4: FAILED ATTEMPTS

SAM'S POV

"YOU!!" he exclaimed with eyes ready to murder me.

Kung pa'no nya 'ko tinitingnan ngayon, he obviously remember how I injured his foot last night.

Pati ba naman dito, sinusundan ako ng asungot na taong 'to?

Walang duda. May lahing kabute nga ang gagong 'to!

I just rolled my eyes at him saka ko ito sinagot.

"Yes, it's me. Your curse." Sabi ko with my bored tone while nodding my head.

My boss just looked at the two of us with furrowed brows, halatang naguguluhan sa'min.

Of course, magulo ang utak ng taong 'to, sir...

But after a few seconds of just gaping at us, my boss finally said,

"Magkakilala na kayo?" sabi nya while looking at me and then to the granite man in the other side with questioning looks.

"No, we're not. I just accidentally bumped into this stonefaced man yesterday sir, just that."

I explained without taking my eyes off at the man before me.

Hearing my words, the cold man raised his perfect brow then coldly looked at my boss.

"Michael, I thought I'll be meeting with Sam Javier? and why am I meeting this woman instead??" he asked, halatang galit. My boss quickly straightened saka sumagot sa kanya.

Ah, so akala nya siguro lalaki ako..... ?

"Yes Mr. Del Fuero. You're meeting with this woman kasi sya yung Sam Javier na sinasabi ko sa'yo kanina."

"And you're telling me kanina na siya ang pinakamagaling mong P.I dito, Michael?"

"Yes. Siya nga. Wala ng iba, Mr. del Fuero. At hindi lang sya magaling, she's also reliable and a trusted P.I."

ako? Pinakamagaling? Well, I think you got it right there, sir. Pero tingin ko 'di kumbinsido ang kliyente natin..

Agad na kumunot ang noo nya pagkarinig nya dun saka he looked at me with his signature cold look, yung "I'm-going-to-eat-you" kind of look.

Geez, with this man.

"So you're a P.I.?" he asked me with questioning eyes and at the same time, shocked.

I didn't know, nashoshock din pala ang mga bato..

"Ahuh...At ano naman ang possible na pinunta ko dito kung hindi?" sagot ko sa kanya with my still bored tone.

Akala ko pa naman kung anong special case na'to. Ano nga bang special sa taong 'to?

Tsk. Sinasayang ko lang ang oras ko dito.

I mentally shook my head, not believing na nagawa ko pang maging excited kanina just hearing about this case.

I heard him scoffed.

"Malay natin, baka nandito na naman yung next target mo."He said with his raised eyebrow and looking at me like he's mocking at me.

Goodness. He really thought na trabaho ko ang mang-akit ng mga lalaki? Oh, God.

I chuckled at him dryly, amused with this man's silly ideas.

"Ah yes, baka nga nandito yung next target ko. Kaya be careful, malay natin....ikaw pala yung suspect na hinahanap ko." patutyada ko sa kanya while still chuckling at his stupid idea.

He groaned then frowned when he heard me chuckling. Obviously now starting to get annoyed.

"Enough with that Javier.."

I heard Michael utterred, kaya naman nanahimik nalang ako but not without throwing a glare at the man.

"Don't worry, Mr. del Fuero. I assure you na magaling 'tong si Javier. She had even solved that infidelity case last night na kabibigay ko lang sa kanya yesterday morning. So, yes. She's the one I am recommending to handle your case, Mr. del Fuero."

Pagkarinig ko dun, I suddenly looked at my boss.

Oh God, why me? Marami namang mas magaling jan kesa sa'kin.

"Oh,....Nasolve nya yun kagabi and that fast?...How so?" I turned to him and narrowed my eyes when he retorted that while nodding his head.

He's planning something. Sa face expression palang ng gagong 'to I know he's into something.

My boss beside me smiled at him saka sumagot. Clearly oblivious sa mga nangyayari.

"Nakunan nila ng mga clear shots ang suspect while meeting one of his women in a hotel room. Ang galing nya 'di ba?" Proud na sabi ni boss.

Shit. Ba't ba naman kelangan pa nyang sabihin yun sa lalaking 'to?

Pakarinig nya sa information na'yun. His face turned into a more amused habang nakatingin sa'kin with a knowing smirk in his blasted mouth!

