99: EPILOGUE

Six months later...

SAM'S POV

"I'll come and get you here before your out later. Remember that your heavily pregnant so you better behave and just put your sexy ass on your seat and let the other investigator do the outdoor job. Get that?"

When I heard that more-like-of-a-threat reminder again--- my eyes automatically rolled upward at that.

After a few months of being married to some bastard, halos araw-araw ko ng naririnig ang linyang 'to everytime na hinahatid ako nito sa trabaho. He just kept reminding me that I looked like a bloated balloon now dahil sa pagbubuntis ko.

Kasalukuyan nga pala kaming nakatayo sa tabi ng sasakyan nito at sa harapan ng building na pinagtatrabahuan ko.

Insisting that he'd drive me to my work everyday to ensure my safety. It won't even surprise me if he have secretly snuck some tracker on my phone just to monitor my whereabout.

"Quit with that habitual rolling of your eyes, Samantha. This is a serious threat. Alam mong pwede kitang patigilan sa trabaho mo anytime just to keep you stay at home."

When he warned that, napapabuntong- hininga na lamang ako saka tumango rito.

Though I can't promise I can obey him all day but he doesn't need to know that anyway.

"Fine. Fine. You win. I'll let Allan do the surveilance job for me and I'll sat idly on my seat all day no matter what. Satisfied?"

For a moment, he just groaned and gave me those suspicious look again. But since he had no other choice but to believe that, tumango na lamang ito.

"Quite adequate. Call me when you need anything else. I'll go now." And then with that, agad na itong yumukod and then gave me a quick peck on my lips.

A gesture which I could hardly resist to ignore kahit na ilang buwan na akong kasal rito. I couldn't still get enough of him.

When he was about to pull his lips, agad ko ng hinila ang necktie nito and then deepened that kiss. And I can tell na nakangiti ito ngayon habang kahalikan ko because I even heard him make that laughing sound coming from his nose now.

Oh dear. Kasalanan talaga 'to ng pregnancy hormones ko. I think it's making my horniness hyped up to the highest level.

I felt his hands found my waist at gusto ko sanang mas lumapit pa rito but my baby bump is keeping me from doing that na syang ikinaiinis ko minsan.

"Aherm! Ahermm!"

That damn asthmatic clearing of throat behind me interrupted our moment.

"It would be better if you two would get a room now and stop making everyone here feel insecure dahil sa ginagawa nyo."

When Michael commented that, Cameron instantly groaned and pulled me to his side to face the intruder.

"Shut up, Michael. It would be better kung hindi mo bibigyan ng maraming trabaho ang asawa ko. You know she's in her third trimester of her pregnancy now kaya 'wag mo syang papagurin."

My boss just shrugged at that saka isinara ang pintuan ng sasakyan nito.

"Tell that to your wife, Mr. Del Fuero. I'm a businessman, yes but I don't make pregnant women handle such dangerous case. Especially heavily pregnant women." He pointed out with a shrug saka tumalikod na't naglakad papasok sa building nito.

Alright. He really know how to complicate my life.

"Samantha, if I ever hear anything na may ginagawa ka na namang kalokohan at mapapahamak kayo ng anak ko, I swear I'll make you quit your job at once. I'm leaving now." And then with that being said, he quickly gave me a peck on my lips again before he pulled opened his car door at sumampa na agad rito.

"Always keep that in mind, Samantha. See you later." Aniya pa pagkapasok saka agad ng pinaandar ang sasakyan nito, leaving me following his sight with a glare.

As if that would stop me from going out of my office today. I don't have any plan of quitting this job so soon. I can have a short maternity leave kapag manganganak na'ko but never the other way around.

Never.

Shrugging, agad na lamang akong pumasok sa loob and forget about his threats.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Can we meet up later?'-Agatha

When I received that text, agad ko ng binilisan ang pagrereview ng mga video footages sa computer ko. It's already 2pm and I still have to meet her up after work later.

I guess I have to stood up my husband again later. Minsan lang makikipagkita sa'kin si Agatha and if she will, tiyak na may importante naman itong sasabihin tungkol sa kaso nito.

