TLBS1: Lost With A Haughty Billionaire

Chapter 3

’DI PA rin maalis ang pagkakunot ng noo ni Althed. Kasalukuyang nasa board room ang buo niyang pamilya at ang Ninong Eldwick niya. Pina-news blackout niya ang naganap na hostage-taking drama nang nakaraang araw. Ipinalabas nilang nagkaroon lamang ng air conditioning problem sa loob ng mall kaya sila nagpalabas ng mall goers. His people did a great job. Walang video o photo ng insidente ang kumalat. Buti na rin at wala masyadong tao sa parte ng mall kung saan naganap ang hostage-taking.

Ngunit wala sa insidente ang isipan niya. The image of that sexy policewoman didn’t leave his head: her lips that seemed to be perfectly-shaped, her well-pointed nose, her expressive round eyes that seemed to be hypnotizing him, her addicting scent that snatched his sanity, and of course, her perfect curves. Everything on her awaken something in him. Kung hindi nga lang nito isinupalpal sa mukha niya ang tsapa nito at kung hindi niya ito nakitang nagligtas ng hostage, aakalain niyang iba ang profession nito. She was too sexy to be a policewoman. Fine. She’s beautiful. She has the figure. But why does she hate me that much? Dala-dala niya ang curiosity about Ainah hanggang sa umuwi siya. He even checked his brother’s yearbook in high school. Sina Ian at Ainah kasi ang magka-batch. He was one year ahead of them. And, he was able to confirm her existence. Magka-schoolmate nga sila noon pero ang problema, hindi niya maalalang na-encounter niya ito noon.

Then he remembered that prior to that hostage-taking, nakasalubong pa niya ito. He remembered how she looked at him and he thought, she was just a weird woman na gustong magpapansin sa kanya. Kaya pala gano’n siya makatingin. His curiosity about her and their past that he couldn’t remember lingered his senses.

Why is she like that to me? Who are you, Ainah?

“Althed! Hey, Althed, are you even listening?” His father caught his attention.

Iyon ang nagpabalik ng atensyon niya sa snap family meeting na iyon. “Ah, yes, dad.”

“What had happened yesterday was only a drama. Kumanta na ang hostage-taker at ang hostage. Magkakuntsaba ang dalawa. They just got paid to do the chaos,” pahayag ni Ninong Eldwick.

“At sino namang gagawa nito sa atin?” tanong ni Mama Sophia.

“Maraming puwede gumawa nito, Mama. The competitors, the investors that I didn’t favor of, and those who don’t like my existence,” sabi ni Althed. “They want to take away the mall-goers from visiting our mall. Magpahanggang ngayon, our mall is still in the top rank based on numbers of mall visitors on a day-to-day basis. The competitors are really shaking.”

“May kinalaman kaya dito ang mga death threat na natatanggap mo, anak?” tanong ng kanyang Daddy Geo. He was actually a doctor and part of the Board of Directors of Kaviero Group of Companies. His father was running his own medical clinics across the country.

“Death threats? Why the hell hindi ninyo sinasabing may natatanggap kang death threats?!” Mama Sophia asked in a high tone.

“’Ma, dead threats lang iyon. Wala pa namang nangyayari maliban sa pananakot. Puro pagbabanta lang,” katwiran niya. “Take it easy, ’Ma. I can handle it.”

It’s been quite normal for him to receive messages from unknown giving him death threats. May malaking issue ng management at inheritance ang KGC. It had something to do with his mother’s Chinese family and those investors that he refused to accept that mostly came from or related to his mother’s lineage. Idagdag pa ang mga malalaking pangalan na hindi niya pinaboran sa mga request nila. Some of them were even government officials who wanted to dig money from the corporation out of tax issues that the company was not really liable at all.

Added to that, he was not actually good in treating people. Marami na siyang empleyadong pinatalsik nang walang awa. There’s no room for incompetence in his premises. Once you committed a mistake that would affect the company’s profit, you would be automatically out. He actually didn’t care about his employees’ lives. All he cared about was the output.

Marami na rin siyang nakabanggang mga kapwa negosyante na hindi niya rin naitatrato nang ayos. Those were the reasons why it was difficult to figure out who were doing those threats to him. But for the past months, he was only receiving notes and random text messages. None of those threats materialized. What had happened the day before might be another story.

“Oo nga, ’Ma. Kami na lang ni Kuya ang bahala,” segunda ni Ian.

“Mga anak, nanay n’yo ako. Hindi n’yo maiaalis sa akin ang mag-alala. Besides, I’m still the former president of the board and this is a business issue.” Bumaling ito kay Ninong Eldwick. “Alam mo ba ang tungkol dito?”

Umiling ito. “No, actually. Well, until now. I’ll include this info for further investigation.”

“Kailangan mo, anak, ng mas mahigpit na security,” sambi ng kanyang ina. “Yes, add more people to secure our safety.”

Napailing na lang si Althed. He thought his mom’s reaction was exaggerated. Until an idea popped in. “That woman! Hindi kaya ini-stage niya lang ito?”

“Who?” tanong ni Ninong Eldwick.

“That policewoman!” giit niya.

