I was peacefully lying on the sofa, eyes closed while listening to their conversation.

"I told you I don't trust that woman, Kuya." I heard a baritone voice said.

"Can't you see? She's so innocent." Vynz replied.

"Kaya nga, Hoax nakita mo mukhang takot na takot kanina. Nanginginig pa." I'm sure it was Callum. Sa tono ng pananalita niya ay para bang nangaasar siya.

"She's a member of Cosmos." Hoax said. What the hell!

"Lahat naman ng nagiging babae ni Vynz sinasabi mo na member ng Cosmos. Based from experienced ba?" Muli kong narinig ang mapangasar na tono ni Callum.

"Fuck you!" I heard a series of chuckles because of the response.

"Prove to me that this woman is a member of Cosmos at ako mismo ang papatay sa kanya." Vynz muttered. Hindi ko alam kung kanino niya sinabi iyon pero siguro ay kay Hoax.

"Who do you think sent those bastards?" It was a new voice, maybe it was Ryder.

"Cosmos." Agarang sagot ni Hoax. Bakit ba galit na galit siya sa Cosmos. He's insisting na Cosmos ang kumakalaban sa kanila kahit hindi naman talaga. Well, we want to top the mafia chart but we're not that desperate. Hindi ako basta magpapadala ng tauhan para lang pasabugin ang kotse ni Vynz or attack him dahil alam ko na hindi gagana ang ganoon. Kung sino man ang gumawa kay Vynz ng mga iyon, my God hindi sila nagiisip.

"It was Stonesteel." So alam na rin nila ang existence ng weird na mafia na 'yon.

They were talking about mafia and such hanggang sa tuluyan na akong nakatulog.

Nagising ako dahil sa sinag ng araw na tumatama sa aking mga mata. I was in a big soft bed. Kagabi ay nasa sofa ako, siguro ay inilipat ako ni Vynz. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa kabuuan ng kwartong iyon. There's white lamps standing on the top of a custom-made tables flanking the bed. There's also a ball chair on the side of the bed near the glass wall.

Napatingin ako sa aking damit at ganoon nalang ang aking gulat dahil iba na ito sa suot ko kagabi.

I went out of the room then I realized that I was on the second floor of Devaughne's penthouse. Habang bumababa ay unti unti kong nakikita ang kabuuan ng penthouse. It was a glass-walled modern penthouse. His penthouse has a combination of black, white, and gray. I saw Vynz preparing something in his black marbled countertop.

"Good morning." He greeted when he saw me walking towards the countertop.

"Morning. Who changed my clothes?"

"My secretary. Kumain ka na." He motioned the table. Pumunta siya doon dala ang mga pagkain na niluto niya at naghila ng upuan sa tabi ng kabisera.

"Sit here, Mirae, let's eat."

"Uuwi na ako, I have work pa." I declined his offer. Totoo naman na may pasok pa 'ko at late na ako, again. Gosh, napapadalas ang late ko this past few days.

"Let's talk first, about what happened last night." I remember he said that he'd explain kung bakit ganoon ang nangyari kagabi. I sat on the chair na hawak niya. Siya naman ay sa kabisera umupo.

"What do you want?" Aniya. Gusto pa sana niyang lagyan ng pagkain ang plato ko ngunit agad ko naman iyong tinanggihan.

"Ako na." I reached the fried rice at naglagay ng konti sa aking pinggan. I also put some bacon on my plate.

"I'm sorry for the trouble last night." He apologized.

"Its okay, what happened bakit may ganon? At yung sa restroom. I-I was shocked sa lahat ng nakita ko last night." I stuttered, well that was an act.

"Business again."

"You're lying, I'm also into business pero wala pang nangyayari sakin katulad sa kung anong nangyari sayo. First, may nagpasabog ng kotse mo or I don't know kung iyon nga ang una. Second, yung kagabi I thought mamamatay na ako."

"I'm sorry maybe it was my former client. He's mad because I violated our contract." It was a lie, maliban na lang kung ang business na tinutukoy niya ay ang mafia.

"I was scared. I don't know what I'd do kung hindi ka dumating sa restroom kagabi."

"What happened on the restroom? Before I came? Sinaktan ka ba niya?" He asked. He seems worried.

"She said na layuan kita or else ako ang papatayin nila! Wala naman akong ginagawa na masama bakit ako ang dinadamay nila." Dramatikong sambit ko.

"Fuck! Don't." He cursed.

"What?" I was confused because of what he said.

"I'll hire bodyguards for you. I will protect you, Mirae." You will protect me? Sinabi ba niya talaga lahat 'yon? I don't know what was happening with Vynz. He would dispose me anytime so whats with the bodyguard.

"Ayoko pa mamatay, Vynz." It was true. I don't want to die yet hanggang hindi Cosmos ang nangunguna sa mafia chart. But I am not scared.

