Undercover Bride (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER THREE

Naisalampak ko agad sa higaan ang katawan ko nang makauwi ako sa tinutuluyan ko. We’re back in Washington at halos patayin ako ng sakit ng ulo ko dahil sa mga nangyari but too bad, I can’t do anything about it. This is my job. To have no mercy and kill when necessary. Nasira na lang din naman ang buhay ko, bakit hindi ko pa lubos-lubusin, right?

Napaupo ako mula sa pagkakahiga nang magring ang phone ko. I rolled my eyes when I saw Hudson’s name on the screen. After few more rings, I answered it.

“What took you so long?” he asked.

“What do you need?”

I heard him chuckled on the other line as if I said something funny.

“Check your email.”

Immediately, I got up and went to my working table kung nasaan ang laptop ko. When I opened my email, I saw a message from Damira. I clicked on it and it redirected me in a protected website with a Congressman’s profile.

“What am I gonna do with this profile?” I asked.

“Congressman Peter Lee, a well known politician but lately, his name got involved in too many scandals just like the drug den in Panama. FBI forwarded his profile to us and wanted the Él Carter to take care of his business. They wanted to caught this Congressman in act of drug dealing for the FBI’s issuance of warrant.”

“Since when did we start working with the government?”

“Since...now.” I rolled my eyes and scoffed in disbelief. “He’s got a lot of assets and protections and got a huge reputation that’s why they are hiring us. They wanted to put an end to this.”

“FBI got a lot of assets, too and I bet, they can handle this mission without our help. They just don’t want to because they might violate a rule and everything can backfire unto them.”

“Exactly.”

I sighed as I closed my laptop. “I’ll go to headquarters tomorrow. For now let me rest, Hudson,” I said.

“As you wish, mi lady.” He ended the call.

Sumalampak ako ulit sa higaan pero hindi ko na nagawang alisin sa isip ko ang tungkol kay Peter Lee. He’s really well known. With his campaign posters and videos, maiisip mo talaga na isa siyang politician na may malaking puso para sa mga nangangailangan but behind that mask, he’s an evil. If I am not mistaken, he was involved in a rape case before, one minor and the other one I am not sure of her age. Nagawa lang na idrop ang case dahil nabayaran niya at dahil na rin sa makapangyarihan talaga si Lee. Too bad, wala siyang maitatago sa Él Carter.

Last month, umugong na naman ang pangalan niya. He was involved in the drug den in Panama, one of the major drug dens on FBI’s list. Gayunpaman, hindi nila pwedeng hulihin na lang basta-basta ang isang gaya ni Lee that’s why they hired us.

I put away my phone as I closed my eyes, preparing for another battle ahead of me.

Nagising ako dahil sa malakas at walang tigil na pagriring ng cellphone ko. Agad din akong napasimangot nang makita ang pangalan ni Hudson sa screen.

“What do you f*****g need and why are you bothering my f*****g sleep, Hudson?!” asik ko sa tao sa kabilang linya. Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa nito.

“It’s still early to be hot-headed, missy,” he said. “Fix yourself. We’re going to Él Carter. You wouldn’t want Damira wait too long.”

He ended the call already pero halos hilutin ko ang sentido ko para pigilan lang ang sarili na bumangon at sugurin siya. Wala na akong ibang nagawa kundi ang tumayo at mag-asikaso ng sarili. I gritted my teeth when I realized that I can’t even grab a breakfast because Hudson’s here.

I chose to wear a skinny jeans, a white tube partnered with my denim jacket. I put on a light make up. Inilugay ko na lang din ang buhok ko bago lumabas ng kwarto ko.

Prenteng nakasandal sa kotse niya si Hudson nang makalabas ako ng bahay. Sinamaan ko agad siya ng tingin nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin pero ang ungas, nginingisian lang ako.

“What took you so long? Seriously, what are you girls doing inside the bathroom?” he asked.

“None of your f*****g business, Hudson.” I hissed. I heard him chuckled because of my reaction. Padabog kong isinara ang pinto ng sasakyan ko. Hindi ko na rin siya hinintay at nauna na akong umalis. My house’s gate is an electric one so I don’t have to bother opening and closing it.

Sa buong byahe ay hindi ko man lang magawang ngumiti. I am starving and that jerk woke me up too early. Wala naman kaming oras na hinahabol kay Damira and I really hate mornings! I am not a morning person and that’s given.

Nauna rin akong magpark ng kotse sa labas ng building kumpara kay Hudson. Hindi ko na rin siya hinintay at nauna na ako sa pagpasok sa building na ‘yon kesa sa ungas na kakapark lang. I entered the elevator and pressed the button that will take me to the ground floor but unfortunately, Hudson managed to enter the lift before the door closes.