Agatha Ariola, Charles' former secretary. I met her through my brother saying that this woman keep getting into her way and even dragging him into her mess. And because my selfish brother don't want to get himself involved with her, he called me three months ago and asked for my help to get someone in our agency to help her out. But since Agatha is the type that won't trust anyone that easily, I became her investigator instead of anyone. A matter that I hadn't confided with my husband until now dahil tiyak gulo na naman ito.

Agatha told me someone was after her at kahit hindi nito ipinapakitang takot ito, alam kong gusto rin nitong alamin kung sino at ano ang kailangan ng mga ito sa kanya.

For now, I advised her to stay in her apartment hangga't wala pa'kong nakakalap na impormasyon sa kaso nito.

"Care to share what was running in your head now, Sam? Baka makatulong ako."

I glanced at my right when I heard Al said that from his own cubicle. From the look of him, mukhang napansin nitong may malalim na naman akong iniisip ngayon.

"No, Al. It'll just get you in trouble kapag alam mo." I refused with a shake of my head saka nagpatuloy na sa ginagawa ko.

"Hindi naman kaya ikaw ang mapapatrouble diyan sa asawa mo, Sam? You can maybe wrap Cameron del Fuero around your little fingers but being himself, tyak hindi nya palalampasin kapag may kalokohan ka na namang gagawin. He could even make you quit this instant kung gugustuhin niya lang." natatawa pang pang-aasar nito which caused me to glare at his way.

After everyone heard I married Cameron del Fuero, talagang ginawa na nitong katuwaan ang asarin ako. Kept pestering me and asking me how I was able to make my husband fall for me... The great Mr. del Fuero.

"Shut up, Al kung ayaw mong mapahamak dito imbes na ako." I pointedly answered na agad namang ikinatahimik nito. Probably sensing that I wasn't in a mood right now to joke around.

Agad ko ng tinapos ang kailangan kong mga gawin and when I'm done, it was already quarter before four in the afternoon. And before the clock would even hit 4:00 o'clock, agad ko ng inayos ang mga gamit ko, slid myself on my jacket and left that place bago paman dumating dito si Cameron.

I quickly hailed a cab to Agatha's place and before I could even get to her place, bumaba na'ko sa harapan ng isang convenient store just a few blocks away from her place.

Agatha was probably bored by now in her apartment so a supply of alcohol would be best to bring with me para mawala naman ang boredom nito.

I picked up enough of beer in cans and then headed to the counter para bayaran ito. Walang ibang tao sa loob ng store but just me and the cashier so it didn't take me long to pay for it. After I paid for it, I quickly picked up the cellophane intact with beers and headed for the door.

I was just about to push open the glass door when three men suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blocking the door and my way. Dahilan para mapaatras agad ako palayo sa pinto. Agad namang nagsipasukan ang mga ito and I don't know why I suddenly became alert with their sudden presence. Siguro dahil parehong nakaitim ng mga suot ito and except for the man at the center, malalaking tao rin ang mga ito.

At kahit ang lilinis ng mga mukha't pananamit ng mga ito at mukhang bodyguard ng kung sinong mahalagang tao, they just seem like they were after me.

My instinct just tells me that they are and they're not just here for some beer or anything. And they're determine to get what they have came here for.

"Ikaw ba si Mrs. Del Fuero?" bungad ng isa sa mga ito which confirmed my suspicion.

"Anong kailangan nyo sa kanya?" I asked instead of answering their question while giving them a cautious look.

"I'm Xandro. May ilang katanungan lang sana kami sa'yo, Mrs. Del Fuero."anang isa pa na nasa gitna who quickly motioned the other two to move na syang ikinataranta ko.

The other man guarded the door behind him and placed the closed sign on it. The other strode towards the terrified woman at the counter, siguro para bantayan ito habang naiwan namang nakatayo sa harapan ko ang medyo may edad sa mga ito.

"Mahirap kang tiyempuhan, Mrs. Del Fuero so we decided to just talk to you here. Just give us the answer at makakaalis ka na agad dito."

That made me frowned at him while tightly holding the cellophane of beer in my hand.

