My PI Lady

2: The heated encounter and the eavesdropper

SAM'S POV

Ano ba'tong taong to? Kung makasipot parang kabute! O baka naman may sayad lang talaga ito kaya naman sunod ng sunod sa'kin??

Well, mukha nga naman. Hindi malabo.

Ano bang ibang dahilan para bubuntot-buntot 'to sa'kin ngayon? Of course, dahil "I am planning something" daw ika nga nito.

Then here's some news for him. It wasn't just a plan now dahil tapos ko ng gawin ‘yon. Case been solved and closed.

Agad ko ng binitawan ang pinto ng sasakyan ko saka humarap rito.

"Ano na naman??" tanong ko agad rito with my annoyed voice.

"So you have seduced him to blackmail him?"

My brow raised at that and glared at him in disbelief.

Something's really wrong with this man. Something in his head.

"Blackmail? And why would I do that?"

Mas lalo pang tumindi ang titig niya sa'kin ngayon. Yong tipo ng titig na 'you would've been 6 feet below'.

"For some penny of course."

A disbelief scoff instantly came out from my mouth at that.  I couldn’t believe I was even talking to this mad man now.

"For some penny? And why I would I do that for that? Care to enlighten me with that?" I asked with my gritted teeth while feigning innocence kahit na ang totoo, gusto ko ng upakan ang gagong ito!

He just smirked at me then again, balik na naman ang mukha nito sa pagiging bato.

"I know your kind miss, so 'wag kang umarte na parang inosente because you're definitely not." Sabi pa nito in his mocking voice.

And I couldn't help but shook my head at him, ignoring his mockery.

His words were just useless because I am used to being treated like a lowly woman that I wasn't. Being a pretend escort girl for so long, of course, lots of wives and girlfriends of my subjects were kind enough to treat me like that. Mas malala pa nga sa sinasabi ng gagong 'to ngayon kaysa sa mga natanggap kong pang-iinsulto sa mga babaeng 'yon.

"At anong klase nga ba akong babae mister? A b***h? Wench? Haliparot? Bayarang babae? Oportunista? Fortune hunter? Ano pa? Just say it now nang matapos na tayo rito. I would be very glad kung dadagdagan mo pa ang mga vocabulary ko." I challenged him with my face not giving any emotions away.

The bastard just raised his eyebrow. Probably thinking kung bakit alam ko ang susunod na sasabihin nito . . .

He just stayed silent for a while, studying me under his dark stares but after a few moment of just staring at me, nagsalita na rin ito sa wakas.

"So you're planning to blackmail Alvaro for a fortune?"

Hearing that, an exasperated escaped from me.

Can I just kill him now nang matapos na’ko rito? Why does he keep insisting that I'm going to blackmail someone when I wasn’t even thinking about doing that? Don't tell me he was into it and it's a big deal for him kung anong maaari kong gawin..

I inwardly nodded at that when I couldn’t think of any reason other than that.

Because guilty people tends to accuse other people or insists na ginagawa nila ang mga bagay na’yon when in fact, it was their doings. And this man is one of those guilty people.

Smirking at him, agad ko ng sinagot ito.

"Tingin ko ako ang dapat na magtanong n'yan sa'yo kung anong binabalak mo Kay Alvaro, mister... You sounded like you've 'care' so much about what I'm gonna do to him. Para bang.... may binabalak ka sa kanya. Tama ba'ko....... or tamang-tama?" Panunuyang tanong ko rito, making his eyes instantly darkened. Probably affected.

And with how deadly was his stares now, I think he was already murdering me many times in his head right now.

How wonderful.

"And what makes you think na gagawin ko 'yon? Hindi mo ko kilala babae so shut the f**k up."

He was ticked off. Yes. I have definitely hit some nerves there kaya naman nagagalit na ito ngayon.

Hmm.. Why not just tease him to death then? That was much more preferable and exciting to see than letting him ruined my night.

With a mocking smirk, I just looked at him with eyes glinting with mischief.

"Why?? Huh! I can't believe I'm hearing this from you now.. Do you really want to hear it from me kung alam mo na naman ang sagot sa tanong mong ‘yon mister?? After all, guilty people has this usual habit of accusing anyone for something that they are not when in fact, gawain niyo naman talaga ‘yon."

This time, mas lalo pang dumilim ang mukha nitong gwapo-sana-pero-parang-bato-naman and he was so full of himself! Akala mo kung sinong malinis, may tinatago-tago rin namang baho sa buto nito!

