"Aurie?"

I gained back my consciousness when I heard a familiar voice called.

"Aurie-"

"Arch!" Gulat na sambit ko at agad na naibaba ang bouquet.

A smile crept in his face. It immediately vanished as I unconsciously raised my brow up on him. "That sounds better."

Napakurap ako. "Huh?" My eyes widened a bit as I realized what I've said. I cleared my throat. "A-Archer, I mean."

A mischievous smirk formed in his lips as he hummed. "Can you get a confidential file for me?"

"Yes. What is it?" Of course, he's my boss. Alangan namang sabihin kong hindi pwede?

Pormal siyang namulsa sa aking harapan. "If only I don't have an important meeting ten minutes from now, I won't ask you this."

Napamaang ako dahil sa sinabi niya. My lips parted at him. Sa sinabi niya ay parang ipinaparating niyang wala siyang tiwala sa akin. If its a confidential file he should ask Shea to get it. Mas matagal na siyang nagtatrabaho kay Archer kaysa sa akin. Siguro naman ay hindi siya tatagal kung walang tiwala sa kanya si Arch.

Siguro ay nakita niya ang aking reaksyon kaya naman agad na sinegundahan ang sinabi. "Don't get me wrong, it's not what you're thinking, Aurie."

Am I that transparent? The last time I checked, I'm not.

"Hindi naman sa gano'n," sagot ko. Tila ba nagkakaintindihan kami kahit wala siyang direktang sinabi kung ano nga ang aking iniisip. "Saan ko ba kukunin?"

"Fonacier Law firm. Just ask for Atty. Fonacier's office. The document is placed on the third vault at the left side of the table. Get all the files from that vault. I already opened it for you."

Hindi na ako nagtaka sa huling sinabi niya. Hacking and tracking is his expertise. Nabuksan niya ang vault kahit wala naman siya roon. And he can open it in just a few seconds, lalo na at vault niya naman iyon.

"Alright, I'll get it." Paalam ko bago bago bumaling sa aking mga gamit.

"Take care," He muttered. Naramdaman ko ang pagkatulos ng aking mga paa.

I glanced at him after a while and caught him intently looking at me, tila ba hinihintay ang aking sagot. Marahan akong tumango at bahagyang ngumiti. "I will."

I can feel Shea's eyes on me as I started walking towards the elevator. Nang pumasok ako roon at humarap sa direksyon niya ay tama ang aking hinala. I caught Shea raising her brow up on me. Nagiwas ako ng tingin ngunit parang mali ang desisyon kong iyon. My eyes darted at Archer who's still looking at me. May tipid na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi, hindi iyon nawala hanggang sa tuluyang sumara ang elevator.

Natahimik ako at pinakiramdaman ang sarili. I sighed as I felt my heartbeat. Noon ko lang natanto na pigil ang aking hininga.

I leaned on my seat as my hands remained on the steering wheel. Unti unting lumalim ang kunot ng aking noo dahil sa bagal ng usad ng mga sasakyan.

I glanced at the window as I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel. Nabitin sa ere ang aking mga daliri nang mahagip ng aking tingin ang dalawang pamilyar na bulto.

My eyes narrowed as Salvia went inside Ysmael Rozelli's car. Nanatili ang aking mga mata kay Rozelli habang paikot siya sa driver seat.

Is it Rozelli? The one who's helping Salvia? It's not impossible for Rozelli. May mga tauhan siya, siguro ay sa kanya galing ang mga tauhan ni Calvin na dumukot sa akin. Sa dami noon, hindi imposibleng kanya iyon.

Napapitlag ako nang marinig ang malakas na busina mula sa likuran ng aking sasakyan. Dahil sa iniisip ay hindi ko na namalayan na malaki na ang distansya sa akin ng sasakyan na kaninang nasa aking unahan.

I gently stepped on the gas as I glanced at Rozelli's car. He maneuvered it towards west. Walang pagdadalawang isip na kinabig ko ang manibela patungo sa direksyong tinungo ng kotse ni Rozelli.

