Chapter 5

“WHAT are you thinking? ‘Looks like your mind is flying somewhere far.”

Vindicta looked at the one who was talking. That was Allison. She didn’t even know that Allison was walking towards her. She was at their yard, drinking coffee. It was her day off from being Kyle’s secretary and she didn’t want the feeling of being alone in her apartment so she went to her original house.

“And instead of doing surveillance on our target, you’re here,” Allison added.

Vindicta did not reply, she just took a deep breath and had a sip of her already cold coffee.

“Do I have to remind you? Whatever our feelings—”

“I am not forgetting anything, Allison,” she calmly answered even if Allison’s sentence was not yet complete.

“I think you’re already going there.”

“Lizardo’s payment was more important than my feelings.”

“What do you actually feel?” Allison asked, then sat in front of her.

Vindicta just shook her head. She could not explain her feelings because even to her, that was a mystery. Maybe it was really a bad idea getting close to Kyle. Maybe things would be easier if she stopped knowing him more.

“Running to the convenience store to be with him is not part of our plan,” Allison said.

“I know.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“He has to trust me!”

“How about yourself? Do you still trust yourself? Do you still trust that you can finish this mission as we planned? Do you trust that you will not fall for that man?”

“You’re the one not trusting me,” she said while shaking her head.

“Before, I have, Vindicta. Before you met Kyle De Dios, I have no doubt that you can finish every mission that I will give you.”

“I can do my mission and I can get rid of your doubts.”

“Roma will talk to you,” Allison replied instead. “She said to wait for her call.”

Vindicta just nodded. Allison turned her back on her and got back on her laptop.

In less than ten minutes, she received a call from Roma. “What did Allison tell you?” she asked Roma on the other line then sighed.

“I bet you knew what it was. But, Vindicta, I will not let you stop doing this mission because of what Allison told me. I just have to remind you. We promised not to ruin a mission despite our personal feelings. We chose this job. Once you fall in love, you know what will happen.”

“I know.”

“Pull yourself together.”

“Okay.”

She shook her head after talking to Roma on the phone. That was the first time that she received a sermon from her. She was annoyed because she has not done anything to ruin their mission yet but the two were reminding her like she will fail any minute.

“I am going back to my apartment,” she told Allison. Allison just nodded.

When afternoon came, she received a call from Kyle. “Sir?”

“Something came up in the luncheon meeting with the senior citizens,” he said on the other line. “There were people claiming they were food poisoned.”

“Really, Sir? But I made sure to get the best catering service,” she said. There was not really a problem with the food. Allison just paid some people to act as if they were victims of food poisoning.

“The police are investigating already,” Kyle said then sighed.

That was what Vindicta wanted to do too, to sigh. Maybe that can lift the heaviness on her chest. “Have you eaten, Sir?” She did not know why she asked him that.

“Not yet.” He sighed again.

“Do you want me to bring you food?” Vindicta shut her eyes firmly. What the hell was she doing? She was one of the culprits why Kyle was facing a huge problem at that very moment. How can she be concerned about him?

Choose only one side, Vindicta.

“No. I’m okay.”

“I am sorry, Sir. I failed again.”

“You didn’t like this to happen. I’m sorry if I call you to tell you this, it’s your day off.”

After the call, Vindicta quickly ran to the abandoned house in front of Kyle's to watch over him. She could not see any movement. When she could not endure it anymore, she went to a restaurant to take out food. Guilt. That was the exact feeling that was eating her system.

She pressed the doorbell on Kyle’s gate as a normal person would do. She waited until Kyle opened the gate for her. “I brought some food, Sir.”

“I told you, I am okay.” He faked a smile. It was as fake as him telling her he was okay.

She handed her the paper bag of food instead of replying.

“Thank you.”

“Okay, Sir. I am going now.”

“You will not join me eating this?”

“But…”

“Come in.”

No one talked even when they reached the dining table. The only sound that she could hear was Kyle’s sighing. He was not even eating; he was just looking at the food on his plate.

“I am really sorry, Sir,” Vindicta apologized.

“It’s not your fault, Veronica.”

It is! She sighed. “And you are not at fault too so don’t blame yourself either.”

“You know I just want to make it up to them then this happened.”

