4: FAILED ATTEMPTS

SAM'S POV

"IT WAS YOU!!" he exclaimed that again with eyes ready to murder me.

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

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

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

Letting out an exasperated breath, I just rolled my eyes at him.

"Yes, you're right. Hindi ka nga lang namamalikmata ngayon." I answered with my bored tone while nodding my head in confirmation.

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

Of course, magulo kasi ang utak ng kung sino mang hinayupak na'to.

For a while, Michael just stayed silence and just kept gaping at us, probably analyzing the situation. But after a few seconds of doing that, he had finally opened up his mouth.

"Magkakilala na kayo?" He asked the obvious while still looking at us with questioning looks.

"No, we're not. I just accidentally bumped into this stone-faced man yesterday sir, just that. And if I had just known that I will be meeting him here, I would've just stayed asleep on my bed right now than see his darn face."

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

"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 up on his feet, noticing the tension between us.

Ah, so this bastard thought I was a he?

"Yes Mr. Del Fuero. You're meeting with this woman kasi siya yung Sam Javier na sinasabi ko sa'yo kanina." With that confirmation, disbelief flickered in his eyes.

"And you're telling me that this woman here is one of your best P.I in your agency, am I right Michael?"

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

At that confirmations, I couldn't help but smirked at the impossible man. Enjoying the faces he was making right now at that realization.

His brows furrowed than ever as he gave me his signature cold look again, 'yong 'I'm-going-to-eat-you' kind of look.

"So you're a P.I.?" he asked me with his voice sounding surprised.

I didn't know, nasusurpresa rin pala ang mga bato..

"Ahuh..." I nodded. "Ano ba sa tingin mo ang dahilan kung bakit pa'ko pumunta pa rito if I'm not?"

I heard him scoffed at that.

"We never know. Your next target could be here and you're planning to solve it by luring him to come with you." He said without even hiding his grudge on me. Giving me those mocking look now and his raised eyebrow.

As if that would faze me now just because my boss was around.

oh no. How wrong of him to assume that.

Crossing my arms on my chest, I just chuckled at him dryly.

"Ah yes, baka nga nandito 'yong next target ko so you better be careful yourself dahil malay natin....ikaw pala 'yong suspect na hinahanap ko rito."

That made him groaned at that as his face instantly darkened. He was obviously starting to get annoyed now.

Such an easy opponent to have a spat.

"Enough with that Javier. I can tell na hindi maganda ang naging unang pagkikita niyo noon but we're not here to worsen that but for work.."

I heard Michael firmly butted that in, 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 palang sa kanya yesterday morning. So, yes. She's the one I am recommending to handle your case. "

At the mention of that, my head snapped to him and looked at him with disbelief look in my darn eyes.

"You can't be serious with that, sir!"

"Oh,....She had solved that case that fast?...How so, Michael? How could that even be possible? Care to tell me in details on how she had able to do that?"

That sarcastic remark made me snapped my head and glared back at his way..

This bastard was planning something. By how he had said that, talagang balak niya 'kong ibuko kay Michael ngayon kung anong ginawa ko kagabi.

This shit!

My boss beside me just smiled at him, oblivious with what does this bastard trying to say. Gusto niya talagang ubusin ang pasensya ko!

"Well, of course. Nakunan nila ng mga clear shots ang suspect while meeting one of his women in a hotel room last night. Sam Javier is really good in her job, Mr. del Fuero so I wouldn't even doubt her na magagawa niya rin ng maayos ang kaso mo." Michael innocently explained with proudness visible in his voice.

Although I wanted to thank him for that but no. He doesn't have to give me that compliment now with this bastard around. Causing his darn face turned into a more amused while mockingly looking at me with that knowing smirk in his blasted mouth! He was really enjoying this!

"Ooh..ganun ba Michael?..I wonder kung sino ang babaeng 'yon kagabi na nasa mga litratong 'yon... It would've been great if I even get the chance to see her face." he teased while tapping his finger on his jaw as if he was giving it a deep thought kahit ang totoo naman talaga, gusto niya lang talagang inisin ako!

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

God knows how much I'm itching to strangle him now.

"Hmm.. Unfortunately, hindi kita 'yong mukha nang babae sa photos nito, Mr. del Fuero so hindi namin alam kung sino ito. But whatever. We just need the susoect's face on that case anyway so it was fine." My darn boss answered, much to my annoyance.

