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Chapter 1
WARNING! SPG! Consists of sensitive issues such as physical abuse, murder, explicit scenes, and harmful words that are not suitable for young and not open-minded readers. Read at your own risk.
After finishing her cigarette, Stephanie went to the balcony to get some fresh air. There were many stars in the dark sky, indicating that it wouldn't rain tonight.
Stephanie took another puff of her cigarette before discarding it in the ashtray. She glanced again at the man lying on the bed, with whom she had shared an intense moment just a while ago.
His eyes were open, lifeless, staring into nothingness. His arm hung limply on the side of the bed, where his own blood dripped.
Stephanie didn't bother to cover the man's naked body; she didn't want to further soil her clothes. Instead, she retrieved her cellphone from her pocket and dialed a number.
"Mission done," she said. "I need someone to clean this up."
"Cleaner's on its way," replied Froilan.
"Any more missions for me today?"
"Nah. You're good. But you might want to clean yourself. Cleaning up a mafia mess isn't part of a cleaner's job description."
"Maybe he has extra clothes for changing, right?"
Froilan chuckled softly. "Like I said, that's not part of their job. If he has any, you'll have to pay for the extra service."
Stephanie clicked her tongue. "Next time, I'll hire my own cleaner. This is such a hassle."
"You should. You can afford it."
After ending the call, Stephanie headed to the bathroom and began scrubbing off the splattered blood from her clothes. She was grateful that she wasn't wearing white, a lesson she had learned in her nearly twenty-four years as a mafia member.
She turned off the rushing water in the sink when someone knocked. She grabbed a silk robe hanging nearby and put it on before cautiously approaching the door. Using the peephole, she saw a male housekeeper standing outside with cleaning supplies. Stephanie couldn't see his face because of the hat he wore. Before opening the door, she asked what he needed.
"Housekeeping," the housekeeper said.
"I didn't call for one," Stephanie replied.
The housekeeper checked the room number attached to the door. "Room 403. Miss Seraphine called for housekeeping."
Upon hearing her mafia code name, Stephanie opened the door. The cleaner entered swiftly, and Stephanie closed the door behind him. Without exchanging words, the cleaner started his work.
"Hey," Stephanie called out in the middle of his task.
He turned to her with a serious look.
"Do you happen to have extra clothes there? I can't get this stain out of my outfit."
The cleaner stood up briefly from his crouched position, removed his cleaning gloves, and rummaged through his cart. He handed Stephanie a black shirt, and she took it gratefully.
"Nice. Thanks. Anything you want in return?"
The man just shrugged before returning to his work. Stephanie chuckled and changed her clothes. She had never talked to a cleaner in all her years, and she thought it might be part of their job.
After changing, she left the man to his work. Free for the night, Stephanie had one thing on her mind – a visit to the Impero Bar.
Upon arrival, Enteng, the bartender, immediately handed her a shot of Tequila. Stephanie sat at a stool, watching the dance floor.
"Done for the night, Ma'am Stephanie?" Enteng asked.
"Yeah. At last."
"Looks like you finished early tonight."
"That's good, right? I have more time to drink."
Enteng chuckled. "You're right. I'll keep the shots coming, then."
"Thank you, Enteng."
Stephanie focused her gaze on the dance floor while sipping her drink. She noticed some familiar faces, people who, like her, seemed to be done for the day. Some ordinary folks could enter the bar, but entry was strict and challenging.
Some of those inside were relatives of mafia members, children of governors, and other influential figures in the country. Many of them were aware of Stephanie's work, but a few remained oblivious.
She grinned to herself, unable to believe that there were people here who had no idea that their lives could be in danger at any moment.
Having consumed several glasses, Stephanie felt the call of nature. While washing her hands, she heard someone vomiting in one of the cubicles. It was a common sight in bars, but she noticed the woman was also crying.
Stephanie approached as the woman emerged from the cubicle. She looked disheveled, with vomit on the side of her mouth. Stephanie, accustomed to gruesome scenes in her line of work, still winced at the sight of vomit.
"Are you okay?" Stephanie asked.
The woman, unfamiliar to her, turned to her, seemingly unfocused. Stephanie confirmed that she was drunk as the woman smiled and raised her hand.
"I'm okay," Stephanie nodded when the woman continued. "My boyfriend just cheated, but it's okay. The world will keep turning. Don't worry."
Stephanie's mouth agape, she was left holding the faucet handle. She couldn't believe what the woman was saying – as if cheating was a casual matter and she was completely fine with it.
The woman washed her face and seemed to have sobered up a bit. Stephanie decided to leave, having nothing to do with the woman's problems.
As she walked out of the bathroom, the woman spoke again. "Is this how men are? After getting what they want, they move on to another woman? I always thought this only happened in shows. Apparently, it happens in real life too."
"People write what we see on TV," Stephanie replied without looking at the woman. "The scenes are either real events or inspired by real happenings. Take your pick."
Avaluan, as she introduced herself, was left dumbfounded. "My name's Avaluan. You are?"
Stephanie faced her fully. "Let's not get there. It's better if you don't know me."
"That's unfair. Now you know my name."
"Not my fault. I didn't ask for your name. You gave it voluntarily."
Stephanie chuckled and left the woman to her thoughts. She went back to the bar, where Enteng offered her another shot.
"Done for the night, Ma'am Stephanie?" he asked again.
"Yeah. Finally."
"You finished early tonight. Anything bothering you?"
Stephanie shrugged. "Just encountered a strange woman in the bathroom. She thinks cheating is no big deal."
Enteng raised an eyebrow. "Well, people have their own views. Some can handle it better than others."
Stephanie sighed. "I just need a break."
As Stephanie left the bar, Avaluan was still contemplating what had just happened.
"Wow! I've never met someone like her. There are really some rude people in the world. I thought they only existed in my dramas."
She paused, recalling Stephanie's words.
"People write what we see on TV. The scenes are either real events or inspired by real happenings. Take your pick."
Avaluan sighed. "She does have a point, but she's still annoying!"
Back at her house, Stephanie noticed a familiar car parked in her spot. She quickly moved her own car before entering.
Her parents, Stacy and Axril, were sitting on the sofa, engaged in a cheerful conversation. Upon hearing Stephanie's arrival, they greeted her.
"Welcome home, anak," Stacy, her stepmother, said.
"Thank you, 'ma. What are you doing here? It's so late," Stephanie kissed them on the cheek before joining the conversation. "And you didn't even call me. I could have come home earlier."
"We're on our way to the airport," Axril, her stepfather, explained. "We dropped by to say goodbye. We'll be away for a couple of months."
"We thought," Stacy added, "you might want to see us before we leave. It'll be a long time, possibly even a year."
She held Stephanie's hands and squeezed them gently.
Stephanie smiled. "Ma, Pa, I'll be okay. I'm twenty-four, and I can stand on my own. You don't have to worry about me. I can even take care of a man thrice my size."
Axril laughed. "That's not what we're worried about, anak. We know facing trained assassins is a piece of cake for you. What concerns us is being alone in this house for an extended period. You might feel lonely."
Stephanie smiled even wider. "Seriously, I'll be fine. If you're worried, I'll visit you if I have the time."
"That's great!" Stacy said before standing up. "We need to go, our flight's in an hour. And please, take a bath. You smell like alcohol."
"Okay. I'm sorry. Take care."
As her parents left, Stephanie changed into comfortable clothes. She went out for a jog in a tracksuit, playing music on her phone through earphones.
On her way back home, she dodged something thrown at her. Reacting quickly, she narrowly avoided the projectile, realizing it was a shoe. She removed her earphones to hear what the person had to say.
"I've been calling you, but you didn't hear anything," Avaluan said. "Were you deaf when I tried talking to you earlier?"
Stephanie showed her earphones, just removed, but didn't say anything.
Avaluan's mouth gaped. "Oh, I didn't notice. Sorry." She scratched the back of her head.
Stephanie sighed. "What more do you want from me?"
Avaluan averted her gaze out of embarrassment. "I just wanted to ask if you live here. But never mind, it's not really my business."
Another sigh escaped Stephanie's lips. "Did you throw your shoe at me just to ask if I live here?"
"But you couldn't hear me, so that's why I did it. I couldn't catch up because you were running so fast." Avaluan pouted like a child.
"What's it to you if I live here or not?"
"I'm new in this area, and you're the only person I know, so I was just trying to get to know you." She furrowed her brow. "And why are you so grumpy? Did I do something to you?"
"Nothing. If you want to get to know people around here, you're approaching the wrong person. And please, you don't even know my name, so basically, you don't know me. Try another neighbor."
After Stephanie left, Avaluan sighed. She tried to understand Stephanie's behavior, but no matter what she did, she couldn't believe it.
"Wow! I've never met someone like her. There really are rude people in the world. I thought they only existed in my dramas."
She paused, recalling Stephanie's words.
"People write what we see on TV. The scenes are either real events or inspired by real happenings. Take your pick."
Avaluan sighed again. "She does have a point, but she's still annoying!"
Chapter 2
As Stephanie exited her red car, she headed straight into the headquarters. The guard at the entrance greeted her before she continued towards the elevator. The elevator was about to close when she heard someone shout her name.
"Steph, hold the door for me!"