Walang gaanong kotse sa gawing iyon kaya naman mabilis ang daloy ng mga sasakyan. Pinanatili ko ang aking distansya sa kotse ni Ysmael. Tama lang para hindi maghinala na siya sinusundan ko.

Ilang minuto lang ang lumipas nang pumasok ang kotse ni Rozelli sa isang subdivision.

I cursed as I saw the guards at the entrance. Agad noong pinatuloy ang kotse ni Rozelli. Maybe because they already know who's inside. 

I studied the entrance of the subdivision. Nasisiguro kong hindi rito ang mansyon ng mga Rozelli. I know where his mansion is located, it's not here if I still remember it right.

I waited for a couple of minutes. Before approaching the guards. I stopped my car near them and they immediately approached me when I rolled down my window on the driver's seat.

"Magandang araw, ma'am. Saan po sila?" One of the guards asked.

I'll try my luck. I smiled as I asked. "Are the Rozellis inside?"

"Yes, ma'am. Kadarating lang din ni Sir." Magalang na sagot sa akin ng guard. I smirked in victory. Nang nakitang nakatingin ang guard ay agad na ngumiti.

"Great! Can I come in? I'm Callista's friend. I'll surprise her, so don't call her," I giggled in excitement. Hindi napalis ang ngiti sa aking mga labi ngunit bakas ang pangamba sa aking kalooban. Fuck. I'm not sure if Callista's her name?

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Alright, thank you," sambit ko bago muling isinara ang bintana ng aking sasakyan. I stopped when I remember something. "Anyway, sorry I forgot. Where's Rozelli's mansion again?"

I examine the guard's eyes, wala akong nakitang pagtataka roon dahil sa aking tanong.

"Ayos lang, ma'am. Siguro ay ngayon lang kayo nakabisita. Kalilipat lang din kasi nila sir." I almost smirked at the guard. Mariin kong sinupil ang ngising kumakawala sa aking labi. "Diretso lang, pangatlong mansyon pakaliwa, ma'am."

I gave him my warmest smile. "Thank you," I muttered as I slightly nodded my head. I maneuvered the car as my smile immediately faded.

Ilang sandali lang ay agad kong natanaw ang tinutukoy ng guard. Nakumpirma ko iyon nang makitang nakaparada roon ang sasakyan ni Rozelli.

Kinapa ko ang ilalim ng passenger's seat at pinakiramdaman ang mga nakadikit sa ilalim noon. Nakapa ko ang baril ngunit agad na natigilan nang bumaba ang aking tingin sa suot na damit. The skirt's tightly hugging the lower part of my body. I can't hide the gun on my clothes. Agad iyong mahahalata sa akin.

Muli akong kumapa sa ilalim at agad kong kinuha ang bagay na nahawakan nang matanto kung ano ang naabot ng aking kamay.

I smirked as I saw a black pen like swiss knife. It looks like a long pen without a cap but it'll reveal a long knife when you twist it.

I immediately put my hair in a bun as I slid the pen like knife on it. I opened the glove compartment as I took two listening device on it. Sa liit noon ay hindi iyon kaagad na makikita, lalo na kung sa tagong lugar ilalagay.

I went out of my car while staring at the mansion towering over me. Seriously, Rozelli? Walang gate? Kampante huh? Why did they even bought a new mansion?

I walked towards the entrance of the house. Bukas ang malaking pinto at walang tao sa tanggapan ng mansyon. Nang makapasok ay iginala ko ang tingin sa kabuuan ng lugar.

The antique style furnitures are highlighted as I entered. I slowly walked towards the sofa. Yumuko ako at pinadausdos ang kamay sa ilalim noon at prenteng tumayo matapos maidikit ang isang listening device.

My eyes darted at the stairs towards the second floor. If they'll hide my mother, where would it be?

Nagmamadali ngunit maingat akong nagtungo sa ikalawang palapag ng mansyon.

I saw five rooms around. Walang pagaalinlanggang pinagbubuksan ko iyon. I went out of the second room and cursed when I saw Salvia outside the fouth room. Mukhang kalalabas lang din, bumakas ang gulat at galit sa mukha nang nagtama ang aming mga mata. Ysmael Rozelli went out of the fourth room. Bumaling sa aking gawi ang tingin dahil kay Salvia.