Now it was clear na ako nga ang sadya ng mga ito. And they really made sure to lock the door to prevent me from escaping. Pero kahit gustuhin ko mang tumakas ngayon dito, it would just be futile given that my big baby bump's getting on my way. Ayoko ring may mangyaring masama sa baby ko because Cameron would definitely have my ass 'pag nagkataon.

Glancing down at my wristwatch, I peek through the time at it.

4:06pm.

That somehow calmed me down. Cameron's definitely hunting for my ass now so I should calm down.

Mentally nodding my head, agad ko ng sinagot ito.

"Then ask me now.. My husband would be looking for me by now kaya itanong nyo na ang gusto nyong itanong sa'kin before he could even find me here."

At the hear of that, a small smirk peek through the side of his mouth saka tumango and then motioned me to the table at the corner.

"Have a seat, Mrs. Del Fuero. It wouldn't be good for your current condition to keep you standing there. Please seat." Aya pa nito sa'kin pagkalapit nito sa upuan.

At dahil mabigat-bigat rin ang dala ko, hindi na'ko nagmatigas pa and just complied. Placing the cellophane on the table, agad na'kong umupo sa isa sa mga upuan doon and throw him a look.

"I don't have a day for this so ask me now, Mr. Xandro. Hindi ko man alam kung anong itatanong nyo sa'kin but I'll try my best to give you an answer."

"Then good. Madali lang naman ang tanong ko, Mrs. Del Fuero and I know you are very capable of answering it." Came his confident answer sabay upo nito sa kabilang upuan with his hands both clasps before him.

"Then tell me now para malaman ko."

"Nasaan si Ms. Blaire, Mrs. Del Fuero?" Diretsang tanong agad nito sa'kin without even wasting a nanosecond na syang ikinakunot naman ng noo ko.

"Blaire?" I asked in puzzlement. "At sino namang Blaire yang tinatanong mo? I thought this was just an easy quiz, Mr. Xandro? Ba't parang naging pangcivil service naman yata ang tanong na'to? Ang layo sa napag-aralan ko.."

A scowl instantly appeared on his face, clearly disappointed with my answer.

"Just give me the answer, Mrs. Del Fuero. Alam kong kilala mo si Ms. Blaire kaya 'wag mo ng ikaila pa sa'min. Nakita kayo ng mga tauhan ko na magkasama kayong dalawa nung isang araw so there's no point of lying here."

That made me frowned more at him in utter confusion. This shit must have mistaken me for someone.

"I think you've got the wrong person here, Mr. Xandro. Gusto ko mang magkaila ngayon but I can't dahil wala naman akong dapat ikaila ngayon rito. I don't know anyone with that name kaya nagsasayang lang kayo ng oras rito."

"Which is a lie." He snapped in a growl. Dahilan para magsimula ng uminit ang ulo ko rito.

"I don't just approach anyone without conducting an investigation beforehand, Mrs. Del Fuero kaya kumanta kana. Stop hiding Ms. Blaire from us dahil nanganganib ang buhay nya."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you pero hindi ako yong tipong mahilig kumanta. I'm no singer at wala akong kakilalang Blaire, Mr. Xandro." I dryly answered at him while giving him a tight smile kahit gusto ko ng tirisin ito.

Gusto nya talagang bwesitin ang araw ko.

"My men saw you, Mrs. Del Fuero so tell us now." Parang nawawalan na rin ng pasensyang sagot nito. His look became a glare now as his jaw kept twitching.

"Nasaan si Ms. Blaire? Matagal na namin syang hinahanap Mrs. Del Fuero kaya kung maaari, kumanta kana."

That caused me to heave in a deep shaky breath dahil nawawalan na talaga ako ng pasensya rito. Kept telling me to give him the answer that I don't even know what's that!

"Mrs. del-----"

"Okay fine."

When I finally answered that out of annoyance, relief suddenly flooded on his face. Probably relieved with that.

Well he better be dahil minsan ko lang 'to gagawin.

Kanta pala ang gusto mo huh.