Instead of stopping the door from closing, she just watched the man run towards it. Before it shut completely, he managed to block it with his arm, wincing in pain.
Rather than asking how he was, Stephanie just grinned at the situation. "Looks like you're slowing down, Wyeth. I'll need you at the gym later at 7 PM."
Wyeth's eyes widened as he stammered, "B-but..."
"From the entrance to the elevator, you should have reached approximately three seconds. But it took you five whole seconds instead. I guess I've been too lenient with you lately."
She forced a laugh. "You're getting too detailed, Steph."
"I'll send you a new set of regimen to finish every day. I'll monitor you while you do it as well."
"Come on, don't be so serious. I intentionally slowed down earlier, that's why it took me five seconds. I won't joke about it anymore. I promise!" He raised his right hand as if making an oath.
Stephanie looked at his right hand until the elevator door opened. Ignoring what he was saying, she walked out without acknowledging him.
"Have you had breakfast?" Wyeth asked.
"I did."
"Do you want some coffee?"
"Already had one."
Wyeth thought of other reasons while still following Stephanie to her office. "What about donuts? You love donuts! I'll buy you a box."
When they reached the front of the office, Stephanie stopped before facing him. "You know nothing will change my mind. And if you don't stop, I'll triple it."
A reluctant smile appeared on Wyeth's face. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry, your highness."
Rolling her eyes, Stephanie entered her office, closing the door behind her. Meanwhile, Salvatore entered after a while, laughing at the sight of his friend and boss.
"Stephanie again?"
"As usual," they both laughed. "Any new work for me?"
"Just a couple of new paperwork that needs your signature. But other than that, nothing. I'll remind the big boss about the report too." Salvatore placed some papers on the desk, which Wyeth didn't bother to look at.
"I'll deal with that later." Stephanie stood up and left with Salvatore. "I need to buy her majesty three boxes of donuts. I'll be back."
"Sure, bossing. Bring me a hot coffee too. I can't sleep yet; I have a lot of work."
"I wish you had our boss's work ethic."
Salvatore laughed. "I'd choose my sleepless work behind the computer over what Stephanie does any day."
They shrugged at each other. "Good point."
On the other hand, Stephanie started typing on her laptop to work on a report. She sighed each time she finished a page.
"Still hate paperwork?"
A deep voice interrupted her thoughts. Stephanie looked up at her right hand, her eyes almost sparkling. He held five boxes from her favorite donut shop. Instead of showing joy, she tried to keep a serious expression.
"I'll forgive you for taking so long since you bought five boxes."
Wyeth laughed at her statement. "Okay. Okay. I'm sorry, your highness."
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "I'm serious, Wyeth. You need to work out."
He smiled. "I know. I'll do any regimen you ask me to."
Stephanie didn't say anything else and started devouring the donuts Wyeth brought. He just smiled before leaving the office, going to his own work.
He understood why his boss was strict about his workouts. Stephanie was his right hand, and it was only fitting that she stayed healthy and strong. No one knew when their strength would be needed.
Weeks passed, and Wyeth remained a support for Stephanie, as she wanted. Stephanie preferred to finish missions alone, and even though Wyeth was fine with it, they both knew it wouldn't last. The mafia lord would surely give them a new mission soon. They couldn't afford to be complacent.
As if the heavens heard Stephanie's fears, there was a sudden knock on her door.
"New mission from the big boss," Wyeth announced. "And this time, he wants to talk to you personally to discuss the mission."
Stephanie raised her right eyebrow. "The old hag wants to see me personally? Did I hear that right?"
"I had to ask that three times before coming here." They both laughed.
Taking a deep breath, Stephanie stood up. "I guess we'll go now. We don't want the angry lion to get mad for being late."
"Of course. She hates us as it is. I don't even want to think about what her reaction will be if we're late."
While walking out of the building, everyone they passed greeted them. The guard saluted them again before the valet parked Stephanie's car in front of the building. She handed the keys to Wyeth, who was going to drive.
"Take me to the bar," Stephanie ordered.
"Aye, aye, ma'am."
They went straight to the Impero Bar before Stephanie got out. "Take my car home. I'll just take a cab later."
"No. Message me. I'll pick you up later. I'll go back to headquarters."
Before Stephanie could protest, Wyeth quickly said his goodbye. She watched him leave before entering the bar. She went straight to the counter and took an empty stool when Enteng approached.
"Good afternoon, ma'am. It's early, isn't it?"
Stephanie chuckled, finding it early to drink. But suddenly, she felt thirsty, so she decided to stay. "Just one shot. I just need to think."
"Right away, ma'am."
Lost in deep thoughts, Stephanie suddenly saw someone she didn't expect to meet at the bar at this hour.
"Hi, neighbor!" Avaluan cheerfully greeted.
Chapter 3
Avaluan couldn't help but smile when Stephanie scoffed at her. She anticipated the girl's reaction before even approaching her. For some unknown reason, she enjoyed watching the changes in Stephanie's expression every time she saw her.
“You again?” Stephanie asked.
“Wow, really?” She took a seat on the stool beside Stephanie. “You're so rude.”
Stephanie remained silent, simply sipping her drink.
Avaluan turned to the bartender. “A shot of tequila, please. One for me, and one for my neighbor here.”
Enteng, the bartender, looked at Stephanie before responding, “Right away, ma’am.”
Avaluan faced Stephanie again. “Are we early today? Boy problems?”
“I can say the same thing to you. And no, I don't have any boy problems. I am every guy’s problem.” As the tequila shots arrived, Stephanie quickly took hers. “Thanks for that.”
Stephanie was about to leave when Avaluan stopped her. Stephanie glanced at the hand on her arm, which Avaluan quickly withdrew.
“Sorry,” Avaluan said, attempting a smile. “I just really want someone to talk to right now. And maybe some advice, if you're up for it.”
“I can’t give people advice.”
“You can just sit with me and listen,” Avaluan said, hopeful that she could persuade her to stay. “You don't have to give advice if you don't want to. Drinks are on me too!” She raised her glass, showing it to Stephanie.
Stephanie looked at her glass before raising an eyebrow. “Do I look like someone who can't afford my drinks?”
Avaluan's mouth hung open, and she lowered her glass, watching Stephanie walk out of the bar. She sighed before sitting on the stool, staring into space.
“Another drink, ma’am?” Enteng asked.
Avaluan nodded. “Thank you, Enteng.”
“I'd like to hear your problem, but I need to work.”
She smiled. “You always listen to me. I feel bad for my repeated rants, but thank you.”
“No problem. Who else will help each other here, right?” He handed her a glass. “Here’s your drink. There’s no better friend than a shot of tequila.”
As more people arrived, Avaluan found it challenging to talk to Enteng. Nevertheless, she was grateful that the guy cared about her and what was happening.
She had many cousins close to her, whom she could confide in. But whenever she told them, they wouldn't keep quiet. Every time something happened to her or her dad, her cousins would go wild. And she didn't want that to happen.
She'd rather deal with the problem herself. She didn't want to make the situation worse. After a few shots, she decided it was time to go home. Despite not wanting to leave yet, dizziness overcame her, leaving her with no other option.
However, she nearly cursed when she saw her cousin giving her a serious look. Based on his stance and expression, he wasn't pleased with what he saw.
Avaluan forced a smile. “Hi, Peter. Good afternoon?” she greeted because she didn't know the time; all she knew was that the sun was scorching.
“Good? There's nothing good about my afternoon, Ava.”
She averted her gaze. “Did Jennica do something again?” she asked, referring to the guy's sister. She knew it wasn't a good idea to involve her cousin in the conversation, but she failed.
“I know you know why I react this way. Ava—” He sighed before continuing. “—it’s f*ck!ng twelve in the afternoon, and you're already drunk. What the h3ll are you up to?”
Ava didn't reply.
Peter's frown lessened when he realized something. “Ah… it’s your f*ck!ng father, isn’t it?”
“Peter, he's still my dad. Don't talk to him like that.”
“Your f*ck!ng father is an ab.u.ser, Ava. Whether it's your dad, brother, mom, or whoever, my opinion won't change. If not for you, I might be the one who brought him to prison.”
Avaluan took a deep breath. It seemed like the alcohol's effect had diminished because of her cousin. “I'm going home if that's all you're going to say.”
“I'm taking you home.”
“No, thanks. I'm taking a cab.” She started to walk towards the waiting shed.
“Don't be stubborn, Ava. I'll take you.”
“I said no!” Avaluan retorted. “I'm not going with you and getting in your car to hear a few minutes of your bad-mouthing my dad.”
Peter bit his lower lip to stop himself from saying something. He wanted to tell her that it wasn't bad-mouthing; he was just stating the truth. But he knew that if he said that, Ava would refuse even more. His cousin had been drinking, and it wasn't safe for women to go home alone.
“I won't say anything,” Peter said. “Promise. Just come with me, and I'll take you home.”
Avaluan sighed before heading to the parking area and getting into Peter's car. As Peter promised, the ride was silent. Even Ava didn't speak until they reached her house.
Upon arrival, Peter walked her inside to the terrace. Ryan, Ava's dad, was sitting there, a bottle of alcohol in front of him and a few empty ones scattered on the floor.
