After their stint in Bohol where they rescued Alexander’s girlfriend from her sexually crazed uncle, Samuel convinced Marcus to try working as a detective for the agency owned by one of his friends, Ortega. Although Marcus was a good-for-nothing bastard in his younger years, he was a licensed criminologist who topped the board exam back then.
When he came to live with Samuel in Cebu, Marcus decided to keep himself in shape, to look formidable enough, and to learn self-defense. He was hungry for revenge, and Samuel helped him to train. It wasn’t known by everyone but Samuel has worked with covert operations before.
“So, what do you think? Will you join Ortega’s team?” Samuel wanted to confirm if Marcus was interested in the job.
“But how about the farm?” He asked. For years that he has been in Hacienda Velasquez, the farm has become a part of him.
“Don’t worry about it. Just do it as a sideline,” Samuel added. Being a true detective didn’t mean that Marcus had to report to the agency every day. Ortega would just furnish him with the information he needed for an assignment, and he would be provided with all the necessary tools. That’s it.
“Be honest with me, Sam. Are you on Ortega’s payroll, too?” The way Samuel convinced him, he suspected that he was also a detective.
“As always, you are smart. But don’t tell Jessica about it,” he whispered but he didn’t understand why Marcus tightened his lips and he looked worried. The next thing that Samuel felt was Jessica’s fingers on his earlobe and she dragged him away.
Marcus laughed at the scene. Samuel acted like he was tough, well, he was tough and brave too. But with Jessica, he was nothing but a punching bag and a drum. He would never become like his friend! “Are you alright?” He asked Samuel when he returned and Marcus couldn’t help himself but stare at his ears that were still red from Jessica’s pinch.
“I’m fine. So, have you decided to join Ortega’s team of private detectives?” Samuel drew the phone from his pocket and when Marcus nodded, he immediately called Ortega. “He’s in,” he said.
“That’s it?” Marcus was confused.
“Yes. Ortega trusted me when it comes to recommending people for the job,” he congratulated Marcus and ordered him to check his email.
He was more confused than ever but he did what Samuel told him to do and checked his email. There’s a new email from Ortega and it says confidential. “So soon?” He couldn’t believe that Ortega has assigned a case to him and he must move asap. He read the email and chuckled when he found the assignment to be easy. Ortega asked him to tail a person and his VIP was a beautiful woman but he knew that looks could be deceiving. Even salt looked a lot like sugar! Ortega also warned him not to mix business with pleasure.
“The agency’s shorthanded, and she’s a regular. So, good luck on your first assignment, Marcus." Samuel patted him on his back and bid goodbye. “You can leave anytime, and don’t worry about the farm.” He added.
As soon as Samuel was gone, Marcus started to pack his things needed for the job. The money was already transferred to his bank and he would just liquidate it after the job was completed. Samuel allowed him to use one of his cars and immediately, Marcus went on his way to Oslob to start doing his job.
It took him three hours to reach the town. With his skills, he found it easy to locate the woman’s location. The locals were very helpful while thinking that he was a friend. It was stated in the contract that he must not make himself visible to the woman and must observe from a distance. Well, he could do that just fine.
The house where the woman lived was along the highway and close to the church, so no one would suspect if he would park his car on the street. He didn’t expect his first assignment to be too easy. With a vernacular in hand, he observed from a distance and waited if Daniella would come out.
It was already dark when he noticed some movement on their front lawn. Judging from her confident strides, Marcus concluded that the woman was not a dimwit, and he wondered who asked Ortega to tail her. For a week, he watched over her, but there was nothing unusual, and the woman rarely came out.
It was around four o’clock in the morning when he saw her with a piece of luggage in tow. Then he heard her car’s engine and sooner, a red seltos came out. Then someone closed the gate afterward. He waited for a minute before he decided to follow the red seltos. He noticed that she was driving fast like she was in a hurry! Where are you going, Dani?
Dani? Marcus scolded himself for giving her a nickname. He reasoned out that her name was too long to pronounce and Dani fitted her. Marcus just followed the red seltos carefully. He was positive that it would be hard for Dani to notice him because he paid extra attention to their distance. He didn’t want to alarm the woman and blew up his first assignment because honestly, he was thrilled at doing it.
Mactan Cebu International Airport? Why would she go to the airport at this hour? Marcus parked his car beside the red seltos and only came out when she was about a hundred feet away. With his backpack, he also looked like a passenger who was in a hurry to catch a flight.
Dani went to the international departure area and he followed. Was she going to leave the country? When Samuel insisted that he should bring his passport, extra cash, and credit cards, did he know that something like this could happen? He tailed her discreetly and waited to know her airline ticket. When the woman lined up at the counter for Cathay Pacific, he sent Ortega a message to check Daniella’s destination and to book him a ticket. In less than five minutes, Marcus learned that Daniella was headed to HK and she booked a one-way ticket. Then, he started to move as soon as he received his e-ticket for Hong Kong.