"Ooh..ganun ba Michael?..I wonder kung sino ang babaeng yun sa mga litratong 'yon...tsk,tsk..." he said tapping his finger sa baba nya na parang pinag-iisipan talaga nito kung sino yun. But I know so well that he was just teasing me para makaganti sa'kin.

Can I kill him now?? say yes, plss...

"Hmm, sadly, hindi kuha yong mukha nung babae sa photos so hindi namin alam, Mr. del Fuero."

He's enjoying this situation he had put me in. And I know kung anong plano nya. At kung 'di ko sya pipigilan, lagot talaga ako sa boss ko kung malalaman nya kung anong ginawa ko last night just to solve that blasted case.

Alright, you want to play with this mr. cold man? Then I'll give you what you want. After all, two can play with this game. Yes, that's right.

I quickly looked at him then smirked.

Agad namang kumunot ang noo nya when he saw my face.

Here I am, mr. cold man.....make sure to catch me right...

"And I heard sir...na may isang "business man" raw na ginagamit ang affairs ng suspek para iblackmail sya...tsk,tsk....'di ba punishable by law yung ginagawa ng taong yon sir?" I interrupted them while looking at the man with a challenging look na pagkarinig nya sa sinabi ko, agad namang dumilim ang mukha nya and his ears pricked up.

Oh, he's at it again. So 'pag naiinis sya, tumataas ang tenga nya? Okay. Noted with thanks.

"Oh, I didn't know na may ibang infomations kapang nacollect kagabi bukod sa affairs ng subject mo, Javier. Dapat isinali mo yan sa report mo last night." Sagot ng boss ko na walang malay sa mga patutyada namin.

I smirked at that while still looking at the man now ready to strangle me.

Good. Akala nya siguro aatrasan ko sya.

Never.

"Yes, sir. Dapat "ihabol" ko ang information na 'yun sir para maging masaya ang case na'yun.....Tama ba'ko sir?"

My Boss quickly nodded his head, halatang sumasang-ayon sa'kin. Then he turned to Mr. del Fuero na halos puputok na sa inis.

Wag kasi ako yong pinupunterya mo!

"See, Mr. del Fuero? Magaling 'tong si Javier." Boss proudly said that.

Yes, magaling na magaling. What do you think cold man??

I smirked inwardly. Amused sa mga nangyayari. Pero hindi sa trabaho na inaalok ng lalaking 'to. So I have to refuse his case now.

"But sir...."I said then turned to my boss sa tabi ko with a proud smile on his face.

Oh, so sorry to take that smile off of your face sir pero kailangan kong gawin 'to.

"Yes, Javier?" my boss asked, waiting for me to finish my sentence.

"I don't want to handle his case, sir." My boss widened his eyes habang puno ng tanong ang mukha nya. I quickly explained myself para maliwanagan ito.

Mahirap na..

"What I mean sir, I don't want to accept whatever cases na involve sa lalaking 'to... Masyado na'kong busy para dumagdag pa ang isang 'to sa mga kaso ko."I started and he was about to open his mouth for objection pero itinaas ko na agad ang kamay ko to stop him.

Not now, sir.

"I accepted that last case yesterday sir kahit ayoko dun, pero ginawa ko sir because you'd insisted me to do it. So I hope magagawa nyo ring ibigay ang case na'to sa iba. I am not disrespecting you but I am just asking you to please do me a favor, just this one sir." I firmly said to my boss na nakatingin lang sa'kin, gaping at me. Siguro dahil minsan lang talaga ako humihingi ng pabor.

But after a few moment of just looking at me, he suddenly nodded his head anyway. Agreeing with me.

"Alright.." he agreed before he looked at the cold man sa kabila while sighing in defeat.

"Mr. del Fuero, since you both have issues with this case, I'll assign another P.I w------"

"Michael, pwede ko bang makausap sandali si Ms. Javier?" my boss suddenly stopped and looked at him pero agad namang tumango.

"Yeah, sure."sabi nya habang nakatayo lang sa tabi ko. The cold man frowned at my boss when he didn't move and just stand there.

Ano na naman kaya ito?

"I mean in private, Michael."

My boss looked at him with wide eyes pero after a few seconds na nakatingin lang sya dito, agad syang tumango saka lumabas.

After my boss was out of the office, I crossed my arms against my chest saka tumingin sa kanya with my famous bored look.

