IMPOSTORA

CHAPTER 3

"HAVE you checked on what I told you to check yesterday?" Mikhail asked his accountant, Pavlov, without looking away at his laptop screen. "Did you see the discrepancies in the 2022 budget for the new label?"

Mikhail heard Pavlov clear his throat, followed by the creaking sound of his swivel chair as he leaned on its backrest. "Kailangan ko pa bang sagutin 'yan, Mikhail? Mukha namang alam mo na ang sagot—"

"The Montefort is losing millions of money monthly, and I don't know who's doing it," he said with a sigh. "Ninanakawan nila ang kompanya ng dad ko in plain sight, Pavlov."

"Why dont you hire IT men to decipher the accounts and transfers?" suhestyon ni Pavlov na nakapagpataas sa kilay ni Mikhail. "Ah, so nagawa mo na and it failed?"

Umiling-iling si Mikhail at muling napabuntong-hininga. "The 2022 budget for the black label was overpriced—"

"You approved it—"

"I did not," he growled, then checked the screen. "It's Amara's proposal, and she approved it on behalf of me." He shook his head. "She also approved to lay off the old workers in the winery."

"Then, something's off with that. Anong plano mo? Mukhang si Amara din ang nagpasa ng inventory for this project." Pavlov folded his arms in front of his chest. "Bakit ba hinahayaan mo si Amara na humawak sa new projects ng Montefort? I mean, it's obvious that she's mishandling the budget."

"We also can't deny the fact that she's a good talker," Mikhail said with another sigh. Hindi na niya mabilang kung nakakailang buntonghininga na ba siya habang pinapasahan ng tingin ang spreadsheet sa screen. "The new label was her idea and she got endorsements from the investors."

Tumangu-tango si Pavlov. "I see. But you have all the evidence. She's taking money from the company."

Mikhail looked at his friend. Pavlov Carlos was his college buddy and the only person he trusted in the whole Montefort employees. He was his confidante and knew everything about his wife's wrongdoings in Montefort—except her sins in their personal lives.

Ang alam ni Pavlov ay gastadora ang asawa niya. Wala itong alam sa kung paano siya nito pagtaksilan in plain sight. Pero duda siyang hindi pa rin nakakarating sa kaibigan ang mga tsismis na kumakalat sa buong Montefort patungkol sa asawa niya at sa bago nitong mga laruan. Sigurado si Mikhail na laman siya ng mga usapan sa bawat sulok ng Montefort Corporation.

"Iyan nga rin ang isa pang ipinagtataka ko," kunot-noong sagot ni Mikhail. "Amara was taking money using overpriced funds, but she has receipts of every transaction that tallied the funds inventory. Overpriced items ang mga kinukuha niya sa isang dealer na walang pangalan."

"I saw that, too," Pavlov answered with a shake of his head. "Mikhail, nandiyan na lahat sa harapan mo ang evidence that you Amara was stealing money, pero hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit pilit mo pa rin siyang binibigyan ng benefit of the doubt." He leaned forward and put his hand on his desk. "Mikhail, ganyan ka ba kabulag sa asawa mo?"

Hindi nakasagot si Mikhail. Hindi dahil sa hindi niya alam ang isasagot kung 'di dahil tama ang kaibigan. Nagbubulag-bulagan siya sa mga ginagawa ng asawa sa company. Still, he can't just remove Amara in the company because of her ongoing projects.

Iyon lang ba talaga ang dahilan? tanong ng isang bahagi ng utak niya.

**

"BABY, I miss you..." Mihara whispered to her boyfriend's ear when they saw each other after his extended stay in Dubai. "Akala ko hindi ka makakaabot sa birthday ko."

Jonas smiled. "I will never miss your birthday, baby..." he said and captured her lips. "I miss everything about you." His hands ran down her chest and cupped her breasts. "I miss these..." He whispered and lowered his hand to her core. "And, this..."

Mihara moaned when his finger started to stroke her button over her thin lingerie. "I miss your touch..." she said in a hoarse voice and kissed his lips passionately.

Jonas's hand made its way inside her underwear. His fingers parted her wet folds and teased her dripping entrance. "You're wet, baby..." he said huskily as he pushed his finger inside her. "You're always tight. I love it..."

Kinagat ni Mihara ang ibabang labi para pigilin ang pagkawala ng mga pag-ungol sa bibig niya pero hindi siya nagtagumpay. Napuno ng mga pagdaing at pag-ungol niya ang hotel room na nirentahan nila ni Jonas.

"Deeper, Jonas..."

Jonas inserted his two fingers, and Mihara whimpered in pleasure. His skilled fingers went in and out of her wet entrance, making her delirious with every thrust. She cocked her head to the ceiling as the swirl of heat started to form in her stomach. It grew stronger when Jonas sucked on her nipple while his hand on her mound thrust in and out.

"Oh... I'm coming—" She moaned loudly, and her rippling orgasm washed through her.

Jonas kissed her lips deeply as he withdrew his fingers from her dripping core. He lowered her on the bed and let her enjoy the last seconds of her orgasm.

"That was fast," sabi nito at nahiga sa tabi niya. "Mihara..."

"Hmm?" Mihara doesn't like the sound of his voice calling her name. "What is it?"

Ilang sandali ang lumipas bago sumagot ang lalaki. "Let's get married..."