Upon seeing Peter and Ava approaching, he quickly stood up unsteadily. “Where have you been, kid? I've been looking for you!”
Avaluan didn't answer, so Peter did. “Why are you looking for her? You don't even have money to buy your own booze, right?”
“Peter,” Avaluan scolded her cousin in a hushed tone.
“Oh—! What are you staring at there? Go buy some. Hurry up!”
Avaluan sighed before turning away. Before she could leave, though, she heard her father's voice again. “Wait! What did I hear?” He stood up and approached Avaluan. “Did you talk back to me? Are you complaining now?”
“No, I'm not complaining. I'm just tired, so—”
She didn't get to finish her sentence because she received a strong slap from him. She gasped, holding her numb lip.
“You really have no gratitude, huh? Hey! I let you stay in my house. In my house! What right do you have to talk back to me? Why? Have you proven anything? Can you live on your own now? Then go! If you can live on your own, go!”
“No,” she whispered.
“Not really. So why the complaining?”
Avaluan bowed her head, accepting his words. She didn't speak and simply agreed with him until he calmed down. When Ryan returned to his seat, she left without saying goodbye.
Instead of buying alcohol as she initially planned, she went to the field owned by Kise's family, one of her cousins. From a distance, she saw workers enduring the blazing sun.
She was about to head straight to Kise's house when she noticed the familiar figure with the workers. She knew that this person often helped on their farm, but she didn't expect to see her working in the middle of the scorching day.
Before calling her cousin's name, one of the workers pointed at her. She approached, and Kise left her work to come to her. Avaluan pointedly looked at her bleeding lip, which she hadn't noticed before. "Do you have a wound?"
"I don't."
Kise began to treat Avaluan's lip. Only then did she realize that she had a cut that stung. She didn't respond and let Kise handle her lip.
Once Kise was done, Avaluan noticed that her cousin wasn't in the mood. "Are you okay?" she asked Kise.
Kise sighed. "I'm not okay."
"Is it something with Keisha?"
Kise looked at her. "This isn't about Keisha and me. It's about you." Her voice raised. "It's been years, Ate Ava. Why are you still putting up with that man?"
Kise blew out air before continuing. "I know you might get angry because I don't respect Ryan. But you know I can't respect him for what he's doing to you and to Auntie. Since Uncle Patrick passed away and Auntie introduced that man, nothing good has happened to you."
"But he's the one giving us a place to stay."
"We can provide you a place to stay without asking for anything in return. That's what family is for. But it seems like he doesn't see you as family. He hurts you!" Kise took a deep breath to calm herself.
"But we can't leave him." Avaluan almost whispered. "We're the only ones he has, and Mama loves him."
"Love..." Kise chuckled softly. "Sometimes I really can't understand Auntie's love for that man."
They fell silent after that. They sat on the terrace, looking out into Kise's vast farmland. For the rest of the afternoon, Kise didn't leave Avaluan's side. Even though they didn't talk, they were just there. Avaluan didn't leave Kise to help in the field, as she wanted. But Kise insisted.
"Don't go home yet, she might still be awake. Let her sleep first so she won't hurt you again. Stay inside for now and do whatever you want. I'll just fetch Paulle and Keisha."
Avaluan nodded before going inside. She sat in the living room, turning on the television while waiting for them. But her attention wasn't there. She thought about how lucky and unlucky she was in her family.
They were unlucky because her father was gone too soon. They were unlucky because her mother's new love was the one hurting them. But they were also lucky in a way because they had a large family on the father's side, and they were all very close.
Avaluan sighed. Despite everything that had happened and worried her, she found herself laughing at the thought of the girl she met at the bar.
It wasn't new to her to feel this way. She was attracted to girls since a long time ago. She didn't pay attention to it before, but lately, every time she saw the girl at the bar, her heart raced. She got excited at the thought of seeing her again.
But the pain from that rejection still stung, and she remembered it as she drank in the bar.
Chapter 4
The man received a punch from Stephanie when he laughed. Instead of minding what the lady did, he laughed even harder. As a result, he received more punches and kicks.
He lay on the floor after being pushed by Stephanie. He was bleeding, his face unrecognizable due to the numerous cuts and bruises. Breathing became difficult as his nose was blocked, and blood flowed from it.
Stephanie moved away, trying to calm herself. They had been there for almost three hours, yet they hadn't gotten anything useful from the man. Some men lay lifeless near where she stood, victims of the encounter.
Wyeth sighed and approached the man to talk to him. "I'll repeat it, who's your boss?"
The man tried to open one of his eyes. "I-I'll repeat it too, I don't know."
Wyeth forced a smile before standing up. In doing so, he forcefully stepped on the man's chest three times.
The injured man groaned again. He attempted to lift his arms to shield himself, but even they were broken.
Wyeth sat back down and said, "You know you won't get out of here until you answer my question. You won't be able to end yourself either because we've taken the suicide pill from your mouth. We're trained to do this, you know. And we spare no one."
"I know you're trained. But like you, we're also trained to do this. You won't make me sing no matter—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a gunshot echoed inside the abandoned building.
Wyeth closed her eyes as the man's blood splattered on her face. When she looked at him, he wasn't speaking anymore, and he wasn't breathing either. There was a small hole in his forehead where Stephanie's gunshot had penetrated.
"You didn't wait for it to finish," Wyeth commented. She stood up, brushing off her pants. "Maybe he would have slipped and given us a clue. If this continues, we might not get any information."
"Do you think he would have sung? We've been here for three hours. Our time is wasted. What if we leave and go to another place to investigate? We might find something more productive."
Wyeth shrugged. "These dogs are too loyal. They know they're cornered, so they commit suicide. I wonder who their boss is. He must be good at brainwashing to have followers like them."
"They're probably a lost cause. I know one of them. He's supposed to be in jail for a lifetime imprisonment. The boss probably gave them another chance to live outside."
Wyeth nodded. "It's better to do something you hate than to be imprisoned for life. Nice."
They began to walk away after the cleaners arrived.
"What's your plan now?" Wyeth asked when she sat in the driver's seat. She started the engine and began driving.
"Going to Impero. You?"
Wyeth glanced at her to see if she was serious. "I'm not really talking about that, but yeah, I'm going home."
Stephanie didn't say anything. She knew Wyeth was referring to the mission, but for now, she didn't know what to do. They had been investigating for several days, but they still hadn't obtained any clues.
She knew it was too early to give up, but this mission was essential to her. Time was of the essence. She needed to carefully consider her next steps because one mistake could cost her everything.
Since she was a child, this had been her life. Her parents introduced her to the world of the mafia at a young age.
As a child, instead of picking up a pencil on her first birthday, she chose a knife. It was just a bread knife, but from then on, her parents noticed her fascination with anything related to the mafia.
Since then, her parents always took her to the headquarters. She found herself loving knives and guns instead of toys.
Her whole life revolved around the organization. So she would do everything to succeed in the mission they gave her. She won't tolerate any failure.
When she arrived at Impero Bar, she raised an eyebrow. Someone else was sitting in the stool she usually occupied. She wouldn't have paid attention, but she recognized the woman.
The annoying woman, she thought.
She sat on a stool and left a vacant one between her and the woman. She immediately ordered a shot of tequila before watching the dance floor.
After a while, unable to resist, she peeked at the woman next to her. Surprisingly, the woman was just staring at the tequila glass she had given her.
"Oh," she could only say. She looked at the glass Stephanie handed her, seeming puzzled. After a moment, she smiled. "Thank you."
Stephanie didn't say anything and kept her gaze on the dancers. However, in her peripheral vision, she could see what Avaluan was doing. Instead of drinking, she was just looking at the glass Stephanie had given her.
"It's weird, right?" Avaluan commented. "As lucky as we are in one thing, we're unlucky in other aspects."
Rather than responding or asking, Stephanie chose to listen. Instead of giving her an annoyed look again, she found herself waiting for Avaluan's story. She had nowhere else to go now, unlike before. It wouldn't hurt to listen for a change.
"I'm so lucky to have my cousins," Avaluan continued. "They're always there for me. Whenever I need someone to lean on, they're right by my side. Whenever something bad happens to me, they're there to the rescue."
Avaluan smiled. "Whenever I see them getting angry for me, I'm happy. But I don't know if I should be happy about that or not. I don't want them to hate someone because of me. For me, the worst feeling is having someone hate you. Why hate on someone? Why not try to understand each other? We all go through something, right?"
They fell silent after that. They sat on the stool, looking out at the vast farmland owned by Kise. For the rest of the afternoon, Kise didn't leave Avaluan's side. Even though they didn't talk, they were just there. Avaluan didn't leave Kise to help in the field, as she wanted. But Kise insisted.
"Don't go home yet; she might still be awake. Let her sleep first so she won't hurt you again. Stay inside for now and do whatever you want. I'll just fetch Paulle and Keisha."
Avaluan nodded before going inside. She sat in the living room, turning on the television while waiting for them. But her attention wasn't there. She thought about how lucky and unlucky she was in her family.
They were unlucky because her father was gone too soon. They were unlucky because her mother's new love was the one hurting them. But they were also lucky in a way because they had a large family on the father's side, and they were all very close.
Avaluan sighed. Despite everything that had happened and worried her, she found herself laughing at the thought of the girl she met at the bar.
