Chapter 2

VALE shook his head as he gazed at Einille walking away. She was too hard on him for these past two months.

His jaw flexed, and he exhaled sharply. He firmly believed that Einille would be considerate to date him soon. He only needed to be more persistent.

“Intermittent fasting, my ass,” he chuckled, “Darn! This is ridiculous.”

Rab heartily laughed, “You’re timing is off. Besides, you look too smug. Take it easy, man! You know Ein is dating someone.”

“I really want to regret this assignment. If only the General didn’t choose me. That girl is impossible! I never experienced wooing a woman before. You know what I mean.” He lightly scratched his clean-cut hair.

Well, it was true that he had never tried pursuing women before. Usually, it was the other way around. Besides, he had no plans of being into a serious relationship. With the nature of his job, it would take a rare woman who could understand him.

He was Valentino Grefaldeo, a high-ranking agent working at National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. And because the Assistant Director-General of NICA gave this complicated mission, he could not say no. It involved his courtship to Police Inspector Einille San Andres because she was suspected to be connected to an international syndicate.

Besides his job, he was also a businessman who owned several branches of gun shops and accessories in and out of the province. And only a few knew about his real job of being an intelligence agent. Even his family was clueless about his connections in NICA.

“Don’t rush things. Just make sure that you wouldn’t do anything to hurt Ein. She’s my friend, too.” Rab reminded him. They were on a team working on this case.

“Why was this task given to me? Why not you? It could have been easier.”

“That’s the reason it was given to you. Ein and I are close friends. She would be doubtful of my intentions.”

Vale nodded, “Tell me, how well you know her?”

“I know her enough to tell that she is not a bad person,” Rab assured him.

“We’ll see,” he let out a sigh and nodded, “I really hate this. This is insane. There has to be another way!”

He couldn’t count the times he vented out his frustrations about this case every time he talked with Rab. But he couldn’t defy a higher command.

“Live with it. The General trusted you on this. I’m more worried about you. What if you actually fall in love with Ein?” Rab giggled.

“In your dreams. I didn’t undergo hellish training just to break my oath because of emotions. You know me, that would never happen.” Vale sounded so sure.

“Good thing that we’re clear on that. If that happens, your career will wave goodbye.”

“Not gonna happen. I do my job cleanly. It’s just that your friend has a low-class taste in men,” he laughed at his joke.

He always knew his boundaries. Ever since, he never mixed his work with women. And because his job spells danger, he would probably find it hard to settle down—the reason he finally accepted to live a single blessed life. At least, he wouldn’t put his family at risk.

“Low-class taste? Really, your charms wouldn’t even affect her.” Rab teased him again.

“Pity your friend when the time comes, he fell into my charm. I don’t want her to get hurt.” He had a contingency plan in mind just in case it would happen.

“Well, best of luck! I guess you need to try a different approach, make her your friend. You’re too arrogant for her taste.”

“But I’m far better than Hero Lee. Her boyfriend looked like a crooked fish.” He clicked his tongue and stared at Rab as if unbelieving.

“I agree on that!” Rab laughed.

Vale let out a sigh, “I badly need your help about Einille. This is not an easy task, unlike my previous assignments.”

“Believe me. I’m trying to help. It just so happens that Ein loves her boyfriend a lot.” Rab shook his head. Both of them knew about the secret relationship between Einille and Hero. The two were unaware that they were under investigation.

“Disgusting! Despite the fact that Einille knew about how shady her boyfriend is, and still accepted him. Is that true love?” he said in sarcasm.

“I don’t think so. Einille must have been unaware of it. But eventually, she’ll find out.”

“Whatever, all right. I’ll see you later, man!” he tapped his shoulder and started to walk towards the direction of the Admin Building.

Vale had only five months duration in this mission, and he needed to successfully finish it as soon as possible. Although, two months had already been wasted. So far, for all the tasks he had encountered, this was the hardest yet. Einille wouldn’t simply fall on his charms. She was too distant that even he offered a simple friendship, she wouldn’t yield. What should he do? He had to plan other tactics to be near her.

EINILLE was off-duty the next day, and she planned to rest alone. She was still disappointed with her boyfriend, but she did her best to look from a better perspective.

“Aren’t you going out today?” her cousin Shari asked when she found her lying on the couch. She was two years older than her, and their fathers were siblings. And just like her, Shari was also a police officer. They were living in the same house but assigned to a different precinct.

They rented a one-story house in an exclusive subdivision since their families lived in a different province, far from their work assignment. Einille was an only child, and her mom would visit her from time to time. Too bad her father died years ago when his body succumbed to lung cancer.

“I want to rest,” Einille said lazily.

“I thought Hero is here in Sorsogon?”

“Negative. He went back to Albay for an emergency.” She got up and leaned her back on the armrest.

“I doubt that emergency. Maybe another woman? If I were you, I’d break up with him! He is not respecting you.” Shari raised her brow in irritation.

“I’ve done that, and he would always come back. Besides, I chose him. So let me suffer my poor choice,” she chuckled.

“You’ll end up depressed, I swear. Wake up! You’re not his priority. He doesn’t care about you.”

“Don’t worry. I felt that Hero loves me. He is not perfect, I know. Maybe we’re still adjusting.” She reasoned out.

“Adjust? My foot! You’ll be celebrating an anniversary soon, still adjusting?” Shari hardly shook her head, unconvinced for her reasoning.

Einille remained silent. After a while, her cellphone beeped. A smile painted on her lips when she viewed that her boyfriend texted her. He was asking her out for dinner tonight in her favorite restaurant.

“Look, he is asking me out.”

Shari rolled her eyes heavenward, “You’re beautiful but dumb. Anyway, I need to go. I can’t be late on my duty.” She waved her hand and strolled out of the house.

“Careful!” she shouted.