You've always got to have Plan B. You've got to be able to shift gears and find a new course of action.

FALL OF THE KING | STANISLAV VAUGHN

CHAPTER FOUR | RAISE HELL

SOFIA

I had to leave.

My whole body was shaking. My footsteps were fast and big. I couldn't breathe.

When I saw the restroom, I immediately went in and locked myself inside the cubicle.

I sat on the toilet seat and pushed my hand on the door. Preventing anyone to come here even if there was no one inside this restroom.

I was catching for air. I think I was having a panic attack. I knew I waited for years just to look at the eyes of the beast but I didn't know that the effect was like this.

Looking through the eyes of Stanislav Vaughn Rozovsky was like looking at the depths of hell. Those piercing eyes radiates intense suffering. A never-ending torment that he would offer to those who would cross him.

I looked at his picture for years. Memorized every detail. I followed every damn move that he did from the eyes of the press. TV's, social media, magazines. But it didn't occur to me that once I met him face to face, he would shake my whole being like a scared little girl.

And I hated that. I told myself over and over that I was ready. I knew I am. I knew to myself that I was ready to ruffle his feathers. To make him kneel before me, but instead it was me who was sitting in this cubicle trembling and shaking.

I needed to calm myself. This was just the beginning. I haven't been doing anything yet. I won't let that asshole affect me.

Ilang beses pa akong bumuga-buga ng hangin at nang maramdam kong okay na ako ay dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto. Tinatantiya ko pa ang sarili ko bago ako tuluyang tumayo at lumabas. Dumeretso ako sa sink at naghilamos ng mukha tapos ay tiningnan ang sarili ko.

This was the same face that looked back at me for twenty years. The same face that I talked to everyday telling every plan that I had. Telling the wrath that I had for that man.

And now, this was the same face that telling me to run.

I blew out a breath and closed my eyes but I had to open it again. The darkness welcomed the fire that I buried deep within. I looked at my face again. Fiercer this time. I had to talk back to the reflection on the mirror.

We cannot run. This would be our time. We will take everything from him.

I pulled a paper towel and dried my face. Put out my face powder and started to re-do my make-up. I knew I did something to the beast. He went straight at me. Tried to start a conversation with me. A thing that I knew he never did to any woman.

I smiled back to my reflection. This time, I could see the same face and there was the fire in her eyes that went away for a second. Now, I am ready.

I am going to raise hell in his life.

Tumunog ang telepono ko at nakita kong si Daddy na naman ang tumatawag. Sinagot ko iyon habang inaayos ko ang kilay ko.

"Dad, just give me five minutes. I am just going to freshen up." Iyon agad ang bungad ko sa kanya.

"Bilisan mo. Fedor is here already. Papunta na din si Stas." Narinig kong huminga ng malalim si Daddy. "This is it, Sofia. Be ready for anything. Whatever you will hear, you just need to say yes."

"All right." Tanging sagot ko at pinatay ang telepono. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pag-aayos ng sarili. Nang maayos ko ang make-up ko ay ngumiti pa ako sa reflection ko. "He will say yes to everything I wish."

Dinampot ko ang bag ko at isinukbit sa balikat. Paglabas ko ay muli akong huminga ng malalim at dumeretso sa elevator. 18th floor sabi ni Dad sa text. Sa conference room daw. Pagdating ko doon ay nagpakilala ako sa babaeng sumalubong sa akin. Bakit ganito ang tingin sa akin? Head to foot? Ngayon lang ba siya nakakita ng maganda?

"I am expected to be here. My name is Sofia Michelle Buenaventura." Pakilala ko sa babae. Hindi ko na inintindi ang nang-uuring tingin niya sa akin.

Hindi niya ako nginitian at tumingin siya sa laptop niya at tingin ko hinahanap ang pangalan ko doon. Nakita niya tapos ay muling tumingin sa akin.

"Are you related to Romulo Buenaventura?"

Ngumiti ako ng matamis sa kanya pero sinisiguro kong nakakaasar ang ngiti na iyon.

"I am his daughter." Tumingin ako sa malapit na conference room. "That must be the place. I'll go in." Agad na nawala ang ngiti ko nang talikuran siya. Dere-deretso akong pumasok sa conference room, dumeretso kay Dad at humalik sa pisngi niya. "Hi, Dad." Nakangiting sabi ko.

Hindi sumagot si Daddy at nakatingin lang sa akin tapos ay isinenyas ng mata niya ang nasa gilid niya. Noon ako dumeretso ng tayo at nakita kong naroon si Fedor Rozovsky at sa kabilang dulo ng mesa ay naroon si Stas at titig na titig sa akin. Pakiramdam ko ay nagsisimula na namang manginig ang mga kamay ko at buong katawan pero agad kong kinalma ang sarili ko. Hindi puwedeng masira ngayon ang composure ko. Kaya ko ito.

