Shadow's Revenge

Two

"What? What do you mean the document I told you to reread got thrown into the trash?"

Kung minamalas ka naman talaga. Umagang-umaga I am getting an earfull of stupidity going on in this company.

"S-sorry po Ma'am. Inilagay ko lang naman po s-sa lamesa ko para m-maibigay ko ang ibang documents. K-kaso nawala po nung b-bumalik ako," Jessica's eyes started to water.

Isa pa 'to. What is she crying for?! Anong magagawa ng pag iiyak niya sa nangyare na? She acts so scared when I have not done anything to her. This is frustrating.

Hinilamos ko ang mukha ko. "Pwede ba Jessica. Wag kang umiyak dahil wala pa akong ginagawa. Hindi pa kita hinahawakan o kahit ano. I am only yelling at you," kumunot noo ko. "Crying will solve nothing so just stop!"

For crying out loud. I am so tried of seeing them scared and wetting their pants while I am not doing anything.

"S-sorry po M-Ma'am," she sniffed. Now she really did cry. "K-kasalanan ko p-po. K-kung hindi lang p-p-po ako u-umalis hindi po m-mangyayare 'to"

Darn it. Calm yourself Alia. Calm yourself.

I inhaled-exhaled. Walang mangyayare kung sisigawan at mag iiyakan kami dito. Kailangan ko na lang gawin ulit ang nawalang documents.

"Just get me all the back-up files from before. I'll fix it," utos ko sa kanya at pumasok na sa opisina ko.

I went straight to my swiveling chair at isinandal ang likuran ko sa upuan ko. Exactly why is this happening to me now? Sumasakit na ang ulo ko sa kapalpakan ng lahat kada-araw. I need a break, but if I take a break something will happen again.

If only you were here. Panigurado lahat ng gawin dito sa kompanya na gawan mo na. Walang palpak o kahit ano, but this world is cruel. Kinuha ka nila ng maaga bago ko pa matutunan ang gawaing kompanya.

You were taught the business world. While I was taught how to handle guns. The both of us were raised differently and didn't know each other's capabilities. I've been handling your position, but it's harder than I thought.

Bumuntong hininga ako. "Sana andito ka na lang. Sana," bulong ko sa sarili ko.

"M-Ma'am," rinig ko kay Jessica habang nag tatype ako sa laptop ko.

"What is it, Jessica?" tanong ko ng hindi siya tinitignan.

Panigurado ang itsura ko parang ginahasa ng sandamakmak na unggoy. Kanina ko pa kasi kinakamot-kamot ulo ko dahil may mga hindi naiintindihan.

Zie taught me this before, but some did not function too well in my brain. That's why I am having a hard time on aome documents.

"N-nasa line 1 po si M-Ma'am Cassidy habang sa line 2 naman po ay si Mr. Escalante."

Napatigil ako saglit sa pangalawang sinabi ni Jessica. Napaisip ako dahil minsanan lang tumatawag si Mr. Escalante sa'kin at usually it's a good or bad news.

I picked up the phone next to my computer and put it between my ear and shoulder. I pressed on the number 2.

"Hello, Mr. Escalante?" sagot ko.

"We've known each other for 2 years, Alia. Why don't you call me Derrick instead," he suggested.

Tumigil ako sa pag tatype at pinatong ko ang right leg ko sa left leg ko. Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa head rest ng swiveling chair ko.

"This is pure business Mr. Escalante. I do not call anyone by their first name unless you are a close friend of mine."

Zie is a close friend kaya ko siya tinatawag sa first name niya, but this guy? I will never call him by his name. Private investigator ko siya at alam ko ring pwede niyang mapalpak ang pinapagawa ko sa kanya.

I can't trust many people. I can't even let my guard down. Pag nangyare yun, chances are, I will have to be the one suffering. I never want to suffer anymore.

Mr. Escalante chuckled. "How close do you want me to get for you to call me by my first name?"

I rolled my eyes. Nakaramdam ako ng unting pag susuka dahil sa pinagsasabi ng lalaking 'to. Lagi siyang ganito pero hindi pa rin ako sanay. Mas nasusuka nga lang ako e.

"Mr. Escalante your words make me want to vomit."

"I know you love it, Alia."

In his dead dreams.

Umiling-iling ako. "Kung wala kang balita sa pinapagawa ko sayo, Mr. Escalante. Ibaba ko na ang tawag dahil marami pa akong ginagawa dito sa opisina ko," hinawi ko ang buhok ko. "And I don't need anymore addition to my problem."

Mas tumawa si Mr. Escalante sa sinabi ko. Nakinig lang ako sa tawa niya saglit tapos nun tumigil rin siya.

This is why ayaw ko sa mga lalaki. Masyado nilang iniisip na lahat ng bagay sa mundo ay nakakatawa kahit hindi naman. At dahil sa iniisip nila, madaming nasasaktan na babae. Well, not that I can blame them. Ganun din naman ang mga babae e.

"I really can't get you to flirt with me," usisa ni Mr. Escalante. Flirt? Yung lumalandi ba ang ibig niyang sabihin?

"Mr. Escalante," I said with a threatening tone.

Ang dami kong pinoproblema pero gusto akong pag tripan ng lalaking 'to. Hay.. Bakit nga ba ulit siya ang napili ko para maging private investigator ko? Oh right. Dahil siya ang pinakamagaling pero parang nag sinungaling sila e.

Puro pag lalandi ang alam niyang gawin. Kahit hindi kami nag kikita pag lalandi pa rin inaatopag niya. What more if he were to show up in my office? Baka nabato ko na sa kanya ang lamesa ko. Hindi ko kaya ang paglandi niya.

I heard him chuckle, again. "Yes, Mrs. Escalante?" I bet you he is smirking.

"Alam mo bang ready akong palitan ka bilang private investigator ko, Mr. Escalante?"

"Go ahead. As long as you can guarantee you will become my wife," he said in a husky voice.

Nakaramdam ako ng malamig na hangin sa likuran ko. Yung sikmura ko gustong bumaliktad at nandidiri ako. And Mrs. Escalante? Someone give me a rope and hang me outside my window.

My whole body shivered. "I would rather die than becoming your wife."

"We'll see, Ms. Cordova," I heard him smirk.

"No you won't see, Mr. Escalante," I inhaled-exhaled. "If I have to kill you from keeping you away from me. I will do it," pag babanta ko sa kanya.

"I already anticipated that. After all you are a-"

Before he could finish what he had to say. I cut off the call before hearing those words again.

My sinful past that harmed everything I know and loved. The reason for her death and mine.