Chapter Nine: Fell On Him

I paced back and forth in my room as I repeatedly looked at the cell phone plastered on the bed. I am reluctant to call my dad and report to him that Dark Vergara wants to marry me.

This is the thing that I want, right? I am here to seduce him so that he will fall in love with me, ask my hand, and marry me to gain information about his gang's lousy activities. After that, I am out on this mission.

But why is this happening all so fast? I did even go pass by a month here, and yet he is already proposing to me, which was my ultimate goal that I expected to go through a process. Because it was supposed to be that way!

To distract his enemies? What does he mean by that?

After pacing back and forth, I decided to try opening his study room again and not call my daddy to report anything unless I had my own answers. I have to investigate on my own this time because I am confused about his motives. He is not well-aware of who I am, so it is impossible that he knows about my identity and decides to test me.  

When I got into the silent hallway, I checked every side to see if maids were around. Thankfully, there were none. Without further ado, I snatched my small hairpin from the top of my hair and approached the door of Dark's study. Since I have undergone thorough training as a spy, it is already easy for me to unlock a locked door using the smallest to biggest resources. 

If someone interrupts me again, just like the last time I attempted to open his study, I don't think I will let her/him get away with it, since I am frustrated right now.

I started moving the pin inside the keyhole after kneeling down in front of the doorknob. I continuously looked at the sideways with my heart hammering in my chest because of anxiety that I might get caught and hurt somebody. Relief washed over me when something clicked in the keyhole, an indication that I had successfully unlocked it. With my breath pausing, I turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door, which made a squeaking sound.

Yes! I knew I could do it!

Again, I looked at the hallways before entering the study of Dark. All of his walls were mixed black and cream white, the same impression by how he was always austere and mysterious. His things were organized on shelves and drawers. In front of the right corner at the center was his desk with his personal valuables and papers. The blinds were all closed. Fortunately, there were no CCTV cameras. I closed the door of his study before I carefully rummaged through all the drawers and shelves.

I have to know the establishment he is making secretly that my dad wants to know. Maybe that would also enlighten me about his vague motives, because I am completely confused right now. 

The picture frames on the walls intrigued me, but I already knew that they were going to be useless. The papers will be a huge help since there might be contracts and data for the private construction he was heading for now. I started to scatter all the papers in front of me. Most of them were just financial statements that he spent on his businesses in jewelry and hotels he owned. There were no transactions that were related to his gang, weapons, or any other dirty work. 

As I was done with the papers on the desk, I accidentally hit a pencil, and it dropped on the marble floor. When I hastily picked it up, my eyes went to the small trash can underneath. There was a suspicious paper that was crumpled. If it were not because of a maroon stamp that was peeking from the piece of paper, it would not have caught my attention. I sat down so I could open it.

Before I could do that, though, there were a few footsteps that were approaching the study. I did not want to take the risk thinking that they would go to another room, so I controlled my panic, stashed the crumpled paper inside my bra, and tiptoed towards the nearby shelf where I could hide behind it.

"Mark Tolentino is powerful in society. He has a lot of connections in business and in politics. I do not think that you can easily stain him, sir."

I heard a familiar voice before the door was opened, and two people went inside. At first, I was hesitant to peek over the shelf to see who they were, but when the swivel chair creaked and the footsteps stopped, I decided to watch the ones who went inside the study. Dark Vergara was already leaning against his swivel chair with his eyes staring straightly at the ceiling. The back turning from my direction was unfamiliar, until the side of his face was revealed, I recognized Jachrimo Reyes, Dark's cousin, who was very friendly and approachable to me the first time we met. This time, though, he was serious and formal.

"We cannot attack him. We still lack evidence that he was the one who killed your parents and kidnapped Layla. It will only damage your reputation, sir," Jachrimo continued with a constricting voice.

I furrowed my eyebrows.

Killed his parents and kidnapped a person? By whom? Mark Tolentino, the business partner of my dad?

That was absurd. I heard this Tolentino man is a respectable man, so why is Jachrimo accusing him of being a killer and abductor? My dad would never associate himself with a murderer. He even despises Dark Vergara as a mafia boss.

