Chapter 1: The Wicked
1590 Words
Cassandra was slowly putting her makeup infront of her vanity mirror. Tonight is her eighth wedding anniversary with her husband Fernando Chivaree who was a very successful businessman in the country and the sole owner of Pegasus Shipping Line which was dominating globally.
Malayo ang agwat ng kanilang edad. Nasa thirty-five palang siya habang sixty years old na si Fernando pero wala namang problema iyon sa kanya.
"Milady, your husband is already waiting downstairs," anunsyo ni Cone.
He stared at him through his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were cold and he had no emotion on his face. Alam niya kung bakit ito ang inilagay ng asawa niya bilang kanyang right hand at bodyguard. Her husband is an insecure old man who's afraid she might find someone younger and better than him. Cone was her husband's very trusted man who reports her every move to him.
"I'll be done in a minute," she said with a smile on her lips.
Bahagya lang itong yumuko bago tahimik na lumabas ng kanyang silid. She looked at herself one last time. A small smirk appeared on her lips when she felt contented with her attire. She's wearing a red dress with a very low neckline that shows her creamy breast and bareback. Ito ang napili niya dahil gusto niyang magmukhang kaakit-akit.
Well, even if she won't wear seductive dresses, she's still very confident. She's Cassandra Lori Chivaree for fúcksake! Her name alone could make everyone turn to her. A perks of having a very influential husband.
She heaved a small sigh before turning around and walking out of the room. Gaya ng sabi ni Cone, naroon na si Fernando sa ibaba. Even with his age, hindi rin naman halata ang tunay na edad nito. He was still handsome with his proud stance. Parang nasa late forties to early fifties palang ang lalaki kung tutuusin.
"You're so beautiful tonight, honey..." Puno ng paghanga nitong sambit.
She answered him a sweet smile. "You think so, hon?"
"Of course. You're the most beautiful woman in the whole world Cassandra, that's why I'm so inlove with you, honey..."
Mas lalo pa siyang napangiti. "Thank you honey. You're dashing handsome too."
"That's why we are meant to be with each other," tugon nito saka marahang hinaplos ang kanyang pisngi.
Disgusting!
Gayunpaman, nanatili siyang nakangiti. Inalok nito sa kanya ang sariling braso. Malambing naman siyang umabrisyete sa kanyang asawa at bahagya pang humilig sa braso nito.
"Shall we go?"
"Sure honey..."
They started walking towards the entrance when Fernando received a call. Napasimangot pa ito at parang ayaw sagutin ang tawag.
"Just take it honey. Baka importante yan," suhestyon niya.
Huminga ng malalim ang lalaki. "Okay, sandali lang to, honey."
Hinugot nito mula sa bulsa ng slacks ang cellphone. Dalawang beses siyang humakbang paatras para bigyan ito ng espasyo.
"WHAT?!" Dumagundong sa buong salas ang malakas nitong boses.
"Okay. Okay. Tell me when the kidnappers call again. I will coordinate with the authorities and negotiate with the kidnappers just so they will let my daughter go. Sabihin mo magbibigay ako kahit magkano payan basta wag nilamg sasaktan si Stephanie!" Pagpapatuloy nito.
A small smirk formed on the corner of her red like wine lips pero agad din naman iyong nabura at napalitan ng pag-aalala nang lumingon si Fernando sa kinaroroonan niya.
"What's wrong honey?" She asked in a soft demeanor.
Naglakad ito palapit sa kanya at ginagap ang kanyang mga kamay saka marahang pinisil. "I'm sorry honey, but I don't think we can go on our date tonight. Stephanie has been held by kidnappers as of the moment."
Malakas siyang napasinghap. "Oh my God! How is she? Is she fine? Do you have any leads where she is right now? Tell me hon! Tell me she's safe!" Sunod-sunod niyang sambit. She even sounds so histerical while asking about her stepdaughter's condition.
"Shhh... Don't worry too much honey. I will handle everything. Dito ka lang muna sa bahay, okay? I will add bodyguards for your safety habang wala ako," pang-aalo nito.
She sobbed. Fernando held her in his arms and hugged her tightly.
"It's alright honey. Stephanie will be alright," tukoy ng lalaki sa unica hija nito.
"Please hon, mag-ingat ka. Come back to me. No scratch. Safe and sound," humihikbi niyang sambit.
Binitawan siya ni Fernando at hinawakan ang kanyang mukha. "I will honey," anito bago siya kinitalan ng masuyong halik sa noo.
Binalingan nito si Cone na nakatayo may kalayuan sa kanila. "Take good care of my wife Cone. Make sure she's safe until I come back, understand?" Maawtoridad nitong saad.
Mabilis namang yumuko si Cone. "I will, Sir."
Fernando immediately left the house together with a bunch of bodyguards. Nang makaalis ito ay muli siyang naglakad sa kanyang silid. Nakasunod naman sa kanya si Cone hanggang sa pintuan ng kanyang silid.
