On Saturday morning, I informed Mr. Montevideo that the proposal was ready. He was very pleased. However, he said he was out of town for an emergency and he wanted to be present when during the meeting. He apologized profusely, seemingly sincere, and added more praise for JAB and me, as if we were kindergarten kids waiting for a star for good behavior. I rolled my eyes and made stupid faces as he spoke, confident that he could not see me. He reassured me that he would schedule with us as soon as he was back in Manila the following week. I really could not care so much, especially that there was a risk that he would crush us under his mighty thumb, as Jacob insinuated.

Jacob, that bloody fucker. I was glad he had already left when I came out of the bathroom and was out of my way the entire day yesterday. My anger and disenchantment have not abated, and to be frank, I liked it better this way. We were back to being strictly professional, just the way it should be.

Brigs canceled our poker night at the last minute, and I was more than relieved. But I would be lying if I said I was not dismayed, even just by a bit. I was looking forward to a stress release. But then I suppose losing out on poker wasn't the best either.

So, I went home to Valle, and it was the better decision. At least I got to spend time with the people who cared about me: Val, Cara, and Justin.

♤

It was already mid-morning of Sunday, but I was still lazing in bed. The pain in my gut was not improving. If anything, it was getting worse. And just when I thought my morning could not get worse, Harris stepped inside my room without knocking, heralding another bad day.

"Why is Jaxx's ex downstairs looking for you? Is she moving on to you now?" his eyes narrowed at me accusingly.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Don't be an idiot, Ace. Why is she here?"

"I have no idea! Who're we talking about anyway?"

"Duh, Grace, of course! Who else?"

"Cara?"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot about them being together at all. It was like, so forgettable," he chuckled and stood up.

Uh, no. They are very unforgettable. I wanted to say.

"Anyway, she's downstairs looking for you. I wouldn't do anything stupid with that woman."

I took a three-minute shower and brushed my teeth before heading down to see her on the sofa, long legs crossed. Her now ombre curls were tied in a high ponytail showcasing her slender neck. She was really a beautiful thing; if only she weren't a devious, manipulative, conniving bitch.

"Grace. What a lovely surprise." I hopped down the stairs and sat across her. I hoped I didn't sound too sarcastic.

"Hello, Ace." She stood up and gave me a cheek kiss. "You're looking good! Though... what happened to your arms?"

Great. I forgot about them. "It's an embarrassingly dumb story that I don't want to share, really," I laughed briefly.

"Those look like tough fingers. Ouch. You better get yourself out of that woman's grasp, literally, before it's too late," she said cocking an eyebrow whilst turning my arm to inspect it. I let out a fake laugh, held her wrist and pushed it away gently.

"It's nothing like that, really."

"If you say so. I'm just saying I've seen a lot of those on the women I work with, and they all look the same and say the same," she gave me a tight-lipped smile and a knowing look, which scared and pissed me at the same time.

"Anyway, I came to see you about Sheryl." I opened my mouth to protest, but she held her hand up and continued. "I know you know her. I saw you two fight a few months back at the parking lot in Amaryllis. She told me about your past – well, part of it. I'm sure it wasn't everything."

"So what're you here for, the other half of the story? 'Cause I have no time for this shit." I snapped.

"No, I came here to ask you if you know where she is?"

"What? How should I know?" I stared at her wide-eyed in surprise. Why would she look for her friend from me? Then she smirked.

"I'm kidding."

"You're such a dick, Grace." I breathed. She just sniggered.

"Now that your anger is out of the way, here." She handed me another thumb drive, similar to the one Sheryl dropped on my desk.

"What's that?"

"A pen drive, duh."

"What's inside?"

"Does it look like your geeky computer business interests me at all?" she scoffed. "She said it would help you with regards to a business deal." Then she stood up to leave.

"Nope, not gonna accept it. Take it back. I don't want to owe her anything." I shoved the thumb drive back to her palm and closed her palm immediately.