"He has a tiger tattoo on his leg. I saw it during last year's conference when we had a dispute. I cannot be wrong," Dark casually said and sighed heavily. "I have to destroy him. He is the suspect, Jachrimo."

"We still lack evidence. The more careless we attack, the more it will put the gang at stake. You do not want that to happen, right?"

"I am trying my best to find a hole in this matter. I had to put on a show, because the more he is aware that I am focused on targeting him, the more he becomes cautious and manipulates situations in order to attack us," Dark said and finally looked at Jachrimo with an evil smirk and determined pair of eyes. "That is why I am going to marry Rose."

"Woah, whoa! What are you talking about?!" Jachrimo exclaimed, as if he did not expect what his cousin was saying. "How come the lady you are taking inside your mansion has to do something with this issue?"

But Dark only widened his grin as a teaser. Even I, myself, is curious of his reason, so I listened intently. He shifted his weight and hung his head like a king.

"You know, one for a distraction. If my marriage is announced, their defenses will weaken, because Mark Tolentino will think that I meant no attack anymore because I am busy with having a wife. And if possible, if he attacks, we will be ready. In either way, he will come to me eventually. Of course, I will acknowledge him to combat with us and pay for what he has done to our family and Layla," Dark explained and slowly rose up from his swivel chair.

"So all in all, you are going to use Rose in this very dangerous plan of yours?" Jachrimo said emphatically and hissed. "Dark, she is an innocent woman. You cannot just drag her like she is an animal to be held as bait."

"Then why else did I let her in the mansion if she is not into good use?" Dark coldly said with his straight and evil eyes. "Rose does not know me nor anything in this world anymore. She is merely a flower who wanders around without any memory of her past."

"You do not even intend to help her regain her memories?"

"Why would I do that? She is to be my wife. She does not need her past self anymore."

I almost scoffed at how heartless he just spoke about me being used in his mission. For an ounce of time, I thought he was a genuine and kind man that was beyond the imagination of me and my dad. That maybe we were wrong about him. That maybe he is a mafia boss with a pure heart. 

But after all, just like the world that is made of plastic and fake shows, Dark Vergara also knows how to put up a charming facade to lure his preys. 

I refuse to be one of his preys, though.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Christine exclaimed and laughed her heart out from the screen. 

I could not help but roll my eyes and glare at her. "Will you stop laughing? You are just making me angrier," I whispered. 

My sister only laughed more, making me groan in frustration, while she was donning lotion on her white skin. She is in her room in our mansion when I called her, relaxing and enjoying her vacation before Dad sends her abroad for an important mission.

After I had eavesdropped on Dark's study when they both left, I decided to share with Christina what I heard from the conversation he had with Jachrimo. I was irritated, while she was amused by all the details I had just told her.  

"First of all, you thought that he was a good person because she helped 'Rose'-" She snorted by mentioning my name and pointed her finger at the screen for me, "-and gave justice to her messed up story about her abusive husband. And then, he was all so kind and nice to you for the past few days, gave you clothes to wear, and even cooked for you. So... that was it, right?"

I crossed my arms and gritted my teeth, frustrated by how she underestimated the past actions of Dark Vergara that made me think that he was a "good person". She has always been like this. Whenever I fail at something or make mistakes in my mission, she would mock it and slap me with her insults, but she also wanted me to learn from it. She is the best sister, yet always makes fun of me.

"If you were in my position, you would understand how good he was acting all this time," I ranted. 

"You also did a good job, too, my little sister!" she said and clapped once. "If it was true that he saw you as this innocent and naive puppy, then you were also believable in your show. That Vergara jerk has no idea that you are a devil in disguise with a pair of loooong horns on your little head!"

"Shut up..."

"I mean, look!" she exclaimed and raised her two hands like she did not want me to be immediately offended. "The more he believes that you are an angel that fell from the heavens just like what you are doing right now, the more that you will wrap him around your finger. Now that you know his plans about you, it will be easy for you to defeat him."

