Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 4

MAGNUS ROURKE, a wealthy businessman with a lot of shady business, but for some reason, he had ways to get away from the authorities. Nakatayo siya sa harapan ng isang malaking monitor sa loob mismo ng kniyang pribadong opisina at nakalagay ng kaniyang kamay sa likuran. Before him, a projection of Sinclair Systems showed on the monitor. They were supply routes, encrypted patents, and defense contracts—assets that were powerful enough to shift the balance of several territories.

And all of it belonged to one woman, no one had ever truly seen.

“Boss, this Sinclair heir was more powerful than the previous one,” saad ng tauhan ni Magnus.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Magnus. “That’s why she caught my attention. She was indeed an extraordinary woman. Her older brother was already powerful enough. It’s a pity he died young.”

Tumalikod si Magnus sa monitor at tinungo ang likod ng kaniyang lamesa. Umupo siya sa swivel chair. He’d been eyeing for the Sinclair Company for long time. He won’t let any opportunity to be wasted.

“To get what I want,” he said, his voice laced with ambition, “kailangan kong makuha si Reese Sinclair.”

“Pero, Boss, wala pa ring malinaw na record kung ano talaga ang itsura niya.”

Ngumiti lamang si Magnus. “That’s exactly why she’s valuable,” he said as he looked at his second-in-command. “She is always wearing a mask when she appears in public. Siguruhin niyong mangyari ang plano natin. This is a rare opportunity to see the Sinclair heir. Huwag na nating palampasin pa.”

His second-in-command nodded immediately. “Yes, Boss. Huwag kayong mag-alala. Sa pinaplano natin, siguradong wala siyang magagawa kundi ang magpakasal sa ‘yo.”

“By the way, will he come?” he asked, referring to a person who controls the Underground Organization of Asia—Alaric Theo Volkov, his mortal enemy. One of the reasons why he wants to take control of the Sinclair Family is that it will make him more powerful and enable him to surpass the Volkov Family.

“He has no reply to our invitation, Boss. But he was an unpredictable person.”

“Just make sure he won’t get close to the Sinclair heir.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Magnus’s smile widened—not with joy, but with certainty. ‘Volkov, I will make sure you won’t be able to marry Reese Sinclair. I will surpass you.’

SAMANTALA, namamahinga si Alaric sa hardin ng mansyon. Nakaupo siya sa rocking chair na naroon at komportable siya kahit pa medyo nasisinagan siya ng araw. His eyes were closed but he heard the footsteps coming and stopped beside him.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

Julian slightly bowed his head before speaking. “Boss, some news from our spy.”

Nagmulat ng mata si Alaric. “I was hoping for good news, but seeing your face definitely wasn’t good news. Tell me, what is it about this time?”

“Boss, Reese Sinclair will go to the Rourkes’ Family party.” Imporma ni Julian.

“Really?”

Tumango si Julian.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Alaric. “It was a good opportunity to see her.”

“Pero…”

Tumingin si Alaric kay Julian. “But what?”

Julian took a deep breath before speaking and even took a step back. “But Magnus Rourke wants to marry Reese Sinclair. They had also planned to force her to marry him.”

Natawa na lamang si Alaric. “Magnus really wants to surpass the power I have in Asia,” he said. He knew why Magnus wanted to get into the Sinclair System.

They want the same thing, but for him, it’s not to dominate the world—it was to find the designer of the AEGIS-535.

“Boss, are we going to the Rourke?”

Tumango si Alaric. “Of course, it was a good opportunity to see my mysterious fiancée. I want to see what she really looked like,” he said.

Though Volkov and the Rourke are enemies, they won’t strike each other as long as no one gets hurt.

Napabuntong hininga si Alaric at sumandal sa kinauupuan. He pulled the folder containing Reese Sinclair’s profile—even the information filled in this report and found by his second-in-command wasn’t accurate.

“Reese Sinclair, who really are you?”

APARTMENT

Isang ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi ni Reese nang makita niya ang apartment na hinanap ni Artemis para sa kaniya. Maliit lamang ang apartment pero tahimik at sa tingin niya magiging komportable siya. The apartment has two rooms only—a compact living area that doubled as workspace, and a bedroom barely large enough for a single bed and a narrow desk. Magkasama na ang living room at kusina.

The walls were painted an off-white that had faded with time, and the furniture looked mismatched. A worn couch sat against the wall—malinis naman ito pero may puni-punit sa dulo. Near the window, a secondhand shelf stood holding a few books. In this apartment, nothing screamed wealth, power, or danger.

Nakatayo naman si Artemis sa may pintuan at tinitignan ang kabuuan ng apartment. Sa totoo lang hindi siya komportable na dito titira ang Boss niya. She had found a decent house for her Young Lady.

“I don’t need a house, Artemis. Pero kunin mo, kakailanganin ko ‘yon.”

Artemis let out a small sigh. “Young Lade,” maingat niyang saad, “sigurado ka bang titira ka rito?”

Reese set down her bag and smiled—calm and genuine. “Oo naman.” Tugon niya. “Isa pa, baka hindi rin ako tatagal rito.”

Artemis frowned. “Pero—”

“Artemis,” Reese interrupted gently but firmly, she meets her gaze, “let’s not meet unless it’s necessary. And avoid coming into this place in case someone might get suspicious.”

Naglakad siya patungo sa may bintana. She pulled the thin curtain aside just enough to look down at the street and saw some people passing by. It was a normal life.

“My arrival had been spread,” pagpatuloy niya. “Maraming mata ang nakatingin sa akin ngayon. And they can’t wait to curry favor from the Sinclair Family. This place keeps me invisible.”

Nag-alangan si Artemis pero tumango siya. “Yes, Young Lady.”

Then Artemis paused before leaving. “Be careful, Young Lady.

Ngumiti si Reese. “I always am.”

The door closed behind Artemis, leaving Reese alone.

She exhaled slowly. Isinara niya ang kurtina at tinanggal ang suot na half silver mask.

Here, in this place, she wasn’t Reese Sinclair—the masked heiress, the Sinclair heir, and the head of the Sinclair Family.

Here, she was Rica Agnes—an ordinary woman.