Furtive Legacy

Kickoff

Chapter 4
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"So how is it, Mister Renoir?" I sip on my goblet of aqua vitae while I look at him through the rim of my glass.

I watched him run his eyes to the every word written on the business proposal before he closed it and drop on the table.

"It's too good to be true. My instinct's telling me that there is a catch?" He bluntly said as he stare me back, meeting my alluring gaze.

"Oh well." I bite my lips. Darn, hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Wala naman kasing catch ang proposal na 'yan.

Okay, I'll admit it. Hindi ako ang gumawa ng proposal, it was Axcel. I told him to make a proposal on behalf of my brother that no business minded can say no.

I am here to seduce the man whose sitting on the opposite of the table. The proposal was a mere scapegoat for my ulterior intentions.

"What is it, Mlle Lehvrozki?"

Come on. Think, Natasha, think.

Tumikhim ako. "You're over thinking, sire. Renoir Holdings stand tall over Europe and Asia. We just see to it that we will get your investment by giving such hard to refuse proposal."

Damn! I sound like a silly pushover. My brother will kill me for this. I am putting too much shame on his name.

"All right. I'll buy it, for now. But I have to think many times about this. I can't rush things especially that I have to outsource for this matter."

"Suit yourself, sire. But I hope it won't take long. I have limited time staying in the country."

"Rest assured."

Ngumiti ako at nagsaad ng pagtatapos ng aming hunta. Kasabay ng pagtalikod ko ang pagkawala ng ngiti sa labi ko at napatitan ng matinding inis.

Padabog akong umupo sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Are you alright, Miss Lehvrozki?" Tanong ng staff ni Axcel na magsisilbi munang sekretarya ko.

Hindi ko siya sinagot. Naiinis ako. "Take me in a barroom." Wika ko. Hinatid naman nila ako sa isang high-end nightclub. Since it's an upscale establishment hindi pinapasok ang personal security ko.

Umupo ako isa sa mga bakanteng couches. Gusto kong mapag-isa. Sinabi ko ang order ko ng lumapit sa akin ang isang waiter.

Binagsak ko ang likod ko sa sandalan. Parang nahahapo ako sa nangyayari. Wala akong napala sa pakikipag-meeting ko kay Renoir. Paano ko ba aakitin ang lalaking kinamumuhian ko?

Nagpasalamat ako ng dumating ang in-order ko. A Remy Martin as a company for a lonely lady like me. Pathetic.

"Mlle Lehvrozki." Somebody was standing before me. Nakaka-ilang shot na ako kaya medyo malabo na ang paningin ko lalo pa't medyo makulimlim ang ilaw sa loob ng lugar.

Pero kahit magkaganoon ay kilalang-kilala ko ang boses na iyon. "Wayne Renoir." Pagkilala ko. "Can I call you Wayne?"

I motioned my hand asking him to seat.

"Sure, Mlle Lehvrozki  or shall I call you Natasha?"

"Oui."

"So you speak French?"