While thinking about my sister's point, I put my tongue inside my mouth and played with my gums. She continued doing her facial routines as she hummed.

Christine is right. If Dark Vergara will use me as his bride for his enemies to be distracted, a bait as termed, then so be it. It will also benefit me. From what I have read about mafia gangs, a wife of a mafia boss can also get access to their headquarters. It will be easy for me to have the information that I need.

I immediately grabbed my cell phone that was leaning against a figurine, and hid it under my pillow when a loud knock emerged outside my room. It was not a soft one, so I guessed that it was not a maid.

"Rose, this is Dark," Dark announced from the outside. "It is time for dinner. I cooked for you."

My right eyebrow arched sharply. 

So this was his plan in the first place. He would try to win me over and manipulate me to do anything for him. Well, what do I expect from a vicious and wicked mafia boss? I almost fooled myself!

When I opened the door, my papery smile was already plastered on my lips with the chinky eyes of mine increasing enthusiastically. On the other hand, all of his facial features were nonchalant and unimpressed, just like he always wears on his face every time we encounter each other. 

"Hello! It is nice seeing you back, sir!" I said formally.

"Dark," he suddenly said. "You once called me by my real name when I was fighting your fake husband to stop us. It will not be hard for you to call me that starting from now on, right?"

I blinked before answering, "Dark, then," I said. "So were you serious that you want to marry me?"

"Yes." He nodded and tilted his head. "Why? Is there a problem with that?"

I shook my head. "But I think when you have the desire to marry, you have to make sure that you love each other," I said, acting shyly by trembling my lips to smile. "Do you even desire and love me?"

He did not answer immediately. Instead, he stared into my soul like scouring every part of me. It made my skin crawl because the longer he stared at me, the more I got uncomfortable for some reason. After a while, he stepped forward until we were inches away. I did not budge and stepped back, looking up at him.

"I think..." he mumbled, "... you will be a perfect wife for me. And when we get married, I will give the world to you."

I feel like I wanted to throw up. He will give the world to me? That is very dumb! Instead, I would even be beyond grateful if he decides to yield the information my father needed so that I can finish my mission. 

But I masked my disgust with a huge sweet smile. Without even thinking twice, I caught his right hand and held it tightly. He furrowed his eyebrows and stared at my hands which were holding his.

"Then I cannot wait for myself to fall in love with you. The way you take care of me, I am sure that you will nurture me, too, as your beloved wife," I reciprocated his disgusting line. 

He did not say anything after staring at me for a minute. He just turned his back, could not care less, and started to walk away. I rolled my eyes and followed him, slowly crawling my hand underneath between my shirt and pajama where my dagger was inserted.

You annoyed me so much, Vergara, that I am starving so much to kill you. 

I walked fast with my dagger rising behind him and threatening to stab him in the back. Suddenly, he stopped on his tracks, making me gasp, and hid the dagger in my pajamas again 'cause I might get caught. Due to the panic and shock that I felt because of his sudden movement, I tripped, while he turned his back to check on me. Before I knew it, we fell together on the floor - me on his top, while he was on my bottom. 

My mouth fell as I widened my eyes at him. He was holding my waist, his expression just same as mine, panicking and surprised by our position. This was the first time we were so close to each other that I could smell his mint breath and his signature men's strong perfume. His hold of me was warm and delicate despite his bulging muscles being put into the right places.

Great. I was about to kill him, but now, I fell on him. 

What kind of embarrassment shall I confront him again the next time, huh?

"Oh, I am so sorry!" 

Dark and I looked behind us and saw Jachrimo Reyes who was raising both of his hands. He watched us get away from each other and hastily stood up. I glanced at Dark, who also glanced back at me. We cleared both of our throats, and I tried to say something.

"It was just nothing!" I defended, the same thing Dark said in synchronicity with me.

Again, Dark and I looked at each other. We heard Jachrimo snort meaningfully, so we glared at him. He still smirked while looking at the two of us.

"I thought honeymoon would come after the wedding?" he joked.

"Shut up, Jachrimo," Dark said coldly, and then left.