Nagtuloy-tuloy lang siya sa pagpasok sa loob at marahang naupo sa gilid ng kama. Marahan niyang hinaplos ang bedsheet habang iniisip ang kalagayan ng kanyang stepdaughter na si Stephanie. Few more minutes, that woman will be dead. Konti nalang at matutupad na niya ang kanyang mga plano. Makakapaghiganti na rin siya at makakalaya sa impyernong kinaroroonan niya ngayon…
……
Kyrie was sitting on the one-seater couch while watching Jerome Thompson, his friend and business partner do the negotiation of his new armoured weapons.
"Are you sure this one is really good quality?" Slang na tanong ng kanilang bagong kliyente.
"Of course Mr.Mori. This one came from Russia. I can assure you of a good quality for the price, " sagot ni Jerome.
Napatango-tango ang lalaki bago muling sinipat ng tingin ang mga baril na nasa kahon. Ilang taon na nilang negosyo itong dalawa. They were sellers of armoured weapons at a high price and the business is really doing good. Kung magkano ang kita nila ay hati silang dalawa.
Maya maya pa'y lumingon si Mr.Mori sa mga tauhan nitong nakatayo sa may pinto. Lumapit naman ang isa sa mga lalaking may dalang attache case. Inilapag ni Mr.Mori ang attache case sa mesa na naglalaman ng lilibuhing pera.
"Two million pesos as per our initial agreement."
Agad naman siyang dumampot ng isang bundle at inamoy ang pera. Damn! It really smells good!
"Let's consider our deal successful then," aniya at kinamayan ang lalaki.
Malugod naman nitong tinanggap ang kanyang pakikipagkamay at ganun din kay Jerome.
"I hope we can do business again in the near future Mr.Guevarra, Mr.Thompson…"
"Sure Mr.Mori," nakangiti niyang tugon.
Hindi nagtagal ay umalis na ang kanilang kliyente. Tamad siyang napasandal sa couch habang hinihintay na bumalik si Jerome mula sa paghahatid kay Mr.Mori sa labas ng yate para makalipat sa sarili nitong barko.
Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay muli ng bumalik si Jerome at umupo rin sa katapat na couch.
"Ang tagal na ng huli nating transaksyon. I miss the smell of this," nakangisi nitong sambit.
Tipid siyang napangiti. "Yeah right."
It's been months since the last time he did business dahil nacomatose siya dulot mg kanyang huling misyon. Bukod sa negosyo nilang dalawa ni Jerome sa black market, pareho din silang secret agent. They're working under the National Intelligence Communication Agency na mismong pinamamahalaan ni Police Lieutenant Antonio Guevarra, ang sarili niyang ama. His father didn't know about his underground business though. Sigurado siyang papatayin siya nito kung sakali.
Tumayo si Jerome at kumuha ng beer saka iniabot sa kanya. Akmang ilalagok na niya ang bote nang magvibrate ang kanyang cellphone. Napakamot pa siya ng ulo nang makitang ang kanyang ama ang tumatawag.
"Who was that? One of your women?" Mapanuksong tanong ni Jerome.
"Nah, it's Dad," naiiling niyang sabi bago tumayo at nagpunta sa deck ng yate para sagutin ang tawag.
"Zup Dad. Namiss mo ba ako agad?" Biro pa niya.
"Come home immediately Kyrie. May importante tayong pag-uusapan," seryoso nitong saad.
"What is it about Dad?" Kunot noo niyang tanong.
"It's an emergency. Just come home, son. I will tell you the details once you're here," anito bago pinatay ang tawag.
He heaved a sigh before putting his phone on his pocket. Binalikan niya si Jerome para magpaalam sa lalaki.
"I need to go pare, may emergency sa bahay," aniya sabay tapik sa balikat ng kaibigan.
"No problem, pare. Just text me if you need help," tugon nito.
He nodded before walking out of the yacht. Mabilis siyang sumakay sa kanyang Cosmic Starship bigbike at pinaharurot iyon pabalik sa kanilang bahay.
Sa labas palang ay nakita na niya ang ilang hanay ng sasakyan. It seems like his father has visitors. Not an ordinary visitors. Ipinarada niya ang kanyang motor sa garahe bago pumasok sa loob.
Hindi nga siya nagkakamali. Mukhang hindi basta-basta ang bisita ng kanyang daddy dahil sa dami ng hanay ng bodyguards na naroon. He casually went inside and saw his parents on the salas talking to a man. It was Tito Fernando Chivaree. His Dad's closest friend.
"Hey Dad, Mom," bati niya sa mga ito bago ibinaling ang tingin kay Fernando. "Good evening Tito."
Kita niyang mukhang problemado ang lalaki. Nilingon niya ang kanyang ama sa nagtatanong na mga mata.
"Sit down, son. We need to discuss something very important," ani ng Daddy Antonio niya.
Tumalima naman siya. "What is it, Dad? You're making me anxious," natatawa niyang ani para pagaanin ang tensyon sa loob.
"I need your help, hijo," si Tito Fernando ang sumagot.
"H—help? Why Tito?"
"My daughter, Stephanie, has been kidnapped and right now, they are asking for a big sum of money. Please hijo, save my daughter. I'm begging you..."
- Writer
