Chapter 03

[3^rd Person’s POV]

“Jesus Christ!’ she exclaimed, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Katalina turned on the faucet of the lavatory. She washed her face and stare for the second time in the mirror. “I should definitely sleep,” she commented.

The dark bags underneath her eyes are visible, her chapped lips are accentuated, and stress is painted all over her face. She walks out of the bathroom. And headed back to her mini workspace.

She sat in front of her laptop once again.

“Mafia boss, horny billionaire, leader of a syndicate….” Katalina sighed. This could be the exposé she needed. But netizens are smarter nowadays.

She massaged her temples. “Still no proof. But at least, I have a list of his possible motives,” she sounded like a detective, chasing the most wanted criminal.

Katalina laid back and inhaled deeply. She’s tired and wishes to sleep. But the caffeine still runs through her veins.

After dinner with the waiter last night, she did not stop digging for more information about the famous tycoon. And at her desperate moments, Katalina reached out to Hunter’s enemies back from high school.

She took out her phone. And dialled the last mobile number of the billionaire’s enemy during his younger years.

A few rings later, he picked up the phone.

“Hello?” he asked in a hoarse voice.

Katalina cleared her throat. “H-Hi! Sorry for calling this early though.”

“What’s the urgency about? Who is this anyway?”

She bit her lower lip. “I’m Amanda!” she lied. “One of your classmates in high school,” she added.

“Amanda—wait? Amanda Bynes!? My ex-girlfriend?”

Katalina fell silent for a moment. She cursed inside her head. “Y-Yes, it’s me. How are you now uh….” He forgets the name of the man.

“Dominic. It’s me, Amanda.”

Luckily, the man revealed his name,

She snapped her fingers in the air. “Yeah, hi, Dom!” she sat on her bed and crossed her legs. “How are you?”

“I’m fine, Amanda. Thanks for—”

“I have a question for you,” she inserted.

“What is it?”

Katalina threw herself in bed. “Do you… still hate, Hunter?”

“Hunter like thee Hunter?”

“Hunter Collins,” she reiterates.

Dominic laughed on the other line. “We had awful fights when we’re in high school—but it’s normal. That’s what kids do.”

Her forehead creased. “Yeah, but you still hate him though?” she asked, eager to find a positive answer. Katalina projected that if this man hates Hunter, maybe he can use it as leverage.

“What do you have an amnesia or something?” he chuckled.

Katalina sat back in her bed. Her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

Dominic sighed on the other hand. “We broke up because you find out that I was… gay.”

Her jaw almost fell on the floor.

“And there’s no way in hell that I would still hold a grudge on Hunter. We fixed our misunderstanding already. Buried the hatchet.”

Katalina facepalmed. Her fake identity failed once more. There’s no use if I continue talking to him.

“Ohh. I forgot, Amanda—”

“Would you go out on Friday?”

“Sorry, but—”

“I’m not asking you for a date. My boyfriend and I will go to Hunter’s charity auction.”

Katalina leapt from her bed. She sat on the swivel chair across her laptop. “Come again. Charity auction? This Friday? Hunter Collins?”

Dominic scoffed. “Didn’t you just hear what I said?”

“Give me the deets,” she said.

“Hunter sent the invitation already— didn’t you receive one?” he gasped. “Oh my gosh! You are not invited!” he accused.

Katalina rolled her eyes in the air. “Of course, I am invited! I just couldn’t login to my email right now,” she paused, thinking of a reason. “Internet is unstable here in my place,” she lied.

“Oh,” Dominic sighed in relief. “I’ll just text you the full details, okay?”

“Fine. Thanks.”

She ended the call. A few minutes later, she received a message from Dominic. “Gotcha.”

Katalina slowly nodded her head. “Oh wow. The motif is kinda… simple. Hmm. Interesting. Casual dress, no expensive things worn,” she continued to read.

The blazing sound of alarm scared him. She almost fell on her swivel chair. “Geez!” shaking her head as she turned it off. It’s seven o’clock in the morning already.

Her phone buzzed again.

Jerry’s name appeared on the screen. She answered the call. “Hello, Jerry?”

“Oh, good to know that you are awake already,” he said. “Anyway, did you do some research last night?”

“More than research, if you must know,” she yawned.

Katalina rubbed her eyes. The caffeine slowly loses its effect.

“That’s good to hear. At least, I have something honest to tell about to our supervisor,” he responded. “Anyway, my sources told me that Hunter will host a charity gala this Friday.”

Katalina smirked. “I know,” she responded confidently.

“And—what? Do you know? How?” Jerry sounded confused.

She chuckled. “I have my own ways of finding answers to my questions.”

“Well, I almost forgot that you’re one of the finest researchers. Kudos, Katalina,” he complimented.

It made her heart melt. “Why, thank you.”

“I guess, I have no reason to stay with you on the phone anymore. See you later.”

“Bye,” she ended the call.

Katalina waltzed towards her bed. The blanket was inviting her to feel its softness and comfort of it. So, she did.

“Just five minutes,” Katalina tucked herself under the blanket and shut her eyes.