SEDUCTION SERIES #2: Heartbeats For A Stranger (Exclusive In The VIP)

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

PUMARADA ang itim na Honda Fireblade ni Alec sa harap ng maliit na cafe kung saan siya makikipagkita sa private investigator na kinuha ng unang ginang. Alec spotted the old man sitting on the far end of the vintage style coffee shop, and as soon as he got off his big bike, he removed his helmet and walked in.

May dalawang babaeng nasa bungad na kaagad napunta sa kanya ang atensyon. One of them even tucked her hair behind her ears while flashing a flirty smile.

Ngumisi lamang si Alec. He's gone familiar with the cues already, but he didn't come here to get laid. He's got something more important to do and that is to find out about that woman the President is seeing.

Hinila ni Alec ang bakanteng silya sa tapat ng matanda. Malayo na sila sa dalawang customer kaya nang matapos mag-request si Alec ng double shot espresso, inilapag kaagad ng matanda ang maliit na sobreng naglalaman ng mga nakalap nitong impormasyon tungkol sa kalaguyo ni Vince De Vera.

"I need you to do something for me but I'd rather keep this between us. The first lady doesn't have to know. Masyado na siyang stressed sa nangyayari."

Payak na ngumiti ang matanda saka nito nilapag ang tasa ng kape sa mesa. Probably just an Americano. Alec doesn't really fancy sweet coffee. He thinks it kills the purpose of coffee.

"My men can find whatever you need but it comes with a price. We are not your typical investigators."

Umismid si Alec. "I could sell my soul for this one."

"Ano ang nais mong malaman?"

Alec took a deep breath then released it heavily. "I need you to find two people. My mom and my adoptive mother's daughter. Loisa Justiniano, my biological mother, left me to Rodessa Saturnino when I was two months old. Mama Rodessa told me my real mom went to Japan but the previous investigators I hired can't find any traces of her. Kung nagpalit siya ng pangalan ay hindi ko alam. They didn't even find my real birth record. Andrea, my adoptive sister, nawala siya sa kasagsagan ng flash flood sa Cagayan. No body was recovered so I ain't giving up." Gumalaw ang panga ni Alec at bumaba ang kanyang tingin sa kanyang kamaong nakapatong sa mesa. "I still dream about her begging for my help. She can't be dead..."

"Leave it to me. Transfer your down payment and my men will work on it immediately."

"Aasahan ko 'yan."

Alec just finished his coffee and went on his way back to his penthouse. Naupo siya sa kanyang kama at binuklat ang laman ng sobre.

Lucy Sta. Maria is an eighteen-year old anonymous artist from Nueva Viscaya, the same artist who painted several expensive artworks sold in the last auction he attended. Although she's known as Lucy, the investigators found some falsified information about her birth record. She was sold to a couple fifteen years ago for seventy thousand pesos. Kung ano ang tunay na pangalan at edad ng dalaga ay hindi masabi ni Alec dahil wala sa mga impormasyong nakalagay sa papel na kanyang hawak.

Clinically diagnosed with severe depression, panic attack, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She was rescued one and a half year ago from the hands of her adoptive brother who's been molesting her since she was thirteen. Her adoptive parents were aware of the abuse but to protect their son, Lucy was threatened to stay silent.

Kumulo nang husto ang dugo ni Alec. Nalukot niya ang papel na kanyang hawak at naihilamos niya ang kanyang palad sa kanyang mukha. Bigla niya na namang naalala si Andrea. What if she survived the flash flood? What if she was in the same situation as Lucy? Paano kung humihingi ng saklolo ang kapatid niya pero wala siya?

Parang hindi kaya ni Alec kung ganoon din ang pinagdaraanan ni Andrea. Mahal na mahal niya ito at nangako siya noon sa kanyang Mama Rodessa na babantayang mabuti ang kapatid.