It wasn't new to her to feel this way. She was attracted to girls since a long time ago. She didn't pay attention to it before, but lately, every time she saw the girl at the bar, her heart raced. She got excited at the thought of seeing her again.
But the pain from that rejection still stung, and she remembered it as she drank in the bar.
Chapter 5
"Standby," Stephanie said through her earpiece. "I can see them from here. They're loading a black van."
"Roger," Wyeth replied.
Stephanie watched the men loading bags into a black van. She was on the fifth floor, waiting for the right time to strike.
They weren't sure how many were with them. They needed to know the whereabouts of each group to avoid any mishaps. Although they were prepared for anything, they still preferred a smooth operation.
While scanning the entire compound, her gaze stopped at a corner. Stephanie squinted when she saw a familiar figure. Initially, she shouldn't have paid attention, but when she noticed another man hurting the person, her forehead creased.
The woman seemed to accept the pain inflicted by a man, bowing her head and blocking her arms over her head for protection. She almost curled up on the floor as he kicked her in the stomach.
Stephanie sighed and returned her attention to the men continuing their work. However, she sighed again when she couldn't bear it.
"Argh!" she exclaimed. "What a pain in the a.ss."
From the fifth floor, she leaped onto the adjacent rooftop. Her movements were swift until she reached the two. Before the man could kick the woman again, Stephanie punched him in the jaw.
The man tumbled until his back hit a wall. He winced at what she did. On the other hand, the woman looked up, mouth agape.
"W-What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Ava, right?" Stephanie asked. "Obviously, I’m here to help."
Stephanie walked toward the man and pulled him by the collar. She delivered a powerful punch to his face, causing his lips to burst. After that, she hit him on the nose, almost making him lose consciousness.
Before she could harm him again, a hand stopped her. "P-Please, stop!"
She looked at Ava. "This man’s hurting you, right?"
Ava nodded. "Yeah."
"Then, why are you stopping me?"
"He's just drunk. He doesn't know what he's doing, so please, stop. You might do something worse to him. Please don't hurt my dad."
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "This is your father?"
Avaluan nodded, so Stephanie returned her gaze to the man she held. She let him go without much care, and he slumped to the floor. Avaluan quickly sat next to her father, examining his condition.
Stephanie didn't look at them again and returned to her position. She felt like she wasted time on something pointless. If she had ignored it, she might have gained something.
"Where did you go?" Wyeth asked.
"Just shut some bas.tard up. What do we have?"
"Three groups in the south compound," Froilan replied. "One in the north, one in the west, and two in the east."
"Do you think we can handle them?" Stephanie asked.
"That shouldn't even be a question," Wyeth said. "Let’s go!"
Stephanie shook her head and sighed as she watched Wyeth charge at the men they were observing earlier.
Before descending to help Wyeth, Stephanie glanced back at Avaluan. They were no longer there, which relieved her to some extent. She had fewer worries now.
After the cleaners arrived, Stephanie and Wyeth went to the headquarters to talk to Froilan more formally. They headed to a private room with computers.
"He's heading to a subdivision," Froilan shared, displaying a map with a pulsating red dot moving towards a location.
"Isn't this in Carmella Homes?" Stephanie asked, realizing the direction the man was heading. "It's near my parents' house."
"Yes." The screen moved, zooming in.
They put on their earphones, and there they heard the man's heavy breathing. It seemed like he was exhausted from running and escaping.
After a while, he spoke. "B-Boss, we got raided. I couldn't contact anyone, so I think they're all dead."
They didn't hear the response, but judging by the man's tone, they knew his boss was angry.
"W-We also didn't deliver anything to the clients. We were ambushed before we could—" He didn't finish his sentence as they heard the loud voice of his superior.
"Understood."
After his silence, their attention returned to the pulsating red dot on the screen. Instead of proceeding deeper into the subdivision, the man turned away. As he ran faster, they realized he was getting into a taxi.
"He's heading to their headquarters," Froilan said. "We've known the location for a long time, but we never got any information from there. Another dead end."
Stephanie couldn't help but throw her mouse against the wall in frustration. It clattered on the floor before she could throw the keyboard. However, Froilan spoke before she could.
"But we got something from this operation." Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "Their boss or whoever is giving them orders lives in or near Carmella Homes."
She glanced at the screen displaying the red dot. "He was about to go to the subdivision, but he retreated after talking to his boss."
"It seems challenging to find the mastermind," Wyeth interjected. "They're too smart or too scared. He can hide well, but not well enough for us."
"Or maybe too scared," Stephanie added. "Too scared to get out of his hideout. We need to smoke him out. If we can't find him, we have to use his business to flush him out and make him show himself."
Wyeth nodded, thoughtful, contemplating their next move. Stephanie, after standing up and stretching, spoke again.
"I need a drink. I'll be back."
Before Wyeth could protest, Stephanie left the room. She knew she needed to clear her mind. It had been a few days of non-stop investigation, and she needed a break.
When Stephanie arrived at Impero Bar, she immediately scanned the area for Avaluan. To her disappointment, she didn't see her. Glancing at her watch, she realized it was already early morning. Avaluan was likely home.
Sitting on her usual stool, Enteng handed her a shot of tequila. She thanked him before surveying the dance floor, hoping to find Avaluan.
"She was looking for you earlier," Enteng said from behind the bar. "Seems like she came here specifically to ask about you."
"Did she say why?"
He shook his head. "She left immediately after inquiring about you. But she didn't look good. She had a lot of wounds and bruises on her face."
Stephanie was briefly stunned. "Do you know her well?"
"She often comes here with her cousins." He pointed to the other end of the bar. "Peter. He's the one I usually see her with. I think he's the closest to Ava."
Stephanie's gaze landed on the young man sitting on a sofa with two other guys and a girl. He was engrossed in a lively conversation, almost breaking into a smile. Stephanie couldn't deny the resemblance between him and Avaluan.
"Casper?"
"He's Ava's cousin too. The Ramos family."
After finishing her tequila shot, Stephanie stood up and approached the familiar-looking guy. He was also a mafia member like her. They had worked together briefly on a mission assigned by Francesca. But that was a long time ago, and he might have forgotten her.
"Hey," she called to Casper. "Can we talk?"
The four of them looked at her when Peter jokingly grinned. "Oh, nice one, Kuya Casper."
Stephanie quickly scolded the cousin. "Cut it out, Peter." She stood up and approached Stephanie. "Long time no see, Steph. How are you?"
She briefly distanced herself from Casper when she noticed the tone in Stephanie's voice. Casper knew her, even though their collaboration was short-lived. Stephanie was direct, and she wasn't one to make jokes.
"Sorry, I just wanted to ask if you have Avaluan's contact." She avoided eye contact.
"Avaluan? My cousin Ava?" Stephanie nodded. "Why? Did she do something?" Concern and fear resonated in his voice.
"Don't worry. You know family members are off-limits. I just want to ask her if she's okay."
Casper raised an eyebrow and hesitated for a moment. "Is it because of her stepfather? Is that jerk still hurting her?"
"Stepfather? So, he's not her biological father. That explains why he treats her like that."
"It's been happening for years. He constantly hurts her." Stephanie took out her phone. "Here's her number. Maybe she'll listen to you."
"Is this a common occurrence for her? Why aren't you doing anything? It sounds like you also despise her stepfather. And for sure, you have many ways to punish that bas.tard."
Casper sighed. "You're right. If it were up to me, he would have paid for it a long time ago. But Ava stopped us from meddling in their family affairs. She said she'd handle it. The most we can do is stop the man whenever he gets drunk and becomes violent."
Stephanie was momentarily speechless as she stared at Avaluan's number. Despite her efforts to convince herself, she couldn't understand why Avaluan was doing this.
In this day and age, it's easy to report to the police about what her father was doing. She always had bruises and injuries, and surely, all their neighbors knew about it. Even her cousins would willingly help her stop the abuse.
Why wasn't Avaluan doing something to stop her stepfather? Was there a reason? Was she scared that if she reported him, she wouldn't win in court and her father would hurt her even more?
Stephanie had returned home, but there were still many questions swirling in her mind. Unconsciously, those became her main concern that night instead of planning for her mission.
What the hell is happening to me? She asked herself.
Chapter 6
"We've found out her location," Wyeth said as soon as Stephanie arrived at the headquarters.
The young woman quickly approached him and looked at the computer monitor where CCTV footage was being projected. She stared at the woman's face for a moment.
"Nancy?" she uttered in disbelief.
"You know her?"
She started typing and read the information Froilan gathered about the woman. "Not personally. But she has a famous clothing line in the country. Is she our suspect?"
"She's the boss herself, Steph."
Stephanie fell silent, finishing her reading. After completing the task, she leaned back in her chair and sighed. Massaging her temples, she tried to process the unexpected revelation.
"I didn't know she's also a mafia," Stephanie said. "And a boss at that. With this piece of information, there's still a question we need an answer to." She looked at Wyeth. "Is she the big boss, or is there someone higher than her who's pulling the strings?"
"At last, you're here!" Avaluan greeted Stephanie as soon as she entered Impero Bar.
Stephanie sat next to her. "One shot of tequila, please," she requested from Enteng.
Avaluan raised an eyebrow. "Not even a simple 'hi'?"
