28

"Dave, I'm in. How's your position?"

I gave out my sweetest smile to the photographer who asked for my photo and gracefully shook my head to refuse. I made my way to the main area of the largest convention area in the country and got myself a glass of champagne from the passing waiter.

"I'm in my place and still looking for Lagma's room. The security here is so tight. I can't get in. I need more time."

I sipped on my glass and seductively smiled at the Korean gentleman across from me.

I already noticed that he was staring at me the moment I walked in the door.

"It's okay. Go have all the time that you need. I will just enjoy here while I'm fishing for some monkeys. Perhaps meet some old friends. After all, it's a gala night organized by my clan's number one enemy."

"Ok. I'm out."

I touched my ear and simply turned off the hearing device attached to my earrings. I walked over to an empty poseur table and placed the glass on it. I started to look for familiar faces. I am no longer new to events like this.

When my clan was still basking in its power and wealth, gathering like this is something we love. We love the attention from everybody and the scorn from the Asturia clan.

"How happy they have been after our downfall."

I smirked and started checking the place.

There are more than half a thousand guests present that are scattered around the Palacio Royale as they mingle and socialize with fellow industry elites.

High ceiling with some Renaissance-inspired painting on it and long artsy columns are being emblazed by the light coming from the globe chandeliers.

I see a number of spotlights stationed all over the place.

There is also a large LED screen on the stage that was decorated on the lower part with a variety of flowers. Just the right amount of it.

There are tables scattered all over the place with intricate table set ups.

There are also uniformed waiters in the distance who are assisting with any needs of the guests.

The entertainment and the introduction of the charity foundation of the Asturians were over earlier so almost everyone was in the cocktail area talking to possible investors and business partners while the melodious song soared around the area. The subdued ambient light also adds to the mysterious ambiance of the place.

All of this is just a cover with all the pledges about charity. Eventually, the real reason why it was organized by the Asturians will also emerge.

It's a show of power and at the same time, a recruitment of new allies. After all, it is one of the most prominent business gatherings of the year.

I took another sip of my drink.

.

My eyes darted around the venue, looking for former acquaintances. I don't see any Asturia in my line of sight.

I spotted Senator Galleon talking with what I recognized as a high-ranking military official in the country on the other side of the table.

Some handsome Chinese looking guys are also in a corner having a chat.

I guess they're talking about the women based on how they look at the female socialites at the other table.

"Fem."

I was startled by his sudden intrusion.

"Yes, Dave."

"Lagma is coming in your area. I need to know his room number so that I could plant a bug there. It's too risky to hack into the place's security system. They have a different main server there from the cameras in the convention and the rooms. Your man is good at his business. I can't get through."

"Maverick is not my man. Give me his position."

"Southeast of your position."

"Got it."

I looked for Lagma among the few people behind me.

I saw him walking towards my direction while talking to Luca Asturia. The man is surprisingly tall, ruggedly handsome and has a pair of savage eyes. You can tell by how he presents himself that he means business. He's wearing a burgundy tuxedo. His long hair is neatly combed and tied down. His face is formidably handsome with his trimmed mustache above his upper lip.

He was so far from Lagma Rey that I remembered. I turned to his companion who is a prominent member of the Asturias, Luca.

The man is closer to Maverick in terms of the bulkiness of his body. He is the eldest son of the patriarch of the family.

I left the wineglass on the table and mingled with the people. I smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the ladies and gentlemen. I also gave in to a man's offer of wine. Throughout the duration I did not look away from Lagma who was now talking to someone else.

"I'm closing in on him. What do I need to do?" I said in a low voice just enough for Dave to hear.

"He has an exclusive card which indicates his floor. It'll be easy for me to track his room after determining his floor."

I gasped in frustration. "And how am I going to know the color? Shit! Okay, I'm on it."

I turned off the device and smiled at a good looking man from a distance. He motioned me to come to him which I gladly obeyed. His position is strategic. I can pass Lagma towards him. I grabbed another wine glass and adjusted my a-line thigh high-slit backless dress. I twirled a strand of my messy braided bun styled hair and tucked it back.

I sipped from my glass of wine and started walking. I took my time thinking about what to do. I saw that Lagma was talking to a woman. I hurriedly walked to his direction.

There were three women coming my way who immediately squeezed themselves on the side of Lagma so I took it as an opportunity to step on the hemline of one of the woman's gowns and push the back of her leg with my knee. The wine she was holding was thrown all over the front of Lagma's clothes. The woman gasped and glanced sharply at the woman behind her.

