1.

From: Big Boss

We already know the real culprit behind your parent's de@th. You need to go back here.

I felt my tears started falling. Memories started to flash into my mind. It's been two years since my ex-boyfriend cheated on me. The same day of it, my parents had been ass@ssinated by unknown person. Life is really unfair to me. I must be too unlucky, I guess.

Napangiti ako nang mapait. I moved here in Canada para kalimutan ang mapait na nakaraan na naranasan ko. I thought I completely forgot everything pero hindi pala because I can still feel everything, 'yung sakit na nararamdaman ko parang kahapon lang lahat nangyari.

I immediately pack my things at agad na nagbook ng VIP flight. I know I need to go back to the Philippines as soon as possible. Ito lang ang tanging magagawa ko para mabigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay nila mommy at daddy.

I promised to them that I will surely make that person pay the price. I will make that person de@d just like what they did to my parents.

As I took my step out of the airport, agad akong huminga nang malalim. Parang may kung anong kirot akong naramdaman. This place gave me nothing but a bad and traumatizing memory. Tinanggal ko ang suot kong shades nang mapansin kong may lumalapit na sa gawi ko. I gave him a little smile saka tumango. He took my bag at inilagay niya iyon sa compartment ng kotse.

"Kokonti ng dala mo ah," pang-aasar niya.

"Yeah. I'm planning to go back to Canada as soon as possible. You know, Philippines is giving me not so good vibes." I answered him habang pumapasok na sa passenger's seat. Mabilis siyang kumilos at saka sumakay na sa driver's seat at pinaandar na ito.

"How's Canada?"

"Makatanong ka, parang hindi ka bumisita last month sa Canada."

I heard him chuckled dahil sa sinabi ko kaya napairap ako. The man that I am talking to is Jacob Acker. He's been my friend ever since but we're not that close back then because I have a boyfriend. But when my ex-boyfriend cheated on me and when my parents died, he was there to comfort me and that's how we became close.

"Saan mo gusto dumiretso? Kay boss ba o sa condo unit mo?"

"Take me to him."

"Ayaw mo talagang magpahinga muna 'no?"

"You know how eager I am to find out the real culprit behind my parents' de@th."

"I know. Pero paano kung malaman mong ako 'yung culprit? Would you kíll me?"

I gave him death glare dahil sa tanong niya.

"Come on, just what ifs."

"Yeah."

Naramdaman ko naman na pumreno siya kaya naman muntik na ako mapadukdok.

"Damn, Jacob!" sigaw ko rito.

"F*ck, bakit ba hindi ka nakaseatbelt?" Galit na tanong nito sa'kin saka lumapit sa'kin at marahang ikinabit iyon. Matapos noon ay bumalik siya sa pumwesto niya. He continue driving. "Sorry, nagulat lang ako sa sagot mo."

"Kaskasero," I whispered.

"Okay, miss hindi nagseseatbelt."

Matapos noon ay nakarating kami sa hideout  ng Black Shadow. I immediately went out of the car. I didn't bother to wait for Jacob. Nang makapasok ako ay sumalubong sa'kin ang iba't-ibang tauhan ni Brett Ramsay – ang big boss kung tawagin.

May few changes sa hideout, medyo naging modernized ito kumpara dati and I admit na gumanda rin ang itsura nito. I immediately went to the last room. Kumatok muna ako bago pumasok. And there, I found Mr. Ramsay sitting comfortably while puffing his cigarette.

"As I expected. Faster than the wind."

Hindi na ako kumibo pa at umupo nalang. I remained silent at saka hinintay pa ang susunod niyang sasabihin. I respect Mr. Ramsay just like how my parents respected him.

"I already know the real culprit. That's why I am assigning you to kìll the mafia boss who k*lled your parents."

"My pleasure. May I know the background and appearance of the culprit?"

"Well, I give you a hint. It's for you to find out. Remember, you're the daughter of the best assassins of Black Shadow."

I felt my blood boiled. I wanted to shøøt his f*cking crystal clear head.

"The hint is, he will be going to the auction tonight. Don't worry I already added you to the list of guests. You must prepare now."

I immediately stood up. Gusto kong magwala sa mga oras na 'to. Bakit kelangan pa niya akong pahirapan? D*mn.

"In case you forgot, Miss Sta. Ana, once you failed you now the punishment."

"Yeah. If I failed, I will be k*lled."

"And your mission will be, Operation: K*ll the mafia boss."

Tapos noon ay mabilis akong tumalikod at naglakad na palabas. Jacob stood up the moment he saw me.

"Ano sabi ni boss?"

"Gave me a mission."

