CHAPTER 1: VERENA LACROIX

“NASAAN ka? I’ve been calling you for hours, Verena! Bakit hindi mo sinasagot ang tawag ko?” bulyaw ng pinsan ko sa kabilang linya na si Rona. I rolled my eyes.

Nang pagbuksan naman ako ng driver ng pinto ay ngumiti ako nang matamis.

“Boyfriend ba kita para sagutin ko ang tawag mo? Gosh, Rona! Sinabi ko naman sa iyo kagabi na magja-Japan lang ako. Alam mo namang ngayon ang labas ng Haikyuu sa Cinema, hindi ba? I’ve been waiting for this day since the day na nag-announce sila ng movie—”

“Stop! Geez, why are you so into those movies? At bakit hindi ka pinipigilan ng boyfriend mo? Nagkakapera lang ang ibang kumpanya at bansa dahil sa ginagawa mong pagtangkilik sa ganiyan, Verena! Mas mabuti pa ay umuwi ka na. Nagpatawag ng meeting ang buong Lacroix, and you need to be there.”

Another meeting. It only means one thing. Hindi naman ako pinalaking walang alam sa mga bagay-bagay na nangyayari sa pamilya namin. I’m spoiled, but I also have to earn it. I can’t just spend their billions without doing anything for them in return.

“Who is it this time?” I asked with a bored tone.

“His name is Remmington Accardi. Rumored to be a mafia boss—”

“A mafia? And a boss? Kailan ba titigil ang pamilya natin sa ganiyan, Rona? A mafia is not an ordinary person. Whoever will try to play with that man will get killed,” I uttered, stating the obvious.

“We are not so ordinary either, Verena. We have the wealth we need to ruin that man. Kaya umuwi ka na pagkatapos mo riyan sa Japan. Your mother will go berserk if she didn’t find you there,” aniya. “Susunod din ako later pagkatapos ko rito sa New Zealand. And girl, they have plenty of men to fish in here! Mas gwapo pa riyan sa mga animated mong asawa!” Rona giggled. She dropped the call after saying her goodbye while I was left sighing.

Ruining someone is our family’s own kind of game. The Lacroix tend to get threatened by people who runs a huge company under our turf. And by ruining, it means stripping them off of their wealth and dignity. Even their good appearance to the media and people.

Lacroix have been famous for their beautiful women. At madalas ay kami ang ginagamit para sirain ang isang malaking tao, lalo na kung lalaki. Because let’s admit it, that boys will always be boys. They tend to get sidetracked by beautiful women like us.

“Ang malas naman ng lalaking iyon. No men can ever reject a Lacroix’s beauty. That only means he’ll fall, so deeply and then he’ll be ruined…” I whispered to myself. Tinitigan ko ang sariling kuko. It was painted tangerine to commemorate Haikyuu’s day.

Oh, well. The weak beings are always meant to get trampled anyway.

“HOW was it? Did you have fun?” bati ni Cove, one of my first degree cousins. She has a beautiful pair of bright blue eyes, and a very sweet downward-turn lips. Makes her somewhat look like a goddess.

“It was. I couldn’t help but cry while watching the movie. I bought you some souvenirs from Japan. Here.” Inabot ko sa kaniya ang isang Tsukishima Kei chibi keychain na ikinangiti niya.

“Thank you, Verena!” I smiled too.

“Let’s go, girls. We have a plan to make,” Rona butted in. She was wearing a tight bodycon dress that suited her. Ang kaniyang tuwid na buhok ay nakalugay habang pulang-pula naman ang labi niya.

Katatapos lang ng family meeting namin. And the task was given to us girls, as usual. Kaya tulad ng nakasanayan ay pumupunta kami sa club ni Rona kung saan namin pinag-uusapan kung sino sa aming magpipinsan ang gagawa ng trabaho.

“I can’t do it, lemmi just remind y’all. Because I’m not yet done with Mr. Afonso’s son. And I can’t date two men in a time. I’m not fond of threesome, okay?” Brooke suddenly said, that made us look at her.

“What? Gross, Brooke! Can’t you somewhat filter your words?” The thick British accent of my cousin, Taite, echoed.

“Filter my words, y’say? I can’t, biatch,” sagot ni Brooke habang ginagaya ang accent ni Taite na ikinatawa ni Rona at Cove.

“Stop it, you two. Let’s get this done with so we can all go home.” Pumagitna ako sa kanilang dalawa.

Natatawang hinila pa rin ni Rona si Brooke na sumunod naman. While Cove held hands with Taite who was murmuring words under her breath while glaring at Brooke. Napailing-iling na sumunod ako sa kanilang apat.

“Your club is busy as usual, Rona. Ang galing mong mag-manage!” puri ni Cove nang pagkapasok namin sa loob ng club ay bumungad sa amin ang punong-puno na mga tables. Some were even left standing, and the dance floor was also filled with crowds.

“Praise Verena, not me. You knew she’s really the one handling the management, especially in promoting the club.” Turo sa akin ni Rona.

I shrugged, “You give a nice pay, that’s why.”

Dumiretso kaming lima sa VVIP room. Iyon ang madalas naming tambayan kapag kailangan naming mag-usap.

“Yeah, she’s good with those kind of things, but she probably won’t last with our usual game. I mean, remember the last time she was given a task? She lasted in that poor guy’s life for six months!” Taite tsked, as I suddenly find her thick British accent annoying in my ears.

“Y’all don’t talk to her like that. She just don’t have the appeal to seduce men, alright?” Brooke butted in which didn’t made me feel better at all.

“Stop it, you two. That was just how life is. Not everyone is good at everything—”

“I bet I can make that guy fall for me in a month,” I casually interfered. My chest is fuming mad for all the words I heard from them.

“Yeah, of course she can – WHAT?! Are you insane, Verena?!” Cove stood up from her seat, her eyes widening while all my other girl cousins stared at me with wicked smile on their faces.

Did I just got manipulated into betting myself in this game?