I Hate You

Where's my Car?

Felix drummed his fingers against the smooth surface of the table, his eyes trained on the man in front of him.

A decision needed to be made.

A decision that will not only affect him but his future.

What choice did he have? He needed the money and his client needed his products.

"I don't understand why you're hesitating. This is a win-win situation. We both get what we want and this agreement will be beneficial for both our families." The man mused before taking a small sip from his cup, setting it down gently on the tabletop.

Felix, cleared his throat then swallowed down the lump forming in his throat.

"Do we have a deal, Felix? Do you want to seal this partnership by agreeing to marry your first born to mine?"

The man squares his shoulders then shrugs the sinking feeling off his shoulders, "we have a deal, Mr. Tanchingco."

---

"I'm Althea Guevarra. I stole your car."

My confession, said under normal circumstances, would have garnered some shocked faces or maybe even a gasp or two; but in this setting, all I earned were narrowed and murderous looks.

I stood at the far wall of the jail cell, leaning against it with my hands in my pockets and a bloody lip to boot. Three people stood in front of me, the cop that had arrested me who I didn't really give a shit about, some buff pretty boy and a woman who was giving me the scariest stink-eye I had ever gotten.

My smirk remained on my lips though and no matter what it wasn't coming off.
"Where's the car?" The cop asks and I scoff before walking away from the wall and towards the metal bars that separated me and my visitors.
"The car..." I purred as I approached, "now where did I put that car...?"
Slowly, I stood in front of the woman whose eyes still bore into mine. I slipped my arms through the bars and managed to drag the tips of my fingers along the collar of her pink blazer before the office grabs them and shoves me back.

I registered the disgusted and shocked face on the prim and proper woman, like she had just been touched by someone with the plague and it makes me feel both powerful and insulted.
"You know, lady. I'm not so bad once you get to know me. I'm actually... pretty fucking good."

That doesn't sit well with Boy Buff because he suddenly reaches through the bars to grab my jacket, scratching my skin with his lady nails as his fingers clench around the leather.
"Don't talk to her like that."
A scoff passes my lips ungracefully and I wait until the officer pulls Buff Boy away from me before answering, "Why? It's not my fault I can see how sexually dissatisfied she is with you." I pause to let that sink in before adding, "It's like a superpower." With a wink to the wide eyed woman.

Buff Boy lunges forward but the officer manages to keep the overly-testosteroned man from going primal and territorial.
"I'll have you sent to prison for the rest of your fucking life. You hear me? The rest of your worthless life." He spits out angrily.
I feigned fear with a gasp before smiling at him, "You have to work on your threats, pretty boy. I've seen STDs scarier than you."
"That's because you probably have one."
"Wouldn't you like to know?"

The volley between the man and I must have gotten to the woman's nerve because she suddenly slams her hand against the metal bars, "Look! I don't care what happens to you but I want my car back. Now where is it?"

Well, well. Her voice is as beautiful as her face.

I lift a brow at the woman, "I can't seem to remember."
"Did you sell it?" She asks quickly.
"Don't remember."
"Did you crash it?"
"Can't say."
"Please!"
"Sorry lady. I always did have awful memory."

The woman fumes and I can see the crimson tinge coloring her neck, "Fuck you!" She barks angrily, her hand slamming against metal.
A chuckle bubbles up my throat, "Not even a date first, princess?"

Buff Boy wraps an arm around the Princess to pull her away, or stop her from breaking a nail, just as the door to the side opens.

"Excuse me, Ms. Tanchingco? Mr. Limjoco?"
Buff Boy huffs, "what?"
"You're going to need to leave now." Another office says then escorts the two out of the small area. He stops by the door and turns to the office that had brought me in. "Bradley, take miss Guevara to her attorney."
"Attorney? I didn't call for an attorney."
They both ignore me as Bradley unlocks the door, slipping his handcuffs unto my wrists. My stomach twists in uncertainty as he leads me through the corridor towards the interrogation room.

"I don't know who I'm supposed to meet. I didn't hire a fucking lawyer." I repeat in annoyance and roll my eyes as I'm ignored again. He leads me into the bare room then handcuffs me to the table before leaving.

With a tired sigh, I lean back in the chair and wait for whoever it was I had apparently hired. I had been in situations like this before, sometimes even worse. Didn't matter though, I'd go to jail, be good for a few months then I'm out. Plus, being in jail wasn't so bad, it just meant I have guards around me and people won't get to me.

The door opens and in walks a moustached man, wearing a fancy three thousand dollar suit. He struts to the table and takes a seat in front of me, sitting down casually with an annoying smirk on his lips.
"Miss Guevara. I'm your lawyer, my name is--" "first of all..." I cut him off, "cut the shit, I didn't hire a lawyer. Especially not one who can afford a William Fioravanti suit and then simply wear it to visit a lowly criminal like me. So who are you?"

"You're good. Just like your father."
His words make me pause and my muscles tense. I reach for him but the handcuffs stop me.
"Touchy subject?"
I huff and settle silently back down on my seat.
"Thought so."
My eyes dart to his in a deadly glare, "who the fuck are you?"

He pulls out a vape from his jacket pocket and takes a long puff, my eyes following the white smoke until it locks on to the security camera in the room.

No movement.

No red light.

This wasn't good.

"My name is Oscar Tanchingco, I'm the father of the woman whose car you just stole." He answers casually, "I'm old friends with your father."
"Well you're a few years too late for the reunion, he's been dead for years."
Oscar's brow crease tightly, "That's unfortunate, but lucky for me I'm not after him. I'm after you."

My eyebrow shoots up curiously, "why?"
"I have a job for you."

--

I step off the car and immediately felt the urge to run away. "No. I'd rather go back to jail." I tell him after he informs me exactly what kind of job he wanted me to do. "I'm not going to babysit your daughter. Besides I don't trust your facial hair."
Oscar huffs then scratches at his thick mustache, "you think you have a choice in this?" As he says this, he waves a small remote in the air, "I can have you sent to prison on a dime."
"Then do it!" I hiss just as the large doors open just behind me

"Dada? What is she doing here?" The young brat asks and I force down the bile that crawled up my throat.
Oscar gives me a nudge I roll my eyes before flashing a smile towards her.

"I'm your nanny."