"I am not like you woman."

My brow shot up when he growled that. Growling like a lion who was about to s*******r his prey.

Popping out my chest on him, I answered him with confidence.

"And I am not like you too, mister cold man. You don't know me pero alam na alam ko kung anong binabalak mong gawin kay Alvaro kanina. Pero ang malas mo, I was able to shoo him away from this party before you could even execute your plan. Too bad indeed."

"Hindi mo alam kung sinong kinakalaban mo." He growled out in a snap. He was almost murdering me with his dark stares now with his jaw kept twitching in annoyance.

A reaction which I enjoyed to witness.

"Hindi nga kita kilala, mister at mas lalong hindi mo rin ako kilala. Kaya kung maaari, lubayan mo na'ko dahil sinasayang mo ang oras ko." I spat in a hissed and then with that, I was about to open the cardoor again but I was stopped nang bigla nalang itong lumapit sa'kin. Blocking the door again while leaving only an inches gap between us.

Hindi 'to yung moment na ‘huminto yong heartbeat ko dahil sa closeness namin sa isa't isa’ because I was far from that!

I pretended to appear unalarmed with his sudden action and instead, I crossed my arms on my chest and meet his damn stares.

I've had enough of him now!

"Stop whatever you were thinking na gawin kay Alvaro, woman. I am not someone na pwede mong banggain so back off. Tiyak hindi mo magugustuhan ang gagawin ko sa’yo kapag nalaman kong may ginawa ka sa kanya." He warned with his low threatening voice.

Making me smirked more with his attempt scare me off with his threats.

Oh… As if that would even work on me.

Giving him a mocking smirk, I stepped more closely to him, now leaving no space between us.

In my 5'6" height, hanggang sa ilong nya lang ako umabot but it's okay. It wasn't about the height anyway. It was all about how quick you move.

"I hate to disappoint you, mister but I just think I have to. You can't stop me with whatever I have in mind to do with Alvaro and you can never make me not do it. NEVER." I whispered with a smile and then with that, I tried to push him away from me to open my car door but before I could even do that, I groaned nang bigla nalang nitong hinila ang kanang braso ko while he was glaring down at me.

With gritted teeth, I glared at him as well habang nangangati na'kong paduguin ang ilong nito ngayon

"I am not someone to be challenged by some trash like you, woman. So I'm warning you, stop or---"

"Or what? You will kill me?" I asked before I scoffed. "Try your luck to kill me bastard. I'm not someone na tumatakbo kapag may gustong pumatay sa'kin. I'm very far from that at hinding-hindi kita uurungan sa bagay na'yan.. If you haven’t know yet, death is my middle name and to kill is my last name. You better remember that." I growled out while battling an intense glare at him.

I could really kill right now if he wants me to. It would really be my pleasure to kill him right here and right now if he ever provoke me more.

My brows furrowed when the bastard suddenly chuckled dryly. As if I had said a funny joke.

Nakatingin lang ako rito na para bang nakatingin lang ako sa isang nababaliw na aso, like this man sa harap ko.

Then after a few moment of his amusement, he looked at me again with an intense gaze.

"Hindi ako mamatay tao kagaya ng iniisip mo, babae. And there’s no need for you to murder dahil alam kong hindi mo naman kayang gawin ‘yon." He uttered with his eyes full of amusement.

Huh! So he was so amused by me then?

Well, let's see kung maaamuse ka pa sa'kin after I do this. Taking his hand off of my arm, tumingin na'ko sa kanya with eyes ready to burn him with fire. Agad naman itong napatigil saka tumingin sa'kin with confused eyes, probably confused kung anong binabalak ko.

Well, you would know it as in.....right now!

Then with that, I lifted my right foot and then stomped on his feet hard! So hard that I think I even heard it c***k. Good.

"Holy s**t!!!" He cried out as he was quick enough to nurse his injured foot with his face crunching up in pain.

Satisfied with his reaction, mabilis ko ng itinulak ito saka mabilis na pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan ko before he could even recover from that. Agad ko ng binuhay ang makina and then stepped in the gas. Pero bago pa'ko tuluyang makalayo sa lugar na'yon, I stopped the car just a few meters away from him saka dinungaw ito sa bintana.

Nang makita ko itong galit ng nakatingin sa'kin, I quickly gave him a wide grin then waved my hands at him. Mocking the hell out of him.

