Pay The Price

Cristine's POV

I was tying Candice's shoelaces. This kid, I always teach her how to tie her shoe lace, but she always forgot how. She was my sister, five years old and probably the most importunate kid that I know.

"Stay here, okay? I'm going to buy you some ice cream," I told her as I stood up from kneeling onto the ground.

She smiled and that made her tooth gap visible in my naked eyes. I giggled when she nodded five times. Her smile was really priceless and even if she was too hardheaded sometimes, I love her.

I could risk everything just to see those sweet smiles everyday.

Oh, I forgot to mentioned that we are currently at the park. We just got here from the mall nearby and she used her small puppy eyes to made me said yes for taking her here. But I know that she only wants ice cream.

"Mister, can I have two? Chocolate flavor in a cone." I smiled at the vendor of ice cream and he obliged.

He was preparing the ice cream, so I glanced at my sister. She was patiently waiting at the bench where I left her. I removed my gaze at her when the vendor handed me the two ice cream and I immediately paid for it.

"Thank you."

My smile suddenly vanished when I realized that Candice was no longer sitting at the bench where I told her to wait for me. I roamed my eyes at the surroundings and I panicked when I can't see her figure anywhere.

"Candice?!" I started to call her name.

People are looking at me, but I don't care. Where did she go? That hardheaded kid, she always disobey me. She knows how to reach my peak!

"Candice! Where are you?"

My sweat started to fall as I search for her. One college student told me that she saw a little girl wearing a floral dress who was chasing a butterfly. I thanked her and immediately go to the direction that she told me.

There I saw my sister, running and chasing for a little butterfly. My heart beats rapidly when I knew that she was running towards the street.

"Candice! Don't go to the street!" I was shouting, to the point that my veins almost break as I run faster.

She stopped running when she heard my voice and looked at me. She smiled when she saw the ice cream that I'm holding. She even waved her hands at me.

But... something happened.

I saw a black SUV van, driving to the position where Candice was standing. It happened so fast that I don't remember when was the two ice cream in my hand fell onto the ground.

"Candice!" My voice broke.

I run as fast as I can to reach her. The black SUV immediately drove away, leaving my poor sister lying on the ground unconscious. I saw the logo on the SUV's door and I know who owned it. I've seen it several times in this province.

I knelled on the ground as I held my sister in my arms. My tears begun to fall like rain that constantly pouring. I shakes her shoulders, praying that she will woke up.

"Candice, wake up, please."

My hands are trembling when I felt something wet on her head and when I looked at my hands, that's when the moment I knew that she was bleeding.

"Candice," I whispered as I touched the picture frame of my little sister.

I miss her.

I didn't know that I was crying upon remembering that day. It's been three years since that incident and still the one who should pay for her death was living his life to the fullest.

Law?

Law is useless. The case of my sister was being closed and put into the trash because the persons involved behind it was the Quizon--- the most powerful family known in the Philippines.

The SUV was owned by Aron Quizon, the only son of Mr. And Mrs. Quizon. I know that he was riding it that day, I saw him at the mall before that accident. I tried to explain to the authorities what happened and who was the suspect, but they remain deaf and unspoken, telling me that they will investigate the case.

I wiped my tears when I felt the vibration of my phone inside my pocket. I get it and answer the phone call.

"Lea, what's up?"

It was my friend, Lea Gomez. We are working as a secret agents. We've been friends since college and aside from my parents, she was the most trusted person that I know.

"Boss was looking for you," she said.

I nodded even if she can't see me. I wonder if I have a new mission again. I just hope that it will not be boring like my last one.

"Copy. I'm on my way." I end the call and carefully put back the picture frame above my side table.

I go to my garage and hopped on my black dual sport bike. I put my helmet on and started my engine. I leave my apartment and drove to the way leading our main headquarters.

**

"Wang Jim, a Chinese citizen. He was a notorious drug lord and we still have no clue where he would be now." Sir Wendell handed me the pictures and information about Wang Jim.

This Chinese is a fifty-nine year old bald man. Why does criminals lose their hair as years goes by? I just wonder why most of them almost have no hair.

My forehead wrinkled when I noticed Quizon's name in the last pages of the papers. I looked up to him with confusion.

"Quizon's Company?"

"Yeah." Sir Wendell sat down in his swivel chair and form his hands into triangle before looking at me. "Last year, we received a report that Mr. Wang had a transaction here in the Philippines. The report says that the persons involved are powerful and rich. We conclude that maybe Quizon was one of them."

I winced.

Unbelievable.

Quizon's family was not only a murderer, they're also a drug dealers. What a match.

