Vermilion's Kiss

Chapter 7 - The Dogtag

Ares was holding the card left by Vermilion. Nakalagay roon kung kalian at anong oras nito nanakawin ang The Sunset Pavillion.

That criminal once again directly challenged him, and he knew what was going-on inside the mind of this thief whose notoriety had been known throughout the Kingdom. He's declaring that he can go head to head with the police and get away with it. Alam niyang pinaglalaruan lamang sila nito. He wanted to showcase his supremacy over them.

"Vermillion couldn't pick a night more perfect than this," he said to his team as they organize their defences inside the war room in the Boreas Palace. Gareth lent it to him solely for this purpose.

"Tama ang Kamahalan, this will be the kick-off night for the Winter Fashion Week. Tiyak na dadagsa ang mga tao sa Hotel."

That was the perfect diversion that Vermillion needed to enter the place undetected. But he had already anticipated all possible scenarios.

"The Baron had already given his permission to transport the real sunset pavilion to the Boreas Palace," Superintendent Lhara said.

Tumango-tango lamang siya. This was the only possible way to prevent Vermillion from stealing the painting. Palihim nilang dadalhin ang painting sa Boreas Palace isang gabi bago ang araw na itinakda nitong araw. He'll scatter his men all throughout the Glacius Hotel and Boreas Palace.

Napag-alaman niyang may dalawa pang kopya ang painting na iyon sa Hotel. One was displayed in the gallery and one was inside the Baron's private suite in the penthouse. Samantalang ang tunay na painting ay nasa isang Safe sa loob ng Hotel kasama ang iba pang mga paintings.

His plan was very simple. He fairly knew how Vermillion worked. Alam niyang alam na nito ang tungkol sa mga pekeng kopya at sa kung saan naroroon ang tunay na painting. He anticipated everything already. He'll remove the Repro from the Baron's room and have it moved inside the safe. Paniniwalain nilang iyon ang tunay na painting. He'll stay there and try to catch Vermillion while his elite men and Gareth's guard will protect the real painting.

But he knew that for this plan to work, complete silence was needed. So only the best of the best of his men were looped on this. One leak of information would mean failure. He was sure as hell that despite Vermillion's vast information network, he'll never get hold of The Sunset Pavillion.

"I entrust the real painting with you Lhara," he said.

The woman gave him a nod. With him in front lines, he needed to build a great wall to fortify his defence. This was the strategy of two fronts. Gamit ito alam niyang magtatagumpay siya.

"Your Highness, what about the other repro painting? Ano po ang gagawin natin doon?"

"Let it remain in the gallery. We do not want to stir commotion. Hayaan ninyong isipin nilang ang binabantayan natin ay ang totoong painting. And besides, everyone knew that it was not the painting."

His memory suddenly travelled back to memory lane, back to the time when he first saw the "fake" painting in the hotel's gallery with Val.

Napabuntong hininga siya. The thought of the woman brought thrill and excitement to him. Ever since that hot encounter her, he cannot get his thoughts away from her. Her beguiling beauty. Her hot and saucy tongue. Her seductive stare. Her hot and sexy body. He just wanted to take her to bed and fuck the hell out of her. He was so lustfully captivated that he had to take cold showers in this freezing weather just to remove his pent-up desires.

"Sir?" tanong ng isa sa kanyang mga tao. He was disoriented.

Shit! Did he just zone out during a meeting? He's getting fuck up. Darn!