EDITING THE CONTENTS...MODIFICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING FEBRUARY 2023 AS EDITORS ARE ON VACATION.
Her last overseas trip happened when she was only ten years old and her mother was still alive. But it wasn’t a pleasant experience for Daniella. Her parents wanted to celebrate her birthday at Disneyland, but all day long, they just quarreled, and she ended up staying in her room…crying and disappointed. Now, she wanted to replace that memory with something good or even funny. Who knew what was in store for her? From the airport, she took a taxi to her hotel, then she checked in, and paid the room‘s security deposit. A minute later, she strolled towards the elevator that would take her to the nineteenth floor where her room was located. She was not fond of elevators after watching a lot of Asian horror movies where a ghost or supernatural beings showed themselves in the lift. She tried to calm herself down when there were a lot of guests in the elevator. She listened to their conversations and was glad that there were Filipinos too. But on the fifteenth floor, everyone exited
Daniella was just supposed to take pleasure in her trip to HK but when she came to know Mr. Blue Eyes, she had to revise her plan. She had a brilliant idea of how Marcus Madrigal would become useful to her. Anyway, the man was a flirt and he liked to dally, so he wouldn’t mind being used that way. She believed that everyone has a price, and whatever it takes, she would do anything to have him. “Hmmm, Marcus suits you. You look like a gladiator from the past and I like your eyes. They are blue and soulful,” she declared without holding back any reservation that a proper woman should possess. Marcus was not surprised at her bluntness. Well, he would be shocked if she pretended to be someone she was not. “You’re blunt and honest…and I like it,” he replied, but the woman’s ingenious way of speaking alarmed him. “I know. So, I assumed that we are friends now.” She said after their handshake. “If you need a friend while you are in HK, call me.” She gave him her calling card and sm
Marcus was disoriented when he woke up in a strange room. He tried to get up but he couldn’t move.What was wrong with him?He looked around but all he could see was the white ceiling and the chandelier. On his left, he could see something white, and it was the same on his right side.A pet cone?Marcus was horrified to realize that someone had the nerve to put a pet cone on him. “Look here,” Daniella showed Marcus the photos that she took earlier and couldn’t stop laughing at his dreadful appearance. She knew she was being a bully to Marcus but he started it first.With the shrink wrap all over his body, he looked like a fresh spring roll or even a mummy. Of course, the pet cone looked cute on dogs, but for Marcus, he was not cute but funny to look at.“Dani! What did you do to me?”Marcus shouted as soon as he found out what she did to his body that he looked like a mummy, wrapped in white and couldn’t move. Then he remembered that moment when something hard hit him.“What do you
Daniella scolded herself for welcoming the sensation of his manhood rubbing into her clitoris. She shouldn’t be enjoying giving herself to a man she just met. She shouldn’t find some pleasure in doing it with him because he wasn’t her boyfriend. While she was on top of his body, he adjusted their position, and then he guided his erection to penetrate her. It didn’t go through and his eyes were bewildered. Wait, did he expect her to be a promiscuous type of woman? Did he assume she already lost her maidenhead to another man? Well, she couldn’t blame him, tough. Her actions caused him to believe the worst about her. “Are you making fun of me now?” she asked when she caught him smirking. What the hell was she thinking? Marcus silently laughed when he realized that she was not an experienced lover. Judging from her movement, she’s an amateur or even a first-timer. He knew she was frustrated when he heard her curse loudly. Then, she continued to rub herself unto his erection and he wa
“Look who’s here!” Paloma greeted her stepdaughter when she met with Daniella on her way to the kitchen. “None of your business,” she answered. Daniella ignored her stepmother and continued to walk to her bedroom. She just arrived from her long journey and she was dead tired. She wanted to sleep! It was around three o’clock in the afternoon when she woke up from her deep sleep. She was starving so she proceeds to the kitchen to grab something to eat, but lost her appetite upon seeing the evil witch! “We have to talk, Ella,” Paloma said. Daniella raised her eyebrows at Paloma before she pulled her chair to sit down. “As far as I’m concerned, we have nothing to talk about.” She refused to call her Mama or Mother. She hated Paloma ever since she joined her family. “Common, Ella. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Do you still remember what was written on Greg’s last will?” It wasn’t her intention to irritate Daniella but her indifference forced her to be a wicked stepm
