Euphemia Perez: The Billionaire’s Swindler Wife (R-18)

Chapter 1

Euphemia Perez

"Where are you?" tanong ko sa bago kong target na isang wealthy man.

I adjusted my expensive sunglasses while looking around the lounge inside the Sky Hotel like a classy spy searching for her target. Then, my gaze shifted to the screen in front of me to match each good looking guys I’m looking for. I stared at the photo of the man on my laptop and boom, walang matched. Damn. Where is he?

Luckily, I have his personal information. Thanks to my friends who are swindlers like me.

If somebody would ask kung ano ang trabaho ko, well, isa akong manggagantso.

How nice, right?

Nanggagantso ako ng mga mayayamang lalaki na naaayon sa aking pangangailangan, maliit man na bagay o malaki. Kung gusto ko ng kotse ay magta-target ako ng businessman na nagmamay-ari ng mga car dealerships. Kung gusto ko namang mag-tour around the world ay magta-target ako ng mayaman na maraming salapi, may private planes, jets, at may-ari ng airport. Kung tutuusin ay iilan na rin ang aking nagantso sa loob ng anim na taon. Mayroon ding iilan sa kanila na muntik na akong ipakulong sa mga pulis dahil nahuhuli nila ako sa aking masamang gawain.

But because I have clever friends who have connections ay palagi akong nakakalusot. Pero ang pinakamatindi sa lahat kung paano ako nakakalusot ay dahil sa aking angking kagandahan.

I could sway those cops in just a wink.

I stopped reminiscing and continued to focus on my appointment today. Nahagip ng mata ko iyong lalaki na bagong pasok lamang sa entrance ng Sky Hotel habang nakadikit ang kanyang phone sa kanyang kaliwang tainga, at doon ko napagtantong siya na nga iyong bago kong target or should I say my flavor of the month. Napangisi ako habang pinapanood kong naglalakad iyong aking new target na sinisipat ang bawat table na kanyang madaanan dito sa lounge.

I’m certain that he doesn't know my identity.

Or so I thought?

Nakaukit lamang ang ngisi sa aking labi habang pinapanood siyang naglalakad at nagsisipat ng mga taong nakaupo sa bawat table dahil hinahanap niya ako.

Nang magtama ang aming mga mata ay walang pakundangan siyang dumiretso sa gawi ko. Ni hindi ko man lamang naramdaman iyong pag-aalinlangan sa kanyang ekspresyon. Literal na pagkakita niya sa akin ay nasa akin na ang kanyang atensyon.

Kumakalabog ang puso ko sa aking dibdib. Natulala ako sa kanya habang papalapit siya sa akin. May kung anong puting liwanag ang lumabas sa likuran niya at nag-slowmo pa ang kanyang paglalakad na katulad sa pelikula. Nawala ang ngisi sa aking mapulang labi at napaawang ito habang pinagmamasdan ang lalaking hindi ko aakalain na mayroong misteryosong personalidad.

At nawala na nga sa aking isipan na siya nga pala ang bago kong target!

I kept playing his name in my head he he walked towards me. This disgustingly handsome guy who is staring at me is none other than Markus Alejandro.

Hindi ko akalain na mas gwapo siya ng triple sa personal kaysa sa billboard kung saan ko siya unang nakita. Of course, it has to be edited to make the billboard look neat and enticing in the eyes.

He was too hot physically and has a cold aura which made him look more intriguing for me.

This is how it went. Weeks ago, habang nakapatong sa mesa ang aking dalawang paa ko at bored na kinakain ang mansanas habang nanonood ng news (naghahanap ako ng bagong magagantso dahil wala na akong pera), I just found out na si Markus Alejandro na pala ang bagong COO ng AA Group. Ayon sa news, si Miss Beige Del Rio Alejandro ang bagong naitalagang CFO o Chief Financial Officer ng AA Group. At dahil na rin sa balita na iyon ay nalaman kong hinahanapan ng makakasama habang buhay si Markus. In short, his rich family is looking for a wife for him.

And that was the reason why I contacted Markus Alejandro anonymously. I have my ways how to and it’s a secret, but I’ll give some basic information about how I do my magnificent job.

Bilang isang swindler, pinag-aaralan ko muna kung anong klase ng tao ang target ko. And I learned that Markus is a very private man. Siya ay tahimik at binansagang 'Ice Cold Markus' noong siya ay nasa college pa. Matalino siyang tunay ngunit napakasuplado.

Sa usapan naming dalawa ni Markus noong tinawagan ko siya days before this meet up ay hindi siya nag-atubiling pumayag sa aking alok— that I could be his fake wife for months at maghihiwalay rin kapag humupa na ang lahat ng issue at atensyon sa kanya. Ang dahilan ng meet up naming dalawa ngayon ay para pag-usapan ang aming agreement.

The exciting part, though, is I’m going to deceive Ice Cold Markus by faking my eventual love for him. I will profess my fake love for him during the agreement to get more money from him. Just thinking about it makes me imagine having a lot of money in my bank accounts, plus, I will have my face posted on articles and news beside Ice Cold Markus as my husband. What more could I ask for, right?