“You’ve been working with me for sixteen years, Skylar,” he said. “I deserve better treatment.”

“I don’t give better treatments, Hudson. You know me,” I said before stepping out of the elevator and walking to the same tunnel that will take me to the headquarters. Pasipol-sipol naman si Hudson kaya sinamaan ko na naman siya ng tingin. He mouthed ‘what’ with a playful grin on his lips and I rolled my eyes once again.

Nang makarating kami sa opisina ni Damira ay abala na naman ito sa laptop niya. A hologram’s turned on beside her. Nang mahalata nito ang presensya namin ay agad niya rin iyong pinatay.

“Good morning,” she greeted us. Nagtuloy-tuloy lang ako sa pag-upo sa upuang nasa harapan ng mesa niya at hinayaang si Hudson ang gumanti ng bati sa kaniya. “You’re in a bad mood,” Damira concluded.

“She’s always in bad mood,” ani Hudson kaya sinamaan ko na naman siya ng tingin. “What’s up?” he asked on Damira.

“Another mission.” Damira lifted some folders inside her drawer. Inilapag niya ‘yon sa harapan namin at kahit na hindi ko na buklatin ay alam kong profile ng Congressman ‘yon. “FBI don’t want him dead. They’ll arrest him so keep him alive.”

“What if he’ll make the first move?” I asked.

“Patience, Skylar,” said Damira. “FBI wants justice and that’s why they hired us to just gather enough evidences for them to issue the necessary warrant for him.”

“The President agreed?” I asked, pertaining to the president of Él Carter.

Damira nodded on my question. “He did and he reminded me to remind you both that they need Lee alive,” she said, emphasizing the term ‘alive’.

“We can’t promise, Damira but we’ll try,” Hudson said.

“Try harder, please. You both know what might happen if you won’t follow the President’s order,” she said as if warning us. “Lee’s in Maldives. We’re still processing all of your papers but rest assured, you’ll fly to that paradise tomorrow. Please prepare yourselves.”

I took a deep breathe before finally picking up the papers Damira gave us. Tumayo na rin ako nang wala na siyang sabihin pa sa amin.

“I’ll leave, Damira,” I said.

She nodded lightly. “Keep a hold of yourself, Brielle.”

Hindi ko na pinansin ang paalala nito at nauna nang lumabas ng opisina niya. Naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod agad ni Hudson sa akin.

“Wanna grab some food? My treat,” he said.

“I want to grab your head and smack you down for waking me too early,” asik ko rito na as usual ay tinawanan niya lang naman.

“Come on, Skylar. Subway, you up?”

Natigilan ako dahil sa aya niya. I faced him only to find him crossing his arms as he quirks his lips up. This jerk really knows my weaknesses!

“Fine!”

He chuckled. “Let’s go, subway girl.”

“She’s always in bad mood,” ani Hudson kaya sinamaan ko na naman siya ng tingin. “What’s up?” he asked on Damira.

“Another mission.” Damira lifted some folders inside her drawer. Inilapag niya ‘yon sa harapan namin at kahit na hindi ko na buklatin ay alam kong profile ng Congressman ‘yon. “FBI don’t want him dead. They’ll arrest him so keep him alive.”

“What if he’ll make the first move?” I asked.

“Patience, Skylar,” said Damira. “FBI wants justice and that’s why they hired us to just gather enough evidences for them to issue the necessary warrant for him.”

“The President agreed?” I asked, pertaining to the president of Él Carter.

Damira nodded on my question. “He did and he reminded me to remind you both that they need Lee alive,” she said, emphasizing the term ‘alive’.

“We can’t promise, Damira but we’ll try,” Hudson said.

“Try harder, please. You both know what might happen if you won’t follow the President’s order,” she said as if warning us. “Lee’s in Maldives. We’re still processing all of your papers but rest assured, you’ll fly to that paradise tomorrow. Please prepare yourselves.”

I took a deep breathe before finally picking up the papers Damira gave us. Tumayo na rin ako nang wala na siyang sabihin pa sa amin.

“I’ll leave, Damira,” I said.

She nodded lightly. “Keep a hold of yourself, Brielle.”

Hindi ko na pinansin ang paalala nito at nauna nang lumabas ng opisina niya. Naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod agad ni Hudson sa akin.

“Wanna grab some food? My treat,” he said.

“I want to grab your head and smack you down for waking me too early,” asik ko rito na as usual ay tinawanan niya lang naman.

“Come on, Skylar. Subway, you up?”

Natigilan ako dahil sa aya niya. I faced him only to find him crossing his arms as he quirks his lips up. This jerk really knows my weaknesses!

“Fine!”

He chuckled. “Let’s go, subway girl.”