Hunt Down Rose

Chapter 1: Paradox (Part IV)

Finally, some peace of mind in my own domain, sitting comfortably on my dental chair. I could not imagine the amount of pressure being radiated to me by these the higher-ups. Making wise decisions they say for practicing my citizenship is something very odd and irrational. Confusing that the pace of the investigation was ignited by a random spark that came along the way. I cannot entice if it is a coincidence or another miscalculation by Galvez’s subordinates. However, it does give me something chew on apart from dealing with corpses in their best state of decomposition. Wearing my usual outfit, I left the headquarters and went to my favorite eating place. A Chinese restaurant named "Dumpao" (dimsum and siopao) known for its best servings of soups and noodles.

Walking inside, customers everywhere are trying to get a taste of his trademark cuisine. While being one of his consistent critiques I was able to order and have a seat inside the kitchen. Savoring the smell of his beef noodles with sliced boiled eggs, spending the rest of the time eating at the same time talking to the main chef and manager Mr. Chua, the smell of fried rice and some herbs could blend in on your food. It is indeed a fine way to enjoy this meal and to wait for further moments to execute my plans tomorrow. I just hope everyone is prepared for what is about to happen.

Finishing my meal, I remembered some chores that I’ll be doing later on.

“Better get some sleep for tonight’s party.” I said to myself as I grabbed my wallet to pay the bills.

I went outside and called a certain specialist of mine when it comes to make-up and prosthetics. Walking through the streets it is self-evident that everyone is busy with their works as if I’m never used to this type of environment back at my place. Scanning on my numbers, I remembered someone I have to talk to regarding my midnight ordeal. She is one of my fellow stockholders on her father’s company at this moment. Apparently, she works on a certain clothing line downtown while at the same time doing this hobby of hers. Even though she has a tight schedule, she can still do some chores for me given some aspects of demands on their business. I just hope she can spare me a few minutes on some plasters or some spare wigs.

Walking this dusty road, I’m being paranoid with the intel gathered by the police investigation during their first visit to the mansion. Even though they’ve swept the floors upside down, I got a feeling that something seems to be lacking if not out of place. If you are going to internalize everything you’ll probably be asking yourself “Why is it that they were smuggling information during that time?” Most companies sold their trades to different foreign investors just to prevent any fallout or casualties on the market itself. The news reports didn’t specifically point out the flaws concerning that aspect; thus, keeping it on a low profile until the end of the year.

After a few steps, my mind suddenly came back to reality and focused on my way through. I crossed a bridge that connects a series of canals intersecting the path of the stinking water below the bridge. Honestly, it won’t be long before such contagion would resurface due to its sickening fume. Based on what I’ve heard, most bridges have an underlying problem when it comes to sanitation and filter systems. I wonder if she goes through this place every day noticing the slums and the places beyond her own comprehension.

Reaching their 3 story building, I can see a lot of people going in and out of the building itself. Employees from the call center buying some things on the convenient stores in front of them along with the neighboring food stalls. Quite interesting that these guys are on a tight budget, though they earn enough to support themselves with their leisure activities. I had to squeeze myself on this 11-foot door with both currents of people getting on your nerves, not to mention the only conversation they kept on murmuring about has something to do with their individual accounts---nothing that I can ponder with while focusing on the case.

As I entered the building I started walking on the emergency staircase since the elevators are quite occupied with the line extending from the entrance. Reaching the 2nd floor which is the boutique she’s been running for a while, I saw Elise doing some paperwork on the counter. The ambiance seems to be at peace compared to what I saw earlier outside. For a moment I stood on in front of the counter waiting for her to see me, unfortunately, she turned away and went to the stock room with haste. “Dumped without even a single word.” My mind told me as I started looking at some of the clothes from where I’m standing.

I approached a certain area containing long sleeves and shirts.

“What can I do for you sir?” A woman behind me asked.

Without any second thought, “I am looking for Ms. Elise.”

She went to the counter and asked a few assistants with the same question then came back to me.

“Do you have something to tell her? Apparently she is busy with the inventories so it might take a while, so for the meantime please enjoy our franchise since the new stuff are already in the store.” She replied handing over a catalog of what’s hot and what’s not on the trends.

“Thank you.” I replied checking the contents of this thing.

Superficially nothing caught my concern so I waited for her to come out of the stock room.