"What now, mr. cold man?"

Nakatingin lang sya sakin with his famous look and twitching jaw. Halatang he's ready to pounce on me anytime if more provoked.

"Be my P.I. Ms. Javier."

My brows almost overlapped on my forehead nang marinig ko yun sa kanya. Shock na oofferan pa rin nya 'ko.

Is he out of his granite head?? Seriously?

Iba rin talaga ang lalaking 'to ano..

I mentally shook my head saka tumingin sa kanya with a smirk.

"NO."

He just nodded at me. I narrowed my eyes at him.

He agreed? Agad-agad? Hmmm.. I think he's into something again.

Goodness, baka gusto nya talaga ang pagiging badluck ko sa kanya?

Well, kung ganun man, then he'll suffer hell through me.

"No..I won't accept 'no' as your answer Ms. Javier because I am not offering you to be my P.I., I am demanding you" Sabay turo sa'kin

"to work for me."

Halos napatanga lang ako habang nakatingin sa kanya but at the same time, amused.

And after a few moment of just gaping at him, I burst into laughter while shaking my head.

Oh God! I didn't know he knows how to amuse me.

Yes, no doubt. Baliw na nga ang taong 'to!Demanding me to work for him? Demanding my foot! Anong tingin nya sa'kin? His "slave" na susunod lang sa kanya na parang asong ulol?

Goodness with this man!

I heard him groaned loudly and frowned. Probably annoyed with my sudden reaction.

When my laughter died down, I looked at him with my all businesslike face.

"You can't tell me to work for you, Mr. del Fuero just because 'you have demanded me to do so'. I am not your dog and I would never be one. Remember that." I firmly said.

Hearing me, It's his turn na naman ngayon para mapatanga sa'kin.

Good. Akala nya siguro pwede nya 'kong i-manipulate para maging sunud-sunuran lang ako sa kanya. Never mangyayari yan mr. cold man. Mind you.

But after makarecover sya sa sinabi ko, he looked at me with a small smirk in his mouth.

"whether you like it or not, you have to work for me, Ms. Javier. Or else..."

"or else what, Mr. del Fuero? Don't tell me, ibablackmail mo rin ako like what you always do sa ibang tao just to get whatever you want?" agad na sabi ko sa kanya when the tone in his voice change into something. Something na related sa blackmail.

Diyan naman sya magaling eh. Using people's weakness to his advantage para makuha lang ang gusto nya.

"Mind you, Mr. del Fuero. Hindi ako yong tipo ng tao na pwede mong gamitin kahit kailan mo gusto."

He just snorted then shrugged when he heard me. Causing me to raised my brow.

"Yes, you're right about that, woman. I'm blackmailing you." He admitted habang nakatingin sakin like he was challenging me to stop him.

OH, Why not take that challenge then? 'di naman ako papayag na itreat nya lang ako na parang aso. Anong tingin nya sa'kin? Bobo?

"At ano naman kaya ang ibablackmail mo sa'kin? About that woman in the picture?"

"Yes, you got it right there, Ms. Javier..." he said with an amused face then walked closer to me with a dark stare and a smirk on his face.

Oh, 'di ako yung tipong aatras 'pag lalapitan ng lalaki katulad ng mga babaeng character sa mga novels. Instead, I am the opposite of that. Very much. Ako yung tipo na ginagawa ang opposite of all usual things.

"What if sasabihin ko kay Mrs. Viola Alvaro.... " he started while I just look at him with my arms still crossed against my chest, waiting for him to continue.

"....na ang babaeng nasa photos sa report mo..... ay ang P.I nya mismo? I'm sure, magwawala yun sa galit, Ms. Javier. Tingin mo?"

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya ng ilang segundo habang nakataas ang kilay ko but after that, I chuckled at him dryly. Causing him to raised his brow and stop his steps, just a foot away from me.

Is he serious? Ibablackmail nya ko with that photos??? Tsk,tsk...Think hard, Mr. cold man.

I shook my head then cluck my tongue before ko siya sinagot.

"Then should I tell them that you're 'that man' na namba-blackmail kay Mr. Alvaro, Mr del Fuero?"

He frowned and became silent. Obviously not liking my words. But still, I continued to taunt him.