"Oh, ganun ba? How unfornate indeed." The bastard answered with a nod without taking off his mocking look at me.

He was enjoying this sow and I know kung anong plano nito and if I won't stop him now, I would be very in deep shit once Michael find out about how I solved that case.

Alright. He wanted to play with me so why not made him taste his own medicine then? After all, two can play with this game.

With that thought, I quickly looked at him then smirked.

Agad namang umarko ang kilay nito when he saw the look in my face.

"Yes. It was very unfortunate but guess what kung ano pang nalaman ko kagabi, sir?" I started without backing down with his stare. I know that caught Michael's interest now so I continued.

"I have found out that a certain 'businessman' was trying to use Mr. Alvaro's affairs to blackmail him. Blackmailing someone is a serious offense and it was punishable by law kaya mas maganda sana kong mahuli rin ng batas ang kung sino mang gago ang gumagawa no'n hindi ba sir?" I butted in, asking that to my boss kahit na isang patama naman talaga 'yon sa gagong kaharap ko ngayon.

The moment those words came out from my mouth, agad namang dumilim ang mukha nito with his ears turned red.

Oh, He was at it again. He was almost in a verge of exploding now.

"Oh, I didn't know na may ibang infomations ka pa palang nakalap kagabi bukod sa affairs ng subject mo, Javier. You should've included that in your report last night. I'm intrigued to know who that 'businessman' could be. Kilala mo ba kung sino ang taong 'yon?"

"Yes, sir. Kilalang-kilala ko kung sino ang gagong 'yon sir. Dapat nga talaga isinali ko 'yon sa report ko kagabi so thateveryone will know." I answered sarcastically while smirking at the man in satisfaction.

Akala niya talaga aatrasan ko nalang ito.

My Boss just nodded at that before he turned to Mr. Del Fuero.

"See, Mr. del Fuero? Magaling talaga 'tong si Javier. No one can beat her in this agency."

I smirked inwardly at. Amused sa mga nangyayari. Pero hindi sa trabahong inaalok nito so I have to refuse his case right this instant.

"But sir...."

"Yes, Javier?" sagot agad nito sa'kin with a bright smile on his face.

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

"Do you have anything to say, Javier?" my boss asked agin, waiting for me to finish my sentence.

"I don't want to handle his case, sir."

Pagkarinig dun, his smile gone in a second as he looked at me with confused eyes.

"I don't want to accept whatever cases na involve sa lalaking 'to sir... Masyado na'kong busy para dumagdag pa ang isang 'to sa mga kaso ko." I started to explain and when he was about to open his mouth for objection, I quickly help up my hand at him to stop him.

"I accepted that last case yesterday kahit ayoko dun pero ginawa ko parin 'yon because you had insisted it. So I hope magagawa niyo 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 explained at him na nakatingin lang sa'kin while gaping down at me. Siguro dahil minsan lang talaga ako humihingi ng pabor.

But after a few moment of his silence, he slowly nodded his head anyway. Agreeing with me.

"Alright.." he agreed while sighing in defeat. "Mr. del Fuero, since you both have issues with this case, I'll just assign another P.I w------"

"Michael, pwede ko bang makausap sandali si Ms. Javier?"

That got him in surprised. Kahit ako, hindi ko inaasahang sasabihin niya 'yon.

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead." Michael agreed habang nakatayo parin sa tabi ko. Casuing the man to frown at him when he didn't move and just stood there.

"I mean in private, Michael."

Michael just heaved out a long sigh but nodded anyway and quickly exited his office.

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

"What now? Do you want me to injure your other foot now?"

Nakatingin lang ito sa'kin with his famous look and twitching jaw. But after a few seconds of his silence, he finally talked.

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

My brows almost overlapped oneach other when I heard that absurd offer from him.

Is he out of his granite head??

Iba rin talaga ang lalaking 'to ano!

Popping out my chest, I answered him without a thought.

"NO."

He just nodded at that. Causing my eyes to narrow at him.

"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 to work for me."

Just hearing that, I wasn't able to stop myself and burst into laughter while shaking my head at that.

Oh God! I didn't know he could joke like that!