"Why would I? You didn't say hi either."
Avaluan's mouth slightly opened as if she realized something. "Hi! Sorry. I was just excited when I saw you. I didn't catch you here last night."
Stephanie didn't respond and turned her attention to the dance floor, observing the people dancing. Avaluan smiled and also ordered a tequila shot.
"Thank you for earlier," Avaluan said.
"For stopping me from beating up your dad?"
Avaluan nodded. "Yeah."
"You're welcome."
"You know," Avaluan began, "I really want to get close to you. I don't know why. I feel like we could be good friends. What do you think?"
"I'm not interested."
Avaluan raised an eyebrow. "You didn't even think about it. Take some time before you answer."
After a brief pause, Stephanie replied, "Still not interested."
Avaluan looked disappointed, but Stephanie continued, "Why? Maybe you're a loner, huh?" Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "Maybe that's why you're always alone here, no friends."
Stephanie sighed. "What are you trying to imply?"
"I can be your friend! I'm good at keeping secrets. Whenever you need my help, I'll do everything to assist you."
"I don't need help from you or anyone."
"You can't be sure. What if there comes a time when you need a friend?"
Stephanie took a deep breath. "Why? So that when you need help, they'll also help you? Is friendship a give-and-take relationship? If they help you, you have to help them back. How stupid."
Avaluan smiled. "A friend helps a friend in need not because it's an obligation as a friend. It's something a person does because that friend is important, loved, and cared for."
"You're not important to me. I don't love you, nor do I care for you. So, why should I be friends with you?"
Avaluan sighed. "Because friendship doesn't end with just introducing ourselves. Trust is built over time between two people. You don't immediately trust someone you just met, right?"
Stephanie remained silent, her mind filled with thoughts. "Why?" Avaluan asked. "Maybe you're a loner, huh?" She raised an eyebrow. "Maybe that's why you're always alone here, no friends."
Stephanie sighed. "What are you trying to imply?"
"I can be your friend! I'm good at keeping secrets. Whenever you need my help, I'll do everything to assist you."
"I don't need help from you or anyone."
"You can't be sure. What if there comes a time when you need a friend?"
Stephanie took a deep breath. "Why? So that when you need help, they'll also help you? Is friendship a give-and-take relationship? If they help you, you have to help them back. How stupid."
Avaluan smiled. "A friend helps a friend in need not because it's an obligation as a friend. It's something a person does because that friend is important, loved, and cared for."
"You're not important to me. I don't love you, nor do I care for you. So, why should I be friends with you?"
Avaluan sighed. "Because friendship doesn't end with just introducing ourselves. Trust is built over time between two people. You don't immediately trust someone you just met, right?"
Stephanie stayed silent, her mind filled with thoughts.
Stephanie sat alone in a coffee shop, lost in her thoughts. She wasn't a fan of coffee, but she wanted to try it. After finishing work that day, she decided to go to a nearby shop close to the headquarters.
She continued to ponder the conversation with Avaluan the night before at Impero Bar. She didn't want to dwell on it, but it lingered in her mind. She barely had any sleep the previous night, consumed by her thoughts.
As she was lost in contemplation, she felt someone approaching. Before she could react, she saw Avaluan's face peering over her shoulder.
"I thought I was just seeing things!" Avaluan exclaimed.
Stephanie winced at the sudden loudness. "Can you please lower down your voice?"
"Oops! Sorry. I thought I was just seeing things. I didn't know you liked coffee. I thought your stomach was only filled with tequila."
"I'm not into coffee. This is my first time trying it."
"Oh, nice!" Avaluan looked at the guy who called her name. "Oh, by the way, I'm here with my cousins. We're coffee enthusiasts, so we're here almost every day."
Stephanie recognized the familiar figure of Casper, who greeted her in a friendly manner. She nodded in response. Casper was with two other guys and a girl, presumably their cousins.
"Would you like to join us?" Avaluan asked. Before Stephanie could refuse, Avaluan called her cousins over. They quickly occupied Stephanie's table. Stephanie didn't protest, listening to their lively conversation.
She learned that Peter was hyper and the youngest among them, just starting college. Ralph had recently graduated as a pilot, and Leslie, their female cousin, was about to graduate from college.
During their conversation, Stephanie discovered that Avaluan was also graduating with a degree in business administration. After class, they frequented the bar daily, and Avaluan attributed it to being a habit.
"Haven't you heard that you're always drunk every day?" Peter teased. "Like the other day, you got so drunk that you slept at Casper's place."
Avaluan shot a glare at her cousin before turning to Stephanie. "Don't mind him. He's just teasing. I was just too drunk that time. He's too lazy to drive back and forth."
Stephanie resisted the urge to roll her eyes. The conversation continued until they decided to head home, each with their own plans. Since Stephanie and Avaluan were going in the same direction, they ended up sharing a ride.
"Sorry about that," Avaluan apologized. "I didn't mean to drag you into driving me. My cousin is just lazy to drive back and forth."
"It's not a bother. We just happened to be going in the same direction. If not, I wouldn't have given you a ride either."
Avaluan bit her lower lip to stifle a smile but failed, allowing a small smile to appear. Stephanie noticed and asked why.
"You're consistent in your behavior," Avaluan replied.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Actually, it's not a compliment." Avaluan laughed. "From the beginning, you've been unfriendly to me. But tonight, I realized you're just unfriendly to everyone. Even my cousins, whenever you get the chance."
"I don't know what to say to that. I was just born unfriendly."
"I just mentioned it. You don't have to speak or anything. It seems like you're okay being unfriendly."
Stephanie remained silent, focusing on driving. However, Avaluan soon spoke again.
"Your cousin mentioned that you're broken. What does that mean? Are you broken because of your family?" Avaluan asked hesitantly. "You don't have to answer if you're not comfortable. I'm just curious."
Avaluan lowered her gaze before smiling. "I said I wanted to get close to you, right? I guess this is the first step." She didn't speak, allowing Avaluan to continue. "The first time we met in the restroom, I was crying because my girlfriend broke up with me."
"That's unexpected. I thought you were crying because of your dad."
"Actually, they're connected. She broke up with me because she was afraid my dad might hurt her too."
"That's it? You didn't even convince her to stay with you? Fight for your relationship? Or anything."
"Of course, I did. That's just how it turned out after she rejected that idea. Maybe I'm not the type of person they can fight for. Maybe I'm just pastime for them. After all, I also know our relationship wouldn't have lasted."
Stephanie frowned. "How pessimistic."
Avaluan laughed before facing her. "I'm just realistic. Do you know any two women in a relationship that lasts? Eventually, they'll break up, and they'll prefer to build a family."
Stephanie's mouth hung open as she looked at her. "Oh, I didn't know."
"It's okay. I know many people still don't fully accept relationships between two women or two men."
"It's not that. I didn't mean anything with that reaction. And I have no issues if two women or men love each other. I was just not expecting it from you. I guess I can't judge anyone so quickly."
Avaluan smiled. "Thank you."
"That's nothing. Anyone is free to do what they want."
"Have you ever been in love?" Avaluan changed the topic.
Stephanie quickly looked at her before returning her gaze to the road. "That's so random. But no, I haven't."
Avaluan raised her eyebrows. "Seriously?"
Stephanie sighed. "Seriously. I just haven't had the time yet. Or haven't met the right one yet."
"Love doesn't have to be rushed. The right person will come naturally. Maybe I'm just too excited, thinking they were the right ones for me. Or maybe they were the right ones, just not the right time." Avaluan glanced at Stephanie when she sighed. "Why?"
"There are just too many requirements in love. It's too complicated. Right time, right person, whatever. Why not just bring two people together if they're meant for each other?"
Avaluan laughed. "If only it were that easy, there wouldn't be someone like me crying over someone else."
"You don't have to cry over them," Stephanie whispered.
"What's that?"
"Nothing."
Chapter 7
"Are you together now?" Enteng asked as soon as Stephanie and Avaluan arrived together.
"One shot of tequila, please," Stephanie and Avaluan said simultaneously.
Enteng chuckled. "Two shots for the beautiful ladies."
"Thanks, Enteng," Avaluan said. "It's nothing."
They sat on stools when Stephanie spoke. "You never call me beautiful, Enteng. What's with you today?"
"That's because it's only for Avaluan. It just so happened that you're together, so I included you."
He raised an eyebrow, but she didn't say anything. Avaluan, on the other hand, laughed heartily, earning a quizzical look from Stephanie.
"I didn't know you were conscious of your appearance," Avaluan said. "Don't worry; I'll always call you beautiful so you won't get upset."
"I don't want to be called that. I'm just wondering why he called me beautiful. It's creepy."
"But you are beautiful, right?"
"Whatever. Don't call me that."
When Stephanie noticed Enteng staring at them with a smile, she grimaced. "What's with that creepy smile?"
"I'm just happy that you're getting along. You're joking around like that. It's like, not too long ago, you used to scowl at Ava because she was annoying."
Stephanie sighed. "She's still annoying. Nothing changed."
Avaluan grinned. "Annoying, but you're always with me. Say it, you're starting to miss my antics."
"Of course not!"
"Why did you agree to come with me tonight? It's not your usual time to be here."
