Chapter 51: Chapter Fifty-One: Getting Ready

Nothing was showing up anymore!

I frantically searched my history to find the links I had just browsed in Karlo’s car, but everything was gone. When I searched his name again on Google, only his interesting and public facts, like his achievements, list of his companies, and education, were there. There was nothing about his parents. Nothing about the brutal murder.

But it was just there before we even went to the mall!

How could this possibly be deleted in just one day that has passed?

This is so insane.

We just got home from the mall. My body was so tired that I had to excuse I wanted to rest and not have dinner. Karlo and Timothy met in the dining hall and talked there, while I went upstairs and took a shower. In truth, I want to search for Karlo again and find out what had happened to his parents.

Think about it – I have never met them… not even once. Nor his relatives. The only one I know who is very close with him is Timothy. No one else. I am aware that he is also like me, leading an organization of assassins. He is my husband. I know his character and his feelings towards me, but I have no idea where he came from and what my parents were thinking to choose him in order to protect me from my enemies.

In the end, I closed my laptop and stopped searching for him. Instead, I opened my Instagram account. There was a suggested profile. It was Ian’s. Automatically, I stalked him and saw his latest post. This time, he was in a public event with Helen beside him. They looked like celebrities. Helen was wearing a silver dress, while Ian wore a grey tuxedo.

I can’t believe this…

Since we were in college, Helen had been supportive of my relationship with Ian. She was a third wheel whenever we had a date during monthsaries. She would even volunteer to be my maid of honor if I ever married Ian. But now, she is with him. My best friend with my ex-boyfriend.

I laughed bitterly and shook my head.

But what am I even doing? This is my life now. I shouldn’t be hiding. Even this evil bitch who had killed Victor and possibly my parents is still living well and happy. Let me stitch her mouth so I can get back at her.

The week had passed by so fast. I spent my remaining days reading the portfolio Glaidel gave to me during the last time we talked. When I got bored of reading books and magazines, I would train alone in the backyard or go to a private shooting range with Karlo’s permission. Sometimes he goes with me. Sometimes Timothy does because Karlo would be in his business meeting.

“I will introduce you to the board meeting this morning, so you must be ready and prepare your introduction to the directors,” Timothy said from the other end of the phone. “Please act maturely. I’m begging you. You are already the Chief Executive Officer of the company.”

“Of course,” I answered and smiled at the reflection in the mirror where I could see myself. “You know that I am always ready when the right time comes.”

Timothy sighed. “I am trusting you, little princess,” he said before ending the call.

The phone was still in my ear because I was savoring the words he called me. I shook my head gradually and took a deep breath.

“Too bad. I am the queen,” I murmured.

I am currently wearing a navy blue draped one-shoulder mini dress that I paired with YSL black heels. With the Chanel white mini bag, I feel so confident. I had already done my makeup and intentionally put on red lipstick so I would look mature for my age.

“Do I look like a CEO now?” I asked and tilted my head sideways, exposing my teardrop golden earrings and necklace. “I think this is enough…”

My phone rang again. Karlo’s name showed up. I cleared my throat before answering.

“Hello?”

“Good morning! Have you had breakfast?” he asked enthusiastically.

I squinted my eyes and casually fixed my hair on my shoulder. “Not yet, but maybe I will just drink coffee in my brand new office,” I said. “What about you?”

“I did the same as you are thinking because my meeting will start in a few minutes,” he said. “Are you sure you are going to be alright on your first day visit in your company?”

“Karlo, it’s my parents’ company. I am going to be fine, don’t worry.”

“Okay. But even if I can’t monitor you, I will have our bodyguards convoy behind your car just to be safe by our bodyguards.”

Pfft, what do you mean, bodyguards? They are your assassins…

“Sure,” I said boredly and stood up, taking a final look at myself in the mirror before turning my back on it so I could go outside my room. “I have to go. Or else I’ll be late. See you at dinner?”

“Okay. Please take care. I love you,” he said lastly and didn’t even wait for me to respond when he ended the call.

I stared at my phone with the details of our call, but didn’t say anything. I rummaged through my car keys in my mini bag while I was going downstairs.

“Good morning, Miss Minerva!”

Melanie greeted me, making me turn to her. She was wiping the vase on the table with a dirty rag and used it to wave at me. I smiled at her and approached where she was. Maybe she didn’t expect that I would go to her, so she frantically left her rag and wiped her hands on her maid uniform. Her jaw dramatically dropped while hovering her gaze from my head to toe.

“Wow, you look so beautiful, Miss Minerva!” she exclaimed and clapped her hands in excitement. “I mean, you have always been beautiful, but today is different! It must be because it’s your first day of work?”

I chuckled and nodded. “Yes. Thankfully, I can start working and managing my parents’ business. Not just lounging here in this mansion with nothing to do,” I said. “But I will miss our conversations whenever we are staying in the pool area. Thank you for your company.”

She bowed her head and acted like she was bowing to a princess. “At your service, Your Highness!”

“Duh! I’m not some royalty!” I teased back. “Anyway, I will have to ask you an important question, Melanie. It is what I wanted to do today.”

“Oh? What would that be, Miss Minerva?”

“Would you like to go back to school?”

Her smile slowly disappeared. She scratched her nape and cleared her throat as if she were embarrassed.

“Well, yes, Miss Minerva, but I have already told you about our family’s situation, right?” she asked politely.

“If that’s the case, resign from being a maid, and I will make you my scholar. I will support your education, and I will make you graduate from college.”

Her eyes widened, and she even blinked repeatedly. “W-What do you mean by that?”

“You can go back to education, Melanie. I will support you.”

“Wait, are you really serious?!”

I was so amused by how her eyes were already welled up with tears, as if it was so overwhelming to her. I could have all the money in the world and still not be happy spending it on expensive things and luxuries. But now that I am looking into this young Melanie’s eyes, I realize that if you share what you have, the happiness you feel with the help you can offer would be so light in the heart.

“Yes,” I confirmed. “But let’s talk later about that because I will be late now.”

“Oh, my gosh. Thank you very much, Miss Minerva! You are so kind! May God bless you!”

“You, too. See you.”

“Take care, Miss Minerva!”

I could still hear her peal of giggles even after I went outside to go to my car parked in the garage. When I got into the car and turned on the engine, I saw Karlo's message that had just been received, so I read it.

Karlo: After work, we will go together to the headquarters of Red Cartel.

So it’s time that I will visit the second time the headquarters, huh?

But as Karlo, Glaidel, and I agreed, the assassins should not know my identity, as I am still newly trained. I will act like I am a new member of the organization and not the daughter of my parents. Or else, I will be doubted as the leader because I still lack skills and knowledge. In order to be deserving of their respect and loyalty, I have to join missions and lead the organization’s tasks.

Will I be able to be an effective Red Cartel queen in the future?

With that question in my mind, I stepped on the gas and went straight to the company.