“Si Florendo?” tanong muli ng ninong niya. “Paano namang siya ang may pakana? Siya pa nga ang rumesponde. And I guarantee you, she can never do that. Malinis ang record niya. She’s actually one of top performing police in this city.”

“Galit siya sa akin. Motibo iyon,” sabi niya.

His brother chuckled. “Iyong galit niya sa ’yo, hindi sapat na sirain ang business mo. Wala siyang mapapala kung masira ang pangalan ng SCK. Isa pa, I know Ainah since high school. Malabo iyang theory mo, kuya.”

“And why?” tanong pa rin niya.

“Million daw ang ibinayad para sa hostage drama,” sabi ni Ninong Eldwick. “Walang gano’n si Florendo. Hindi naman siguro gano’n kalalim ang galit niya sa ’yo. Baka dahil hindi mo lang siya pinapansin, anak, kaya nagtatampo.”

“At saka, anak, napakabait no’n sa ’yo. Sa natatandaan ko no’ng high school ka pa, kahit tinataboy mo iyon, palagi pa rin siyang present at supportive sa mga highlight event mo no’n,” sabi ng kanyang ina.

Napakunot ang noo niya. “Hindi ko po talaga siya maaalala.” Sa dinami-rami ng babaeng nagpapapansin sa kanya noong estudyante pa siya, wala ni isa sa mga mukha ng mga iyon ang nanatili sa memory niya. Most of them just appeared and disappeared in his memory like nothing happened. But seriously? Kilala-kilala siya ng pamilya ko? Huh?

“Young love naman pala,” tudyo ni Ninong Eldwick na ikinatawa ni Ian Sol.

“This is exciting, really. Baka siya na sa wakas ang magtitiyagang maging girlfriend mo, kuya.”

“Can you just please shut up? That’s nonsense,” he replied.

Then I still be back with the same question. Who are you, Maria Ainah Florendo?

Naistorbo ang kanilang family meeting nang mag-ring ang cell phone niya. It was an unregistered number. Sinagot niya ang tawag at baka importante iyon. No one knew his number aside from family, friends, and selected VIP’s.

“Did you like the show, Kaviero?” bungad ng isang boses ng lalaki mula sa kabilang linya. “Patikim lang iyan. Sa susunod, mga mahal mo na sa buhay ang nasa eksena. That will be nice. Right, Kaviero?”

Napakunot ang noo niya. It was a call from someone who really staged the hostage-taking. “Who the hell are you? What do you need?”

Tumawa ito. “’Wag kang magmadali, Kaviero. Nagsisimula pa lang tayong magpatintero. At sa larong ito, buhay mo at ng pamilya mo ang taya. Isama na natin ang mga taong mahalaga sa buhay mo para mas exciting, right?”

Ninong Eldwick signaled him to turn his phone to loud speaker mode so he did. “Hanggang pananakot ka lang naman. Do whatever you want, I’m not scared.”

“Gano’n ba? Your wish is my command. Let’s play, Kaviero.”

The call ended and it was immediately followed by a sound of explosion.

“Ano iyon?” tanong ng kanyang ama.

They moved immediately. Sumilip sila sa bintana at nakita nilang nagliliyab na sa open parking ang kotse ng kanilang ama.

“Oh, no! Our car!” bulalas ni Mama Sophia.

“We have to be cautious. This is not a joke anymore,”sabi ng kanyang ama.

That awakened a hint of fear on Althed. What if kung kailan sakay ng kotseng iyon ang ama’t ina niya ay saka iyon sumabog? He couldn’t imagine losing his parents in instant.

In just snap, his Ninong already called the Fire Station, SWAT, and NCIA and the company’s security advised all the people of the building to evacuate. Who knew, there might be other bombs scattered in the building.

Muling nag-ring ang cell phone ni Althed nang makarating sila sa open parking sa likod ng building. Nasa harap ng building ang nasusunog pa ring kotse ng kanyang ama na inaasikaso na ng mga bombero. It was another unregistered number calling.

“Kumusta, Kaviero? I hope you enjoy the blast. ’Wag kang mag-alala. Sa susunod, sisiguraduhin kong laman ng sasakyan ang mga magulang mo bago ko muling ilagay ang regalo kong bomba para sa ’yo. Uunahin ko sila at ihuhuli kita. In that way, you can enjoy every single pain and tears.” The call was ended immediately before he was able to say something.

“What’s the problem, anak?” tanong ng nanay niya.

“The guy called again,” he informed.

“This is alarming, anak. Mukhang hindi lang security ang idagdag dito. We need someone who can investigate this case,” sabi ng kanyang ama.

Althed agreed. Kailangan nilang malaman kung sino itong nananakot sa kanya bago pa may tuluyang masaktan.

Few minutes more, his father’s burning car was declared fire out. Patuloy pa rin sa pag-search sa buong building ang kapulisan habang ang iba ay abala sa pag-determine ng bombang ginamit sa pagpapasabog sa kotse ng kanyang ama.

All of these were getting to Althed’s nerve. Naabala na ang business operations niya. He might be losing millions up to that moment.