"Then, what do you want me to do?" I asked and put down the folder.

"I want you to investigate and gathered some clues. Find the files containing all the company's transaction last December. Maybe the Quizon will lead us where Wang Jim was hiding."

"How am I going to do that?"

He smirked and showed me something on his phone. I read what it says and it was a job hiring poster. Before I even react, he spoke.

"Quizons are looking for maids. I think you're qualified in that job."

Hmm... sounds interesting. So I'm going to work at his house? That thought made me smile a little.

Hitting two birds with one stone.

**

The moment I stepped inside the Quizon's mansion, I felt an unexplained feeling of discomfort. Why does the atmosphere out here seems like welcoming me in hell?

I was wearing an old clothes and holding my luggage. One of the maid guided me inside and I roamed my eyes in every details of their mansion. It's too big, but too silent.

I heard footsteps behind me. Even if I didn't turn to looked at him, I know that it was a devil.

His voice lingers in my ears. The time when he opened his mouth and said those words, I literally wants to get my gun inside my bag and plant the bullet in his skull. But I remembered my mission... it's too early for that.

"Cristine Mendoza?"

Cristine's POV

"Yes, Sir," I answered and slowly turned my feet to face him.

He was only a few inches apart from me, wearing his office suit while looking at me with his cold, deep, and dark eyes.

I was stopping myself to punch him. The madness in my heart started to arise just by looking at him. F*ck him!

"Uhm, Sir Aron, she's the girl that the agency sent here. She was from province," the maid said.

I did everything just to maintain my small smile because I really want to curve my lips downward. Faking smile in front of the demon was the hardest thing I ever did.

"Inside and outside, you will be my P.A."

That's the only words that came out of his mouth before he turned his back on us and walked on the stairs. I followed him with my gaze as my hands formed into fist.

I will make you pay me more than money, Aron Quizon.

**

Diana, the maid who let me in earlier, guide me to the maid's room. Inside, I met some of the maids and they welcomed me wholeheartedly.

I wonder what kind of treatment does he gave to them. It seems like they are happy to work here, but I doubt Aron was some what you call "kind boss".

"This will be our room. Change your clothes now. We will prepare their dinner soon." Diana handed me the maid uniform and I smile before getting it.

I never imagine that I will wear this kind of stuff in my entire life.

After changing, I immediately follow others at the big kitchen of the mansion. Everyone was doing their tasks and mine was to cut some ingredients.

"Hi!" A short-haired maid approached me. She was holding a bowl of hot soup and placed it above the table.

I looked at her. She was so young to work in here, I guess she was just a teen.

"You're Cristine, right? The new one?" she asked while drying her hands on her uniform. "I'm Joy." She offered me her right hand for handshake and I accepted it.

"Yeah, just call me Tin-tin."

"Nice to meet you. I heard that you came from province? I also came from province. I was working here for two years already."

"Wow..." I don't know what to say.

I can't share her my personal details because I'm on a mission. I just diverted the topic.

"Uhm, Joy, what time does maids eat here?"

"In dinner, usually we eat by eight o' clock, breakfast is five thirty, and lunch is eleven thirty. Why? Are you hungry? I can give you some--"

"No, it's fine." I stopped her when she was about to get some food for me. She was too quick to move, but fortunately I was quick to stop her too.

Other maids will probably think that I am shameless if they saw me eating already. Or worse, they will think I just came here to eat all their foods.

"You sure?" she asked and I nodded.

After some seconds, a question came to my mind. And I know that Joy have the answer that I need.

"Can I ask? Where is the room of Aro-- I mean Sir Aron?"

Joy was preparing some utensils for dinner, but she answered me without looking.

"Oh, its in the second floor. The one with the black door."

**

I am looking at the ceiling of the maid's room. I waited everyone to fall asleep before I get up and carefully walked towards the door. I tried my best not to make noise as I open and close the door.

The maid's room is at the first floor of the mansion. I quickly, but silently walked going to the stairs. The whole mansion was filled with darkness and only the lights outside helped me to recognize where I'm going.

There are so many rooms upstairs, but his room was the only room that has a black door. The door was slightly open and I peak to the small gap of it.

No Aron was inside, but the lights are completely turned on. I stepped inside and roamed my eyes. His room was wide and he has his own office inside of it. I could hear flow of water at his bathroom.

Maybe he was in shower.

Perfect

I immediately go to his mini office and search for the file that I needed. I checked all of his drawers, but there are too many folders inside.

I was looking for the files containing the transactions of Quizon's company five years ago.