"I promise you I will protect you." Kung hindi lang siya nakatingin sa akin ay baka tumaas na ang isang kilay ko dahil sa sinabi niya. He's weird.

"So ilan na pala kami na pinoprotektahan mo?"

He frowned. "What?"

"Lahat ba ng babae mo pinoprotektahan mo? Binibigyan mo ng bodyguard lahat?" Maybe he's protecting all of his girls. Siguro palaging mga babae niya ang dinadamay ng mga galit sa kanya.

He frowned like I've said some ridiculous words. "No! Why would I hire bodyguards for them?"

I raised a brow. "Then why would you want to hire bodyguards for me?"

He shrugged on my question.

"I actually don't need your protection. I can hire bodyguards for my self. So, no thanks, Vynz. Just give your bodyguards to your girls."

"I don't have girls."

"Right, cause you disposed them as soon as you get a new one." Natigilan siya sa pagkain dahil sa sinabi ko.

He shifted on his seat. "Well, yeah." He seems uncomfortable.

"Ibalik mo ako sa condo ko pagkatapos kumain." He nodded his head as a response.

When we arrived at my place, he opened the passenger seat for me. Pagkalabas ko roon ay nakita ko si Dash na kalalabas lang din ng kotse niya.

"Hey, Milady sabay na tayo." Dash said when he saw me. I heard Vynz cleared his throat kaya napatingin si Dasher sa kanya. Nagulat si Dash nang makita na si Vynz ang kasama ko ngunit agad ding nakabawi at ngumiti.

I turned to Vynz. "Thanks for the ride."

"Who is he?" Vynz asked. I want to rolled my eyes to Vynz pero hindi ko ginawa.

"Right, Dash this is Vynz. Vynz this is Dasher, my friend."

I saw Dash smirked before he offered his hand to Vynz. I thought hindi na tatanggapin ni Vynz ang kamay niya but in the end ay nakipagkamay pa rin siya.

"We'll go ahead."

He nodded. "I'll see you soon, Mirae." Vynz said, he turned to his car and maneuvered it. Nang makalayo iyon ay saka lang kami umalis ni Dash.

"You're dating him?" Dash asked while we're on the elevator.

"What? No! Kung ano ano pinagsasasabi mo."

He chuckled. "Defensive ka? Tinatawagan ka daw ni Arch kanina hindi ka sumasagot. Wala ka din sa condo mo, kagabi pa. Ano ngayon ka lang umuwi?"

"Bakit parang nanay kita? Si mommy ka ba?" I mocked him.

"Hindi kaya iba na plano mo? Pakasalan nalang si Devaughne ganon?" I know he's joking.

"You're annoying." I rolled my eyes on him. "Bakit pala nandito ka?"

He shrugged. "Dito kasi ako nakatira."

"Obviously, Dash." Sarkastikong sambit ko. "What I mean is may duty ka 'di ba?"

"Creed was ambushed." Diretsong sambit nito.

"What?" The fuck?

"Kalma. Buhay pa naman daw, walang tama. Nasuntok lang. Yun lang din sinabi sakin ni Arch." I'm not sure but I think Stonesteel ang may gawa noon.

When the elevator opened on fifteenth floor ay binalingan ko si Dasher. "Mauna ka na sa taas."

"Sabay na nga tayo."

"Maliligo lang ako."

"Bakit mo sinasabi? Gusto mo paliguan kita?" I don't know if he's annoying me or what.

"Damn you, Dash!" I cursed him and he laughed so hard. Kung hindi ko lang siya kaibigan ay matagal ko na siyang binaril.

I called my secretary when we arrived on my condo to cancel all my appointments for today. Pagkatapos ay dumiretso na ako sa bathroom to take a bath. It would take several hours bago ako matapos sa morning routine. Bahala si Dash, ginusto niya 'yan maghintay siya. After two hours ay nakatapos na ako at lumabas na sa living room para puntahan si Dash.

There, I saw Dash comfortably seating on my sofa. He was busy watching a movie while eating my chocolates.

Nang napatingin siya sa akin ay nagkunwari siyang nagulat. "Buhay ka pa? Akala ko natabunan ka na ng mga damit sa closet mo." It was normal. Nagmadali pa nga ako ng konti dahil nagiintay siya.

I rolled my eyes. "Condo mo 'to? Feel at home, huh?" Sarkastikong sabi ko sa kanya.

Inignora niya ang aking sinabi. "Grabe ang bilis mo, pangalawang movie ko na." It was full of sarcasm.

I rolled my eyes. "Let's go." I said. Nilagpasan ko siya at nauna ng lumabas.

Pagdating namin sa penthouse ay naroon na ang sila at kami na lang ni Dash ang hinihintay. Dame's also present, he's seating comfortably beside Archer. What the hell is he doing here?

"What happened." Tanong ko matapos umupo sa harap nila. I saw Creed holding an ice pack on the side of his lips.