Blank. How can she console him? She never consoles anyone. She was used to being with Allison almost all her life. Allison never talked to her about her problems so she never had the chance to give advice to anyone at all. And what did she know, really?

And if she was burdened with something, Allison will not console her like she was a kid. She will just let her learn to stand on her own feet. Allison will let her stumble for her to learn her lesson in her own way. She has taught her how to be tough, how not to be shaken easily. But Kyle suddenly shook her foundation.

“Thanks, Veronica, for being here. You made me feel better.”

She just stared at Kyle when he finally showed him a genuine smile. Stop being kind. It’s not good for me…

“Sir, whatever happened, it was not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. You don’t like what happened. Cheer up,” she said then smiled.

To her surprise, Kyle held her hand that was resting on top of the table while looking straight into her eyes. Her eyes flew to their hands. There was some kind of warmth in that simple touch that she could not explain. The unpleasant truth was that she was loving the feeling.

“Thank you,” he mouthed.

Vindicta stood up as fast as lightning. “I forgot that I have to do something important, Sir.” She withdrew her hand from him. “I’ll see you at the office.”

She did not wait for Kyle to answer. She quickly went out of his house. She walked normally until she was far enough from his house. She ran when she was sure not Kyle would not see her anymore.

She didn’t know where to go but she wanted to go as far as she could. She ran fast as she could until she went out of breath. She was breathless when she sat down on a bench in a waiting shed. She felt her phone vibrating.

“Allison,” she said, still gasping for air.

“Why are you not in Aldemar? Where are you?”

“Why are you tracking me?”

“We will start with our plan with De Dios’ uncle. Be ready with your disguise.”

“Okay.”

“Where are you? You are not on my radar anymore.”

She looked around the place. “I don’t know.”

“What is happening with you?” Allison asked, annoyed.

“I am just running, I didn’t know that I am not in Aldemar anymore.”

“Running? Why? Who are you running from?”

My feelings… because I can’t understand myself anymore. “Please send me the details of our plan. I will go back to my apartment now.”

***

“Macario De Dios,” Vindicta read Allison’s message. There were pictures of Macario and some information about him.

Vindicta changed attire quickly. She will wear a black sexy outfit for that night. Heavy makeup so she can hide her real look. She even wore a wig. She looked at herself in front of the mirror.

She put a fake mole on her left cheek, near her ear then put huge earrings, that was where she hid her spy camera. She attached an earpiece to her right ear then turned it on.

“Are you ready?” Allison asked.

“Yes.”

She quickly spotted Macario De Dios when she came into the casino. He looked a bit tipsy. That was a good sign to make her job easier. He was in front of a table game, betting. He was playing craps if she was not mistaken.

“Mac, do you still have money to bet?”

Vindicta heard that question from the man beside Macario. She was right on time. She simply moved towards her target. She acted as if she unintentionally hit him.

“Sorry,” she apologized. She intentionally made her voice gentler.

Macario smiled. “It’s okay.”

Vindicta put her attention on the game table. Honestly, she could not understand a thing but she acted interested. A little later, she went to the bar and ordered a cocktail drink.

Her target voluntarily came to her. “I’m Macario De Dios,” he introduced himself.

“Yasmine Dee,” she said, then accepted Macario’s hand in front of her. “Moneylender,” she added with a smile.

Macario’s smile upon hearing the last thing she said. He was an easy target for sure. He will bite on her bait really, really soon.

“Moneylender?” he asked with a wide smile.

“Interested?”

She knew that he already lost millions after going back and forth to that casino for a few nights.

“Can you lend me money?”

“How much?”

“Five hundred thousand?”

“And the collateral?”

“My nephew will run for mayor in this town. You know him?”

“Who?”

“Kyle De Dios. When he becomes the mayor of this town, I can pay you. My nephew will be richer after ruling this city. I will have my influence back, I will take care of the loan sharks like you.” The monkey smiled slyly.

She wanted to throw a punch on his face all of a sudden. Kyle would not use any money from that town for his own sake! She believed that Kyle would not commit any form of corruption in that town.

“We’ve recorded enough, Vindicta. Pay him for helping us.”

