"Ma'am I'll just remind you that you have a meeting with Mr. Guzman after your meeting with the engineers so you need to go back immediately." My secretary said over the phone as I looked for the meeting's table reservation.

Sometimes I was thinking that she is my boss because there are times that she's so bossy.

"Thanks for reminding, I'll go ahead," I said with finality because I already saw Vynz with his team. They're on a six-seater table. Bakante ang isang kabisera at sa kabila naman ay si Vynz.

Ako na lang ang wala roon. There are four men including Vynz on the table and a woman.

"Apologies for being late," I said as I approached our reserved table.

Tumayo sila nang makita ako. "You're just on time, maaga lang kami." It was Vynz.

"This is Mirae Lozano of Lozano Empire, Mirae this is Engineer Velasco, Engineer Rodriguez, Engineer Santos, and Architect Fernandez, my team." Vynz introduced us to each other. I don't know if I was too preoccupied dahil ang natandaan ko lang sa mga pinakilala ni Vynz ay yung babae na si Architect Fernandez.

"Let's order first," I muttered.

When our orders arrived, I started to give them the details and the things that I want for the project.

I don't know but I can see a man near our table through my peripheral view, secretly looking at us. Hindi ko na lang pinahalata na alam ko ang presensya niya.

"I'll just go to the restroom." Nabaling ang pansin ko kay Vynz nang magpaalam siya. Tumango lang ako bilang sagot.

The suspicious man stood up and headed to the restroom, following Vynz.

Engineer I don't know the name keeps on talking about the materials but my attention was focus on the entrance of the restroom.

Vynz was on his phone when he returned after a while. The meeting continues and I was stealing glances on the entrance of the restroom dahil hindi pa rin lumalabas doon yung lalaki kanina.

The meeting ended and the three engineers and architect bids their goodbyes kaya't kami na lang ni Vynz ang naiwan sa table.

Tumayo na ako at nagpaalam. "I'll go ahead, Engineer." Tinalikuran ko siya at naglakad palayo.

Nakakailang hakbang pa lamang ako ng may marahang humawak sa aking braso. "Wait." Pigil niya sa akin.

"What?" Binitawan niya ako nang humarap ako sa kanya.

"Can we eat lunch?" I frowned because of his question.

What kind of question is that? "Of course we can, bakit 'di mo pa na try kumain ng lunch?" I was joking when I asked that.

Para naman itong natauhan sa paraan ng pagtatanong. Now I heard him chuckled sexily. "What I mean is can I ask you out for lunch? Later?" He's asking me to have lunch with him?

"I'm busy," I replied. I was just actually testing his patience.

"Dinner then?" Bahagyang na liit ang aking mga mata. You're that desperate, huh?

"No," I said, directly declining his offer.

He frowned. "Why?" I am now seeing a lot of emotions from him. Noong nakaraan ay puro blanko at malamig na titig lang iyon o kaya naman ay ang pagtaas ng gilid ng kaniyang labi dahil sa pagngisi.

Matamis akong ngumiti sa kanya. "I don't want any dirty business with you, Vynz."

"Dirty business?" He asked, still frowning.

"Dalawang beses pa lang tayo nakikita. Pangatlo ang ngayon." That was a lie. Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses na kami nagkita but he didn't know me because I was always wearing a mask.

"Then sa una nating pagkikita you know what happened. Sa pangalawa naman kung hindi dumating si Mommy, who knows kung ano ang mangyayari. Tapos ngayon pangatlo you're asking me to have a dinner with you?" I continued. "Speed lang, Engineer?" Sarkastikong sambit ko.

He looks amused because of what I have said. "No dirty business." He said.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "How can I make sure of that?"

"I mean it, no dirty business." He said like he was assuring me.

Nanatili akong nakatingin lang sa kanya at hindi nagsasalita. "I promise." He muttered.

"Fine." I rolled my eyes on him.

"I'll pick you up before seven." You're making my plan easier than what I've expected, Vynz.

"You know where I live?" Of course he knew.

"No. I was about to ask you." He replied.

"I'll message you the address."

"You don't know my number." Agarang sagot nito.

"Right. So can I have your number?" I asked. Inilahad ko kanya ang aking phone at tinanggap naman niya iyon.

He typed his number and dialled it on my phone.

"I will save your number." His phone rang at ibinalik niya na sa akin ang aking phone.

"I'll message you my address later. Goodbye, Engineer." I said as I turned my back and started walking away from him.

I started the engine of my car and drove back to my office. I have a meeting at sigurado na late na ako.

I heard the door of my condo unit buzzed. I opened it at tumambad sa akin si Vynz in his formal suit.

"Are you-" He asked at napatigil nang makita ako. My one brow rose up. I'm wearing a simple beige knee-length dress paired with black stilettos. I also applied light makeup and nude lipstick.

I heard him cleared his throat. "Are you done?"

