He looked at me nervously. Those pitiful eyes won't save you.
"O-only child ak--
"James."
He looked at Jamaica who was smiling creepily at him.
"The hell with that."
"Tricks only work on dumb people," Elisse commented. "Don't use it on us."
He opened his mouth to say something but then he closed it.
"Let's be honest, Mr. Montereal."
He didn't respond and continue to look at me.
"Where were you yesterday?"
"At a staff meeti--
"No, that's wrong."
"Nasa cafe ka." Jamaica said.
"You met with your brother." it's Elisse.
[ 123 bpm ]
Hindi siya nagsalita at patuloy lang tinitigan ang picture. Nakatingin kami nila Elisse sa kanya habang hinihintay siyang magsalita.
"I.." he started.
"I have to handle the issue you we're talking about earlier." he said and stood up.
"We're handling the issue at the moment." I said.
He stopped with his back facing me.
"Huli ka na, James." Elisse said.
"Mas mabuti pang umamin ka na." it's Jamaica.
He didn't respond.
"Yesterday, you met with Jack Vallera. You gave him the embezzled money you saved since last month. You re-scheduled the staffer's meeting and met him."
"Sinabi ko nang wala akong kinalaman sa kanya!" he looked at me. "Hindi ko siya kilala! At wala kayong ebidensya na ako ang magnanakaw sa kompanya!"
I smirked. "Then, can you open something for me, instead?"
He looked at me curiously and waited for me to continue.
"For example," I looked at the briefcase. "That briefcase you're holding."
His eyes widen but he didn't moved. His gaze stopped moving and he lost his composure. He tried to say something but words didn't come out from his mouth. He lost.
"You embezzled money for your little brother, Jack. You used your position to suck other people's money to fill your brother's pockets. You manipulate minds... For your own selfish desires." I looked at him. "The evidence is in your hand and there's no way out."
His grip tightened on the case. This game is over.
"Okay, enough of that."
I heard something clicked before I felt some metal touched my head. Men in black started to reveal themselves from the shadowy parts of the office and put some guns on my comrades' heads. We didn't moved except for Mr. Montereal who gasped at the sight.
"I should've known." I smirked. "You wouldn't leave your brother alone."
He walked at my side with the gun still pointing at my head.
"Mr. Vallera."