Fire&,Lie

Chapter 6: The secret investigation

The morning after the party, Gwen tried to act normal. She scrubbed the marble floors, arranged the flowers, and served breakfast like nothing happened. Pero sa bawat galaw niya, ramdam pa rin ang init ng mga salitang binitawan ni JV kagabi.

"You burn for me… just like I burn for you."

Napakagat-labi siya habang naglilinis ng mesa, pilit inaalis sa isip ang gabing iyon. Hindi puwedeng mahulog ako. Hindi puwedeng malaman niya ang totoo.

Meanwhile…

Sa private office ng mansion, nakaupo si JV sa harap ng malaking desk. His expression was unreadable, pero ang mga mata niya’y matalim habang nakatutok sa isang tao sa kabilang linya.

“Find out everything about her,” utos niya sa kanyang private investigator. “The new maid. Gwen.”

“Any particular detail, sir?” tanong ng boses sa telepono.

JV’s grip on his pen tightened. “All of it. Where she came from. Who her family is. Why she’s here. I want her entire life on my desk by next week.”

“Understood.”

Pagkaputol ng tawag, humigop ng kape si JV, ang panga niya matigas. You can’t hide from me, little maid. Whatever you’re hiding… I’ll uncover it.

The Possessive Flame

Later that afternoon, Gwen was in the garden, watering the roses. She thought she was alone, kaya huminga siya nang malalim at nag-relax sandali.

Pero biglang may dumungaw sa tabi niya. JV.

She jumped. “S-Sir, I’m sorry—”

“Relax,” he interrupted, his voice low. “You don’t always have to look so guilty.”

Tahimik siyang nakatingin habang kinukuha ni JV ang hose sa kamay niya. He turned the nozzle, watering the roses himself, his sleeves rolled up, veins visible in his arms. Gwen swallowed hard.

“Roses,” JV muttered. “They’re beautiful, but dangerous. Too many thorns. If you’re not careful…” Dahan-dahan niyang inangat ang isang bulaklak at pinakita sa kanya ang tinik. “…you’ll bleed.”

His eyes shifted to her. Deep. Intense.

“I don’t mind bleeding,” he whispered, “as long as it’s for the right one.”

Napatigil si Gwen, hindi alam kung paano sasagot.

Then, suddenly, JV dropped the hose and stepped closer. Napaatras si Gwen hanggang ang likod niya ay dumikit sa puno.

“I don’t like it when you smile at other men,” JV said bluntly, his hand pressing against the tree trunk beside her head. “Not Marco. Not anyone. Your smile belongs to me.”

Her heart raced. “S-Sir, you can’t just—”

“Can’t what?” JV’s lips almost brushed hers. “Can’t claim what I already feel is mine?”

Gwen’s breath hitched. She was trapped again, heart pounding wildly. But before their lips could meet, isang maid biglang lumabas sa veranda.

“Sir JV! A call from Mr. Romero!”

Parang naputol ang init ng sandali. JV stepped back, pero ang mga mata niya ay hindi bumitaw kay Gwen. “This isn’t over.”

At iniwan niya siyang nanginginig sa ilalim ng puno.

That Night

In her small room, Gwen hugged herself.

He’s dangerous. He’s too close. If he finds out who I really am… everything will fall apart.

But even as she tried to convince herself, her lips still tingled with the ghost of the kiss that almost happened.