"Yes." I nodded. He gestured the elevator as he gently held my back as a support. Even if I'm wearing I stilettos Vynz's still taller than me. Hanggang leeg niya lang ang taas ko, when I'm wearing a flat shoes ay hanggang balikat niya lang ako.

Nang makababa kami ay iginiya niya ako sa isang sasakyan. It was his Bentley. He opened the passenger seat for me at sumakay ako roon.

"Thank you," I said. He nodded as a response at umikot patungo sa driver seat.

He drove his Bentley out of the parking lot at namayani sa amin ang nakabibinging katahimikan.

"I heard that your car explodes?" Mukhang natigilan siya dahil sa sinabi ko. Napatingin siya sa akin ngunit hindi iyon nagtagal at agad bumalik ang kanyang tingin sa daan.

"It happened in front of my building kaya nalaman ko." Liar. Nalaman mo dahil kay Astrid.

"Yeah, someone put a bomb inside my car. Good thing no one's near my car when it explodes." He did not lie. Well, maybe he knows that I'm not dumb at hindi gagana kung magsisinungaling siya.

"What?" I acted like I was shocked, but not really. It's normal when you are a mafia boss.

"I was receiving death threats these past few days. You know the business." He said like it was nothing.

"Are you okay?" I asked, pretending like I was concerned.

"Yeah. How about you? Are you receiving threats?" As Mirae Lozano? Wala, pero as Universe? Marami. Hindi nila kilala ang Universe ng Cosmos pero hindi rin lingid sa kaalaman ko ang kagustuhan nilang makilala ako para patayin.

"Wala naman," I replied.

We arrived at the Corniche Restaurant located on Diamond Hotel. The hotel's screaming elegance, from the interiors down to a single piece of furniture.

We headed to our table reservation. Vynz pulled the chair for me before he sat down on the chair in front of me.

He signalled the waiter to get our orders.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"Just salad."

He frowned. "That's all for dinner?"

"Fine. Caesar salad and Pescatore." He looked at me like there is something wrong because of my choices of food. He sighed.

He turned to the waiter at wala ng nagawa sa pagkain ko. "Corniche's caesar salad, Pescatore and Seabass fillet that's all."

Ilang sandali lang ay dumating na ang order namin at nagsimula nang kumain.

"So what's the purpose of this, Engineer?" I asked while I was eating my Pescatore.

"I just want to have dinner with you." He answered at sinagot ko iyon ng isang tango.

"The first time we met. In the auction, I remember that you bade on a swiss knife. Are you collecting?" He asked.

"No, its just for self-defence if ever something happens." I shrugged. "You know, the business." Panggagaya ko sa sinabi niya kanina.

"I know that was also your reason, you also bade for that right?"

"Yeah."

We talked about business and such. After finishing my food ay nagpaalam ako para magrestroom. Bago pa ako makaalis ay narinig ko na may tumatawag sa kanyang phone.

While I was retouching my makeup on the restroom, I saw from the mirror that a lady entered and locked the door kaya naman napatigil ako sa paglalagay ng lipstick. Tumigil siya sa tabi ko at naghugas ng kamay, pagkatapos ay naglabas ng kutsilyo at pinaikot iyon sa daliri.

"Sumama ka sakin." If I was a plain CEO, matatakot ako sa kanya at susundin ko siya but I am not.

Taas noong bumaling ako dito at matamis na ngumiti. "What if I don't want?"

"Magaling pumili si Devaughne, palaban." She smirked. Lumapit siya sa akin at itinutok ang kutsilyo sa leeg ko.

"Sumunod ka sakin kung ayaw mo masaktan." Aniya at unti unting idiniin ang kutsilyo sa aking leeg. Mabilis kong kinuha ang kanyang kamay at iniikot iyon sa kanyang likod hanggang sa mabitawan niya ang kutsilyo. I pushed her enough para mapadapa siya sa sahig. Inilagay ko ang aking tuhod sa kanyang likod habang hawak pa rin ang kanyang kamay.

I pulled her hair at sapilitang itinagilid ang kanyang mukha. "Hindi mo alam kung sino ang kinakalaban mo."

I heard doorknob moving. Agad akong napabaling doon. "Mirae?" It's Vynz.

"H-help Vynz!" I stammered so it will looks like that I am nervous.

"Fuck, Mirae!" He said as he started breaking the door because it's locked.

Nagmamadali akong umalis sa ibabaw ng babae. Agad naman niyang kinuha ang kutsilyo at pagkatayo ay itinulak ako. Hindi iyon masyadong malakas pero hinayaan ko lang na mapaupo ako dahil sa tulak na iyon. Nang bumukas ang pinto ay bumungad sa amin si Vynz. Bakas ang matinding galit sa kanyang mukha.

"Fuck! Stay away from her." Vynz pointed his gun to the woman beside me. His voice was firm and full of authority.

"Vynz," I called him while pretending that I was trembling. Nang mapatingin sa akin ang babae ay tila naguluhan ito.

