DANCING WITH THE VILLAIN

III | One Fateful Day

Rhysand Marfori

Sinclaire Grande

He played his tongue inside his mouth as he looked at the woman standing in the middle of the bar. It was previously owned by Filip Neinhart but then they took it. Nobody builds a bar in Sinclaire without his permission. And Neinhart likes to f**k around so it was just right that he shows them what it truly means.

The woman looked at him. Her eyes were scrutinizing. She has always been against violence but what can he do? It's what he's good at.

"You know Neinhart isn't the type to give up just like that," saad ng babae.

"We can just f**k 'em up again." Sid laughed and Marcus joined. Rhys groaned and sipped on his glass.

He stood and faced Eliza. He gestured his arms around the place. "What do you think?" saad niya. As much as possible, he doesn't want to be lectured by Eliza. Not today.

Eliza didn't even blink and instead, stepped closer to him. Perhaps it was old age. Or perhaps it was because it was Eliza who raised them since when they were kids. Or perhaps he has acknowledge Eliza to be his equal. She knows things he doesn't. Even as he's considered the leader of the Ivory Skulls, Eliza is one of the brains behind it.

"You both have your father's recklessness and your mother's brain, Rhysand." She looked at his siblings behind him who, as he guessed, might already be looking at the floor looking like little kids getting scolded. Then Eliza's eyes went back to him.

"Don't let your father's recklessness win," tanging saad nito bago umalis. The sound of her shoes echoed across the place.

He took his cigarette at sinindihan iyon. He puffed a cloud of smoke and looked at his brothers who were grinning.

"She's mad, right?" tanong ni Sid.

Marcus was the one who answered, "Eliza will cool down soon enough. Bet me a hundred and in a few days, we'll see her drinking and dancing in this place as if she owns it." They both laughed at that. And yes, he could already imagine the image. But still, he couldn't get his mind off what she said.

Neinhart isn't someone who would give up easily. He might try something else to try and bring the Ivory Skulls down but of course, as always, he should be a step ahead. Always.

He looked at the counter where an old friend was standing, cleaning the glasses. "Give us the drinks available, Fred."

His brothers hooted in delight. "We deserve a celebration," he said. Marcus and Sid were quick to get the drinks and chugged the bottles. All he could do is watch and laugh.

The night is still young and they plan on spending it tonight with booze. What they did today was worthy of celebration, anyway.

The bar, though small, was elegant and they prefer to call it the tavern. The moment they decided to open it to the public that night, it was packed in seconds. Because everybody wants to be with the Ivory Skulls. Everybody wants to be in their good graces. Sinclaire City has recognized the gang as the most notorious and should not be messed with.

It was in the middle of the night when one of his men came to him in a hushed voice. He leaned closer to listen to what he had to say. And the moment he heard what it was, all the fun, all the excitement was gone. It was laced with seriousness and his brothers saw it. The whole atmosphere changed and they instantly knew they have something to do tonight. Something important.

Rhys tossed the butt of his cigarette to the ashtray at agad din siyang tumayo para isuot ang kanyang coat. His two brothers did the same. The man who reported to him was bowing.

"Keep your head up. I'll see what I can do," saad niya rito. Hindi na niya ito hinintay na makasagot at agad na lumabas. The others saw them and immediately parted to give way to the Ivory Skulls.

Some were greeting them but they paid no attention to a single one. When they're inside the car, it was when Marcus broke the silence.

"What's going on, Rhys?" tanong ng kapatid niya.

"Something's up in the Garson," tipid niyang sagot bago pinaandar ang makina ng kotse.

"Garson? That's where we supposed to get our new supplies, right?" Sid asked and Rhys nodded gravely. What could be the problem there? He couldn't stop wondering. So he drove faster and they arrived at the Garson half an hour later.

The place was quiet as it was meant to be quiet. This is an off-grid place after all. Everybody just pretends that this place doesn't exist. Dito nila hinahanda ang kanilang mga transaksyon at ngayong gabi, mukhang may kaunti silang problema dito.

One man saw them and immediately ran towards them.

"Mr. Marfori," he greeted, and though it was meant to be for the three of them, sa kanya nakatingin ang lalake.

"Anong problema dito, Argus?" tanong niya sa lalake.

Argus swallowed hard before he said, "Best if you follow me and see for yourself, Mr. Marfori."

Sinundan nila ito patungo sa mga crate na nakalatag sa lupa. There were about a hundred of it. Something was off, he could sense it. Sid and Marcus rounded the crate. Rhysand lifted the covers of one of the crates only to find an entirely different thing from what he was expecting. He was expecting wines and other alcoholic drinks from across the international borders. He has been making arrangements with it even before they took over Neinhart Haven which is now named Sinclaire Grande. It wasn't wine that greeted him. They were bags and bags of illegal drugs.

And now, it is in his possession.

Adriene Constance

15:47

Crown City Office

Kanina pa siya patingin-tingin sa kanyang relo habang naghihintay siya sa isang silid na walang makikitang kahit ano kundi ang maputing mesa at and dalawang puting silya. There were even no decorations inside the room. It was dry and bright at the same time. Sa tingin niya'y dahil iyon sa puting pintura ng silid. Her colorful cake box and the other things she bought that afternoon was taken from her before she was allowed to enter the room.