"Next time na magkita pa uli tayo, heels ko na talaga ang bubutas sa paa mo gago! Take care!" I shouted at him, causing his nostrils to flare out.

And with that, I quickly drove off away from that place, away from that bastard.

I'm sure he was already strangling me in his mind now. Murdering me many times dahil sa tindi ng galit nito sa'kin ngayon.

Then that's good. Atleast, he would remember me as his badluck.

Hmm, time to celebrate for my double victory tonight.

I drove straight to the Palace Night Pub. Ito yung place na pinupuntahan ko once I'm done with my every shitty case.

I hope ibang case naman ang ibibigay sa'kin next time. I hate cases like I have tonight. Nakakabato na ng sobra ang mga insulto na natatanggap ko mula sa mga taong involve sa mga subjects ko, like tonight.

That man really needs some head-butt from me para matauhan naman ito. Akala niya kung sinong malinis!

Alam ko kung bakit galit na galit ito sa'kin ngayon. Because he knows that I'm going to ruin his plan to blackmail Alvaro once I open my mouth.

So he knows Alvaro's affairs all this time.. Pero hindi niya lang ito sinasabi sa iba because he'll use it to his advantage....

No wonder why would that fat idiot’s turned sour nang makausap nya ito kanina.

Hmmm....

I think he's a business man, matinik na business man who has a habit to use his enemies' weaknesses to his advantange.

I know that people so well. Ang iba nga pumapatay ng business enemy because of greed.

And I know someone who was like that...at kailangan ko itong hanapin kahit anumang mangyari.

It may take me years to do that and claim the justice I seek but I would never stop hunting that man. After all, I am only living for that purpose and if it wasn't for that, hindi ko na sana alam kung nandito pa ba ako hanggang ngayon sa mundong 'to.

I only have one reason to live, at ‘yon ang hanapin ang mga taong ‘yon. With my thoughts started to linger on that, memories from the past tried to haunt me again.

"They're dead..!"

"We don't need to kill her...She's dying after all....."

My heart suddenly felt restricted in my chest when I remember that day. So clear like it had happened just yesterday.

I mentally shook that thoughts off my head and tried to calm myself, not wanted to remember the pain again.

Not now, Sam. Not now.

My grip at the steering wheel tightened while trying so hard to control myself.

Although it happened 10 years ago, the pain and memories was still there. So fresh and became clearer for me as the time passes by. And that made me heave up a deep breath and then I let out a loud sigh.

Ganyan nga Sam. You are strong. You are strong enough to control yourself now. I tried to convince myself.

Not long, I arrived at the Pub without even knowing it.

With my self-control began to come back, I quickly parked my car sa harapan mismo ng establishment. Pagkahinto, I quickly took my bag and black leather jacket at the seat beside me na lagi kong dala-dala. Agad na'kong lumabas ng sasakyan saka ito isinuot.

Napansin ko ng maraming tao na ang narito ngayon dahil marami naring nakaparadang sasakya sa labas.

Well, mas mabuti nga yon para mas masaya.

I headed straight to the entrance door then I was greeted with Manny and Bino, the bouncers, smiling at me.

I smiled back at them. Regular customer nila ako rito and since they are good allies and informants to have here when one of my subjects in a case was here, I befriend these two.They were a great help in my past cases and I had never regreted having them as my allies.

The two macho bouncers greeted me with a high five while grinning down at me..

"Hi Sammy girl!" they teased knowing that I hated to be  called like that. I just shook my head at them and then playfully slapped their arms which caused them to laugh at me.

"Geez, mainitin parin ang ulo mo Sammy. Hindi ka parin nagbabago.." Manny said habang nakatawa parin ito.

"Kailan pa ba naging malamig ang ulo nito, Manny? I think never yun nangyari bro.." segunda naman ni Bino.

The reason why I couldn’t help but grin at them now and suddenly forget about my spat with some bastard awhile ago.

Hindi na bago sa'kin ang mga biro ng dalawang 'to. I am used to these two kaya naman gaya ng dati, sisibat na'ko dahil nasa entrance kami and there are other customers na papasok rito and I was blocking their way.

"I'm going to my usual spot now. Ayusin niyo ng trabaho nyo and..." when I trailed that off, they both grinned at me, waiting for me to complete my sentence kahit alam na naman ng mga ito kung ano 'yon.