"It's not like I have a choice. I wanted to drink. I don't have any other friends."
Avaluan and Enteng laughed at her statement, then changed the topic. Enteng left them shortly after to attend to other customers.
They stared at the dance floor for a while until Stephanie spoke, "He's hurting you again?" She looked at Avaluan's arm, where she was trying to conceal a wound.
"I'm fine."
"You should really do something about your father. This is not right."
"I'm really okay."
Stephanie faced Avaluan. "I remember the last time I saw him hurt you. He slapped you, hit you with a hard object, and so on. He's a man. He's strong. One mistake, and he could cripple you."
Avaluan sighed. "Let's change the topic. I don't want to talk about it."
"But it will continue if we don't discuss it. You need to make him stop hurting you."
"I said I'm fine!" Avaluan snapped. Some people nearby heard them, so she lowered her voice. "I'll handle my father. Just mind your own business."
Stephanie stared at her. "You said you wanted to get close to me."
"But I still have my privacy."
Stephanie didn't say anything and just sipped her drink.
"Do you know why I want to be friends with you?" Avaluan asked. "Because I thought you wouldn't interfere with my issues with my father. I thought you'd understand. I guess I was wrong."
She stood up and left without looking back at Stephanie. Stephanie leaned back against a car in the parking lot, bewildered by the turn their conversation took. It felt like just moments ago they were joking around.
Concerned for Avaluan's well-being, Stephanie couldn't shake the image of her being hurt by her own father. It wasn't normal, even if he was just drunk. Was he going to hurt her every time he was intoxicated? It seemed like he was drunk every day. Did that mean he would hurt her every day too?
In the following days, Avaluan avoided her. She didn't send any messages, and if she went to Impero Bar, she made sure not to cross paths with Stephanie.
Stephanie immersed herself in the mission, planning with Froilan and Wyeth to conclude it successfully. But even in the midst of their preparations, Avaluan lingered in her thoughts before she slept.
"Why is this happening every time I worry about someone?" she wondered. "Now that I'm worried about someone else, it feels like a sin."
She sighed, trying to sleep. After tossing and turning in bed, she sat up abruptly.
"I need a drink."
She quickly got dressed and headed to Impero Bar. It was late at night, well past her usual drinking hours, but she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep with her mind so alert.
Upon arriving, Enteng was surprised to see her, but he didn't ask questions.
"Ava's here," Enteng said, pointing in a direction.
Stephanie turned to look but avoided eye contact. Just when she was avoiding Avaluan, there she was. In the past few days, Stephanie wanted to see and talk to her, but Avaluan was nowhere to be found.
After a few drinks, Stephanie decided to approach Avaluan to talk. She was with her cousins, but Peter was not there. It seemed they were wrapping up for the night. When she faced them, Avaluan didn't even look at her.
"Can we talk?" Stephanie asked.
"Ava," called Casper. "She wants to talk to you."
Without uttering a word, Avaluan stood up to follow Stephanie outside the bar, away from the noisy music.
"What's that? My brother Ralph is about to pick me up, so make it quick."
"Are you really going to ignore me like this?" Stephanie questioned. "For days, you've been avoiding me and not talking to me. I thought you wanted to be close to me."
"I already answered that question. I wanted to get close to you because I thought you'd understand what's happening to me."
"But I'm already close to you. If I see something wrong, I'll do something about it. That's what friends are for, right? Or am I wrong? Sorry. I'm new to this friendship thing."
Avaluan remained silent, looking at Stephanie.
"Never mind that. You said you wanted to be close to me. What am I supposed to do now? Do you want to end this now and act like nothing happened? Because tell me now if you want me to stay away from you earlier before this gets deeper."
Avaluan took a deep breath. "I think you misunderstood. I didn't approach you to be friends. When I said I wanted to get close to you, I didn't mean to be your friend. You know I like women, right? I'm sorry if I lied. I approached you not to be friends. I wanted something from you."
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "That's what I thought too."
Avaluan looked surprised. "Huh?"
"I just told you. Tell me now if you want me to stay away from you earlier before this gets deeper."
Avaluan didn't answer and just stared at Stephanie.
"I want to be close to you. I want to be more than just friends. I want to protect you."
Before Avaluan could respond, a car horn interrupted them. She stood up, ready to leave, but paused before turning back to Stephanie.
"You're probably just drunk. You might not even know what you're saying. But if you still feel the same way tomorrow, come to me."
Stephanie just stared as the car drove away. When it disappeared from her view, she leaned against a car for support.
"Somehow, did I just confess my feelings for the first time?" she asked herself, then laughed. "Did I?"
She headed to her car to go home. Instead of sleeping right away, she found herself unable to rest due to the confrontation with Avaluan. But instead of regretting it, she found herself smiling whenever she thought about that moment.
So, the next day, with bags under her eyes, she arrived at the headquarters, catching Wyeth's attention.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah. Just couldn't sleep properly last night."
Wyeth sat on a vacant couch in Stephanie's office. "Stressed out with the mission?" Stephanie didn't respond, just stared at her laptop screen. That's when Wyeth noticed her unusual behavior. In the many years they'd known each other, he knew something was bothering her.
"Is everything okay?" Wyeth asked.
Stephanie raised her eyes to him. "Yeah. Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"
"First, you're not paying attention to what I'm saying. Second, you're just staring off into space. Not to mention, your eyes are unusually dark, which rarely happens. Even during our missions where we stay awake for days, your eyes don't get like that."
She sighed. "I'm just thinking about something. Don't worry about it."
Wyeth gave her a serious look. "Just make sure it won't affect our mission, then."
"I know how important this is for you. It's important for me too. I know what I'm doing. I'll be fine before you know it."
Wyeth nodded before changing the subject. He understood how crucial this mission was for Stephanie. It would determine whether she stayed in the organization or got demoted to a lower position.
Stephanie knew how important this was to Wyeth. This was where they both lived. If they failed this mission, they would both fall. That was something she didn't want to happen because she saw how Wyeth had given his entire life to this organization.
Wyeth began to lay out their recent discussions before finalizing their plans. Nancy was opening a new branch of her clothing line in their province, and that would be their chance to talk to her.
However, they knew that the clothing line was just a front for their larger plan in that area. The incident with Nancy's previous operations, selling illegal items like drugs, was just an example.
After their mission, they sent the illegal items to the headquarters of the mafia lord. It seemed that he wanted to remove Nancy from the territory because it belonged to Silvestre Morgan, the mafia lord of the Morgan Organization.
"I'm just curious," Wyeth said. "Why did the mafia lord entrust this mission to us? If he wanted to secure his territory so badly, he could send someone more powerful than us. He has his seven disciples to do his job for him."
Stephanie shrugged. "I don't know either. Maybe they all have their own missions right now, and no one's available."
Wyeth's eyes narrowed. "Or he wants you to become one of his disciples."
"I wish."
Wyeth chuckled. "I know they're called the seven disciples, but I was just trying my luck. Everything's possible."
Stephanie found herself deep in thought. There was a significant possibility of being promoted to a higher position. But the idea of being one of the notorious seven disciples hadn't crossed her mind. She was too young for that role, and she hadn't proven herself yet.
And she hadn't achieved anything significant yet.
Chapter 8
While walking out of the campus, Avaluan stopped in her tracks upon seeing a familiar figure of a woman. She glanced at the car it leaned on to confirm what she was seeing.
Instead of feeling joy, she suddenly felt nervous in Stephanie's presence. Stephanie's imposing posture made it impossible for her not to feel intimidated. It seemed like Stephanie was so distant and hard to reach.
When Stephanie looked at her, it felt like Avaluan wanted to kneel. Her knees suddenly weakened due to Stephanie's intense gaze. She took a deep breath to calm herself.
“I’ve been waiting for an hour,” Stephanie said, making Avaluan's heart beat faster. “But it’s fine. It’s worth the wait since I already saw you.”
Avaluan lifted her gaze. She had to ask Stephanie to repeat what she said to make sure she heard it right.
“You said to come to you if I still feel the same. Here I am.” Stephanie grinned at her.
That's when Avaluan smiled. She bowed her head because she didn't know what to say. For the first time, she was suddenly at a loss for words.
“Do you have any appointments?” Stephanie asked.
“None. I was about to go home.”
Stephanie opened the passenger door. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” Avaluan asked as she settled into the car.
“You’ll see.”
Avaluan didn't ask further as Stephanie started driving. She smiled as she looked out of the window, opening it to feel the cool breeze.
They had been on the road for half an hour, but they still hadn't reached their destination. So Avaluan turned to Stephanie to ask.
“Just stay put,” Stephanie said. “We're just going somewhere. I'm not going to do anything to you.”
“But I might do something to you…”
Stephanie glanced at her before returning her attention to the road. Avaluan bit her lip because of the unexpected words. No one had ever said that to her before.
“I know I have experience with women,” Avaluan said. “And I know this is your first time having this kind of relationship with another woman.”
Stephanie sighed deeply. “I wasn’t prepared for what you just said. And you're right, this is my first time. So I'm begging you, can you not say those words out of the blue? I wasn't prepared.”
“Well, I'll tell you now. Get ready because this is just the beginning.”
Instead of protesting, Stephanie just smiled. She knew that she had things to accept about this relationship. Besides her abusive father, there were other things she didn't know about Avaluan, and she was ready to accept them.
