IMPOSTORA

CHAPTER 2

GUMUHIT ang magandang ngiti sa mga labi ni Mihara nang matanggap niya ang text message ng informant mula sa airlines. Pagkatapos ng ilang buwang paghihintay ay nagkaroon na rin siya ng pagkakataon na isagawa ang mga plano na siguradong magbibigay ng mataas na foot traffic sa website nila. At kapag mataas ang foot traffic, malaking pera ang papasok sa company.

"I have good news," Mihara announced as soon as she entered their hub and plopped down on a swivel chair in front of her colleagues. "It's something big—"

"Mihara, can you please hear us out first?" nababahalang putol sa kanya ni Sara, ang kanilang Junior Editor.

Agad naman na nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya at isa-isang tiningnan ang mga katrabaho na nakatingin na rin sa kanya. Nasa kani-kanilang cubicle ito habang nakatingin sa kanya, mababasa ang iisang ekpresyon sa mga mukha: pagkabahala.

"What's with that expression?" natatawang tanong niya. "Akala ko pa naman matutuwa kayo na may bago na akong scoop para sa website natin."

Sara heaved a sigh. Mukhang ito ang naatasang maging spokesperson ng mga katrabaho. "We're just bothered with your proposal," she answered. "We've been talking about it since early this morning."

"The proposal I sent months ago? Why?" Mihara asked with a laugh. "Don't tell me that you're all worried about my job? Because if you do, I'm not buying it."

"You're really fearless, Mihara," she laughed and turned to their editor-in-chief. "What do you think, chief?"

The forty-seven-year-old chief editor drew his brows together. "Why are you so eager to write an article about the winery in Ilocos?" he asked. "Bata pa ako successful na ang winery na 'yon. Hanggang ngayon isa pa rin sa leading labels ang wines nila. Wala kang makukuha na scandal doon, Mihara."

"I know, chief," she said and arched a brow. "The Montefort Winery was also admired by the public with their consistent charity works for the preservation of the forest."

"That's right," Chief Miguel agreed. "So, what makes them the target of your Scandalous Category in Speedy online news?"

Mihara shrugged her shoulders. "Wala naman. Interesado lang ako sa history ng winery—at syempre, kung sino ang mga taong nasa likod ng success nila hanggang ngayon," she replied casually. "Their consistent perfect performance piqued my curiosity."

Nang mangunot-noo ang editor-in-chief niya ay alam na niyang hindi niya ito nakumbinsi sa dahilan. "I know you, Mihara—"

"Oo na. My instincts are telling me na meron silang itinatago," she admitted and pressed her lips into a thin line before she spoke again. "Every successful company has a dark and nasty past before success. We all know that, right?"

Isa si Mihara Olivares sa mga elite content writers ng Speedy Online News. Nagsimula siyang magtrabaho sa maliit na Online News Company na iyon nang matanggal siya sa dating trabaho bilang secretary apat na taon na ang nakakalipas. Dahil din sa kamalasan na iyon ay nagdesisyon si Mihara na magpalit ng career at pasukin ang pagsusulat ng news online. Her niche focuses on scandalous stories of well-known artists, businessmen, politicians, and other famous personalities.

Dahil din sa pagiging sensitibo ng mga article na isinusulat niya ay pinanatili niya ang 'low-profile' sa Scandal News. Sa halip na pangalan niya ang ilagay na author ay initials niya lang na M.O. ang lumalabas sa website. Her network, the Speedy News that only streams online, supported her privacy choice and hid her identity from the first day she was hired.

Naiintindihan naman ng mga boss niya na sobrang sensitibo ng news category niya at maaaring maging mitsa pa ng buhay niya kung ilalabas din sa publiko ang pangalan niya. Ang importante lang naman kay Mihara ay ilabas ang katotohanan—at syempre ang magkaroon ng malaking commission sa mataas na foot traffic at website visitors nila.

"Are you sure about your plan, Mihara?" Art asked. He's her senior editor, and by the look he's giving her, Mihara was sure that he doubted her prospect choice again. "I heard the CEO's wife of Montefort Corporation is a—"

"Monster," she said and smirked. "That's kinda intriguing, right? I believed that behind a successful man is a supportive wife, so how could a business tycoon like the CEO reach success with the kind of wife he has?"