"Baliw ka ba?" She asked me pero hindi ako nagabalang sumagot. Hindi pwede makita ni Vynz ang ginawa ko kanina dahil maaaring paghinalaan niya ako. In his eyes, I am just a CEO kahit pinaimbestigahan niya ako ay iyon lang ang lalabas, na isa akong CEO at hindi isang mafia boss.

"Put that fucking knife down," Vynz said in a firm voice with his cold stare. Hindi nakinig ang babae at sumugod iyon sa akin.

I closed my eyes like I was frightened. Pagbukas ko ng aking mata ay nakabulagta na ang babae sa sahig at naliligo sa sariling dugo.

Devaughne approached me and asked. "Are you okay?"

I nodded as a response while still pretending that I was trembling.

"Umuwi na tayo." I saw his jaw clenched. Binuhat niya ako at pagkalabas namin ng restroom ay may nakasalubong kaming lalaki.

"Clean my mess," Sambit ni Devaughne sa lalaking nakasalubong namin. Then I remembered, ang lalaking iyon ay isa sa kasama ni Vynz noon sa abandonadong gusali. Iyon ang humabol kila Astrid at bumaril kay Creed.

Ibinaba ako ni Vynz sa passenger seat pagkatapos ay sumakay na rin siya at pinaandar ang sasakyan paalis.

Walang nagtangkang magsalita sa among dalawa.

I saw him stealing glances at the rear mirror kaya't napapatingin din ako. I saw a black car on our back. Medyo malayo sa amin iyon dahil maluwag ang kalsada pero halatang sinusundan kami ng kotseng iyon.

Hindi ko alam kung saan kami papunta pero hindi ito ang daan pauwi sa condo ko dahil liblib ang daang tinatahak namin ngayon.

"Nasaan tayo?" I nervously asked.

"We're being followed."

"What?" I whispered. Pretending that I was frightened kahit hindi naman talaga dahil sa totoo lang ay wala akong maramdamang takot.

"Don't worry we'll be safe." He assured me.

I glanced on the rear mirror. Malapit na sa amin ang itim na kotse and I saw that the man in the passenger seat, trying to shoot us pero walang ingay na maririnig sa kanyang baril at wala kahit isang bala ang nakapasok sa aming sasakyan. Maybe this is a bulletproof car.

Devaughne stepped on the gas to speed up at ganoon rin ang ginawa ng itim na kotse. Nakahabol sila sa amin at binabangga ang likuran ng aming kotse.

Inilabas ni Vynz ang baril niya at pinaputukan ang itim na kotse sa likod namin habang ang isang kamay ay nanatili sa manibela. Ako naman ay nakaupo lang at nagpapanggap na takot. Alam ko naman na kaya na 'yan ni Vynz.

Sa harap ng sasakyan namin ay may humarang na isa pang sasakyan kaya't napatigil kami. We're cornered, but I don't care. Devaughne is not on the first spot for nothing.

"Vynz." Kunwaring pigil ko sa kanya nang makita ko na lalabas siya ng sasakyan.

"Whatever happens, huwag kang lalabas," Vynz said before he moved outside the car.

I don't know what happened dahil sa bilis ng pangyayari. I saw Vynz and his underbosses. I don't know kung paano sila nakarating dito. Nakikipagpalitan sila ng putok ng baril sa mga humahabol sa amin kanina.

Nang makita ko na napatay na nila lahat ng humahabol sa amin ay lumabas na ako ng sasakyan. Dumiretso ako kay Vynz at niyakap siya habang nanginginig pa at may konting luha sa mga mata. Gosh! I need more tears. I think tama lang ang ginawa ko. Iyon ang gagawin ng isang normal na babae kung makakita ng nagbabarilan sa harap niya.

"A-are you okay? Bakit nila tayo hinahabol and y-you killed them?" I ask while I was acting like a lost kid. Alam ko na pagtatawanan ako nila Dasher kung maririnig nila ang sinabi ko. I looked like a damsel in fucking distress.

"Calm down, Mirae. I'll explain later." He said while caressing my hair at ang isang kamay niya ay nasa aking baywang.

Inalalayan niya ako pagbalik sa sasakyan bago binalingan ang mga underboss niya. "In my penthouse." He ordered.

Nang makarating kami sa penthouse niya ay nandoon na rin ang mga underboss niya.

"Mirae, this is Callum." The guy smiled at me.

"This is Ryder." Iyon yung lalaking nakasalubong namin kanina sa restroom. Tumango iyon sa akin.

"And that's Hoax, my brother." He motioned the guy with a darker aura than him. His brother was eyeing me like he's telling me that he knew me. Siya ang bumaril sa akin doon sa abandonadong gusali noong nakaraan.

Pinanlambot ko ang aking mga tuhod at unti-unting isinara ang mga mata. "Mirae!" His eyes were the last thing I saw before everything went black at bago pa ako bumagsak ay may mga kamay na pumulupot sa akin.

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