I continued walking with a smile on the corner of my lip while drinking from my wineglass again.

"I'm sorry, Rey. I'm sorry. Oh my God! I just ruined your suit!"

"No, it's okay. It's okay. It's nothing. Excuse me a bit ladies."

I glanced at Lagma when he took out something from his suit jacket and rubbed it on his pants before hurriedly walking away.

I stopped at an empty poseur table and pushed the button on my earrings again.

"It's gold."

"As I thought. Bad news Fem, that's the VVIP floor. Maximum security on that part of the hotel. I can't access that place. There's no way we could bug Lagma's room in there."

"Shit! So what would we do now?"

"Hold it. I'm trying to do something. Be right back."

I emptied my glass and slammed it down on the table. I can't just go home empty-handed. I need to get something tonight. I was tired of waiting for eight years. I have to do something right now or face another year regretting what I didn't do.

I looked up when someone placed a wine glass on my table and met a pair of small eyes.

"Hi!"

He smiled charmingly.

"Hello there." I gave him my seductive smile.

"Enjoying yourself?" He walked to my side.

"Yes, of course."

I shook the wine glass and sniffed at it.

"That was a bit of a commotion there. I saw what you did there."

He laughed and gave me a meaningful look.

I laughed nervously.

"Really? Then what are you going to do now? Will you let me slide or will you call a guidance counselor? Is that the reason why you approached me?"

But you were quite frothing at me earlier.

He grinned.

"I'm not a child anymore."

I pouted my lips.

"It's his fault. What a playboy! And you know how fragile a woman's heart can be."

"Lagma Rey is quite a charmer. I'm not even surprised if you're one of the women he left hanging."

I didn't bother to deny what he thought. It would be better for him to think that I am one of Lagma's jealous fans.

"But he was never a playboy. I knew him. He's one of the men in the brotherhood known to be a one-woman man. He's very loyal to his wife."

I froze in my feet and stared with curious eyes at the man.

"Wife? He's married?"

"Had'' is the right term. He had a wife. The rumor has it that he is still so much in love with her until now that's why he didn't have any serious relationship after her."

"Oh."

I lifted the goblet to my mouth and drank.

"He and I are very similar. We don't play with a woman's heart."

I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. Because of your so much loyalty, you forgot to clean off the smudge of lipstick in your collar."

He looked down to his suit and smiled sheepishly.

"Damn, she's wild."

I smiled sarcastically.

"Men, men, men. Find someone other than me whom you can get through her pants tonight. I have some better things to do than fucking you."

"Clever woman. And because of that, I will warn you of the men you shouldn't not get acquainted with tonight. First is that one, Luther." He pointed at the man on the other side of the table with his hands all over the young actress on his side. "The most playboy. No girlfriend since birth. All are flings. The very opposite of me. Second is Cholo."

I looked at the man he gestured at who looked so American.

"Notorious when it comes to making women cry. I heard he's only serious at the start of the relationship. He pampered his woman before breaking their heart into pieces."

"And what are you? The national gossip boy of the elite circle?"

He touched my chest and slightly bowed to me.

"Ouch! That hurts but I won't deny it. I enjoyed knowing everything on this side of the world. And before I forget, be also careful of that man, Maverick."

I spilled a little of the drink back into the glass because of the name he mentioned.

"Maverick who?"

He smiled a knowing smile. "Maverick Fuentebella. He's not as bad as the other two. How do I put it? Ahh, he's mild and distant." He looked at my back. "And very much taken."

I slowly looked at the same direction he's staring into and wished that I didn't. The view is distasteful. The man is dashing in his classic black suit and the woman beside him is equally gorgeous.

So he had come back already, huh.

I gaze at where the hand of the woman is clinging to Maverick's arm and I didn't like the jealousy that immediately erupted in my chest. I want to grab her hand away and replace her beside my man.

I snatched Wil's glass and gulped it down. I glared at him.

"Tell me about that girl."

"Woah! Are you okay? You're turning red in a very very bad way."

He leaned to touch my arm but I avoided him and looked at him sharply. With a firm voice, I asked him again.

"Tell me about the girl."

"Okay. Relax. I don't know the score between the two of you but okay woman, stop giving me death glares. She's Cahil Asturia."

I took the empty glass and scratched it against another glass.

"Yes, an Asturia. Why am I not surprised? Talk about being in that clan. Proceed."

My voice is thick with a considerable pressure in it. I followed the couple again who were now happily chatting with the other guests.