"Fedor. Stas. This is my daughter Sofia." Nakangiting pakilala sa akin ni Daddy sa dalawang lalaking naroon. Nakita kong ang ganda ng ngiti ni Fedor at tumayo sa kinauupuan tapos ay lumapit sa akin at yumakap ng mahigpit.

"Nice meeting you, Sofia. I didn't know that Romulo has a beautiful daughter. Where did your father hide you?" Tumatawang sabi nito.

Ngumiti lang ako at bumaling kay Dad. Tumango lang siya at tumingin sa gawi ni Stas.

Hindi man lang ngumiti si Stas. Nakatingin pa rin sa akin. Sa pagkakataong ito ay ang sama ng tingin niya sa akin. Ibang-iba kanina sa bar na alam ko naman na nag-uumpisa siyang magpapansin.

"Stas, aren't you going to say hi to our guest?" bumaling sa kanya si Fedor.

"We've met." Malamig na sagot ni Stas. "I thought you don't know me?" dinampot niya ang nasa harapang baso ng alak at inisang lagukan ang laman n'on.

Ngumiti ako at kunwari ay nagtataka at papalit-palit ang tingin kay Daddy at kay Fedor.

"I... I am sorry. I really don't know who you are. I was living in the States for twenty years and my dad didn't tell me who his friends are or any associate that he has. He didn't tell me about you," sagot ko sa kanya tapos ay bumaling ako kay Fedor. "And about you, Sir. I'm sorry."

"Oh no, iha. You don't need to say sorry. I am sure Rom just wanted you to live far away from the life that he has here. He wanted you to have a normal life and I think that is good." Nakangiti pa ring sabi ni Fedor. "He raised you up well."

"You have a daughter Uncle Rom that you never told anyone about?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Stas kay Daddy. "I think there is something going on. Does your son know about her and for a long time Jaime forgot to tell me that he has a sister?"

Nawala ang ngiti ko sa labi at napatingin ako kay Dad. Was he ready for this?

"Jaime? Of course." Ngumiti si Dad. "Sofia is my only daughter and I don't want her to get involved to any of my businesses here. I told Jaime that we should kept her existence a secret to everyone for her safety. I wanted her to have a better and different life away from the dark side of my company." Tumingin si Daddy kay Fedor at tumango lang ito. Umaayon sa sinasabi ni Daddy. "But your father insisted that this union needs to happen."

Kumunot ang noo ko at nagtatanong ang tingin ko kay Daddy. Union? What kind of union? Magmi-merge na ba ang company niya at ang company ng mga Rozovsky?

"Union?" takang tanong ni Stas.

"Yes. Union. Between you and Sofia." Sabat ni Fedor.

"Dad?" Talagang nagtataka na ako. Alam kong hindi nasabi ni dad ang lahat ng mga plano niya at basta sinabi lang niyang maghanda ako. Pero bakit kinakabahan ako sa ipinupunto ng sinasabi ng dalawang matanda na ito?

"You need to have a wife, Stas." Seryosong sabi ni Fedor tapos ay tumingin sa akin. "And she is the perfect one."

Natigilan ako sa narinig at napatitig ako kay Daddy. Nakatingin lang din siya sa akin at tila sinasabi ng tingin niya na ito ang plano niya at kahit anong marinig ko ay kailangan ko lang na mag-oo. Dahil nakasalalay dito ang lahat ng mga plano namin na mapabagsak ang mga kasama namin sa silid na ito.

"What?" Napaangat sa kinauupuan niya si Stas tapos ay tumingin sa akin pero agad din na nagbawi ng tingin. "The fuck you're talking about? I don't need a wife." Punong-puno ng pagka-disgusto ang tono niya. "I don't want a wife."

"Yes, you do." Sagot ni Fedor sa anak. Hindi na pinansin ang masamang salita na sinabi ni Stas.

"No, I don't." Napatawa ng nakakaloko si Stas. "This is too far. An arranged marriage? The fuck. This is too old school. No. Fucking medieval."

"You need a wife, Stas." Ulit pa rin ng tatay niya.

Nakita kong nagtagis ang bagang niya. "No. And I will still say no. I don't need a wife. I can choose a woman I want. Do you want a grand kid? I can fuck any woman and make them pregnant. But I can't marry someone who came out of nowhere. We don't know what is the real reason of her for coming here." Muli ay tinapunan niya ako ng masamang tingin.