Samuel rolled out laughing when Marcus told him what happened in HK. It was simply unbelievable but his friend was not a liar. “Now, you are into comedy!” How could he believe that a woman was able to subdue Marcus’ strength, and what more, she violated his body? “You’re kidding, Marcus.” “Why should I make fun of myself, Sam?” Marcus asked his friend who couldn’t stop laughing at his misfortune in HK. “Common Marcus, why would you make it a big deal? You didn’t do anything wrong to your client. It was the opposite!” Samuel convinced his friend not to get too worked about the incident. “For me, you are very lucky, my friend. I saw her file and she was beautiful!” Then, he laughed, while Marcus scowled at him. “She could become pregnant!” He yelled. When it happened, he was not able to wear any protection and the woman didn’t allow him to withdraw himself before spilling his seed inside her womb. When Marcus mentioned the possibility that Daniella could become pregnant, S
The idea of marriage was jaw-dropping but when Marcus suggested the abortion, it was even more shocking that she almost jump from her seat and attack him. Daniella was amused at Paloma’s reaction because her stepmother who always looked regal and proper cursed at Marcus. “How dare you!” Paloma shouted at the man who was comfortably sitting on their sofa. She was fuming with anger when the bastard suggested aborting Daniella’s pregnancy when he could have said no to her proposed marriage. “I’m not yet ready to become a father, Dani.” He understood their outburst but what about him? He was forced to do it, and now they wanted him to marry her? It was a double kill, and he couldn’t allow it to happen. “My child is going to be fine without you, Marcus. Just leave now before my mother will shoot you with her shotgun,” she threatened him but the man didn’t budge from his seat and wasn’t afraid to look them in the eyes. “You will let him leave? Ella, are you out of your min
The sequence of events had taken its toll on Daniella and she wanted to rest in her bedroom…alone. “Congratulations, Ella. Are you happy that he is now yours?” Edwin asked her goddaughter after the ceremony. He wanted to celebrate with them but Paloma told him that Daniella wished to be alone with her new husband. “Take care of Ella, Marcus. I wish that you will be happily ever after,” he said before he bid goodbye to everyone. “Edwin wait,” Paloma rushed to Gregory’s friend and thanked him for being available at the right time. “All right. Patty, tell everyone we are going on a trip!” Paloma announced after Edwin was gone. She booked several rooms at Sumilon Island earlier. “We’re leaving in fifteen minutes,” she added and Patty hurried up to inform everyone. “Ella, you stay here with Marcus while I treat everyone to Sumilon,” she said. “You…you will leave me? With him?” Daniella couldn’t believe what Paloma has said. How could she blindly trust Marcus? He could be
Daniella was aware that at least three of Ortega’s men were following them from a distance, but she choose to ignore the security people when they were just doing their job. Somehow, she was already used to having a shadow wherever she would go. After her three days vacation on the island, she returned home feeling refreshed and renewed. She and AJ had a blast on the island and she played with her like a kid. “Hello Simon, it’s been a while.” She greeted the youngest of Ortega’s men as if she had no idea that he was also on the island. “Hello Miss Ella, I’ll help you with your luggage.” Simon offered to take her luggage upstairs. Unknown to the woman, Marcus contacted him to watch over his family and he should report everything to him. “Thank you,” she was grateful for his help. As much as she wanted to check on her mother and report to her that they already arrived, she was tired and want to rest. Tomorrow, her life would be back to normal. Occupied with work and str
Daniella had no choice but to stop her heart from beating toward Marcus and she should focus on something else. She must let go of her feelings and move forward because letting her emotions take over would be simply dangerous! In the morning, she woke up with a bright smile on her lips and Lilian looked at her as if she has gone crazy for always smiling when she was nursing a broken heart. At the breakfast table, she informed Paloma that she would take over overseeing the resort’s construction. She took a deep breath and took the chance, to be honest with her family members about another issue and said, “Marcus and I have broken up.” “Ella, what are you talking about?” Paloma was knocked for six at Daniella’s announcement and she refused to believe it when they looked good together. “I said, he and I broke up…and this time it’s for good.” She repeated her statement and she emphasized each word so that her mother wouldn’t misunderstand it. “This time it’s for good?
