Secret Sins & White Lies: Book One of the Sweet Rage Series

D8: Emile

"THE LIST and our special requests are already sent to your email. Is there anything else you'd need from me?"

Bahagyang nakakunot ang noo ko habang nakatingin sa email na kabubukas ko lang sa aking computer. Nakatingin ako sa mga pangalan.

No... Nope. Hell, no. Napatirik ang aking mga mata. Won't she ever stop?

"Penelope, send a message to whoever is sponsoring Miss Shiela Lopez that the next time her name appears here, his membership to the club is effectively revoked."

Tumango si Penelope na nananatiling nakatayo sa harap ng desk ko. "I will. Anything else, Emile?"

Bahagya akong umiling. "You can go for today. Drive safe."

"Thank you." Nagdaan ang ngiti sa isang gilid ng mga labi niya. "I'll see you tonight."

In a perfect – but not obvious – pirouette, tumalikod si Penelope at lumabas ng aking office. Kinuha ko ang isa sa mga notebooks sa shelf sa aking likod, binuklat iyon sa ibabaw ng desk at nagsimula akong magsulat.

Ilang minuto pa lang ang nakararaan nang maistorbo ako nang pag-ring ng telepono. Inabot ko ang speaker button at pinindot iyon.

"Hello?"

"Sir Emile?"

Napatingin ako sa telepono. "Dietmar. Yes?"

"Just calling to let you know, Sir, that the car is outside again."

"Hindi n'yo pa rin nakikita kung sino talaga ang nasa likod ng manibela?"

"Hindi pa, Sir. Heavily tinted ang windows. Hindi confirmed kung si Mr. Verrazzano ang nasa loob ng sasakyan o ang kanyang driver."

Oh, I know it's you, Gian. Though I don't know what the hell you're thinking. Alam natin pareho na wala ka nang balak bumalik...

"Then we'll just wait. If he ever comes into our security net, let me know. Even if I'm asleep or busy somewhere else."

"Yes, Sir."

May ilan pa kaming napag-usapan tungkol sa security ng lugar bago siya tuluyang nagpaalam. Sinara ko ang notebook at ibinalik sa kung saan ko iyon kinuha, saka ako tumulak sa swivel chair at tumayo. Kiniling ko ang ulo sa magkabilang tabi para itaboy ang ngalay pansamantala, saka ako naglakad palabas ng opisina.

I had to walk on thick burgundy-colored carpet through a special hallway to get through to my bedroom. It was a very exclusive, beautiful hallway, with panels of gold lattice work on the walls, and rich gilt-framed paintings of men and the woman who had been the founding members of the club.

At the end of the hallway, I reached one of those paintings. It wasn't with the others. It had its special place on the wall facing anyone who came in.

It was the face of a very beautiful woman, her smile sultry and graceful, the twinkle in her eyes captured by the painter for eternity.

"Trina... he was outside again. I think he's pining for you. He will never leave us alone, wouldn't he?"

Walang namutawi sa mapupulang mga labi ni Trina Cheng. Pero sa mga mata niya ko nakita ang sagot. At napailing-iling ako.

Anyone who knew Trina also knew what those eyes were twinkling about... and for whom her smile was for.

She had loved only one man in her life. And it was the man who had killed her.

And I used to hate Giancarlo Verrazzano, with all my heart, all my mind... all of what remained of my soul.

But not anymore.

Pumikit ako, at nagdaan ang ngiti sa mga labi ko habang nabubuo sa isip ang imahe nang isa pang babae... petite, napakaganda, at nagpapaalala sa akin kay Trina.

"I'll get you back, Trina. I'll get you back. I promised you, didn't I?"

Muli, walang sumagot sa akin.

Pero nang pumihit ako para magpatuloy sa aking kwarto, nakangiti ang aking mga labi at kumakabog ang aking dibdib sa antisipasyon.

I was just counting days.

I was bound to meet Elise Soler von Schiller.

"Maghintay ka lang, baby. I'm coming for you..."

Saka sumisipol kong binuksan ang pinto ng aking kwarto para pumasok sa loob.