"Where is it?"

I almost jump when I heard that the flowing water was already stopped.

What the heck?

I better get out of here before he caught me.

I fixed all of his belongings and immediately head to the door. As soon as I stepped outside, he get out of the bathroom too.

I leaned on the wall while catching my breathe. I almost caught, Jesus. This mission is probably harder than I thought.

**

"Tin-tin, Sir Aron was looking for you," Joy said when she came in the kitchen.

I was washing the dishes that the maids used as well as the dishes used by Aron.

Time check: 6:45 in the morning.

He was too early to spread some darkness. What does he wants from me?

"Joy, can you arrange these for a while?" I told Joy, referring to the washed dishes and she gladly obliged.

I fixed myself and head to the living room where I saw him standing while looking at his watch. He was wearing his usual office suit.

I could smell his perfume even from afar. It's so manly... smells like shit.

"Good morning, Sir. What can I do for you?"

He turned his gaze to me. His face was still neutral, like what I saw yesterday. It seems like it wasn't changing. I wonder if even when he sleeps his face remained the same.

"You will come with me." His baritone voice gives chills around my spine.

Why does he need to have that sexy manly voice early in the morning? Too sexy to the point that I want to cut his esophagus to stop its function.

"Where, Sir?"

"Office."

Before I could even answer, he throw me his briefcase and fortunately I caught it. What the heck is his problem?

It almost hit my gorgeous face!

It was a thirty minutes travel from their mansion to the Quizon's company building. Everyone was greeting him when we entered the entrance, but all that he did was walk, walk, and walk.

He didn't even glance or turned his gaze to someone. He was walking with power and confidence until we reached his office.

His secretary was talking the whole time, I doubt if he's still listening to her.

"Sir, I will put this in here," I said before placing his briefcase above his working table.

I remained standing beside him, like a dog that was waiting for the command of his owner.

Fuck!

I hate doing this.

"Why are you still standing? I bring you here to clean my office, not to watch me this entire day."

I took a deep breathe and close my eyes to stopped the annoyance building inside me. Maybe if I could throw his briefcase to him the way that he did it earlier, maybe I could find peace.

I looked for the vacuum cleaner and started my job here. He was just sitting at his swivel chair while focusing in his laptop when the door opened.

"What a lovely morning!"

Two tall men entered. The one who greeted him was the one who also opened the door and welcomed themselves inside. He has a crew cut hair and wearing a black polo and a pants.

The second guy has a long hair that was tied in a ponytail. He was wearing a blue sleeveless and brown short.

"What are you two doing here?" Aron asked, didn't bother to raised his head and looked at them.

"Nothing, just visiting our buddy." The guy who's wearing polo sat on his table and closed his laptop.

Aron leaned to his chair and looked at them emotionless.

"I'm busy, Fred."

"C'mon, Bud. Let's go somewhere," the long-haired guy said and accidentally saw me.

I continued cleaning, pretending not to notice them.

"Care to introduced us to her?" The long haired guy stepped closer to me and Fred as well as Aron looked at me too.

"She's a nobody, nothing special to her. She's just my fucking maid." Aron opened his laptop again and continued his work.

"Hey, I'm Fred. This is Miko." He waved his hands to me and I smile.

"What's your name?" Miko asked as he sat on the couch beside me.

"Tin-tin, Sir."

I saw in my peripheral vision how he looked at me from head to toe. It seems like he was undressing me in his mind the way he looked at me. It's too uncomfortable.

"Tin-tin. Hmm... I wish I had a sexy maid like you too."

Cristine's POV

I was walking towards the elevator. Aron told me to buy his lunch to the nearest restaurant. He even instructed me not to buy to a fast food chain because foods are low class in there.

"If only I'm not in a mission, I will starve him to death," I whispered with my almost kissing eyebrows because of annoyance.

When the elevator opened, I was surprised to saw inside Miko, his pervert friend.

When he recognized me, he automatically stand straight and smiled at me which I answer with a fake smile.

I stepped inside and push the 1st floor button when the door closed.

"Where are you going, Miss Beautiful?" he asked in a low tone, enough for me to feel disgusted to the nickname he had given me.

Why does the word "beautiful" feels so good when other people call me that, but when it comes to him it sounds gross.

"Uhm... I'm going to buy some lunch, Sir. How about you? I thought you already left , Sir," I answered, trying to sounds casual.

"Yeah, I'm about to leave, but then I saw you. Maybe I could stay a little longer."

He smirked and I secretly rolled my eyes. Is he flirting with me?

Seriously?

"You're funny, Sir."