This place is quite untidy due to the new apparel being arranged on the hangers and boxes being sent to the storage areas. She must be having a hard time dealing with all of these in a single smite. No wonder it would take her more than a day to fix all of this mess, I just hope it would be over or I’ll be a goner without any disguise later on.

A few minutes have passed I’m still a duck stuck in a corner, can’t do anything but stare at the clothes from top to bottom. The people are going loco with what they are doing, the same response goes for the people on the ground floor and with so much to do, they can’t focus on one task at a time.

Out of a sudden a loud thug noise came from the stock room

“What was that?” Someone shouted from the counter.

Without any hesitation, I went to the stock room looking at the pile of fallen boxes on top of someone.

I pulled the boxes out of the way and saw her lying flat with her head safe from harm’s way.

“So how’s the drop-off? Did it hurt?”  I asked her placing the boxes from the side as she looked at me with surprise.

I helped her stand up and as she regains control of herself I received a smack I haven’t acquired for quite some time now. She pushed me on the walls as her head was pressed on my chest. I can hear her sob for a little bit as I gently pat her back to tell her everything is fine.

“You haven’t lost your touch after all this time.”

“How dare you tease me like that? What if something bad happens to me? What will you do?” She shouted at me as her voice echoed over this large room.

Looking back at her, she reminds me of some of the few people that became a part of my life amidst the nuisance that I’ve been through all these years.

To describe her further, her name is Elise Monte Cardinal. She is the youngest of the three siblings in her family and the most irresistible according to some sources and most especially, her father. Their family is influential in the entertainment industry and owns a well-known radio station. At an early age, she seems to have an interest in clothes and make up that’s why her parents insisted that she should study abroad in Paris. Apparently I was fascinated with French paintings so I was sent there to see an art exhibit. It was the first moment I saw her, a girl with a shy personality, and curiosity that radiates within her inner being as an artist.

Right now she’s still the best nerd I’ve ever encountered my whole life with the eyes they say can captivate any type of man. Her features are pretty much Caucasian with her hair always tied with a chopstick or pen, a slim figure that I intentionally mistake with a mannequin whenever I see one near her for comparison. Well if that description does suit her, I wonder why she still isn’t in any relationship up to now.

She is currently looking at the ground stealing a glance out of me. She must be thinking about something.

“So what are you doing here?” She asked me with her eyes pointing at me like a tiger on the hunt.

Before I could speak a word, some of the employees entered the room and helped her out with the boxes scattered on the floor, clothes are rumpled from the torn off boxes that fell from their 10-foot containment shelves. Apparently those boxes are soft enough to hit someone on the head due to the cotton fabric. It’s a good thing that most imports were made with the same thing or else she’ll be sent to the hospital with bruises all over her body.

She went outside being escorted by some of her staff members checking if she is ok. On the bright side, it’s a good thing she’s safe even if a dozen boxes got her entire body like pebbles. Like a fool, I feel unease with these things blocking my vision so to keep myself company I piled the boxes in order just to burn time since I don’t know when I’ll get the chance to talk to her. It must be quite a shock for her to experience death from above with no one to help her.

Then presumably her assistant came inside and started to call my name saying I am being summoned outside by Elise.

I went outside the room and upon seeing me, she pulled my sleeves, and immediately we went to the emergency exit on the right side of the boutique, leading towards another staircase going to the rooftop.

“Is this something related to another case again?” She asked, however this time she nailed my purpose of coming here.

I pulled a piece of paper on my back pocket with some things written on it and gave it to her.

“I just need a few of these along the way…” Since these are all special materials, buying it on the market would make me suspicious. That’s why she’s the only person I could ask for help that has access to all sorts of prosthetics and makeup.

For a moment she scanned the contents and started murmuring to herself.

“Wig, charcoal black in color, box of non-toxic plasters, and a set of contact lens? You want these things?” She started tearing the paper into pieces.

“Do you think I’ll spend my time going all the way here if I wasn’t serious that I need your help?” I feel torn apart seeing that piece of paper. I mean it took me a while to imagine the possible outcome of those.

Thinking about her possible responses I noticed that this rooftop has a clear view of the NBI building itself. Having such a view must be good although I doubt that she has the time to look at this type of scenery wherein you can see the cars emitting smoke and different kinds of people blend in to make a living.

*Snap* I heard the sound of her fingers on the side of my head losing my focus on the view.

“Fine, I can give you these under one condition.”