Avaluan was different from her past relationships. Not only was she the first woman, but she was also the first one to make her feel this way. She was the only one who could make her heart beat like this, the only one who could inspire her to protect her without asking or commanding her.
The first time she realized this, she tried to build walls to keep Avaluan away. But she found herself climbing the walls she had built just to get closer to her.
When she saw Avaluan being hurt by a man, it was as if her vision darkened, and she saw nothing else. She only woke up when Avaluan held her and stopped her. Otherwise, she might have ended up being the man who put her in danger.
She found herself running in Avaluan's direction since then. She felt like she would go crazy if she didn't see or hear Avaluan's voice. And now that she was with her, she would do everything to keep her by her side.
When they reached their destination, Avaluan quickly got out and ran. She welcomed the sea breeze like a child playing in the water.
“Why didn't you tell me we were coming here?” Avaluan asked when Stephanie approached her. “I didn't bring spare clothes. How am I supposed to bathe?”
“Just swim. I brought you clothes.”
Avaluan's eyes widened, and she hugged Stephanie quickly to express her gratitude. “I needed this! I didn't know how stressed I was.”
Stephanie held her waist and hugged her back. “I know. Casper told me.”
Avaluan separated from the hug. “Are you close to Kuya Casper? I noticed the first time we met that you already knew each other before we did.”
“We worked on the same project before. We became friends because of that.”
Avaluan nodded before looking at Stephanie's face. “This is the first time I've seen you up close.”
“Me, too.”
They stared at each other for a few seconds, memorizing every detail of their faces. Until Avaluan looked away and let go of the hug. She ran towards the sea without hesitation.
“Come on!” Stephanie called to Avaluan. “I shouldn't be the only one enjoying. Join me!”
Avaluan couldn't resist when Stephanie approached her and pulled her. She just watched her frolic in the water until the sun set. They emerged when they felt the chill.
“Here…” Stephanie handed her the clothes and a small towel. “I'll wait for you outside. Change inside the car.”
Avaluan thanked her before entering the car. While changing, she noticed Stephanie taking out a cigarette from her pocket. That was when she learned that Stephanie smoked.
She slowly went out and walked towards her. “It's your turn to change.”
Stephanie quickly discarded her cigarette before entering the car and changing. When she finished, she sat beside Avaluan on the car's bumper.
“I didn't know you smoked,” Avaluan said.
“Sometimes.” Stephanie looked at her. “You don't like it?”
“I just thought that if you drink and smoke, you might get sick in the long run.”
“I'll quit smoking, then.”
Avaluan raised her gaze. “I don't want to stop you from doing things you like.”
“I don't really like smoking. I just got used to it. This is the sign I've been waiting for to quit.”
Avaluan smiled. “I'm glad I'm the reason you're quitting.”
Stephanie chuckled softly. “I won't celebrate just yet if I were you. I don't know if I can resist the urge to smoke when it hits me again.”
“At least, every time you want to smoke, you'll think of me. You need to remember that when you smoke, I can also be affected by secondhand smoke.”
Stephanie nodded. “You have a point. It's not healthy for you, too.”
They stayed there for a few more minutes until Avaluan invited her. On their way home, Stephanie was lost in thought. Maybe when Avaluan leaves, her stepfather will hurt her again.
So even though Stephanie didn't say anything, she still followed Avaluan until they were in front of her house.
“You don't have to escort me all the way here,” Avaluan said.
Stephanie kept looking at the door of her house, where she could see Avaluan's stepfather.
“I just want to make sure you're safe.”
“I'm already home, so I'm safe. You should be careful going home.”
“How I wish you're still safe here.”
Avaluan sighed. “Let's stop here. I'm too happy right now to ruin it with that topic.”
Stephanie took a deep breath. “I understand. I'm sorry.”
“Why are you saying that now? I've been waiting for you since earlier!” Avaluan's stepfather suddenly exclaimed as he came out of the house.
Stephanie faced the man, causing him to step back. Even though he seemed drunk, he still remembered her, which amused Stephanie. It was better for him to be afraid of her than to hurt Avaluan again.
“Sorry, sir,” Avaluan said. “I didn't notice the time. I'll buy your alcohol now.”
“I'll buy his beer,” Stephanie said, still staring at the man. “What's your favorite brand, sir?”
The man looked away. “Not needed. I still have some here.” He looked at Avaluan. “You, go inside; it's late. You've been going to different places.”
He didn't even look at the two of them and went straight into the house. Stephanie watched him and Avaluan.
“Did you and my dad know each other before? Why does he seem so scared of you? Even with Mang Cardo, who is a really big guy, he's not afraid of him.”
Stephanie shrugged. “Maybe he got scared the last time I beat him up?”
When Avaluan entered the house, Stephanie just stayed there. She sat in her car for a few minutes, watching Avaluan's house.
Even though she tried to hide it, she still worried about Avaluan. Maybe at the moment she leaves, her stepfather will hurt her again, and she will see new bruises and wounds on her body.
She knew that Avaluan didn't want her to interfere in their father-daughter issues, but she couldn't help but worry. The only thing she could do now was to always be there for her and make sure she gets home safely.
If she had to scare that man like she did earlier, she would do it. To make sure that no one hurts Avaluan again, she was ready to do anything.
When she reached the headquarters, she immediately asked Froilan for information about Avaluan's stepfather. She quickly read the hacker's findings, and it almost made her sick to her stomach.
“How small is the world?” she asked herself. A memory she didn't want to recall came back to her.
One of her first missions was to eliminate some wannabe mafiosos in a place in Pampanga. They called themselves a mafia, but for her, they were just small-time thugs on the street.
Stephanie was only sixteen when they assigned her the mission. Since they were not real mafiosos, she didn't have to kill them.
But because of the severity of the beating she gave to their members, some of them were traumatized. And one of the worst traumas was the leader, Brad Guttierez.
He lost himself and had to be confined in a mental hospital. Until now, he still carried the trauma, going berserk whenever he saw any form of violence.
Because of this, Ryan Cruz, Avaluan's stepfather, was furious with her. He tried to locate the members to avenge their leader, but none of them wanted to come back.
One day, he was surprised when she blocked his way when he was alone. But just like the first time, she just beat him up until he couldn't stand.
It seemed like she scared him too much because until now, he couldn't look her in the eyes.
But she wasn't afraid of him. No matter what he did, Ryan couldn't hurt her. In fact, now that she was of the right age and had backup from the organization, she could easily erase him from the world without anyone knowing.
But that wasn't what worried her. She couldn't touch the man because he was important to Avaluan, even though he always hurt her. Surely, no matter how bad he was, Avaluan would still be hurt if he disappeared. And she couldn't bear to see Avaluan like that.
And most importantly, she was afraid that the man would tell Avaluan who she was. She wasn't ready to tell Avaluan who she was and what she was doing.
She could only pray that Ryan wouldn't speak and that he would remember the fear he felt when he last saw Stephanie.
Chapter 9
Avaluan entered her house with trepidation. She couldn't look at her stepdad after the encounter earlier, afraid that he might go berserk again and hurt her.
Despite the daily beatings she endured, it didn't mean she wasn't still getting hurt. Every time his hand or fist landed on her face, she felt like losing consciousness.
But to her surprise, he wasn't angry this time. Instead, he calmly asked, "How did you meet that girl?"
She played with her fingers. "At Impero Bar, sir."
He gave her a stern look. "Bar?" Ryan exclaimed. "And now you're into bar-hopping. Instead of coming home early and helping out here, you're out in bars? You and your mother are the same, never staying at home!"
Avaluan remained silent, as she always did. She just listened to what he said. But she didn't expect him to bring up Stephanie.
"Be careful with that girl," he warned, eyeing the bottle of alcohol in his hand. "Whatever she wants from you, don't easily fall for it. Once she gets what she wants, she'll surely leave you."
"Do you know her?"
"I don't just know her. I know her very well." He lifted his gaze to Avaluan. For the first time, she saw her father's face in a sober state. "Don't trust her too much."
Until Avaluan lay on her bed, she carried her father's words with her. For the first time, her stepdad didn't hurt her, but she couldn't forget what he said.
She didn't know what to feel. She didn't know what to do. She was afraid to ask her father about it. But what she feared more was finding out the real reason.
She didn't know much about the girl yet, but she didn't want to judge her quickly because of what Ryan said. She didn't know what really happened between them to think negatively.
According to Stephanie earlier, she didn't know her father. Avaluan wanted to believe her because there was no reason for her to lie.
Avaluan sighed before covering herself. She just wanted to sleep and not think too much about what happened. She would deal with it tomorrow.
Stephanie entered D'Amico wearing the dress designed by Nancy herself. There were others present, waiting for the CEO's arrival for the opening of her branch in the province.
Stephanie surveyed the place, noticing a few guards. She informed Wyeth of their positions before approaching a table to get some wine.
It didn't take long for the atmosphere to become lively, indicating Nancy D'Amico's arrival. Nancy's eyes immediately landed on the entrance, where a tall woman with long, straight hair was walking.
