1: CLIENTS, RANKS AND WEALTH

I was absentmindedly watching people that were preoccupied doing the sin they wanted. This world of us, wasn't really that hard to join. You just have to be rich. . .and be a sinner, now if you are, you're in.

I brought the glass containing alcohol to my bloody red lips then leaned back to the bar counter letting my perfectly black long hair lounged at my back.

"You badly need a company tonight, Ms. Quinn." said a familiar tone to me. I turned my head to the beautiful young man who I think, offering himself to me.

I gave him a smirked. This young boy was too young to be involved with me. I studied him. Oh, I liked the innocence on this face; his eyes were looking at me brightly and obediently. The curve on the boy's lips turned into half smile.

I tilted my head flirting a little but just when it hit me. I stopped there. Before I betrayed myself. Once is enough, Ericka. I told myself. I don't want to let another purity of a young life to be ruined by me.

"Young boy," Iniayos ko ang kwelyo ng kanyang suot. "You're not even an inch of my type."

"Are you sure?" the boy challenged. "I heard back then, you used to like younger men. You want to train them and dig their money. I know I don't have enough for now but I promise you, someday---"

"Shh. . ." ipinatong ko ang daliri ko sa labi nito. "Work hard for it first. Patunayan mo sa'kin na kaya mo na saka ako papayag sa gusto mo. For now, just mind your own business. You're still young for this world, too pure. . .there is so much future ahead of you. Don't waste that."

"I don't want this life anymore. Please let me join you to that dark world of yours. . ."

Sobrang kulit niya na nilalang. Ayoko nang maulit ang nakalipas. Ayoko nang gumamit ng ibang tao na wala naman listahan ko. "Youngman, let's say you can give me what I want. But for as of today, you're still weak and poor. Okay? Now shut your little mouth and just do your job. Para pagtulog mo, magising kapa."

I rolled my eyes then faced the busy crowd infront of me. I was swaying my long legs, showing how smooth and sexy it were to my fitted leather black dress.

Ininom ko ulit ang alak sa baso at pinanood ang mga tao na walang ibang ginawa sa buhay kundi gumawa ng kasalanan. All they do was to waste their money to an irrelevant yet satisfying things in the world.

I stopped in the mid of my thoughts. There were two guys playing billiards, I slowly tilted my head because the taller one caught my attention. Halos lahat ng babae na katulad ko ay naglalaway na nakatitig sakanya. There was something about him that made me curious.

Tumayo na ako para lumapit sa mga nagkukumpulan na tao. He was really tall, a six feet in height. His bloody brown hair was messy and was tucked in behind his ear. Well, he had a nice body. I reminded me of a sex god; strong and lean. Wild and dangerous.

Napataas ang kilay ko. He was good, natatalo niya ang pinakamagaling na manglalaro n'on dito. I guessed, he was new too, I hadn't seen that face before, it was damn serious, only focusing on the game infront of him and ignoring those women that was obviously flirting with him through their eyes.

Bigla itong napatingin sa direksyon kung saan ako nakatayo. Oh, he had a grayed eyes. It was sharp enough to weaken your defense. But not me, I'm a strong woman. Hindi ako basta-basta naaakit sa mga taong kakakita ko lang.

So I didn't change my facial expression, my eyes remained with astonishment and curiousity. Binigyan niya ako ng tipid na ngisi pero hindi umaabot sa mata.

Oh well, he was a bit flirty, mukhang nakuha ko na agad ang atensyon niya. Sino ba ang taong hindi makakapansin sa'kin? I stood out everywhere I go and that's my nature. Bumalik na ito sa paglalaro.

May humawak mula sa likod ko. I could smell one of my apprentice, Martha, who became my eyes and ears to everything I needed to know.

"Who's that man? Hindi ko pa siya nakikita dito dati?" tanong ko.

"Rake Alicante, thirtyfive, he owns alot of big firms back from PH. Alam ko rin na ka-meeting siya ni Greg ngayon araw nang dumating siya. He was one of our VIP though he's a bit aloof, of course, he has trust issue." dere-deretsong paliwanag nito.

"And why he's here? Minsan lang tumanggap si Greg ng mga VIP at hindi siya mukhang sakim sa kayamanan. What's his biggest sin then?" lumingon ako kay Martha.

"Namatayan daw. Hindi ko alam kung totoo. Saka sa tingin ko rin, andito 'yan para mamili ng isang maswerteng babae na magpapalimot sa problema niya." kibit-balikat na sabi nito. "Alam mo 'yon, nagluluksa siya, kailangan niya ng karamay."

"What's the price then? Sa tingin mo worth it ba kapag ako ang napili niya?" I raised my evilish-brow. "Because the way I see it, he's a bit different from others."

"Oo! Iba na iba nga, Merlat! Dahil sobrang lakas ng kapit niya sa boss natin. Hindi ko lang narinig ano pinaguusapan nila pero ramdam ko sobrang taas ng rank niya."

Sa mundo na kinagawian ko. Dalawang bagay ang importante para samin, our client and their wealth. We valued them like we took care of this job. Now if you are in, mayroon mga rank ang mga kliyente namin. Their rank depends on their wealth. Halimbawa, kung si Rake Alicante ay may mas mataas na net worth mula sa iba, that made him powerful than them.

