Chapter 2 2

Cordaphia Pov

(I'm still in the restaurant where she treated me to their best-selling dish. I don't know the name of what I ate, but the savory meat lingers on my tongue.

The owner is really kind to me, even giving me dessert and a cool glass of iced tea. I examine her smile as I sip; she must need something, hence the sudden kindness.

She could be paying me, but what will happen to my life if I'm handed over to the Villegas?

"I'll take you to the Villegas company..." I easily swallow the cool iced tea at her words, as I suspected. She needs something, so she gives me food, probably thinking I look like I'm starving.

"I-I don't know those Villegas, I don't know what they want from me."

"It seems you haven't wronged them. You don't have any issues, and they're just looking for you." I stare at her; they're searching for me, but I don't even know them?

"If I were you, I'd go with them. The Villegas might need you."

"Who are these Villegas?"

"They're wealthy people, well-known here in Manila." She scrutinizes my face and attire. "Don't you know them?"

"No."

"Well, that explains it. But if I were you, I'd visit them. They're the wealthiest people here in Manila, successful and influential."

I still have no idea who they are; I'm not from here. But it's strange that they need me.

I almost faint, thinking I've committed a crime, but my record in Manila is clean, except for the countries I've visited.

"Don't worry; I'll accompany you and won't leave you." I glance at her suspiciously; she looks like she's after money.

"If the Villegas really give the reward money, I'll share it with you and help you get home, wherever that is."

I purse my lips, suddenly interested but hesitant. What if I can't leave? What if the Villegas take me and make me a servant in their palace?

I shake my head.

But the money is tempting; if this woman is telling the truth, I can finally go back to grandma.

I nod; it's easy to escape if they turn out to be bad people. There's no harm in taking a chance.

All for the sake of money.

With Mrs. in tow, we took a taxi to her mentioned company. It was a long ride, delayed by traffic. Yet, upon seeing the building, my weariness from the journey vanished. My neck almost strained from gazing at the towering structure; I couldn't see the top as I stood at the very bottom.

"Come on..." Mrs. pulled me, wearing a face mask and a hat, as we walked towards the sliding door guarded by a security personnel.

"What do you need?" the guard asked, denying us entry. But Mrs. confidently spoke, deterring him.

"I want to see the Villegas. I have something to show them."

"Do you have a scheduled appointment to talk to them?"

"No, but I have the woman they're looking for with me." The guard shifted his gaze to me, scrutinizing before whispering to his colleague, denying us entry.

"Wait here for a moment."

I sighed; Villegas must be quite special. We couldn't enter.

Yet, some women did. They just showed their ID and went inside.

This building is something else.

When will I get into a job like this?

"Proceed to the service area; a woman is waiting there," the guard said, and Mrs. quickly pulled me.

We entered a somewhat shabby interior. I didn't know how many days I'd been wearing this outfit – maybe the second or third by now. I couldn't change, running out of time, unaware of what was happening in my world. I didn't bother changing clothes.

Add to that, my slippers didn't match.

My suitcase was left at the restaurant; Mrs. promised we would leave together after facing the person looking for me.

"Follow me..." said the lady escorting us to the elevator. I followed, slightly nervous, wondering what they needed from someone as simple as me.

I didn't have a golden Buddha.

I didn't know the way to the mine with the gushing oil.

All I knew was sweeping and mopping.

That's it.

The elevator opened after a few minutes, and the height we reached surprised me. As I looked out the window, it wasn't concrete I saw, but a towering building.

A building that almost matched my height.

"Follow me," the lady leading us said, her forehead wrinkling as she switched to Tagalog, raising an eyebrow at us.

"You're a big deal here, dear. If I were you, I'd follow what the Villegas want," the woman whispered to me, her breath smelling of garlic.

I avoided eye contact, sniffed my breath, and even checked my armpits-they were fine. Confirming, it was the woman with the strong odor.

"I thought you were just accompanying me to find out their intentions."

"Yes, but this person wouldn't spend a large amount unless they need something from you."

"In that case, there's a possibility you'll leave me here!"

"I can't do anything if they kick me out after giving the money."

I frowned at the woman, realizing she might just be dragging me into the Villegas' schemes.

"You know, it's better that I saw you and brought you here. There are people who might take you, and they could raise the Villegas' price just to get you. Aren't you lucky?"

"How am I lucky?" I rolled my eyes, feeling light-headed from the air she was exhaling. But as the woman stopped in front of a double door, our conversation ceased.

She knocked twice, waited a few seconds, and the door opened.

A woman with thick lipstick appeared, making me wonder why it extended beyond her lips. Her eyebrows raised when she looked at the woman who knocked.

"Yes?"

"They're looking for Mr. Villegas," the woman turned her head towards us, my gaze unintentionally lingering on her chest.

"Who are they?"

"I have something to show Mr. Villegas. The woman he's looking for is with me."

The woman answered, and the secretary-like lady's eyebrows raised even higher.

"Okay..." that was all she said before fully opening the door. The woman entered first, and the other lady turned to guide us to Mr. Villegas' supposedly elusive office.

"Sir, you have visitors today," said the man in the swivel chair, facing away. The woman with bold lipstick spoke, and he signaled without turning. After their silent exchange, the woman left, leaving just the two of us in the office.

"What do you want?" The voice made me uneasy as I hid behind the woman. I heard that voice before, but where?

"I'm with the woman you're looking for," I mumbled, unsure whether to face the man or not.

"Leave," his tone made me swallow hard. Was he dismissing us? Did he no longer need me?

As the woman moved, I looked up, and she faced me with a serious expression. "I just want to make sure if she's the woman I'm looking for," the man spoke again, making the woman quickly comply.

"I'll wait for you downstairs," she said before leaving the office. Alone, we were left in silence.

My heart pounded, and a strong sense of nervousness crept in. "You're still wearing that unmatched slippers," he mentioned, his expression unchanged.

I glanced at his throne, seeing his prominent nose and red lips. He remained stoic, just as he was yesterday. I swallowed hard.

The man they referred to as Mr. Villegas was the king of cobra.