UNMASKED

Chapter 19- You're Out, Elora

Chapter 19

10:55pm

Shadowed Pespective

Kasalukuyan akong nakikinig habang nakatago sa isang kwarto kung saan para akong espiya sa pinag-uusapan ng amo kong si Electra kasama ang "business partner" nito. Nakikita ko rin sila gamit ang secret camera na ininstall ko sa opisina nito. It's a secret camera na hindi pwedeng malaman ni Electra, dahil alam kong hindi ito magdadalawang isip na ipatumba ako.

Madilim sa pwesto ko ngayon, at hindi niya alam na nakikinig lang ako at nanunuod. Naririnig ko ang mga boses nila. Electra's voice was calm, almost too calm for someone playing such a dangerous game. Every word she said sank into my bones like ice, but I remained still, silent, invisible.

Her business partner across from her was losing his composure. His voice, though low, trembled with frustration, almost fear.

"I've heard they successfully retrieved the V5 and V6," her business partner said, his voice low but sharp, cutting through the stillness of the room.

Mula sa kinaroroonan ko ay sumandal ako sa aking swivel chair, matamang nanunuod. I saw his fingers tapping nervously on the edge of the table. Hindi naman agad sumagot si Electra sa sinabi nito. She didn't need to. Her silence was a weapon in itself, a reminder that she held the reins here.

"They did," she finally said, her tone cold, deliberate. She raised her glass, swirling the dark wine inside it before taking a slow sip from the most expensive collection she owned.. Her eyes remained on him, calm, unblinking. "And?"

Kumunot ang noo nito at kita sa expression ng mukha nito na hindi ito sang ayon sa plano ng aking amo "Bakit mo hinahayaang kunin lang ito? Hindi ba dapat na tayo ang kumukuha nito mula sa kanila? Paano kung makumpleto na nila iyon?"

I could almost hear his thoughts. He was desperate, afraid that they were losing control of the situation. And he was right to be afraid.

Electra let out a quiet laugh, setting her glass down on the table with a soft clink. "Hindi ka nag-iisip," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "Work smart. I wanna deal with one person only."

One person.

I tensed, knowing exactly who she was referring to.

"Kapag nakumpleto na niya," Electra continued, her eyes glinting under the dim light, "saka ko kukuhanin lahat. Kailangan natin mapasakamay ito ng kumpleto."

Her business partner was visibly uneasy now, hindi rin mapakali ang kilos nito. He leaned in, almost whispering, "At paano kung makumpleto nila ang lahat bago tayo kumilos? Hindi mo ba naiisip na baka mahirapan tayong agawin iyon?"

I watched Electra carefully, noting the subtle shift in her expression. But her smile returned, slow and wicked. "That's the beauty of it," she said softly, her voice almost a purr. "Pag nakumpleto na nila, they'll think they've won. And that's when they'll make their mistake."

I clenched my fists, my pulse quickening. Alam na alam ko ang gusto niya magmula sa umpisa. Electra wasn't just planning to let her do the work—she was planning to take everything the moment the final piece fell into place. She didn't care about the risks, about the lives at stake. To her, it was all about the prize.

I took a silent breath, my focus sharpening. Walang nakakaalam ng possibleng mangyari. Her confidence might be her downfall kung masyado siyang magiging kampante sa lahat ng bagay.

..

Elora's POV

11:50pm

Nakaharap ako kay Jade sa kanyang pribadong workspace, isang maliit na silid na punung-puno ng kagamitan sa laboratoryo at forensic tools. Nandito na ako sa wakas, kahit na hindi ko maalis ang pagkainip sa paghihintay ng higit anim na oras matapos ang orihinal na oras ng aming 6 p.m. na pagkikita sana namin.