"What the hell, man?" she laughed. "God, what's wrong with you two? I should have just given this to Jaxx if I knew you would react this way. Silly boy."

"Wait, what?"

"I was on my way to Jaxx's and that's why I dropped by. I'll give this to him instead so you won't have to 'owe her anything.' I mean, you both own the business anyway. Just thought I'd give it to you because she said it was for you." She continued to walk out of the door and the gate before I finished fighting with myself and ran after her.

"Wait! Stop!"

"Make up your mind, Charlie Brown!" she laughed, handed me the pen drive through her open window, and drove away, just as I was regretting why I had to give in to my stupidity.

As usual, I stuffed the pen drive in the deepest recess of my bag and decided I would shut it inside the safe in my condo indefinitely. However, what I failed to consider was that Grace was going to tell Jaxx about it. So, not even twenty minutes after she left, she was back in my house together with the irate bear, Benedict Jackson.

"When were you going to tell me?"

"When the client would have confirmed for a meeting. He still isn't sure, so there was nothing to say yet." I explained and he just narrowed his eyes. He could see through my lame excuse. Those steely eyes have an x-ray vision of the things I say and things going on in my brain, I swear.

"Okay, I don't want to be part of whatever this drama is between you two and you and Sheryl. So I'm gonna bounce," she told us before turning to Jaxx and giving him a sultry look.

"See you later, babe," she purred. Jaxx quickly turned his cheek when she attempted to kiss him on the lips. After which, she giggled and slapped his chest, even though I knew she was embarrassed that he just did that.

When she was finally out of the house, his icy glare was back on me.

"You're back together again, babe?" I teased.

"No, babe. Stop changing the topic." I raised my hands in surrender and trudged back to my room, to where he followed me wordlessly.

"You know, I'm a bit worried about the deal. Leon said to be careful with Beau. He doesn't trust the guy, which is why he and his dad don't see eye to eye," he said as we climbed the stairs.

"Beau mentioned that when we met. Are they close solely because of business?"

"Yeah, business and smuggling. Beau owns the shipping and the shipyards; Alvaro uses his ships and docks for the smuggling. Aside from the cut, Beau uses Alvaro's influence in the business. He does the guy's dirty works. They share the income, and they cover each other's backs. Win-win."

"Hold on. I just realized something. Isn't it that Alvaro's sister or brother-in-law owns the Blitz?" I asked.

"His sister. But they're estranged. She did not want to deal drugs, so she opted out of the family sideline and put up casinos instead. Same shit, if you ask me. It's still used for money laundering."

"Jesus, Jaxx. Why are you even friends with these kinds of people? Don't you fear for your life?" I was more than shocked at what I heard, and yet he was talking like he was just telling me what he ate for lunch—no fear, no urgency whatsoever.

"I stay on their good side, Ace. You should, too. Between Beau and Alvaro, I suggest we do not offend the latter. He may not be visible, and he's been keeping quiet since his retirement, but he is still has a lot of powerful people by their balls."

I sat on my bed while he settled on the chair beside it. I plugged the thumb drive and clicked on the only file inside. It was only an audio file, and we concluded that either Leon or Manolo recorded it. Thank God, because I don't think I can bear to see another death if the file should contain it.

The gist of it was that Alvaro said our firm was doing well in the stock market, insinuating that it would make a good addition to their acquisitions. One of the boys scoffed, saying that it was a small enterprise that they did not need to acquire. Beau decided to buy us instead but said he wanted to evaluate us himself.

They were talking about a good price, and I rolled my eyes, hearing the bullcrap first hand. Beau was just in my office two days ago, and I surmised that he was out to buy us, which the recording firmly confirmed today.

I thought the conversation ended there, but it continued. The incident at the Blitz, the poker club where the shooting occurred, was brought up.

["Leon, you better have a nice chat with that useless cousin of yours and make sure he doesn't talk."