"I'm quite sure that Mr. Alvaro won't hesitate to take it to the court....since alam naman ng asawa nya ngayon that he's cheating on his wife. How about that, Mr. del Fuero? It would be very interesting to see you in the court, defending your sorry ass." Dagdag ko na siyang mas nagpadilim pa ng sobra sa mukha nya.

I told you. Don't try to provoke me. And wait, there's more Mr. cold man.

"And Oh!...."sabi ko while hand in my mouth, pretending to be shocked. He frowned at me.

"Isa ka nga palang business man! It won't be very good sa image mo pag nakita nila ang nagawa mo...Tsk,tsk.... But I will be very excited to see your face all over the news, Mr. del Fuero. so much."

Then I smiled at him, mocking the hell out of him. Just looking at his face, ready na talaga syang pumutok sa galit pero pinipigilan lang nito. He just stared at me hard.

I know that look. I'm sure pinapatay na nya'kong paulit ulit sa utak nya. I smirked at that thought.

So now, tignan natin kung gugustuhin pa ba nya kong makatrabaho kung ngayon palang, halos sumabog na sya sa galit.

Pero after a few moment longer of just being silent and killing me with his spear-like stares, sumagot na rin sya sa wakas.

"Fair enough.." He said while nodding his head.

"Yes, indeed." I agreed habang nakangiti sa kanya with a proud smile.

Patas na patas nga.

But my smile suddenly turned into a frown nang makita ko ang expression nya, smiling with wickedness.

He's into something again. Ano pabang pwede nyang iblackmail sa'kin?

"What if... I demand Michael to fire you, Ms. Javier? That won't be good 'di ba?"

goodness! Tanggalin ako? Huh! Hindi ba talaga 'ko titigilan ng taong 'to? Damn with this granite man! Ako pa talaga ang babantaan nya? Pwes, manigas sya!

Agad akong lumapit sa kanya at tumingin sa kanya with eyes ready to take his eyes off of his sockets.

"Try me, Mr. del Fuero. Kahit mawalan ako ng trabaho dito, I can still find another job sa ibang agency. At sa record ko na mabilis kong nasosolve ang cases ko, anyone would want to have me as their asset. So dream on." Sabi ko habang ang mga kamay ko, handa ng paduguin ang pagmumukha nya.

This man really bring nothing but frustrations sa buhay ko. Kahit kailan, I would never allow him to use me as one of his dogs. Sa tindi ba naman ng topak ng lalaking 'to, 'di ko gugustuhing makatrabaho ito.

Ngayon pa nga lang nafufrustrate na'ko sa kanya. How much more kung employed na'ko sa kanya?? I'm sure, mababaliw na'ko ng tuluyan at kung hindi naman, baka mapatay ko pa sya ng 'di oras dahil sa kayabangan nya.

"Then what if, .....I demand all potential agencies na pwedeng maghire sa'yo to never ever employ you as a P.I, Ms. Javier? you think, okay lang yun sa'yo???....." again, he tried with eyes smiling.

Huh! I don't think so. It wasn't like that could be the end of my life. Matagal ng sira ang buhay ko, so it was impossible na masisira pa'to.

I just shrugged at him before ko siya sinagot that I'm sure could shut his mouth up.

I leaned closer to his ear then whispered,

"Try harder, Mr. del Fuero. I can live without this job anyway because I'm not living for this work. I'm only living for one reason, but not for that."

Then lumayo na'ko sa kanya habang pangiti-ngiti lang pero deep inside, gusto ko na syang tirisin. Habang sya naman, nakatingin lang sa'kin with confusion in his eyes. Siguro, confused kung bakit nasabi ko 'yun.

Oh, kung alam nya lang kung anong dahilan ko why I'm still living in this world. I'm sure he'd be surprised about it.

"Do you have anything more to say, Mr. del Fuero? Dahil kung wala na, may gagawin pa'ko...na 'More' important than you.." I asked him with my oh-so-famous mocking voice. But when he didn't talk, tumalikod at naglakad na'ko papunta sa pinto. But when I came closed to the door, I suddenly stopped nang marinig kong magsalita uli ito.

"We're not done yet, Ms. Javier. I promised you that."

When I heard that promising and at the same time threatening voice, I just looked at him iver my shoulder and then gave him my lovely smile before I answered him.

"I'd like to see you try and fail again, Mr. del Fuero..." Then with that, I quickly made my exit. Leaving the mad man inside.

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