"Papasok na sana si Creed kaya lang may sumusunod sa kanya tapos ayon, he's cornered." Astrid answered my question.

"Are you okay?" I asked Creed.

"I'm okay, I guess." He shrugged. Mukha nga siyang okay lang.

"Ganoon din ang nangyari kagabi." Sambit ko.

"What?" I got all their attention because of what I've said.

"Last night, I was actually with Devaughne. We're also cornered. But I acted like I'm scared. I was like a damsel in distress." I rolled my eyes on my last sentence. Bahagya pa akong napangiwi roon.

"Why are you with him?" Creed asked in a serious tone.

"Hala! Lagot." I raised a brow on Archer.

"Ngayon lang umuwi 'yan, nakita ko hinatid ni Devaughne. Tapos, I'll see you soon pa raw." Kung malapit lang sakin si Dash ay kinatukan ko na siya. Para siyang bata na nagsusumbong.

"See you soon pala." Astrid said while bitting her lip to suppress her smile. Si Damien naman ay nakatingin lang sa akin at parang sinasabi na magexplain ako.

"I didn't plan to sleep in his penthouse. I was-" Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin dahil kay Archer.

"Bakit kayo magkasama?" He asked me while acting like he was serious pero halata naman na nangiinis lang.

"Fine. He asked me to have dinner with him. Okay na? Happy? Pwede na ako magsalita without interruptions?" My voice was full of sarcasm. Nanlaki ang mata niya dahil sa sinabi ko at napatakip rin sa bibig.

"At pumayag ka?" Dame asked.

"My plan's working at si Devaughne pa ang kumikilos para mapadali ang lahat, sino ako para tumanggi?"

"Siguraduhin mo na hindi babalik sa'yo ang mga plano mo." Astrid warned.

"I'll make sure of that. Any other violent reaction?" Nang walang magsalita sa kanila ay nagpatuloy ako.

"We're cornered, dumating 'yong mga underboss ni Vynz, then ayon I was busy pretending that I was scared hindi ko namalayan na sa penthouse niya pala kami papunta. Dahil nga nandon yung mga underboss niya, I have a feeling that they will talk about mafia. I pretended that I fainted and I was right. Yung kapatid ni Vynz, si Hoax feeling ko may galit 'yon sa Cosmos." Napahinto ako ng makita si Astrid na napaayos ng upo dahil sa huling binanggit ko ngunit agad din namang nagpatuloy.

"Pinipilit niya na Cosmos ang nagpautos ng nangyari sa amin ni Vynz. And I don't know kung paano siya nagkaroon ng idea na isa ako sa Cosmos but wala siyang proof kaya ayaw siyang paniwalaan ni Vynz. And then 'yon nakatulog ako, umaga na ako nagising." Hindi ko na sinabi ang sinabi ni Vynz na papatayin niya ako if ever mapatunayan ni Hoax na isa ako sa Cosmos dahil baka hindi na sila pumayag na ituloy ang plano ko.

"Nakatulog ka ng mahimbing? Alam mo na nasa penthouse ka ni Devaughne?" Archer asked.

"Hindi mo ba naisip na baka patayin ka ni Devaughne?" It was Creed, he frowned.

I shrugged. "Buhay pa naman ako."

"My God! Mirae!" Astrid said na parang hindi siya makapaniwala.

"Your plans, iyan ang ikakapahamak mo, Milady."

"Hayaan niyo na, kaya ko ang sarili ko."

"Basta kapag nawala ka ay kay Devaughne ka namin hahanapin." Archer said.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

"Any idea kung sino ang nangambush kay Creed?"

"I have an idea Astrid, I think it was Stonesteel."

Dasher turned to me. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, send some men to their headquarters to give them a warning."

"Copy."

"Do you still want to be a part of Cosmos, Damien?" He looked shocked when I asked him that.

"Yes." He answered, still looks shocked.

"Start your training tomorrow. Can you train Dame, Archer?" His training is just for practicing his skills.

"Yes, baby!"

"Yes! Dinner with Devaughne lang pala makakapagpapayag sayo, Ate. Sana dati ka pa nakipagdinner sa kanya."

"Damn you, Dame." Marahang sambit ko. "Gusto mo bawiin ko?"

"Kidding, Ate. Question, required ba na magsuot ako criminal mask if ever magiging underboss ako?"

"Yes pero hindi ka magiging underboss."

"You know what? you all look like a criminal wearing a criminal mask."

I shrugged. "We're all criminals." Even though we're helping hundreds of charities we're still all criminals. No excuse for that. Well, that's mafia.

"Okay, Someday I will convince you na maging underboss ako ng Cosmos. Lets go Kuya Arch, magtraining na tayo, ngayon agad." Hinila niya si Archer paalis at wala na itong nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod.

He seemed happy and excited. Well, ilang taon niya ng gusto sumali sa Cosmos pero hindi ako pumapayag even though alam ko na kaya niyang protektahan ang sarili.

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