"Sandali nga, Mihara." Chief Miguel stood and propped his hand on his waist. His forehead was knotted into a frown, and Mihara felt like she was not gonna like what he was about to say. "Sinasabi mo ba na ang asawa ng CEO ng Montefort Winery ang gusto mong i-expose? Amara Montefort is your target?"

"I wanted to expose their life behind the multiple charities they're using as a front," Mihara clarified. "I know there's more to them than meets the eye—especially about the wife." She took the printouts from her desk. "Well, I can also try to look for the CEO's secrets—"

"If he has some," Art commented skeptically. "Their public image is shining like a diamond. And here you are, planning to put a scratch on it. Sabihin mo nga, may itinatago ka bang sama ng loob sa pamilyang 'yon?"

Natawa si Mihara sa sinabi ng senior editor. "Art, I'm on scandal news. Ano bang inaasahan mong isusulat ko? Inspiring stories?" she scoffed. "My job description is to expose scandals and flaws of bigger personalities. This is what I'm paid for—"

"But, why Montefort?" Chief Miguel interjected, still not convinced.

Sara, one of the junior editors, cleared her throat and raised her hand. "Ahm, chief, iyong tatay ng kaibigan ko, dating sommelier sa isa sa mga bar ng Montefort Winery sa Manila. Natanggal daw po ang tatay niya nang biglaan at walang malinaw na dahilan. He worked for them for fifteen years."

"Do you consider that a scoop?" Chief Miguel asked sarcastically. "Kung alam ko lang na may mababa kang critical thinking, hindi na dapat kita tinanggap sa trabaho."

"You hired her because you thought that she could be the face of our network," Art snorted, then winked at Sara, who just blushed. "Sara, does your friend know that you work in Speedy? And that we're paying dollars for civilian scoopers?"

Sara hesitated to answer. "Ah, ang sinabi ko lang sa kanya—"

"That's it!" Chief Miguel blurted. "Your friend is just fabricating stories for money." He shook his head. "And how often do I tell you that disclosing information about our network is strictly prohibited? Did you even read the contract before you sign it? I bet you didn't see the confidentiality clause 4.5?"

"Chief, calm down..." awat ni Mihara sa highblood na namang chief editor nila. "Sara's just trying to help, and besides, what she said is true. Nagsimula na ang Montefort Winery sa forced retirement ng mga old employee nila—which is unusual for a company that promotes equality, right?"

"At saka, Chief, hindi ko naman sinabi sa kaibigan ko na dito ako nagtatrabaho. Sinabi ko lang na nabasa ko sa isang online article na naghahanap ang Speedy ng civilian scoopers—"

"Hindi tayo nag-post ng job hunt!" Chief Miguel shouted frustratingly. "Looking for a civilian scooper is like looking for a resident gossiper. Their information is as good as trash. Sila iyong mga tsismosa na makikita mong nagkukumpulan sa isang kanto at pinag-uusapan ang buhay ng iba sa halip na maglinis ng bahay."

Pinigil ni Mihara ang matawa pero nahawa na rin siya ng bumulanghit ng tawa si Art. "Chief, mukhang nabiktima ka na ng mga Marites, ha?"

"Ako pa rin ang paborito nilang topic," sabi nito at naupo sa isa sa mga bakanteng swivel chair. "They're good at making implausible stories. They should replace your position."

"Hey, my contents are all plausible," Mihara defended with a laugh. "Kaya nga gusto kong magsulat ng article tungkol sa Montefort Winery."

Art's thick brows furrowed. "Paano mo 'yon gagawin? They're untouchable."

Mihara smiled wickedly. She went behind her desk and took a piece of paper inside her drawer. "I'll follow the family's luxurious getaway," she said, dropping a plane ticket to the Maldives. "I'm sure they're up to something. Wala silang branch sa Maldives—"

"Baka naman business meeting lang iyon? And they're planning to launch their first-ever branch in the Maldives?" Chief Miguel countered.

Mihara shook her head. "I doubt it. They're with their daughter—"

"Then, maybe it's just a family vacation," Art said with a raised eyebrow. "Did we hire you for that low critical thinking?" he added, mimicking their chief's sarcastic tone.

Mihara gave him a knowing glare. "Having a vacation to a country surrounded by sea and ocean is quite fishy," she said, a slow grin forming on her red-painted lips. "Because the CEO is Thalassophobic."

***