Daniella bit her lip when Marcus questioned her why she came. Was he not happy to see her at all? Daniella was still seething in anger towards his employer why did he allow that horrible man to beat him in the first place? “Should I consider your question as a sign that you don’t want to see me anymore?” Daniella took offense at his tone but regardless of how he would look at her, she wouldn’t give up on him. She glared at the man who treated her like a pest when she was just being kind to help him. “It’s not what I mean, Dani. I’m just asking why you came here, and how did you know where I was. Wait, did you stalk me?” His nostrils flared and he tightened his lip as he imagined that the woman was probably stalking him. What happened to her statement that she didn’t want him anymore in her life? Marcus narrowed his eyes at Daniella while he waited for her answer. “Of course not! Why should I do that? It just happened that I come here for business and saw you today at the
Troy Ramirez was paranoid that Philip Madrigal would come to his office anytime so he always prepared himself for the old man’s arrival. He picked up the intercom and bellowed, “Is Alicia not here yet?” “She just arrived sir,” the secretary replied. He put down the receiver and waited for Alicia to come in and when he heard the door open, Troy immediately stood to meet her. “What took you so long?” he yelled at the woman for taking her time in coming to his office. Alicia raised her eyebrows at Troy and replied, “I’m not one of your employees so don’t treat me like one.” The woman was right and Troy needed to calm down or his wrecked nerves would get the worst in him and he was afraid of the outcome. “Call your boyfriend and ask him to forgive me, do it now please.” “What have you done to him and where is he?” Alicia suspected that Troy made a mistake in hurting her boyfriend and then he was scared that Marcus would retaliate. She sneered at him and asked,
Daniella didn’t expect to receive a call from Gerald, telling her that Marcus was working for a man named Troy Ramirez, Alicia’s brother. She was having her breakfast at Puso Bistro and she enjoyed their champorado and Arroz Caldo which tasted awesome. It was a buffet breakfast that she got to enjoy for free by staying at one of their suites, and although she couldn’t eat every dishes they offered, she appreciated how the manager was hands-on in checking everything that needed a refill. The hotel was recommended by one of her friends who loved their top-notch services. Arguably, the bistro has become one of her favorite restaurants in the city. Fortunately, Daniella was blessed with good luck because Troy’s office was just beside the hotel where she was staying. She could just check it out later because Daniella needed a concrete plan on how to approach Marcus without aggravating Alicia in the process. It was quarter to ten in the morning when Daniella smiled at the recep
Troy was hopping mad after reading the report about Marcus Madrigal! No wonder that the man looked familiar when he first saw him because he was the same man who took away his angel, and in the end, he had to kill that woman and her daughter to avenge his wrong feeling. He was furious that Alicia assisted his enemy in entering his territory! A few years had already passed and he could still remember the anguish on Veronica’s husband’s face as he witness how his family was killed in front of him. Over the years, it gave him satisfaction while know that the man she chose instead of him was suffering! Did Marcus find out about his involvement in that incident? But how? It was cleanly done and no evidence to point out that he was behind it. Moreover, all the men involved in that incident were already dead and he was the only one who remained to live. Still, he couldn’t be at peace unless he would send Marcus back to hell. He was enraged and Troy believed that Liza could soothe
In her boredom, Daniella developed a new habit and that was bingeing on Korean dramas. She searched online for the must-watch and soon she was lost in the world of Korean dramas where the boyfriends were all perfect and if ever there were flaws, it only make them even more attractive. For a week, she exhausted herself by staying up all night to watch her favorite shows and Lilian already scolded her for looking like a zombie every morning. “Are you going to continue being like this, Ella? You are my matron of honor, so you also have to look your best, but with your appearance now, we have to hire the best make-up artist for you to look pretty.” Lilian eyed the woman from head to toe and grimaced at how dry Daniella’s skin has become, and the dark circle around her eyes was horrible to look at. She looked tired and stressed! “It’s your time to shine on your wedding day, Lil. So, just don’t mind me, okay?” Daniella dissuaded Lilian to mind her appearance because she wasn’t rea
Every day, she had to lie to AJ about the whereabouts of her father. Philip and Paloma also wondered why it was so sudden that Marcus was summoned by his friend to assist in the farm. Just like before, she didn’t tell everyone about the real reason why Marcus was no longer in the house. She lied that Samuel Velasquez needed an extra farmhand as his supervisor had to take a few days off due to an emergency. The lie was perfectly devised and Daniella almost believed it as well. Even if Marcus was no longer in the house, Philip Madrigal has all the reasons to stay since his only daughter was getting married. Lilian was enthusiastic about the wedding and even when they hired the best wedding coordinator that they could find, Lilian insisted on incorporating her personal touch into the giveaways, so at night, she and Lilian would usually work overtime to finish the giveaways on schedule. Although it was a bother to work on super glues, she didn’t mind it all. It kept her occupied, and
Alicia’s excitement got the better of her when she immediately signed the papers without reading them first. Her signature was already on the paper before she decided to read what was written on it. Her eyes blinked several times when she finished reading it. “I’m your girlfriend but I can’t kiss you or touch you, especially in public? This is pure nonsense!” Alicia threw the signed agreement back to Marcus and cursed at the man for tricking her by writing that information in the middle. “Now that it is signed, how are we going to proceed with it?” Marcus smiled that he was able to trick Alicia into signing the agreement. It wasn’t his fault that she didn’t read what was written on it. Alicia glared at him but he chose to ignore it. “Just think of it as my retaliation for ruining my life, Alicia.” “I have no idea that you can be so cruel, Marcus,” Alicia muttered a curse, however, she thought that there must be a way of getting out of it. “How much would it cost me to break o