"Pinipilit mo'kong kumanta kahit sinabi ko ng wala akong alam sa pinagsasabi nyo. Pero dahil mapilit kayo, then fine! I already warned you so never say that I didn't pagkatapos kong gawin ito, okay?Minsan ko lang 'to gagawin.

"Go on, Mrs. Del Fuero."Timping sagot pa nito sabay tango sa'kin.

I nodded my head at him and heaved in a deep breath before I asked him.

"Okay. Anong kanta ba ang gusto mo? A love song or an infant song?"

Agad na kumunot ang noo nito pagkarinig sa tanong kong 'yon. He was looking at me in utter confusion.

"Mrs. Del Fuero, anong----"

"I guess I'd go for an infant song then. Here I go.." Agad ko ng putol rito and then ignoring the funny look on his face, I started.

"I, 2, ready go.

?An old macdonald had a farm?

?E i E i o...?

His eyes went wide at that the instant I sang that song while he was gaping at me in utter surprise.

I just gave him an innocent smile and continued singing that baby song for him. Enjoying his funny reaction.

"?And in his farm he had some cow?

?E i E i o?"

At this point, I heard the other men and the cashier from across the room loudly cleared their throat. Obviously trying so hard to muffle their laughs.

"M-Mrs. Del Fuero I think------"

"I'm not done yet, Mr. Xandro."

His mouth snapped shut when I cut him off while holding up my hand to stop him.

"?With a moo, moo here and a moo moo there?

?Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo?

?An old Macdonald had a-----"

"M-Mrs---"

"I'm almost done. Just let me continue. I'm fan of this song you know."

When again, I cut him off, his eyes were almost ready to murder me now. Nostrils were flaring out while his veins on his temples were ready to explode in indignation.

I would really love witnessing that.

I was actually grinning from ear to ear in my mind now. Our audience's laugh were almost audible this time. I bet they were even silently laughing in tears now.

"?E i E i O yeah ?

?An old macdonald had a farm?

?E i E i O?

?And in his farm he had some pig?

?E-i-E-i-o?

?With an oink,oink here and an oink, oink there?

?Here an oink, there an oink, everywhere an oink, oink------"

"ENOUGH!!!"

I almost jumped out of my own seat nang biglaan na lamang nitong isigaw 'yon sabay bagsak ng kamay nito sa mesa. Freaking the hell out of me.

Oh no. He's mad.

"I-I thought you wanted me to sing, Mr. Xandro? Hindi mo ba nagustuhan ang kanta ko? Should I sing a love song then? Or a rap perhaps?"

When I suggested that to annoy him more, tingin ko mas lalo pang nagalit ito dahil parang kakainin na nya'ko ng buo ngayon habang matalim na nakatingin sa'kin.

"AND.WHO.SAID.THAT.I.WANT.TO.HEAR.YOU.SING, MRS. DEL FUERO???" He loudly growled with emphasis habang pinapatay ako ng tingin nito.

"W-Well, sinabi mong kumanta ako kaya naman kumanta ako."

"Sinabi kong ikanta mo kung anong nalalaman mo kung nasaan si Ms. Blaire. I didn't said you have to literally sing a fucking song for me, Mrs. Del Fuero!"

I flinched out at that when again, he suddenly yelled the last part in a shout.

Oh hell. Kanina, gusto nyang kumanta ako and now, galit naman ito dahil sinunod ko ito. Gago pala ang isang 'to eh.

"I only need to know kung nasaan si Ms. Blaire ngayon----"

Before he could even finish to shout again, our heads were snapped to the door nang bigla na lamang may kumalampag doon.

At imbes na matakot sa sermon, I din't know why I felt relieved  when I spotted my very own husband bulldozed his way in through the door and the man who were guarding that door. Looking like he was ready to break some neck right now.

"STAY AWAY FROM MY WIFE!!"

When he growled that out with his usual murderous voice, hindi ko mapigilang mapalunok na lang bigla ng laway ko. Lalo na ng magsimula na itong lumapit sa gawi namin while throwing Mr. Xandro a deadly glare.

I know I should feel relieve right now dahil ligtas na'ko pero hindi ko lang talaga mapigilang mag-alala dahil wala na... Wala na'kong chance makapagtrabaho uli dahil dito.