"And wag nyo na’kong tatawaging ganun. You know I hate that."

When I said that, the two laughed.

"Sir, yes, ma'am! Masusunod po!!" biro pa ng mga ito as they gave me a mock salute.

I quickly poked each of their sides lightly before I leave them while shaking my heads at them. Habang ang mga ito naman, tawang-tawa patin.

I just smirked hearing them laugh while I headed to my usual spot, near the bartender.

Of course, drinks ang ipinunta ko rito so mas maganda kung nasa harapan ko lang ‘yong bartender.

I quickly sat on one of the bar stools. I noticed na bago ang on duty na bartender ngayon. Siguro, off duty ‘yong dati.

.

"One margarita, please." I said pagkaupo ko, grabbing the attention of the bartender. He came to my spot then smiled at me.

"Coming right up, mademoiselle." My brow quickly raised at that.

Italian?

Hmm, I think I like this new guy. After a few seconds nga lang, dumating na ang order ko.

"Here's your order." Then he smiled at me with his straight white teeth.

Yeah, he's charming.

"Thanks." I said with a smile before I took a sip of my drinks for a taste.

"Hmm, taste good." The man smiled at me nang marinig nya ang comment kong ‘yon.

"Good to hear that. Just call me if you need me here, mademoiselle." he said with a wink bago ito bumalik sa pag-entertain ng ibang customers.

I just followed him with my eyes while sipping my drink.

I didn't know they had hired a new bartender here.

Gwapo, nice physique but not my type.

Wala nga ako no’n ‘di ba? I chuckled inwardly at that..

Then turning my seat to the dance floor, I focused myself back to my drinks habang patingin-tingin lang sa paligid ko, scanning the activities going on around while sipping my drinks.

We never know, baka may blessings na dumating.

Lahat ng booth sa kabila was heavily pack with customers. Konti lang ang naka-occupy sa dance floor kaya medyo hindi pa ganun kaingay ang lugar na'to. The other people were busy having a chitchat with their companies with drinks in each of their hands. Waiters and waitresses loitered everywhere with ordered drinks in hands.

Mostly sa mga nandito ngayon ay mga naka company suits. Of course, to have a Friday hang out.

For a few minutes, I just kept doing that, observing the people around me with hawkish eyes.

Napansin kong may dalawang bagong customers na lumapit sa bar stool malapit sa akin, just one stool away from my own seat.

I observed them at base sa suot ng mga ito, they were company employees na pumunta agad rito after work hours or overtime. Probably to have a night out.

I shook my head at that.

Being a private investigator myself, 'di ko talaga mapigilang mag-observe sa lahat ng mga tao or events na nangyayari sa paligid ko. Probably it became a habit now kaya palagi kong ginagawa ito.

I sip again from my glass and then a few minutes later, my phone rang inside my bag.

Placing down the glass back to the bar counter, I quickly fished out my phone and then tapped the receive button without even checking the caller.

"Case closed. Naipasa ko na yung clear shots as proofs kasama na yung ibang document." Allan informed me.

"Good."

"I'm sure shot gun ni Mrs. Alvaro ang madadatnan ni Roland Alvaro ngayon sa bahay nito." I heard him while chuckling.

And at the thought of Alvaro boy na hinahabol ito ng baril ng asawa nito, I couldn’t suppress a laugh at that.

"Karma is a son of a b***h after all, Al."

I heard Al laughed at that but after a few seconds of just laughing, I quickly ended that call.

I was just about to put my phone back to my bag nang nagring na naman uli ito.

This time, I checked the caller.

Aunt Roselyn...

I can't help but groaned out at that, suddenly frustrated with it.

Oh God, not now Auntie. Hindi ko kailangan ang sermon mo ngayon...

My aunt could be so persistent kung gugustuhin nito and I know sesermonan na naman ako no’n kesyo hindi ko raw ito binisita last week.

Hinintay kong maforward ang call na’yon pero after na maforward naman ito, nagring na naman uli ito.

Oh shiiit...

Napapabuntong-hininga na lamang ako dahil sa kakulitan nito. Now starting to get annoyed with my persistent aunt.

It took me a few seconds long before I decided to answer her call para matapos na ang kalbaryo ko.

Sighing in defeat, I tapped the receive button.

"Kumusta ang target na investors niyo? Hindi ba nasulot ng kabilang kompanya?"