"I don't have to talk to him, pa. That admiral and the crime scene officer already threatened him to silence."] Even without seeing his face, I could sense the venom in the reply.

["Good. Now, how about that Carlo boy?"

"He's already framed, and he's going to jail after a rigged trial. What more do you want?" someone else replied irritably.] I suppose that was Manolo.

"No te atrevas a faltarle el respeto a tu padre!"] Alvaro boomed, and they all fell quiet.

I looked at Jaxx, asking.

"Alvaro told his son not to disrespect him." I nodded.

["Don't worry, Alvaro. I will take care of this. That place will close down by the end of this fiasco."] Beau spoke up, trying to appease the older man.

["You have to do something with that admiral, Beau. This has gone to his head, and he has become a liability. I don't want anything to do with him anymore."

"He is the least of our worries," Beau started, but he was again cut off.

"I beg to differ, Beau. He has been demanding for another inducement check when in fact, he should be the one paying us to shut up, that tonto del culo!" one of the sons said.] I knew it was a cuss word, but I still looked at my interpreter.

"Idiot," he shrugged.

["Que Cabrón," the other son mumbled.]

"Bastard. Asshole. Fucker," he said, cocking his head a little from side to side.

["And deal with that last man. I want a clean break from this, and I want that place shut down." Alvaro declared firmly.]

"Why does—"

"Ssh!!" Jaxx slapped his hand over my mouth before running the finder back a few seconds.

["He will be silenced."

"You can't mean you'll kill him too?"

"Why not? What's the matter?"

"There would be too many body counts for a simple fucking procedure!"

"How many times do I have to tell you to watch your fucking mouth, Hijo?" Alvaro said too calmly.] If I could see him, I was sure he already killed his son with this glare.

["Papá, Manolo is right. The mayor is dead. Once Carlo is in jail, he would probably be dead in no time. If the admiral does not stop threatening Greggy, he will commit suicide, and you know it. Greggy is depressed and mentally unstable. Is it necessary to kill the last guy?"

"You boys are too soft. Of course, it is. It is to ensure that none of this would accidentally slip and so it would not be back in the future to bite our pretty little behinds." Beau ridiculed the brothers.

"Then the admiral, the private eye, and also you have to go. And SOCO Lacson as well." Manolo interjected.]

I had a feeling the guy hated Beau's guts. It was evident even without me seeing them.

["Now, now, why don't you sit back and let the men handle this, Manolo. I truly regret signing those papers handing you and Leon full control of the company, but this is out of CFG. So I suggest you listen and stop being disrespectful, or I will add your body to the count." Alvaro threatened.]

"Holy fuck, he threatened to kill his own son! What the fuck is wrong with that man?" I blurted out, unable to fathom that a father would do that to his son while in a business meeting.

"Sshhh!" For once, he sounded like a snake instead of a bear.

["Beau, do what has to be done."

"I already have a man following him, and I have reason to believe it won't be long before the guy is eliminated permanently. The private eye will also be eliminated thereafter."

"Jesus," one of the sons groaned.

"Good. Do not fail me again."]

The clip ended. My eyes widened and fear gripped my heart in fear. They were going to kill everyone involved indirectly to keep their hands clean. They were going to push Greggy to kill himself and have the inmates kill Carlo. Beau would make sure they would be eliminated permanently, including the last guy and the private eye. The realization frightened me shitless.

It was going to rain men. Dead men.

They were going to kill them. All of them.

Holy son of a bitch. I hated it when my gut proved me right, and I hated it more when I wanted to do something courageous and epically stupid to save the people involved.

I groaned and rubbed my belly. Maybe I will have to ask for Brig's help. I think I should. God, I want to kill Beau, and everyone involved so I won't have to worry anymore.

"You okay? You look like you're in pain."

"I am, actually. After listening to that thing, I'm surprised you're okay." I shut my eyes and breathed deeper. I hated this feeling. It was worse than anything I've ever felt.

♤   ♡    ♧   ♢