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 kahit gusto ko paring matawa rito.

"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. Demand my foot. You are just wasting my time here."

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

"Or else what? Don't tell me, ibablackmail mo rin ako like what you usually do to everyone just to get whatever you want?" I snapped at him when the tone of his voice change into something threatening.

"You could probably blackamil anyone just to get them work for you but mind you, Mr. del Fuero. Hindi ako yong tipo ng tao na pwede mong gamitin kahit na kailan mo gusto."

He just snorted then shrugged at that. Causing me to raise my brow.

"Yes, you're right about that, woman. I'm blackmailing you." He shamefully admitted while looking at me like he was challenging me to stop him.

"At ano naman kaya ang ibablackmail mo sa'kin, aber? About that woman in the picture? Oh please, Mr. del Fuero.. As if that could make me work for you."

"Yes. I know you'll say that.. but what if.." he trailed off then walked closer to me with a dark stare and a smirk on his face.

An action which I took as an alarming move. I better prepared myself for a fight.

"What if sasabihin ko kay Mrs. Viola Alvaro na ang babaeng nasa photos sa report mo..... ay ang P.I niya mismo? I'm sure, magwawala 'yon sa galit, Ms. Javier. Tingin mo?"

Unfortunetly to him, that sly attempt just caused me to shook my head at that while chuckling dryly at him. Much to his annoyance.

"Then I guess I should just tell them and even the media that you're 'that man' who kept blackmailing his poor husband."

That made him frowned and became silent. Obviously not liking that. But still, I continued to taunt him.

"I'm quite sure that Mr. Alvaro won't even hesitate to take it to the court, Mr. del Fuero. Afterall, everyone knows about his affairs now so filing a lawsuit on you won't be that bad. How about that then? It would be very interesting to see you in the court defending your sorry ass." I added, making his face darkened more.

"And Oh!.... Isa ka nga palang business man! It won't be very good kapag nakita nila ang mga kalokohang ginagawa mo, Mr. del Fuero but don't worry, I will be very excited to see your face all over the news habang pinagpipiyestahan ka ng lahat." Then I smiled at him, mocking the hell out of him.

Just looking at his face, I think he was about to explode in annoyance now.

So now, tignan natin kung gugustuhin pa ba nitong makatrabaho ako kung ngayon palang, halos sumabog na ito sa galit dahil sa'kin.

For Awhile, he just remained silent while murdering me with his intense glare. But after a few moment longer, sumagot na rin ito sa wakas while letting out a deep sigh.

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

"More than enough.." I conteracted while still smirking in satisfaction.

But my smile suddenly turned into a frown at the look he had in his face now, smiling with wickedness with his clasped hands behind him.

"Hindi ka nga madaling iblackmail, Ms. Javier. But what if I demand Michael to fire you? That won't be good right?"

I've had enough of him now. Unfolding my arms, I stepped closer to him while staring at him with eyes ready to take his eyes off of his sockets.

"Try me, Mr. del Fuero. Kahit mawalan pa'ko ng trabaho rito, I can still find another job after that. With the record I had built up so far, anyone would want to have me as their asset. So dream on, Mr. del Fuero." I answered with my hands itching to punch his nose.

This man was really nothing but an utter frustrations to me! Kahit kailan, I would never allow him to use me as one of his dogs.

"Then what if I demand all potential agencies that would take you to never ever employ you, Ms. Javier? You know I can do that.." Again, he tried with a confident look in his eyes. Amusing me more.

"Try harder, Mr. del Fuero. You can take everything from me but remember that I could still live after that. Don't you know why is that?"

He just frowned at that in confusion so I did the honor to give him the answer.

With a smirk, I leaned closer to his ear then whispered,

"Because I am not living for this job, Mr. del Fuero. I'm only living for one reason, but not for that." And then with that, I stepped back and smirked at him in satisfaction when he seems confused with that more.

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

"Do you have anything more to say, Mr. del Fuero? Dahil kung wala na, may gagawin pa'ko... A 'More' important matter than you.." I asked him with my oh-so-famous mocking voice. But when he didn't talk and just stayed motionless on his feet, iniwan ko na agad ito then headed to the door.

"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 over 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.. Keep trying.." Then with that, I quickly made my exit. Leaving the mad man inside.

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