"Stas, I know you are smart. And I know after this you are going to background check for my daughter which your father already did." Napahinga ng malalim si Daddy. "This is a smart move. Our enemies are trying to get our turf. Napapansin mo ba na nagkakaroon ng delays sa mga shipments ng ammos from Russia? Bakit laging delay? Bakit laging kulang? Because our enemies are getting it first. Because they know that you are busy philandering somewhere else. If you tell everyone that you have a wife, our organization will respect you more. Our enemies will offer a truce and we will have all the time to plan for our next move." Malumanay sa sabi ni Daddy.

Tiningnan ako ni Stas at nakita kong nagtagis ang bagang niya.

"We already have a truce between those other organizations." Tumingin ng masama sa lugar ko si Stas. "And the answer to your ridiculous idea is still no. Whatever crap you're going to tell me about this damn marriage, still it's a no." Inis pang tinabig ni Stas ang baso sa harap niya.

"Fine it's a no." Ngumiti ako ng nakakainis sa kanila at napapailing pa. Nakita kong napatitig sa akin si Stas nang marinig ang sagot ko. Alam kong hindi sanay ang mga lalaking ito na sumasagot ang mga babae sa kanila. Women in their world were treated like a tool. A thing that they can shush anytime if they didn't want to hear their opinion. But they cannot do that to me. "I don't need a husband anyway. Especially a weak one." Tumaas ang kilay ko dahil alam kong bahagyang kumislot si Stas sa kinauupuan niya sa sinabi ko. I knew I hit a spot. I could see the burning anger in his eyes. "I'd rather go back where I came from where I can live peacefully and away from monsters who terrorizes people around him."

"Are you referring to me?" Ang sama ng tingin niya sa akin.

"Why? Are you admitting you are a monster?" Balik-tanong ko sa kanya.

Nakita kong nagtagis ang bagang ni Stas habang nanatiling nakatingin sa akin. Sinalubong ko din ang tingin niya at walang kahit na sinong magtangka na matalo sa staring contest na namamagitan sa amin.

May narinig lang kaming katok sa glass door at bumukas iyon. Ang babaeng sekretarya na sumalubong sa akin kanina ang nakita ko.

"Mr. Stas Rozovsky has a call that he needs to attend. This is urgent." Sabi nito at tumingin kay Stas.

Tumawa ng nakakaloko si Stas. "I'm out, Dad. Next time, if you are going to pull a joke like this, make sure that I am going to laugh." Naiiling na sabi niya at inis na tumayo. Padabog na lumabas at narinig kong malakas pang nagmura.

Nakataas lang ang kilay ko at kita ko ang disappointment sa mukha ng dalawang matanda sa harap ko.

"I guess the meeting is over. I am no longer needed here." Tumayo na ako at lumapit kay Dad. "I am going home; I am going to rest and will do a plenty of sleep." Natatawang sabi ko.

"I am so sorry about that Sofia," hindi ng paumanhin ni Fedor. "We will talk again and this conversation is not over. You will marry my son." May tigas na ang pagkakasabi noon.

"It's fine, Mr. Rozovsky. Let your sone find the perfect woman that he thinks would fit for him. Those kinds of women that he always..." ibinitin ko ang sasabihin ko at napangiti na lang. Tingin ko naman ay alam niya ang ibig kong sabihin ko. "It is so nice meeting you, Sir. Dad," bumaling ako sa daddy ko. "I'll be going. I am really tired."

Kumaway lang sa akin si Dad at lumabas na ako sa conference room. Pagdaan ko sa lugar ng babaeng naroon ay nakita kong nakatingin na naman siya sa akin. What the hell was her problem?

"Do you need anything?" Hindi ko na napigilan ang hindi magtaray sa kanya.

Tumaas ang kilay niya sa akin at katulad kanina, tinitingnan pa rin ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"I am Ilyenna Agapov. Attorney Ilyenna Agapov and I am the assistant and lawyer of Mr. Stas Rozovsky."

Tumaas din ang kilay ko sa kanya at natawa. "And? Does it need to bother me? Good for you if you are working for him." Naiiling na ako at tinalikuran ko na siya at naramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang braso ko.

Tiningnan ko siya at tiningnan ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa braso ko.

"You are a lawyer and you know what you're doing to me can put you in jail. I can sue you for battery. Assault. Physical injuries because you touched me." Mahinahong sabi ko.

Mabilis na binitiwan ng babae ang braso ko at masamang tumingin sa akin.

"I know you are a new player and you are doing it well. Claiming a seat beside Mr. Rozovsky by marriage? That is the fastest way, right? But trust me, you are not the only one who tried to crawl into his throne. Nasa pinto ka pa lang, sisipain na kita palabas."

Natawa ako. "What's wrong with the people in this place? Do you see me as a threat? I just landed here a few hours ago and all I wanted to do right now is to have a peaceful sleep." Napahinga ako ng malalim. "Lawyer, right? Go on. Just continue being a dog to your weak master." Pagkasabi noon ay tinalikuran ko na siya at dumeretso ako sa elevator. Nang makasakay ako ay nakita kong nakatingin pa rin sa akin ang babae.