Sabay kaming sumakay sa sasakyan niya. The moment we entered the car ay agad akong humarap sakan'ya.

"You know the culprit right?"

"No." Matigas na sagot niya saka umiling.

"Okay, then help me find that asshøle. The asshøle will attend the auction. I need to be there. Let's go to the mall, I need to buy some dresses."

At 9:45 p.m, I arrived to the auction. I am wearing a blue cocktail dress and a blue heels. I am also wearing a silver earrings and I'm carrying a silver pouch.

Maraming tao ang nandito, even Mr. Ramsay is here habang abalang nakikipag-usap sa mga mafia boss. Few minutes nalang at magsisimula na ang auction. Lights are starting to dim. Muli kong inikot ang mga mata ko habang sa napako iyon sa isang pigura. Without thinking twice, I immediately went towards him. I sat beside him, naramdaman ko naman na saglit siyang natigilan pero agad naman siyang nakabawi at inayos ang posture niya.

"What a coincidence, Zachary."

"Yeah."

"How's life?"

I smiled at the back of my head, tama 'yan. Compose yourself, Zaleah. It's just Zachary, that asshøle who cheated on you two years ago.

"Fine. I'm now managing Bradford's Group of Companies."

"Oh, I see. Bigating tao kana pala," I joked.

Pagak siyang tumawa saka ibinaba ang wine glass na hawak niya.

"Not that much. How about you? When did you leave Canada?"

Halos masamid ako sa sarili kong laway dahil sa tanong niya. F*ck, paano niya nalaman? Is he stalking me?

Inayos ko ang sarili ko saka huminga nang malalim bago nagsalita.

"Is your company hiring?"

"No."

"I would like to apply."

"We're not hiring," matigas na sagot niya.

"Even if the one who's applying is me?"

"Yeah."

"Okay then, I'll just find someone who will hire someone like me." Matigas na sagot ko rito saka tumayo.

Before I could walk away ay agad niya akong hinila paupo. He glared at me kaya naman napalunok ako.

"Well, what can you offer?"

I smiled at him saka marahan kong hinila ang upuan ko palapit sakan'ya. I leaned on his ears bago bumulong. 

"You know what I can offer. I almost offered everything to you," matamis na sambit ko.

I immediately sat down tapos ay hinawakan ko ang kan'yang braso. I felt his body stiffen. He licked his lips bago sumagot.

"What position?"

I chuckled dahil sa tanong niya kaya naman sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. I bit my lips para mapigilan ang pagtawa.

"Stop doing that."

"Oh, don't tell me you are still going to kiss me when I bite my lips," I said seductively.

"No. Stop doing that because it doesn't suit you."

I smirked dahil sa sagot niya.

"Really? But my lips suit me well. You really love my lips right?"

Naramdaman ko naman na natahimik siya. He gave me a de@th glare.

"Oh, maybe you're right. Maybe your mistress' lips is better than me."

I felt him sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose then he licked his lips. "I'm asking you what position in work you want to work."

"Oh, my bad. Hm, position? Can I be the boss?"

Then I chuckled. Naramdaman ko naman na parang wala siyang sense of humor ngayon kaya naman muli akong sumagot.

"Secretary."

"Okay, you're hired. But you owe me."

Sagot niya saka marahang ngumisi sa'kin. I smiled back tapos ay itinuon ang pansin sa auction. It would be easier for me kung may front job ako to cover up my mission. Hindi birong pumatay at alamin kung sino ang papatayin mo kaya I need to be careful.

Ang hayop na 'yun ay nandito lang sa lugar na 'to. The asshøle who killed my parents and I are breathing the same air which makes me want to vomit.

"You can start tomorrow."

He whispered to my ears tapos ay iniabot ang calling card niya. Lumingon ako sakan'ya para sana magsalita pero agad na sumalubong sa'kin ang labi niya. 

I felt his lips touched mine. Mabilis kong inalis iyon at saka umiwas ng tingin.

F*ck, what was that? I just felt some f*cking electricity! This is bad.

Come on, Zaleah, he cheated on you two years ago. You can't fall for him. You're just going to use him for you mission, nothing more, nothing less.

I felt his hand held my hand. Kasabay noon ay ang tuluyang pagpatay ng ilaw. Ang tanging ilaw ay nakatapat sa platform.

"Good evening ladies and gentleman. We have 10 items for auction here. The bidding will start at 500,000 pesos."

"I don't need those items. I already got mine. It's not worth of million or billion because it's priceless." He whispered tapos ay marahang pinisil ang kamay ko.

D*mn, anong ibig niyang sabihin?