Pumihit siya paharap sa kasintahan at kunot-noo itong tinitigan. "Bakit mo naman 'yan biglang naisip?" tanong niya. "Akala ko ba hindi ka pa handing lumagay sa tahimik dahil sa mga research projects around Asia?"

"I know, but..." He sighed and shook his head. "Let's just get married."

Jonas is a researcher—kung saang field man ay hindi alam ni Mihara. Sa tuwing tatanungin niya iti patungkol sa profession nito ay palagi lang nitong sinasabi na mas mabuti kung hindi niya alam. Nagsisimula na tuloy siyang magduda sa lalaki at sa kung ano mang trabaho nito. Paano kung isa pala itong terorista kaya madalas na magpunta sa mga oil country para mag-formulate ng bombs?

She was about to pick up her clothes when she noticed that her phone screen was blinking from email notifications.

"Don't you want to marry me?" tanong ng lalaki, nahihimigan niya ang pagkadismaya sa tinig nito. "Are you in love with someone else?"

Tatlong taon na silang magkasintahan ni Jonas. At sa loob ng tatlong taon na iyon ay mabibilang ni Mihara sa mga daliri kung ilang beses lang silang nagkita at nagkaroon ng quality time katulad ng sa ngayon.

Last year, Mihara asked him to settle down and have a civil wedding because she knew that his schedule was always hectic. But he refused and even told her that marriage was not part of his plans.

"Hindi ba dapat ako ang nagtatanong niyan sa 'yo, Jonas?" natatawang sagot niya at tiningnan ito ng deretso sa mga mata. "Did you meet someone else abroad?"

The color left Jonas's face. "Wala, Mihara," he said defensively and hugged her. "I've met a lot, yes, but none of them got my attention because you're always on my mind—"

"Sinungaling." She sat up and pushed him. "Ang pera ko lang naman ang kailangan mo... I even sponsored your so-called research trip to Sahara because you said your group is an independent research team. But it's all fake."

"A-Ano bang sinasabi mo, baby?" He held her hand. "That's not true, Mihara."

Kinuha ni Mihara ang cellphone sa side table at ipinakita sa lalaki ang mga litrato na galing sa sources niya. "Then, how will you explain these proof? You're not in Sahara, Jonas. You're in Vegas with your woman."

Jonas opened his mouth, but no words came out. He looked at the photos in disbelief. "M-Mihara—"

"I told you, Jonas. I have my ways," nagpipigil ng luhang sabi niya at kinuha sa bulsa ng pantalon nito ang wallet. Isa-isa niyang binawi ang mga ATM at Credit Card na ipinahiram sa lalaki. "We're done."

**

"I TOLD you, Mihara. That scientist is fake," Art told her with a shake of his head. "Saan mo nga ba uli iyon nakilala? Sa bar?" He laughed. "Is there a scientist that goes into the bar weekly?"

Mihara pulled several plies of tissues and blew her nose. "I should have listened to you..." she said and cried louder. "He's a bastard. He spent all my money on vices and luxury!"

"Mihara, hindi ako makapaniwala na naloko ka ng boyfriend mo..." Sara peeked over the divider. "Kung gaano ka kagaling maghanap ng flaws sa news subject mo, ganoon ka naman ka-naive sa boyfriend mo."

Lalong lumakas ang pagtawa ni Art sa komento ng Junior Editor nila. "Ganoon talaga kapag guwapo. Nakita mo na ba iyong Jonas? Kamukha ni Piolo Pascual! Kaya hayan, ang matinik sa loophole na si Mihara, nabulagan—"

"Tama na!" sigaw ni Mihara sa Senior Editor niya. "You can't blame me. He's a smooth talker, and... he's great in bed."

"Drop it off, Mihara." Art tapped her shoulders. "If you're life is a manuscript that I'm editing, the part that you met and had a relationship with that man are just fillers that should be removed and deleted. Your story could move on without him. He's an irrelevant detail."

Mihara wiped her tears. "He's a handsome parasite."

"Don't worry, Mihara. I know that somewhere out there, the right man for you is just waiting," Sara added and smiled. "Minsan talaga kailangan lang natin makakilala ng mga maling tao na magtuturo sa 'tin sa tamang tao."

Napabuntonghininga siya. "Nasaan na ba iyong right man na 'yan? Na-traffic ba siya? Should I pick him up?"

Art laughed. "Don't rush things, Mihara," he said and placed an envelope on her desk. "Ibinigay na ni boss ang cheque para sa pocket money mo sa Maldives Trip. Forget about that scumbag. You have a lot of stories to cover. What time is your flight?"

Mihara glanced at her watch, feeling a bit well upon seeing the envelope. "Four P.M. I'll leave in an hour." She checked the amount in the check and gasped in surprise. "Will they deduct this from my salary?"

Art shrugged his shoulders. "Depende siguro sa quality ng story mo," he said. "Sigurado ka na ba dito Mihara? Is Montefort Winery really worth it?"

Tumayo si Mihara at inayos na ang sarili. "Sigurado ako, Art. Montefort Winery is hiding something from the public. Ginagamit lang nila ang mga charity works para pagtakpan ang mga flaws nila. Still, secrets are bound to be revealed on the right time." She clutched on the envelop and heaved breath. "And this is the right time."

"Why Montefort Winery?" Sara asked with a knotted forehead. "Is it because of the handsome CEO?"

Mihara scowled at her colleague. "I don't care about the CEO. I'm after the monster wife," she said. "My news category is about scandals, remember?"

***