If Allison did not talk, maybe Macario’s nose was bleeding already. “I don’t have half a million pesos here,” she told Macario. She gave him one hundred thousand pesos instead. That was in cold cash, from the more corrupted, Mayor Lizardo.

She took out a check. “Four hundred thousand pesos,” she read while writing that amount. She signed the check and handed it to Macario. She also gave him a contract that stated how he can pay his loan but he did not even read it. He just signed the paper. She asked for his contact number and she gave her a fake calling card.

Vindicta shook her head while walking out of the casino. Macario did not even become suspicious with their easy transaction. She smiled wryly while imagining his face after the check she gave him became rejected from the bank.

“Good job, Vindicta.”

“You take care of the video.”

“This will be viral tomorrow, trust me.”

She deactivated her earpiece then closed her eyes. She let out a deep breath. Her conscience was eating her again. Until she came home and erased her heavy makeup, she was still thinking about the damage that would cause to Kyle.

She should be partying because she did her job well without exerting too much effort but she felt heavy inside. It was as if someone close to her died or it was Good Friday. She slapped her cheeks lightly. “Pull yourself together, Vindicta.”

***

Kyle almost threw his phone after watching his uncle’s video that was not viral on social media. He used his name to loan money from someone because of gambling. Even before, his Uncle Macario was a huge problem for their family but he never expected that he would be affected because of him someday.

And what was he doing in the country? He has been quietly living in the States for years. He thought he would be there for good. He didn’t know that he had found a way to escape from his wife again.

His family members called him consecutively, ranting about his son of a bitch of an uncle. Her mom called first then followed by his cousins. Ramius even went to his office to see how he was doing.

“Why didn’t I know that uncle was back?” Kyle asked Ramius, dismayed.

“I didn’t know either. Thanks to the viral video, we now have a hint that he is back. I went to their old house here in Aldemar, he was not there. My hangover went away when I saw the video,” said Ramius.

“You will get a hangover again when you see the comments on that video. I am completely ruined, not just in the eyes of the senior citizens but for everyone in this town.”

“I have a feeling that this is a demolition job so you will back out from the election. I told you, be careful, right? Lizardo would not play fair and go easy on you because he is threatened. He knew that the people loved you.”

“The problem here is that he was not only attacking me. How did he know that uncle is back? He knew it before us!” he said madly but tried not to shout. Everything was overwhelming for him. He could not believe those people who were threatened by him. Will they really stoop that low?

“Do you remember what I told you before? About Vindicta? I have a hunch that she is behind all this,” Ramius said seriously.

Both of them sighed. “We have to turn down that video before it spreads more. You have to help me remove that from the internet,” he told Ramius.

“You don’t have to ask. I will take care of that. I will contact Vindicta if you want. Maybe she can help us attack our opponents. If we pay her bigger than what she was paid for, maybe I could get her to our side.”

“I don’t need the likes of her. How can I trust that person if she was really behind that viral video? I can face all these scandals without her help,” he annoyingly replied.

Just thinking about Vindicta made his blood boils. How desperate was that person to do a job like that? All for money? What was her difference between murderers and criminals if she didn’t have a conscience? She didn’t care about other people’s feelings just to earn filthy money? What kind of excuse was that?

He could not fathom why there were people like Vindicta. What was happening to the world?

Ramius sighed then nodded his head. “I’m going. Try to relax first. I will find Uncle Macario. I will force him to have a public apology.”

“I don’t think that would help. The damage has been done.”

Ramius did not answer, he just quietly walked outside. Kyle was left with a heavy shoulder and fiery heart. Lizardo’s ways were filthy and unfair but he has no plan on going down his level. He would never stoop that low. But he will be more cautious next time. He will make sure that those scandals will never happen again because next time, he was afraid he can’t stand up again. The election was near, how can he redeem himself? He has projected as someone with hidden motives already.

Kyle rested his back on the swivel chair and shut his eyes.

“Sir?” That was Veronica.

“Hmm?” he asked, his eyes were still shut.

“Do you want coffee?”

Veronica’s lovely face greeted him when he opened his eyes and for a moment there, he felt a little better. “Is that how you are consoling?” he jokingly asked her.

She smiled shyly and that was like a virus, contagious. He finally had to reason to smile despite the difficulties.