She was supposedly be going home at this hour ngunit mukhang matatagalan siya dito. But then the door suddenly burst open at isang magandang babae ang pumasok sa silid. Her high-heeled shoes made a powerful sound against the tiled floor. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail and she walked with terrifying confidence before she settled on the chair in front of her.

"Good day, Ms. Constance," bait ng babae. Then she extended a hand. "I am Ariela, the Crown's representative."

Adriene stared at the woman and just like the other guys who took her earlier, her expression was composed, controlled. And the way she talks was also stiff. It was calculated. It was terrifying.

"May I know what business the Crown has with me?" She didn't bother taking the woman's hand. And the woman didn't look offended at all. Binawi nito ang kamay may kinuhang isang folder saka binigay ito sa kanya.

Kinuha niya naman ito at binuksan. All she could see was her father's picture and beside it was a series of text she might be able to understand if she's given more time to read. But she doesn't have time kaya naman ibinalik niya ang tingin sa babae.

"Ano ito?"

"That is your father's data while he was working with us. It says he has a daughter and a wife kaya naman madali ka naming nahanap. You work as a cashier in a pharmacy and you've been the breadwinner of the family," the girl said without even stuttering.

"I still don't get what makes that information connected to the reason why I am here."

Ariela placed her hands on the table and looked at her straight in the eye. "The Crown wants you to be an agent."

Tila nabingi siya sa sinabi nito. She digested what the woman just said ngunit hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa narinig.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"The Crown has assessed everything and they find you are very fit to be an Agent," Ariela continued in her very stiff voice it almost sounded like a robot.

Adriene laughed. Really laughed. "I think there's been a mistake. Yes, my father was an agent but I am no agent. I am not, in any way, interested in involving myself with the Crown's business especially being an agent."

"The Crown doesn't make mistakes. They chose you and you will have no choice but to obey."

Napatawa siya nang pagak. Ariela continued, "The monthly allowance given to you by the Crown for your father's service will be doubled. And if you wish to decline the offer, it will be removed. The Crown also found your grandma's medication maintenance and that you're all using the monthly allowance provided by the Crown to treat her every month."

Hindi na niya mapigilang mapatayo. "That is my father's money. That's his hard work. Hindi ninyo pwedeng basta-basta nalang kukunin iyon sa amin!"

"It is the Crown's money and the Crown has all the right to pull it out."

"Is the Crown threatening me right now?" Hindi na niya mapigilang magtaas ng bosses. Everything is just absurd. Everything just doesn't make any sense to her.

"I am merely a representative of a whole body. I can assure you the Crown doesn't make threats. The Crown is giving you choices," Ariela said at hindi mapigilan ni Adriene and pagluluha ng kanyang mata. She felt like she's being played. All her life she has avoided the Crown because of what happened to her dad matapos nitong magtrabaho sa Crown. And now she's being dragged into being an agent? Why her?

She sat back on her seat and calmed herself. Ariela didn't seem to mind her burst of emotion but instead, she handed her another folder. Tiningnan niya lang ito.

"The choices were laid to you. It's up to you now to make the choice. You have 48 hours. Once you make the decision, contact us in the details provided. Study what's inside that folder. He will be your mission." Ariela stood and straightened her white coat. "That would be all, Miss Contance. You are dismissed."

Hindi man lang siya hinintay ng babae na makapagsalita at agad lang itong lumabas sa kwarto. Leaving her with her own thought and a folder on her hands. They gave her choices ngunit parang wala pa rin siyang pagpipilian doon. If she declines, mawawalan ng sustento ang kanyang lola sa pagpapagamot nito. She is earning enough to place food on the table. But not enough to pay for her grandma's medication. But if she agrees to the offer, dodoble ang matatanggap ng kanyang pamilya. It would be enough to support her family kahit tumigil na siya sa pagtatrabaho sa pharmacy.

She swallowed hard and looked at the folder in her hands. Dahan-dahan niya itong binuksan at isag litrato ng lalake ang bumungad sa kanya. His dark eyes were staring back at her at para siya nitong hinihila. The man wasn't smiling on the photo but she could see something in his eyes. Alam na niya agad na arogante ito at tuso.

Bumukas ulit ang pintuan at pumasok ang isa sa mga lalakeng nakaitim kanina bitbit ang kanyang mga pinamili. Ibinigay nila iyon sa kanya and offered to take her home. She declined the offer but instead let them drop her off at the bus station.

Mabuti nalang at nakarating siya agad sa bahay bago pa mag alas singko kaya naman nakapaghanda pa sila sa mga lulutuin. But even as she tried to focus her mind on something, it still wanders to the conversation she had earlier with that woman. And even after dinner as she was getting ready to sleep, ang tanging nasa isip niya ay ang mukha ng lalake at ang magiging misyon niya kapag siya'y pumayag dito.

She closed her eyes and thought of possible ways she could escape her upcoming fate. SHe thought of ways she could decline the offer without compromising her family. But all she could do was heave a sigh as she found none.

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