Now it's totally over.

"Anong ginagawa mo sa asawa ko?"

When my husband barked that question to Mr. Xandro pagkalapit nito sa tabi ko, he quickly cleared his throat while blinking in awkwardness.

Well, Cameron really have that intimidating presence in him. Matagal ko ng alam 'yon.

"You must be her husband I presume."

My brow arched up at the sudden change of his tone. Naging mahinahon agad ang boses nito ngayon.

"And you must be bold enough to harass my wife. Am I wrong to assume what I just witnessed now?"

Mr. Xandro instantly straightened up his posture at that sudden confrontation. The other two men with him quickly ran to his side to probably protect him from the intruder.

"May ilang naging katanungan lang ako sa asawa mo, Mr. Del Fuero. I wasn't harrassing her."

"Then why does it seem to me that you are? You have your men guarded the door and you're obviously shouting at her from outside. You are harrasing her." He firmly retorted back with his accusing tone, leaving no space for their excuses while throwing them a dirty glare.

"Tinatanong ko lang ang asawa mo kung nasaan nagtatago ngayon si Ms. Blaire and we have no intentions harm her, Mr. Del Fuero."

"Which is I've got no any idea about who the hell that woman was. Sinabi ko na sa'yo kanina na wala akong kakilalang Ms. Blaire pero pilit nyo parin akong pinakanta."

"Anong pinakanta, Samantha?" k

kunot-noong tanong agad nito sa'kin.

That caused me to grin at him na syang ikinaarko ng kilay nito, being reminded with Mr. Xandro's funny reactions earlier.

"Oh.. nothing, Cameron. I just let them hear me sing my favorite nursery rhymes. Just that."

At the hear of that, the two men on Mr. Xandro's side coughed out a laugh which caused Mr. Xandro to growl at them.

"I guess your wife had really know nothing about Ms. Blaire kaya dapat siguro maiwan ko na muna----"

"No."

I frowned at that when Cameron cut that off without cutting his intense glare at the man.

"Samantha, mauna kanang pumunta sa sasakyan. May kailangan lang muna akong tanungin sa tatlong 'to."

When he ordered that without even glancing at my way, hindi na'ko umangal pa ang just picked up the cellophane of beers on the table saka umalis na sa lugar na'yon.

I get into his car waiting outside that store and waited for him at the front seats.

The two seems having a serious talk and I wonder what they were talking about. Mga ilang sandali lang, Cameron left that place saka pumasok na sa loob ng sasakyan wearing such stoic face.

"Anong napag-usapan nyo?" Agad na usisa ko rito pagkapasok nito sa may driver's seat.

"They're Don Benedict Blaire's trusted men. The late Duke of Winstershire and they were looking for his heiress, Ms. Blaire. May sasabihin ka ba sa'kin tungkol sa heiress na'yon, Samantha?"

That question made me looked at him in utter confusion. It was as if he know something na dapat alam ko na rin.

"Heiress? Niloloko mo ba'ko, Cameron? Sa buong buhay ko, I have never associated myself with someone named Blaire."

"He said you were with her last week and he can vouched that it was really you. May tinanggap ka na naman bang kaso ngayon na hindi ko alam, Samatha?"

Pagkarinig sa tanong na'yon, I couldn't help but swallowed my saliva at that. Lalo na't mas matalim pa sa karayom ang tingin nito sa'kin ngayon with a 'NEVER LIE ON MY FACE' written all over his face.

Oh sh*t. Wala naman akong ibang kasamang lumabas last week but just Agatha.

"I swear----"

"Do not swear. Just admit it, Samantha. Hindi mo'ko tatakasan just to come here and buy a tons of beer for nothing. Now tell me." Usisa uli nito, leaving no space for any denials. Kumbinsido talaga ito na tama sya and knowing him, wala na talaga akong kawala rito.

And that made me blow out a sigh of resignation now.

Hayyy.. I guess hahanapan ko nalang yata ng ibang investigator si Ms. Agatha..