"What are you doing here?" She spat as she walked near me. Sinalubong ko siya at habang palipat lipat sa kanya at kay Rozelli ang tingin.

"How dare you! What are doing with that man?" Agresibong sambit ko, agad na inungusan ang galit niya.

"I'm asking why are you here!" She even pointed her finger on me.

"I followed you!" I let out a sarcastic, audible breath. I let my chest heaved up and down. Nandidiri ko siyang tinignan. "You're cheating on my dad? Ang kapal ng mukha mo," ngayon ay kalmado ngunit puno ng sarkasmong sambit ko.

Namilog ang mga mata niya, tila ba nahuli sa kasalanang ginagawa. "Wala kang pakealam!" Sigaw niya nang makabawi. Rozelli remained standing behind Salvia while his eyes were fixed on me. "After you killed my son? Wala kang pakealam!"

She can't get it and still blaming me. She was blinded by rage because of what happened to her son. And she really admitted that she's cheating on my dad.

"You'll regret this," angil ko bago sila tinalikuran. I turned my back as my emotion fades. I heard Salvia shrieking at me as I walked down towards the first floor of the mansion.

Where the fuck did they hide my mother?

I was walking out of the mansion when a Mercedes Benz swiftly parked beside mine. Tila ba madaling madali ang driver noon, na kahit sementado ang daan ay bumakas ang alikabok dahil dito. I ignored it as I continued walking towards my car. But unconsciously, my eyes went up when the driver came out of the car.

I was taken aback when I saw Archer went out of it, sporting a cold expression. Just like how he looks like when in court or talking about his case.

Agad siyang dumiretso sa aking direksyon. I saw him scanned my whole body as he walked near me. "The fuck are you doing here?" Kunot noong tanong niya. Napapitlag ako nang marinig ang kanyang mariing tono. What the hell did I do, Attorney?

"I saw-"

"Do you even know who lives in that mansion?" He cutted my words.

"I followed Salvia," mabilis na sambit ko upang mawalan siya ng pagkakataon na putulin ang aking sasabihin.

"I told you to get a file for me, Aurie. Not..." Napahinto siya at mariing napapikit kasabay ng paghilot sa kanyang sentido. Nang dumilat siya ay agad na nagsalubong ang aming mga mata. "Are you alright?" His eyes softened as he asked.

"Yes, nothing happened, you see?" Hindi ko intensyon ngunit alam kong tunog sarkastiko iyon.

He sighed and gestured our car. "Get in the car, let's get out of this."

Dire-diretso siyang nagtungo sa Benz habang ako ay sa aking kotse ngunit agad na napatigil nang muli siyang nagsalita. "Here, Aurie. In my car."

I almost raised my brow. "I'll drive my car," may pinalidad na sambit ko at tuluyang pumasok sa aking sasakyan. Agad kong pinasibad iyon at nahuli ko pa ang pagsunod ng tingin ni Archer sa aking papalayong sasakyan bago tuluyang pumasok sa kanyang kotse.

What is he doing here? We suddenly went here and he's not even shock that he saw me here. Alam kaya niya narito ako? How the hell? Don't tell me, nilagyan niya ang kotse ko ng tracker?

I glanced at my phone when it started ringing. I answered it when I saw Archer calling. Sandali pa akong sumulyap sa kotse niyang nasa likuran ng aking sasakyan.

"In my office."

Bahagya kong binagalan ang takbo ng aking kotse. Paliko na sana ako patungo sa direksyon ng law firm niya upang kunin ang mga dokumento.

"How about the file?" Alam kong kailangan niya iyon ngayon, lalo na at pinakuha niya sa akin. Napalabi ako nang maalala ang meeting niya. Tapos na ba 'yon?

"Fuck that file, forget about it." Ngayon ay mahinahon na ang tono niya ngunit may diin pa rin ang bawat salita.

"In my office, Aurie."

Alright, in your office then.

__________