We had to put it in our record and let everyone know what their rank. Our rules? whoever powerful person enter this organization should respect one another. Back in PH, they had to help each clients to make you a 'partner' which means, partner-in-crime, business partner o kung anuman ang magpagdesisyonan ng dalawa.

To make this long story boring of mine short; it was like an Illuminati minus the selling your soul to the devil version. Reasons you mean? Oh, it was the rich people's nature to aim for a greater power to control the world we were living.

"Then he's a sureball," I whispered, nai-imagine ko na ang pagtaas ng rango ko at kung paano ko mako-control ang mga tao sa paligid ko na walang hinihinging tulong mula sa iba. "Let me know kung saan siya pupunta mamaya. I've to lure him tonight bago pa ako maunahan ng iba."

"It's sort of rude letting a new powerful man to be alone in this bar, don't you think?" I gave him a bitchy-flirty smile.

Hindi siya sumagot at tumingin lang sa'kin habang iniinom ang alak mula sa baso. I stared at him, his intimidating grayed eyes caught me off guard but I didn't show it. A man like him needed some dominance in his life.

"Oh, I see, you're not into talking and so, what are you up to?"

He raised his eyebrow and put down his glass. "Ikaw," sabi niya na napagpahinto sa'kin. "What's your plan and suddenly you show up from nowhere."

"Oh," I laughed sardonically but deep inside me, napahiya ako. When he said 'Ikaw' I thought he was referring to me. "I'm one of the highest temptress here if you'll ask. I think it'll benefit the two of us."

Because if this powerful man choose me, madadagdagan ang rank ko. And if my rank was high enough, mapapantayan ko na ang pinakamataas sa lahat, si Greg. So I had to use people more powerful than everyone.

"I'm not here for the rank nor for a desperately woman. Now if you'll give me some privacy and go away before I call my bodyguard to send you out."

What? Nagpintig ata ang tenga ko sa sinabi niya. Who the thought he was, a God? Hindi niya ba ako kilala.

"You really don't know me, do you?" I asked, my nose flaring. "Ako lang naman ang isa sa pinagkakatiwalaan na tao ni Greg," sabi ko. "At kung hindi ka titigil sa pagiinsulto sa'kin, wala akong magagawa kung hindi ipatanggal ka dito."

"Just do it and stop bothering me. First lady, I'm not interested in knowing you. Second, you look like a waitress than a high-mighty-temptress. Third, I already know that you're a gold digger woman who is overconfident and think of herself as a god."

Umakyat ang dugo ko mula sa mukha. I was wearing the most sexy outfit tonight, how could he?! "Are you freaking serious?" tanong ko at binigyan siya ng mapanlinlang ng ngiti. I had to keep my posture if not, I'll lose this. "Because if you are only joking, I'll forgive you right away. Don't worry, hindi naman ako na-offend sa sinabi mo."

Sumeryoso ang mukha nito at ibinaba ang baso. "But that's my goal here, lady, to offend you and every each of you."

"You're really funny," sabi ko sakanya. "Hindi ko lang alam saan mo nakukuha 'yan humor mo." umupo ako sa harap niya at pinantayan ang seryosong niyang tingin.

Um-order ako ng alak sa batang bartender at nilagok ng dahan-dahan sa harap niya. I was letting him watch how it slowly went down to my throat. Kung hindi ko siya makukuha sa santong-dasalan. Kailangan ko siyang makuha sa Santong-paspasan.

Tumunog ang cellphone ni Rake at kinuha iyon sa bulsa. Napabuntong-hininga naman ako at napatingin ng masama sa Bartender na nasa likod ko.

"This is not my freaking night," sabi ko sakanya. He nodded and didn't answer.

Habang pinaglalaruan ko ang baso sa bibig ko at nakatalikod. Pinapakinggan ko naman ang boses ni Rake Alicante mula sa likod ko. I had to use his weakness against him, I needed to get to know him more.

"I know what exactly you're feeling," malungkot na sabi nito. "Palagi ko parin siya nakikita sa bawat sulok ng bahay kaya ayoko muna bumalik. Perez, I still have unfinished business to do here." Ramdam na ramdam ko ang bigat ng damdamin niya. "Let's say I have to hit two birds with one stone. I know, everything will be alright. . .we'll be fine. I see. Okay, goodbye, see you soon."

Naramdaman ko ang pagupo niya sa tabi ko. Iba na ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya pagkalingon sa'kin. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararadaman ko ngayon para bang namatayan nadin ako sa pinapakita niya.

I shut my thoughts. Hindi ko kailangan makaramdam ng emosyon. I had to guard my defense at all times. I am Ericka Quinn Lopez, I didn't care about other people's feeling nor their opinion. My emotion was off.

I had to finish my work here. I had to get what I wanted. Simply, because I am the boss and I am in-charge. Which means, I could manipulative everyone around me without feeling the guilt. So I had to tell him my last alas.

"Stranger," I sexily said. "Do you know how to play games?"

"What game?" kunot-noong tanong nito sa'kin.

"A game that you can do anything, no strings attached, no rules. . .and as a return, I promise to help you forget what you loss. Play my favorite game, Stranger. I like to play it with you."

________

AGAIN. I'm editing the whole story kaya po on-going ulit siya. Kailangan kong ilagay sa first POV para mas proud ako sa sarili ko. Hahaha. Well, it's never too late to start this all over again to write it how I want it, right? :)

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