The phone call.

Annabel's P.O.V 

I took my phone and googled about Karl Rodrigo on my way home; not much was said about him except that he was a businessman happily married to Dalisay Gabriel with different loved-up photos of them that made me chuckle. 

"Believe the internet at your own risk," I hissed. 

I dialed Judith's number. 

"Hey, sis," I said when she picked up. 

"What's up, Bella? Your call came in right on time, baby girl. I was worried if Karl had added you to the list of his wives." Judith said, and I raised a brow. 

"List of his wives?" I questioned. 

"Yes, girl, you had me right. The motherfucker is a gold digger, just like his public display wife," She added, and I became more confused. 

I've known Judith for over five years; she has been the private investigator my parents had hired to help me with my findings.

 Although, she is more of a family to me now. 

We relocated together from New York to the Philippines. Getting along with her wasn't easy at first because of the trauma I had gone through from Dalisay's betrayal, but I am glad I learned to love and trust her. She is my guardian angel. 

"Okay, girl, you are getting me more confused right now; what's up?"  I asked as I came down from my car after my driver had pulled over in the parking lot. 

"Our internet couples are as fake as their wealth except that of the wife," she shrugged. "Karl Rodrigo has a wife in one of the remote Philippine villages where he has been married to her for the past fifteen years, and they have two beautiful kids together," my mouth was left wide open in shock as I listened to her. 

"He abandoned his wife and came to Manila, the capital city, in search of greener pasture. And fortunately for him, he got a big catch; his wife is too primitive to know her husband is one of the Philippine big boys here in the capital," she added sarcastically while I tried to comprehend. 

Now I understand why he had little or no personal details on the internet. He was a fraudster. I gave a loud outburst. 

"Karma is a bitch girl," I said, and Judith laughed. "So, How did he catch my best friend's eyes?" I asked sarcastically. 

"oh, I guessed he used his charming physique. Dalisay has always had an eye for well-built guys,"  I added. 

"Not only that, I think it is more of an arranged marriage from Dalisay's mom. Karl was her sugar boy, and I wondered how he had convinced her to marry her daughter. " Judith said; I was bewildered. 

"Bastards!" I muttered. 

"I doubt Dalisay is aware of her Mom's mischievousness," Judith said while I took a deep breath. 

"This whole thing is getting more intriguing, and I am so optimistic," I said with a beaming smile. 

"How was your night with him?" Judith inquired, and I pouted my lips. 

"That guy is a gigolo. He is so good with his cock. No wonder he has been fucking both mother and child," I added sarcastically, and we laughed. 

"I can't remember the last time I got good sex like that of last night. I had to go for more even after taking contraceptives after our first round, and Trust me; the media aren't doing justice to his look. He is damn cute and way hotter in person.his smooth, spade-shaped beard. He had a devil-may-care outlook and a stellar smile, then his chest screamed," Take me to Mama." I said dramatically while Judith laughed. 

"you are sounding like a teenager in love," she said. 

"Nah, I can't be in love with him, but I'll make sure he becomes mine. A divorce between them will leave my enemy devastated, and that's one of the goals, " I bragged. 

"Just be careful. These people are dangerous." Judith said with concern. 

"I'm dead and can't be killed again," I assured her. 

"catch you later, Bella; my boss just walked in," Judith said.

"But you know you don't have to work," I said.

 

"So I'll be bored all day like you? No," she said while I laughed. 

Judith was used to being a workaholic. Even as a private investigator,  she was also a designer and had gotten a flexible job in the Philippines to keep her occupied, even though I was against it. 

"Well said, talk later then, bye."

"Bye, love you," she shouted before I hung up the call. 

Immediately, a message notification popped up on my phone. It was from Karl Rodrigo. 

(Hey Amihan,  I've spoken to my wife about your proposal, and she is excited to do business with you. She will reach out to you shortly.) 

I smiled as I read through the message.  The universe is beginning to work in my favor, and I deserve it. 

A call came in almost immediately from an unknown number, which my phone identified as Dalisay Gabriel. I picked up the call and took a deep breath. 

"Hello," she greeted. I remembered that voice. The memories of how naive and innocent that voice was when we first met reminisced in my heart. But right now, hearing this voice made me so angry. It's been ten years since I last heard that voice speak to me directly. I've watched her interviews and felt so much hatred, but right now, it is more intense. 

"Hi," I cleared my throat. 

"I'm I speaking with Miss Amihan Jude? " She inquired, sounding so lovely. 

"Yes. Please, who is on the line?" I responded. 

"I am Mrs Dalisay Rodrigo," she said calmly. 

"Oh, Mr. Karl Rodrigo's wife?" I asked and rolled my eyes as she laughed. 

"Yes! " 

" Oh, I wasn't expecting you to call. I was hoping to hear from your secretary. Considering your caliber of person,"  I added.

 

"You are an important client and deserve more than a call from a secretary." She declared while I faked a smile. 

"A message was sent to your company's email regarding an appointment with us. I decided to call you and inform you personally, " she said. 

"Okay. I'll go through it now and get back to you soon." I replied, feeling exhausted already. 

"See you see, madam," She said. 

"No problem," I replied and hung up the call. 

From her voice, I could tell she was the same Dalisay I had left ten years ago. Her sweet-talking charm was still there, but they could not break the wall of my heart as they did years ago. 

I threw myself on the bed and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, thinking about how karma had started working for my sake.