Many greeted her as she made her way to the stage, and Stephanie reciprocated the greetings with the other guests. Nancy began speaking into the microphone while Stephanie clapped along with the audience.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, they proceeded to cut the ribbon to officially open the store. Many took photos and videos, and Stephanie was careful, aware of her revealing dress. "I secured her fingerprint. I even have a bonus picture with her. Yay," she said sarcastically.
She heard Wyeth laugh through her earpiece. "Nice job, Miss Chelsea Romero. You think of a name so quickly."
"I've had this name in mind for a long time. I thought I'd name my daughter Chelsea one day."
Wyeth laughed even harder at Stephanie's comment. "Go to the nearest building and leave the fingerprint in the restroom. A delivery man will get it for you."
Stephanie sighed. "Finally. A break."
After placing the fingerprint in an empty cubicle, Stephanie left and headed straight to Impero Bar. When she sat on a stool, she realized she hadn't changed out of her dress.
"Sh!t," she muttered.
Before she could leave to change, she heard Avaluan's voice approaching. "Woah, woah, woah! Who's that beautiful and sexy girl?"
Stephanie involuntarily looked at herself. "Stop it, Ava. I just forgot to change."
Avaluan stood beside her. "What's up? Are you just going to stare at me?"
"I can do this all night."
Stephanie laughed lightly. "What? Do you want me to wear a dress every time we see each other?"
"No. Why would I? If you do that, I'll just stare at you the whole time."
Stephanie couldn't resist, and Avaluan pulled her to the center of the room. "Come on! Let's dance."
Stephanie didn't protest and just watched as Avaluan dragged her. When they reached the dance floor, Avaluan started dancing. Stephanie hesitated at first, but after Avaluan insisted, she had no choice.
When the music changed to something sensual, Stephanie exposed her palm to Avaluan. The latter accepted it and they started dancing slowly, bodies pressed together.
As Stephanie was taller, Avaluan looked up at her. She wrapped her arms around Avaluan's neck, while Stephanie's hands rested on her waist, moving slightly.
"I'm not really vocal with my feelings," Stephanie whispered in her ear. "That confession is probably my last one."
Avaluan felt a pang of disappointment, but Stephanie's next words made her smile. "But I can promise you one thing. I'll always show how much I love you through action."
"If that's the case," Avaluan said, "I'll take care of the verbal. I'll tell you every day how much I love you."
Stephanie smiled. "Fair enough."
Avaluan softly laughed when Stephanie rested her forehead against hers.
Stephanie looked at Nancy's reflection in her office while sitting. After seeing the girl earlier, she couldn't help but recall the past.
"She looks so much like her," she whispered to herself, playing with her lips. "She's like her carbon copy. It's creepy."
She grabbed her phone and called her right-hand man. "Can you look for a girl named Chelsea Romero, who lived and grew up here in the Philippines?"
After a few seconds, her contact spoke. "There's a Chelsea Romero living here in the Philippines, but she grew up in the states."
"Send me a picture, A.S.A.P." When her phone beeped, she immediately checked the photo. "This isn't her. Any other Chelsea Romero?"
"None who lives in the Philippines, ma'am. Do you want me to search our international database?"
"No. That's fine. Thank you."
She smiled to herself. "So, your daughter's really alive, huh, Silvanna?"
Avaluan faced Stephanie when they arrived in front of her house. They held hands, seeming unwilling to part.
"Avaluan, I need to go. I still have a lot to do."
"Why do you call me Avaluan?"
Stephanie furrowed her brow. "Isn't that your name?"
"Yeah, but it's too long. Doesn't it bother you?"
"No. I actually like saying it." Stephanie looked into Avaluan's eyes. "Avaluan. It's unique."
Avaluan smiled. "Stephanie..."
Stephanie couldn't help but smile, too. "I like the sound of my name when you say it."
She approached Avaluan and wrapped her arm around her neck. "Now you know what I feel whenever you call me Avaluan."
Stephanie's palms automatically rested on Avaluan's waist. "It's sexy… but I really need to go."
Avaluan sighed. "Can't you rest when you get home? What time is it, and you're still working?"
Stephanie grinned. "Are you nagging right now?"
"Maybe. But I'm just worried about your health. It's already early morning. Can't you leave those for tomorrow?"
"I can. But I think I won't be able to sleep right away when I get home, so I'll finish what I need to do. But I promise I won't take too long. The moment I feel sleepy, I'll sleep right away."
"Okay. I trust you. Good night."
Stephanie held Avaluan's waist and kissed her on the forehead. Avaluan closed her eyes, feeling a sense of comfort from the gesture.
After Stephanie left, Avaluan noticed her stepdad looking at her. She didn't know if he had been watching since earlier, but she guessed he saw the whole thing.
"I told you, right?" Ryan began. "Be careful with that girl. Yet here you are, getting into a relationship with her."
Avaluan received a strong slap and quickly covered her cheeks. She closed her eyes, trying to ease the stinging sensation.
"Don't wait for me to find a way to separate you two, Ava. Because I assure you, you won't like what I'll do."
Avaluan stared blankly as her father walked to his room. She couldn't believe her father wasn't drunk this early morning. He smelled of alcohol, but according to him, he was still in his right mind. Besides the slap, he didn't beat her up anymore.
What really happened between you and Dad, Stephanie?
Chapter 10
"Target’s approaching," Wyeth announced.
Stephanie composed herself before starting to walk towards the events place.
There was a designer’s event at a popular hotel, and due to Stephanie's interest in various clothing lines, she received an invitation. She wasn't fond of attending such events due to the crowd and the social atmosphere, but since Nancy was attending, she had to be there.
Now, they planned to execute their kidnapping plan on the CEO of D’Amico clothing line. Since Stephanie had already introduced herself, Nancy was likely to be more at ease with her.
However, they couldn't afford to be complacent, especially with the number of bodyguards surrounding Nancy that night. Additionally, the security at the entire events place was tight.
They needed to be cautious about their actions. The success of this operation depended on Stephanie. She had to talk to Nancy and face her as if they hadn't planned every encounter.
In the past few days, Stephanie immersed herself in the world of clothing lines. Even when Nancy couldn't attend, Stephanie made sure to grab everyone's attention with her presence.
As the program began, Stephanie quickly located Nancy's seat. She also surveyed the surroundings to determine the number of bodyguards.
"At least three inside the perimeters," she whispered before sipping wine.
"Five outside your perimeter," Wyeth responded. "I’m keeping my eyes on them."
"What about on your side, Froilan?" Stephanie asked.
"No signs of hacking through my system, but I’ll also keep a lookout for anything suspicious."
"Then, let’s get this started."
When the crowd applauded, Stephanie automatically joined in. It signaled the end of the program, and the designers would start mingling with the guests – the perfect opportunity for Stephanie to talk to Nancy.
After drinking her wine, she stood up to get a refill. She greeted some fellow supporters and designers she had met in the past due to her mission.
"Easy on the wine," Wyeth advised. "It seems like you’re drinking a lot. Just a reminder that you’re on a mission right now. You can drink after this."
Stephanie almost rolled her eyes but restrained herself. She smiled at the people and, instead of responding to Wyeth, placed her wine on a nearby table to avoid further comments.
"Won't drink anymore?" Nancy, who had approached her from behind, asked.
"I’m sorry about that," Nancy said.
"It’s okay. I wasn’t busy. I'm also interested to learn about your advocacy. I might contribute as well."
"That’ll be great! They’ll surely be delighted, especially since most of them are young designers."
When the time arrived that Stephanie had been eagerly waiting for, her ears practically rang from the applause. She couldn't wait to finish the mission and head straight to Impero Bar. Avaluan and her cousins were likely there, waiting for her. Although she hadn't promised to arrive early, her eagerness to see Avaluan compelled her to wrap up the operation quickly.
As the hour approached, Stephanie felt time slowing down. She wanted to conclude the mission to get to Impero Bar. She wanted to see Avaluan.
She dislikes admitting it, but due to what Wyeth revealed about her true mission, she heaved a sigh of relief. Even though she still had lingering worries, some weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
The operation went smoothly, and Stephanie and Wyeth made their way to Stephanie's car. She couldn't wait to get to Impero Bar. She was sure Avaluan was there with her cousins, patiently waiting for her.
As Stephanie drove, she contemplated her encounter with Nancy. The woman knew about their mission from the beginning, yet she didn't take any measures to prevent their kidnapping attempt. Instead, she waited for an opportune moment to speak with Stephanie.
"Nancy knows about our mission from the very beginning," Stephanie started. "And she didn't even make an effort to stop our kidnapping plan. She was waiting for that moment to speak with me."
Wyeth listened quietly.
"She knows my parents, both biological and adoptive. But there's a significant chance she's lying about what happened to my biological parents. It might be a tactic to divert my attention from the mission."
Wyeth looked at Stephanie with concern. "That's a possibility, Steph. Nancy is a ma.fia boss, and she wouldn't be where she is now if she wasn't intelligent and manipulative."
"But what if everything she said is true? What if someone really killed my biological parents?"
"That doesn't mean the ma.fia organization is involved. She's just toying with our minds. We need to focus on this mission and find out what really happened to your parents."
"You're right. Nancy is a calculative and manipulative b****. She's just playing with my mind."
"Let’s go home and rest for now," Wyeth suggested.
"No. Take me to Impero Bar."