Most of the time these conditions are worthy of the trade she’s giving me. For what I can remember, she asked me to buy her a limited edition Hello kitty watch that took me almost a week to find on a different country via request and with that I burned down a thirty thousand for the expense overall. I’m terrified on what she’ll be asking me for the sake of these items, I can smell the stench of my precious time being burned with it.

“What is it?” I replied to her bracing myself for the punch of the week.

“I want you to be my date.” She said to me with confidence.

I stopped and looked at my phone knowing if I have any good schedules to use for an excuse. Unfortunately, I have holes in my plan and she can use any of those to pull me through.

“Can you be my partner for a day?” She is persistent on asking me this damn question.

“There should be a reason as to why you want this to happen am I right?” I said to her as I raised my left brow.

“Yep. We have a bit of a meeting with my high school friends which is why I don’t want to be left out!” asking me like a child, she does seem to be serious about this even though the content of her request is a bit ambitious and vague on my perception.

Since I’ve got nothing to lose and I also have no other options but to agree.

“Fine, I’ll accept your offer as long as I have some distance away from you.”

She smacked me on my head once again. “That won’t be a date if you’re away from your partner.”

“Yes it is, at least I’m still close to you like a bodyguard.”

“Bodyguard? Then I can’t give you your request.” She turned around acting all grumpy but on the front of that gesture, she should be smiling waiting for me to accept this tribulation.

“Come on! Besides why ask me out if it’s just a reunion? I’m pretty sure some of your so-called friends have no partners there either.”

I pulled her shoulders back in front of me. She’s acting all hard to get, I’m looking desperate here.

“Is that even a formal request for some sort of event or just for your own leisure?” I added.

She crossed her arms and started tapping her heels. “It’s best to consider both at this very moment.”

I thought about it, again for the long run since it’s just another annoying date I can somewhat manage. Sadly, I don’t have any successful dates all throughout the history of my entire life.

“Fine, you got yourself a deal...” I held my hesitation as fast as I could.

She started hopping like a bunny. “Really? That’s great!”

“Please give me the things that I need, I’m in quite a hurry actually.” I remembered my plans for tonight like a punch from a boxer.

Grabbing me by the hand once again we went down the stairs and straight to the boutique, dragging me into a room with the smell of plastic and casting clays. The place is just within the storage room with a “Do not enter” sign hammered on the door.

Looking at the area, I can determine the dimensions of the room. A 5x5 meter room with various lockers labeled alphabetically, drawers extend all the way on one side having glass sliding covers, tables situated on the left side are all foldable plastics with two rotating office chairs inserted. The sliding windows are barricaded along with the air conditioner that she just turned on to accompany us. As far as I’m concerned with the atmosphere, I can smell eucalyptus instead of the usual plastic present in the storeroom.

“So this is your line of expertise from the beginning.”

She threw a bottle of fake eyes. “What do you think? Is it interesting?”

I joined the flow of the conversation because if something goes wrong I’m as good as dead tonight.

“Yeah… Another thing, why am I smelling some sort of eucalyptus here?” I just had to know.

“Well, I use it to mask the redundant smell of polymer and resin. Each locker that you see in here is filled with an air freshener.”

“Doesn’t it affect the items?”

“Nope, not one bit Thomas.”

For an estimated time of 15 minutes, she finally arranged everything that I had on the list, placing it inside a box with indentions just for safekeeping and protection on some of the glass containers inside.

“Here you go!” She gave me the box with a smile.

I replied “Thanks…” She paused, waiting for something.

“So you got something more to say?”

“Like what?” I drew a blank at my head with that answer.

“Never mind!” Never a single moment did I understand what’s inside that shell of hers.

“Just don’t you ever forget your promise ok?” Reminding me for the last time of that so-called date.

“I’ll be going if you have nothing more to say.”

Apparently she just nodded no and I went towards the elevator without looking back. I don’t want to give her any impressions or false ideas, for it’s the same as digging my own unwanted commitments. I don’t have the luxury of being in a relationship right now especially if I would have a lot of enemies in the future. I wouldn’t dare involve her in my own kind of hell… Never in a million years would I do that…

I immediately went on the elevator and went outside the building catching the scorching heat of the sun across the streets without any cap or umbrella to help me.

I called a pedicab to escort me on the main building and within 5 minutes, I’ve reached my destination and swiftly got into the elevator.

Screeching noises could be heard on my way down while feeling these familiar chills on my skin. With my eyes feeling a little drowsy, I wanted to sit back and take a nap before laying out everything on my tables for tonight’s mission.