Lumapit sa kanya si Vernice, his secretary. Isang tinging nang-aakit ang ibinigay nito sa kanya. She was wearing a sexy pencil-cut skirt and plunging neckline cream-colored top. It wasn’t a secret for him that his secretary liked him. She’s always flirty, but he didn’t care. He didn’t have any problem as long as she was doing her job well.

“Sir, a representative from NCIA wants to talk to you.”

He nodded. Binalingan niya ang kanyang kapatid. “Dito ka muna kina Mama. I’ll just talk to the NCIA.”

“Okay, kuya.”

“This way, sir,” his secretary uttered flirtatiously as she turned around and started walking. Pa-sexy itong naglalakad pero wala dito ang atensyon niya. Naalala lang niya kung paanong maglakad ng sexy si Ainah habang papasok sila sa employee’s entrance ng shop na pinasok nila kahapon. Damn that woman! Hindi niya alam kung bakit tila naging sharp ang memory niya tungkol kay Ainah gano’ng hindi naman niya gusto ang presence nito.

Napakunot ang noo niya nang makita niya ang sexy policewoman na iyon na kausap ng Ninong niya. Agad na lumingon ito nang lapitan ito ng secretary niya. She posed a poker face and nodded when their eyes nodded.

“Sir, this is PMSgt. Maria Ainah Florendo from NCIA,” pagpapakilala ni Vernice.

Tumango lang siya. Yeah, I know her. Uhm, she knows me, I mean. Damn this situation! Ainah was gazing at her, still with a poker face.

“Mr. Kaviero, we already searched the entire building. Fortunately, wala naman kaming na-recover na bomba. Pero may nakuha kami na three suspicious boxes.” Itinuro nito ang SWAT team sa bandang likuran nito na ini-inspect ang mga kahapon. “Walang bomba ang unang box na nabuksan but it is a clear item for threats.” She was still serious while talking to him in professional way, malayo sa Ainah, na gigil na gigil sa kanya kahapon. And Althed didn’t know why he was affected. And why am I thinking about it more than the bombs and death threat?

“What’s in the box?” he asked in serious tone.

She showed him a picture from her cell phone. It was a creepy image of a box with a small doll and picture of him and his family dripped in blood. “The person who did this certainly knows you well.”

In a snap, lalong nawalan ng tiwala si Althed sa mga taong nagsisilbi sa pamilya nila at sa kompanya. Maaaring nag-aalaga siya ng traydor.

May lumapit na pulis kay Ainah kaya napabaling ito doon.

“Sir, the NCIA needs to see the CCTV footages. Please sign this document,” his secretary interrupted.

Binasa niya iyon at pinirmahan. Agad na umalis ang sekretarya niya at ibinigay sa security head ang pinapirmahang document sa kanya. Ibinalik niya ang paningin kay Ainah who was still busy talking to authorities. Nang muling nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata ay gano’n pa rin ang itsura nito: in poker face na parang hindi siya kilala.

“The other boxes, wala ring bomba. Halos pareho lang ng laman ng unang box maliban sa pictures. Iyong isang box, ikaw lang ang nasa larawan. The third box, pictures mo with your friends.”

“And how did you know about my friends?” he sarcastically asked. “Still stalking me after years?”

Ngumiti lang ito nang tipid sa kanya at muling naging poker-faced. “Sir, mas maraming kaso na kailangan ng oras at expertise ko na dapat paglaan kaysa alamin ang buhay mo. Not interested, sir. The people in the picture were Ian Sol, Aveline Mariole, Monique Castillo, Myka Catacutan, the siblings Jheymie and Arthwil Catacutan, Aycee Cerio, Jayda Castillo, and Mayor Macky Almendral. They were our schoolmates, sir, way back in high school. They are your friends, right? I know them, sir.”

Something in him got annoyed whenever the word sir comes out her mouth. Parang hindi term of respect ang dating noon sa kanya kung ’di pang-aasar. And yes, naaasar siya.

“Then do your job. Find the person behind this and stop calling me sir.”

“Bakit, sir? Ayaw mo no’n, sir? Kahit ’di ka marunong gumalang sa ibang tao, may taong gumagalang sa ’yo, sir, kahit hindi mo deserve.”

“Then why do you keep on calling me sir if I don’t deserve it?” iritableng tanong niya. He was losing his patience.

“Para maimbiyerna ka, sir. “Effective, ’di ba? Bye, sir! I’ll check the CCTV, sir.”

Bubuka pa lang ang bibig niya nang talikuran na siya nito at naglakad na ito palayo kasama ng secretary niya.

Napaawang ang kanyang bibig dito. No one should dare to talk to him like that, nor no one should turn back at him while he was not yet done talking. “Hey, you!” he shouted.

Huminto ito sa paglalakad at bumaling sa kanya. “And also with you, sir!” Kumaway pa ito sa kanya bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad palayo.

Nakuyom niya ang palad sa inis. Nilapitan na lang niya ang ninong niya. “Ninong, do you think it’s time to hire experts from Code Black Security and Investigative Agency?” It was a private agency affiliated to NCIA that had a pool of investigation experts.

“You should. Based on the consecutive incidents, I believe that you and your family is in great danger.”