At saka ko na pa-planuhin ang aking exit sa buhay ni Markus kapag nakahanap na ako ng bagong target. Kailangan ko munang makahuthot sa kanya until I get satisfied.

But why do I feel like I'm going to pee just by looking at him right now?

I got really nervous nang maupo si Markus sa single couch na kaharap ko lamang. He sat there like he was just meeting an ordinary person. He didn't even bat an eyelid.

I am known for being confident and seductive, but having Markus in front of me.. damn.. I don't know why I feel this way. Ito na yata ang unang pagkakataon na kailangan kong pekehin ang confidence ko sa harap ng aking target.

Or should I say, sa isang lalaki.

Nakatitig pa rin ako kay Markus habang nakaawang ang aking bibig. At nang mapagtanto ko iyon ay sinara ko kaagad ang bibig ko. Bigla akong napaisip. How did he know it was me he’s going to meet? Ni hindi ako nag-send ng photo ko sa kanya. I was literally anonymous to him when I called him.

Ganoon ba siya katalino? O pinaimbestigahan niya ako bago siya nakipag-meet sa akin ngayon?

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Euphemia Perez," panimula ni Markus. Nakatitig lamang siya sa akin without any emotions. He doesn't even smiling. I don’t even know if he’s bored right now. I could totally say that this man has no thrill in life. He might be disgustingly handsome, but him having cold attitude and mysterious personality.. I don't think he'll get a real wife after our agreement. I’m not trying to be judgemental, but that’s what I see in him.

Geez, I have to work extra hard to gain this man’s trust or else, I won’t get any extra penny from him when I profess my fake love for him. Ugh.

I must set that thoughts aside at this moment dahil ang importante lang naman sa akin ay mayaman siya at mabibigay niya ang gusto ko during our agreement.

Talaga ba, Euphie? I asked myself in my mind and I mentally slapped myself in my mind too.

Napamura pa ako sa isip ko. Fvck. Nababaliw na ako.

"Y-yes. Ako nga," I cleared my throat after I said that because I sounded a bit nervous. Bigla tuloy akong na-conscious sa harapan ni Markus which is not a good sign. I should look and feel confident in front of him like I have always been when I’m with my targets. With that, I sat up nicely and ladylike para hindi mawala ang aking poise at confidence sa harapan ng isang Markus Alejandro.

"Is there a contract for this? Or any written agreement?" dagdag na tanong ni Markus. Base sa kanyang tono ay wala siyang balak na pahabain ang meeting na ito at nais lamang niyang matapos ang aming agreement as soon as possible.

And it’s making me a bit annoyed. Ganoon ba ako ka-boring para sa kanya? Am I not beautiful and alluring enough for him?

I tried to calm my nerves by breathing deeply. Then, I smiled at him.

"Ah, here," I answered nicely. Kinuha ko ang isang morocco folder na kulay green sa aking attache case na nakatabi sa gilid ng aking upuan. Nang mailabas ko iyong folder ay inabot ko iyon kay Markus.

But what happened next made my eyes widened. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay napaawang na naman ng bahagya ang aking bibig habang nakatingin kay Markus.

He simply took the folder from my hand. He opened it without even reading the front page. He didn’t scan the pages nor did some skimming. He just opened the folder and simply looked for the blank space for the signature and he signed it right away. Ni-check pa niya ang ibang sumunod na page at ganoon lang din ang ginawa niya. Ni hindi na nga ako nakapagsalita pa hanggang sa isara niya ang folder at iabot iyon muli sa akin.

Natulala na lamang ako habang nakatitig sa folder habang hawak pa ito ni Markus. Kung marami lamang langaw dito ay kanina pa siguro sila nakapasok sa aking bibig dahil kanina pa ito nakaawang.

He must have felt my surprise reaction dahil inilapag na lamang ni Markus ang folder sa bilog na mesa na mayroong tatak na Empire Enterprise sa rim nito.

"T-teka, hindi mo man lang binasa.."

"I don't need to. This is urgent and you're the only available person in this area to be my fake wife. Or should I say, my swindler wife," walang filter na saad ni Markus.

Mas lalo akong nasurpresa sa kanyang sinabi. Pakiramdam ko ay kilala na niya ang buong pagkatao ko kahit na ngayon pa lamang kami nagkita. I wasn’t feeling it. I feel like he is trespassing my personal life just by saying the word ‘swindler’.

Lumukot ang mukha sa kanyang sinabi. "Excuse me?" pagalit kong saad. "Who do you think you are?"

"Your fake husband," simpleng sagot ni Markus at saka na ito tumayo at inayos ang kanyang itim na coat. Sa sobrang aga naming nagkita ay siguradong kailangan na nga niyang umalis. "I'm going. It's my first day of work.”

He took something out of his coat’s pocket at saka niya iyon inilapag sa mesa.

“I suppose you already know my background. My family and friends are coming over to my house around seven pm. They are going to meet you. Please, cook something," ani Markus. "And, I'll pay you every first day of the month."