"She's Maverick's childhood sweetheart. She just came back from Europe last week and rumors had it that she went to Japan with him."

"Tsk. Are they together?"

I grabbed the waiter and took three glasses of wine. I stared at the glasses one by one while my eyes were still following the movements of the two.

"Why are you letting that bitch hold your arm?"

I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

The man looked at me in surprise.

"Some say they're at it. They said Maverick is just waiting for her. Hey, hey, let go of me."

I narrowed my eyes at him and continued to pull him closer to me with his expensive necktie.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Hey, don't call me that. I'm not a kid anymore."

"Oh yes. That's what everyone your age had told me, especially Dave. Very similar," I said in gritting teeth. "Now give me your name."

"Wil Hayasa."

"Okay, Wil Hayasa." I held his face with both of my hands and stared wildly at him. "Let me tell you one thing. This should be in one of your published books on the secrets of the elites. Your rumor mongering radar has picked up fake news. Maverick Fuentebella is not in any way romantically involved with that girl, you get it? That man over there is my man, okay? I'm the only woman he's waiting for and no one else but me. He said he is willing to take any risk for me. Now who would say that other than my man?"

I casually released him and turned over to the glass of wine.

I drank it all down and left the astounded Wil with a smirk.

"Dave, stand by. We'll go to that VVIP floor."

"What are you planning to do?"

"Don't be scared. Trust me. Now tell me what I have to do when I'm in the VVIP floor."

"On your earring is an inactivated hearing device. Throw it anywhere on the floor. I'll take care of the rest. I already know his room."

I nodded in approval.

"Good. Now stay put."

"Ahm, Fem. You sound so badass over there. I just want to say it."

"What—" He already put off the device before I could even ask.

I rounded out the column into the comfort room and retouched my make-up.

I also went back to the party right after to get what is rightfully mine. I no longer had a hard time finding Maverick. The man's presence is too immense to not be noticed. He also seems to have a magnet that attracts your attention.

"Dave? Give me Maverick's phone number."

"Copy."

I took the cellphone out from my clutch bag and called Maverick. I waited from a distance when he reached for his pocket and excused himself. Cahil chased after him but Maverick quickly walked away to answer my call.

"Hello."

I almost jumped upon hearing his voice. It has a perfect combination of huskiness and sexiness in it which never fails to make me feel the familiar things.

"Maverick Fuentebella."

I watched in awe as his face turned from confusion into a very bright one.

"Fem? Is this you? How did you get my number?" He paused and breathed sharply. "Hey, I miss you."

The way he spoke the last words made me feel as light as a feather.

I can't help but grinned with the sudden kick of euphoria.

"Secret. Where are you?"

"I'm attending an event. After this, I'm going to your apartment. I miss you."

My smile became triumphant.

"Don't bother. Turn around."

"What?"

But still he turned around and found me smiling at him mischievously.

I waved my hand at him and turned off my phone.

He stepped closer to me but I ran away laughing towards the crowd.

My phone rang.

I answered it while clutching the sides of my gown while occasionally glancing at him to know that he is following me.

"Who's that girl?"

"What girl? Ahh, she's my friend."

I snorted. "I don't like her."

Maverick laughed.

"She's not a threat, dear."

I reached the elevator car while counting the time before he would reach me.

"Where's your room?"

He stopped for a moment. I heard him breathe a hard one.

"Top floor."

"Can I get in?"

The seconds felt like forever.

I waited breathlessly for his answer. The elevator opened and I entered.

"I already told you. You're welcome to all of my properties."

Relief flooded me.

I thought he would reject me considering that a big event was being held at his hotel.

I focused my gaze on the front where Maverick was standing with his hands in his pockets. Him being just so casual added to the longing I've been feeling. A playful smile is on his devilishly handsome face.

I put my feet forward emphasizing my thighs. I was not disappointed because as I expected, he looked down at my thighs with appreciative eyes. I ran my fingers on my knees up to the base of my thigh while staring at him and biting my lip. Maverick's chest went up and down. A surge of emotions washed through me. I'm still not used to knowing and seeing that I have such a big impact on him.

"Very well then. See ya, Mav."

There was a tenderness to my words before I pressed the top floor button.

I winked at him and elegantly sipped on my wine before the door closed between us.

I turned off the cellphone and talked to Dave.

"Dave, I know you can hear me. If I told you to drop the device, you have to immediately turn off my listening device. I'll meet you tomorrow."

"Copy."

I took a deep breath. This is it. There is no going back.