"Okay fine. I---"

"From now on, you're jobless, Samantha. Umuwi na tayo." Mariing putol agad nito sa iba ko pa sanang sasabihin sa kanya. And without even glancing at my way, nagseatbelt narin ito saka binuhay ang makina.

Wala na'kong nagawa kundi simangutan na lamang ito as he drove the car back to our home. Nagpatuloy lang ito sa pagmamaneho nang hindi man lang tumitingin sa gawi ko.

Walang dudang galit talaga ito sa'kin. Dahil kahit anong simangot pa ang gawin ko ngayon, he wouldn't even budge.

Well, it was my fault anyway. Kung nagkataong masasamang tao ang nakaharap ko kanina, then I wouldn't have known kung ano ng nangyari sa'kin.

"Cameron.."

When I called his name, hindi parin ito natitinag and just continued driving like I wasn't even there with him at hindi ko gusto 'yon!

Blowing out a sigh, I tried again para pansinin na'ko nito.

"Honey?"

When I called him again in a rather sweet voice na alam kong isa sa mga kahinaan nito, hindi parin ito lumilingon sa'kin ngayon.

"Sweetheart?"

He just groaned at that, still ignoring me. Unbuckling my seatbelt, agad na'kong lumapit rito and then leaned my face on his shoulder sabay hawak sa kanang hita nito, causing him to groan more.

"Darling?"

"Sweetie?"

"Put your seatbelt back on you, Samantha. It's not safe."

Hearing him grumbled that, I smirked in satisfaction and teased him more by rubbing his thigh. Causing his muscles to tense against my hand and his groan became more audible than ever.

"Then pulled the car to the side, sweetie.." I whispered breathily on his ear, causing the twitching on his jaw intensified. As if he was having a hard time fighting his demons now habang ang higpit naman ng pagkakahawak nito sa manibela.

And I'm actually grinning in my mind now dahil sa reaksyon nito.

"Samantha.. I know you're doing this para bawiin ko ang mga sinabi ko but it won't work so stop it."

"Oh, it won't?" Panunuyang tanong ko rito before I placed my hand in between his thighs. Causing him to shiver against my hand and pulled the car to the side of the road in a sudden.

"Samantha!!"

"Yes, sweetie?" I sexily answered while grinning at him in amusement, ignoring the dark look he was throwing at me. He seems like he was in a verge of exploding now.

Oh.. I wonder what kind of explosion was that.

"You know we're in a car right now, right Samantha?" He asked in between his gritted teeth.

I just nodded at that while still grinning at him.

"And you already know that I won't change my mind kahit akitin mo pa'ko, 'di ba?"

I pouted at that in disappointment but slowly nodded my head anyway dahil totoo naman 'yon.

He just blew out a breath and then unbuckled his seatbelt before he grabbed my face towards his own with both of his hands.

"I'll let you have your job back.."

When he suddenly announced that, I felt like I returned back to life. And unable to contain my happiness at that news, agad ko ng hinila ang mukha nito and gave him a deep lingering kiss.

"Thank you, sweetie! I promise I'd be careful this time. Promise." Masayang saad ko na rito after the kiss. Smiling at him in triumph.

"I bet you will, sweetie because I'll only let you have your job again after our baby's 10th birthday. Yan...ay kung isa lang ang magiging anak natin. In your dreams, Mrs. Del Fuero."

Hearing that, my smile gone in a second saka inis ko ng itinulak ito. Shoving him to the car door behind him in utter annoyance while murdering him with my pinprick glare.

"I-HATE-YOU!!!"

"Well, I LOVE YOU, SWEETIE..."nakangiting sagot pa nito sabay ayos ng seatbelt ko and even gave me a peck on lips, obviously enjoying seeing me so vexed now.

"I swear there will never be more sex for you from now on, Cameron. Not in my whole jobless life!"

When I shouted that out of rage, he suddenly stepped on the brake and gave me a horror look on his face.

"You can't do that!"

Crossing my arms on my chest, I gave him a no nonsense look.

"Try me."

When I challenged that, halos kainin na naman ako ng buo nito kung tingnan ako nito ngayon.

Well, he better make a right choice now before he will have a sexless marriage for the rest of his lives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~