THE LAWLESS AFFECTION

CHAPTER IV

It's the second week of her work, the weather is pleasant, and the sun shines yet the heat doesn't feel scorching on her skin. The brownish-red pathway fills with verdant microscopic plants at the edge. It's indeed a great day to start her assignment.

Yezennia is out of utterances while gaping at the building in front of her. She looks at it from the bottom and diverts her eyes at the peak of it. How could she possibly find the cell phone that the defrauder used in this building?

It has 50 floors with 10 offices and rooms each, she can't spend her entire life in mere searching!

"What's in there?"

Muntik na siya mapatalon nang may biglang nagsalita sa likod niya. Napasinghap pa siya nang malaman na ginagaya na pala nito ang posisyon niya habang nakatingin din sa building.

"Sinusundan mo ba ako?" she questions with irritation.

Bakit ba palagi na lang ito sumusulpot sa lugar kung nasaan siya. Isang tagpo na lang talaga at iisipin niya ng sinusundan siya nito.

A man in his black suit looked redolent, he pocketed his hand as his lips formed a curve, "As long as I can remember, I have been working here. Have you already become a stalker or a fan?"

She smiled smugly, "Nandito din ako para magtrabaho and to answer your latest question, my answer is none of the above." She fought his stare and tails it with a perfect leer.

He let out a chuckle,"You're here to gather evidence illegally? I'm sure that you know that illegally obtained evidence cannot be used against anyone in a court, that's the exclusionary law."

Napaisip bigla si Yezennia sa sinabi ng kaharap. Pinapangatawanan na talaga nito ang pagka-abogado. Hindi pa nga siya nakapagsimula sa imbestigasyon niya ay nabokya na kaagad!

He has a point and she couldn't find any reasons to counterfeit, if she insists, all her hard work will just fall for nothing.

Aldrich grinned again, as a sign that he won. He can clearly see her face lose its poise. However, in his flirtatious mind he will not let her go that easy.

Nagbuntong-hininga muna ang dalaga bago tumalikod subalit hindi pa man siya nakakahakbang ay nagsalita muli ito, "But if you don't mind, I'm willing to share my privileges with you."

She turned around with a big question mark on her face. Did she hear him right?!

The latter raised his shoulder and smiled extensively, "Are you in or out?"

Umiling siya, hindi pa rin siya naniniwala sa sinabi ng lalaki, baka mamaya patibong lang ito at siya naman ang pamahamak. It's a no, she will not let the strong independent woman inside her get tricked by a pretty lawyer.

"Come on, I insist. I won't do anything wrong and no one will know." He continued, he purposely erases his smile. He might look like a grinning idiot in her eyes.

"And what's your intention for helping me? Are you going to ask for a one night stand?" she questioned, she isn't convinced.

He approaches her, making her take a one step back, "Minnesota City is not just like other places you've visited. There are more hidden things here, Detective. And if you want to know them, you can use my privileges, that's your only way."

"And I'm not a maniac to make a one night stand as a deal. I could experience them without spending a single penny." He continued, fixing his suit and wearing his sunglasses, "But if you waste this one time offer, you'll never have it again."

He turned his back away from her, he will make sure that she can't say no to her, never.

She's contemplating but the picture of poor people who was deceived by a scammer flashes on her vision. She needs to give them justice because that is her job to do so.

"Sandali."

He smiled, he knows what is going to happen, he faces her again and beams, "Hmm?"

Bumuntong hininga muna siya bago sagutin ang lalaki, "Oo na! Tatanggapin ko iyang privileges keneme mo!" pikit mata niyang sambit.

Lumapad ang ngiti ng lalaki nang marinig ang sagot ni Yezennia, "What was your name again?"

Napakagat sa labi ang dalaga para pigilan ang inis, "I'm Yezennia Cordova."

"Single?" tanong ulit nito.

Gustong-gusto niya talagang sapakin ang lalaki sa mga oras na iyon pero kailangan niyang pigilan ang sarili, pakisasamahan niya ito hanggang sa kaya niya, "No boyfriend since birth," kalmanteng sagot niya.

"Nice meeting you, Detective Cordova." Napatango ang lalaki at muling ngumisi, napansin ni Yezennia ang mata nito na kumikislap. Parang isa itong magandang tanawin na may tinatagong hinagpis.

Katulad ng sinabi ng binatang abogado ay madaling nakapasok si Yezennia sa loob ng building. Doon niya din natuklasan na wala talaga siyang pag asa na makapasok sa loob kung wala siyang ni isang kakilala. Mahigpit din ang mga security guards at marami din ang dapat sagutin upang makapasok.

"You want coffee?" Atty. Aldrich asked after putting his hand bag on his table.

Napaayos siya ng tayo nang marinig ito, "Black coffee na lang sa akin."

Her lips parted when she scrutinized the entirety of the office, it isn't an office anymore, it was a goddamn king's room!

"Less sugar or?" he asked again, pouring a freshly brewed coffee in a white cup with gold lining around it.

Tumingin muli siya sa binata, "One tablespoon lang," sagot niya, saka niya lang napagtantong hinubad na pala nito ang itim na amerikana. Puting long sleeve na nakatupi hanggang braso na lang ang suot nito.

"Don't stare too long, I might melt." Pukaw niya sa babaeng nakatulala na pala sa kaniya. Napatawa siya dahil kulang na lang na maglaway ito.

"I'm not looking at you, pervert!" salungat ng dalaga at tinakpan ang mukha dahil nagsimula na itong mamula na parang kamatis.

"That's a lie, I saw your eyeballs rolling through me." Kontra naman ng binata at dinala na ang kape sa kung saan nandoon ang dalaga.

"I'm looking at that painting! Ang feeling mo!" hinampas niya ito sa braso at muntik nang matapon ang kapeng hawak ng lalaki.

"Why? Mas gwapo naman ako kaysa painting na iyan."

Napairap ang dalaga sa lakas ng hangin ng katabi. She's well aware that he's handsome but what she wasn't aware of is that she was slowly getting comfortable with him.