"No, I'm serious, Cristine. And please don't call me Sir. I have a name."

I just nodded and diverted my gaze. I looked at my right side, but all I can see was his reflection, looking at me with his sticky eyes.

I looked at my front, but I just saw our reflection, standing beside each other.

Damn!

Oh how I wish I just take the stairs rather than to feel suffocated in here with this guy.

"Let's have a date in weekend. I'll treat you," he suddenly said, breaking the silence.

I almost got choke by my own saliva because of what he said.

He was about to touch my butt when the elevator door opened and I immediately get out of there and faced him.

"I-I have a work on weekend, Sir. I'm sorry."

I immediately turned my back and walked as fast as I can, almost running.

**

"How's your work with the Quizon? Satisfied, annoyed, or rather not to say?" Lea asked over the phone.

"None of the above."

I heard her chuckled in the other side of the line. It's already midnight, but I'm still awake. I'm here at the comfort room for me to call my friend. I just want to update her that I'm still alive.

"How about your revenge? Did you started it already?"

"Not yet, I'm still thinking of a plan. And besides, I'm here as a maid, he has his power over me. I can't move freely."

She fall silent, so I thought she already ended the call, but after some seconds she spoke again.

"What if you try to make him fall for you and then break him into pieces?"

My left eyebrow raised in her suggestion.

"Are you kidding?"

"No, I'm dead serious. Maybe in that way you can make your plans work. No hassle, you just need a little bit of acting skills."

"I'm still in the right mind to not follow your instructions, Lea. My God! That's the most disgusting advice you have given me."

I rolled my eyes as if she could see how annoyed I was.

"Fine, fine. I'm just giving you some hint, it's up to you if you will consider it. Better go to sleep, Honey. Good night."

"Good night."

We both make a kissing sound over the phone before we ended the call. I put my phone back to my pocket and looked at the mirror.

Make him fall for me?

For a moment I think maybe Lea was right. If I can get his heart, then I can get his trust. After getting those two, I can do my plans easily.

I frowned and shook my head.

What am I thinking?

"I need a rest."

I washed my hands and get out of the comfort room before going to bed.

**

"Let me help you with that," Diana said to me, referring to the laundries that I'm washing.

"Thanks, I can handle this."

We were at the laundry room, washing tons of clothes that only Aron wore. Is he a snake? It's just a one week clothes, but it looks like a three weeks laundries.

"Okay, as you say. Besides I'm going to clean Sir Aron's room today. Gotta go--"

"Wait, what did you say?" I immediately grabbed her arms when she was about to leave.

Did I heard it right?

"I said I'm going to clean Sir's room today, why?"

I immediately stood up and wipe my sweat and hands. Aron was out to work today. This is good news to me.

"Is it okay if we switch? You do the laundry and I will clean his room. I'm his personal assistant after all."

She stared at me with confusion, maybe I look crazy right now, but this is the great time for me to do my mission.

"You sure?"

"Thank you so much, Diana!"

I kissed her cheek and I left her with a surprised look on her face.

I knocked to the door first before I opened it, making sure that no one was inside. I stepped inside and closed the door.

His room was so quiet. My footsteps are echoing inside, I even heard my own breathe and heart beat.

I walked towards his mini office and started to find the files again. I check his drawers, cabinet, and book shelves.

After five minutes I stand straight while my sweats are flowing down my neck and forehead. I found nothing but a papers of his business plans and other documents that I don't know where he was using for.

I sat on his swivel chair to catch some breathe. Where did he compiling some confidential documents?

I roamed my eyes inside and it landed above his table...

His laptop.

Right!

"Why didn't I think of this earlier?" I told to myself while going closer to his table.

I opened his laptop and saw that it has no password. I browse to his file manger and read all his documents and even his photo album.

When I found nothing on his documents, I go to his email and I saw something that made me curious.

"What are these?" My brows met as I scroll to his mail box, it was purely emails from him for only one receiver.

I read some of it, the previous one that he just sent early this morning.

I'm going to work now. Don't forget to eat your breakfast and take your vitamins if you have. I wish I was there to remind you everyday not to forget your car keys and wear your watch. Have a nice day. I'm still waiting.

I continued to scroll and read another one, it was an email one month ago.

Happy birthday to you. I just woke up and greet you in your very special day. How will you celebrate your birthday this year, huh? If only I could take you to Switzerland I would. Stay healthy and sweet. I'm still waiting.

All of his emails has a two common factors that I noticed. The "I'm still waiting" sentence at the end of every paragraph and the receiver whose name is...

"Jannah Villamor."