My ear pricked up at that nang bigla kong marinig yon mula sa isa sa mga lalaking nakaupo malapit lang sa'kin.

Investors?

Hmm...Interesting topic.

"Hello? Sam----"

Dali-dali ko ng pinutol ang call ng aunt ko saka ini-off na ang phone ko. Aunt's sermon can wait but this rare opportunity to eavesdrop, minsan lang 'to.

Diyan kaya ako magaling sa eavesdropping. It's one of my best strategies para makakalap ng leads sa mga cases ko. And it was quite beneficial for a P.I. like me.

I moved closer to my right to hear their conversation more clearly then sipped my almost empty glass of margarita.

Another drinks can wait as well.

"Wala. Nasulot na naman ng DFCS. Halos magwala nga si sir Enriquez kanina sa galit eh."

DFCS? Enriquez?

The other man beside me shook his head at that news.

"Giyera na naman 'to."

"I'm sure hindi papayag si sir na mautakan pa uli ng DFCS. At base sa narinig ko sa opisina kanina," the man paused then looked around him, probably checking kung may ibang nakikinig sa kanila.

And yes, you have me here.

I pretended na parang ‘di nakikinig sa mga ito while sipping my drink. But from the corner of my eyes, kitang-kita ko ang mga ito.

"Ano? Anong narinig mo?" curious namang tanong ng kasama nito.

Then after macheck ng isa na walang ibang nakikinig sa kanila, he leaned closer to the other man.

"Atin-atin lang 'to. I heard na may bago silang recruit from DFCS na magiging espiya niya sa loob." He said in his low voice but I have my two good elephant ears with me so rinig na rinig ko parin ang lahat ng 'yon.

The other man's eyes widened at that. Probably shock with the news.

Spies??

Hmmm. Very interesting indeed. I'm sure archrivals ang dawalang company na'to. Sulutan ng mga investors?

Tsk, tsk... matinding competition nga ito.

DFCS will definitely be a sorry ass if its enemy's spies will succeed. Succeed in giving away all the list of potential investors and buyers to its rival.

And if the other side will recruit employees sa kalaban nito para maging spiya nito, mas maganda kung nagtatarabaho ito malapit sa boss nito.

Board of directors or a secretary perhaps?

"Totoo ba 'yan?"

"I swear. Dalawa yata yun. And once they will succeed, I'm sure tapos ang maliligayang araw ng DFCS."

Huh! Di lang tapos kundi deads na deads.

I shook my head then turned to the bartender para umorder uli.

DFCS? I think I have heard that company before pero 'di ko lang mapoint out kung kailan at saan.

The owner must be very cautious in sharing their confidential documents so that they won't be dead before they even knew it.

Pagkatapos dumating ng order ko, ibinalik ko na uli ang atensyon ko sa inuming hawak ko. Enough with eavesdropping, kailangan ko ng umuwi.

I glanced down at my wristwatch and it says it's already 11:25pm. This could just mean na halos isang oras na'ko rito.

Okay, time to call it a night.

Gulping down all the content in my glass, tumayo na'ko agad sa upuan ko saka nag-iwan ng bayad sa ilalim ng baso ko and then quickly headed to the exit. I waved to Manny and Bino who waved back at me before I exited that place.

I was greeted by a cold air of December pagkalabas ko palang sa lugar na’yon. Today's the 2nd day of this month kaya naman ganito kalamig ang gabi ngayon.

Medyo madilim sa may exit at konti lang ang mga taong nakatambay sa parteng 'yon. Ignoring those people and with cautious eyes, I just walked with hasty steps straight to the parking lot where I had parked my car. Sa ganitong mga oras, I really needed to be careful sa paligid ko. Holdapers are known to attack at this late hours at ayokong makasagupa man lang ng ganong mga tao ngayon.

I have faced lots of people like that in my past cases but for now, I don't want to waste my time for them dahil gusto ko ng magpahinga.

Hindi na'ko naninibago sa bagay na'yan but I just have to be on my bed now no matter what.

I let out a sigh nang mga ilang metro nalang ang layo ko mula sa sasakyan ko.

I think I will have a long night tonight since wala pa'kong new case until tomorrow. I hope makakapag-------

"Holdap 'to!'wag kang gagalaw!."

I froze when I heard that and felt of that cold pointed object sa tagiliran ko.

I groaned. Feeling frustrated with it.

Oh no. Why does it have to be tonight?