Napabuga ako ng hangin. Kailangan kong mag-ingat sa isang iyon. Mukhang matindi ang loyalty ng babaeng iyon kay Stas. Pero sigurado naman ako na kahit anong gawin nilang pagbungkal sa nakaraan ko ay wala silang makikita. Inayos na iyon lahat ni Daddy. Napaniwala nga ni Dad si Fedor tungkol sa pagkatao ko.

Marahan kong hinihilot ang batok ko habang naglalakad palabas ng hotel. Pero agad akong napahinto nang may makita kong pamilyar na mukha na nakaupo sa lobby at nakangiti agad sa akin. How did he know that I was here? Napasimangot ang mukha ko nang tumayo ang lalaki at ngiting-ngiti na tumayo at sumalubong sa akin.

"Sis. Welcome back," inilahad pa ni Jaime ang dalawang kamay niya para yumakap sa akin pero mabilis akong umiwas sa kanya.

"What are you doing here?" Seryosong tanong ko.

"Ganyan mo ba ako ta-tratuhin? I am your big bro. Can I at least have a welcome kiss?"

Akmang hahalik siya sa akin pero mabilis ko siyang tinulak. Sinamaan ko pa ng tingin. Jaime was my dad's legitimate son. Ten years ago nang malaman niya ang tungkol sa akin at magmula noon wala ng ginawa ang isang ito kundi ang magpabalik-balik sa America para dalawin ako. I knew he has a thing for me and I found it sickening to stomach.

"Come on. Hindi mo pa ba nakakalimutan ang nangyari? That was years ago. I was drunk that time." Natatawa pang sabi niya.

Hindi ako natawa sa sinabi niya. I remembered the incident happened five years ago when he visited me in the States with dad. He got home drunk and tried to rape me.

"Good night, Jaime." Iyon na lang ang nasabi ko at naglakad na ako patungo sa labas.

Noon na niya ako pinigilan. "I know what your plans about taking down the Rozovsky. Don't you think Dad didn't tell me? Tell Dad to cut this shit. There is some other way. Anong naisip niya na ipapakasal ka sa gagong Stas na iyon?" Mahina ang boses ni Jaime pero madiin ang pagkakasabi nito.

"Well, if you want to replace me be my guest. Ikaw ang magpakasal kay Stas. You think I wanted this? And how did you know about the arranged marriage?" Asar na sagot ko at inis na hinila ang braso ko para mabitawan niya.

"Stas called me and told me about it. He was asking about you. He was probing me if I know you." Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "That asshole is a monster. He will eat you alive if he knows about your plan of taking him down. You will not survive."

"I'll take my chances." Malamig na sagot ko.

Nagtagis ang bagang ni Jaime. "Damn it, Sofia. Huwag kang magpakasal sa gago na iyon. I've been telling dad over and over that we, you and I can take over our company. Hindi natin kailangan ang mga Rozovsky. We can make our own empire without them. Just us."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"Tayo ang magpakasal." Walang kakurap-kurap na sagot niya.

"Jesus Christ, Jaime. Do you hear yourself? That is the stupidest thing that I've heard." Naiiling na sabi ko.

"Ang tagal ko ng sinasabi kay Daddy 'to. We are not related and marriage between us is possible. The marriage will strengthen our company. Us." Itinuro pa niya kaming dalawa. "We can tie to other organizations more powerful than the Rozovsky's."

Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim. "I don't know what kind of drugs you took tonight, but your trip is not good. Good night, Jaime. I want to go home and have some rest."

"I'll take you home." Sabi niya at muli ay akmang hahawakan ako sa braso pero pumiksi ako.

"No. I will go home by myself, and I have my own place. I am not going to stay where you stay. I don't know what runs in your crazy mind, but please, don't ruin dad's plans." Pagkasabi noon ay tuluyan ko na siyang iniwan. Nakita ko ang kotse ni Dad at nagbaba ng bintana ang driver noon. Nakita ko si Tomas kaya sumakay na ako doon.

Tahimik lang ako habang nasa biyahe kami. Ihahatid ako ni Tomas sa condo na binili ni Daddy para sa akin. Ayaw din niyang magkasama kami ni Jaime sa iisang bahay. My dad knew that Jaime wanted me for himself for years kaya iniiwas na din talaga niya ako sa anak niya.

Naalala ko ang nangyari sa conference room kanina. Stas didn't want the arrangement. He didn't want to marry me. Shit. Sira ang plano. But I knew Dad has some other plan. Knowing my dad to be a strategist, he definitely would have Plan B to Z. I would just wait for our next move.

Besides, before I raise hell, I needed my beauty rest first.