DEVIL'S SCHEME

"What a load of shit." mahinang sambit ni Rowan habang naglalakad siya papunta sa opisina ng CEO ng stellar.

Someone saw him throwing something given from one of his fan, Rowan doesn't give a shit yet he thinks that Happy might broadcast his true self. Honestly, Rowan is getting sick and bored acting nice and gentle to everyone who appoach him, pero artista siya at kailangan niyang ma maintain ang magandang image niya sa mata ng mga tagahanga niya because of his personal reason.

He's kind and soft in front of everyone, but when he turn his back on them, his usual cold and serious expression let out on his handsome face.

"That woman won't dare to tell what she saw, no one would beileve her." malamig na ani ni Rowan hanggang makarating na siya sa tapat ng opisina ng CEO ng Stellar.

"What does she wants now." plain na ani ni Rowan bago walang katol-katok na pumasok sa loob ng opisina, kung saan nakaupo sa mesa nito ang CEO nila na si Mrs. Perez na may hawak-hawal na papel.

Dere-deretsong pumasok si Rowan at pabagsak na umupo sa mahabang sofa at sumandal roon.

"Sandoval told me that you are looking for me, why?" malamig na ani ni Rowan.

Tumayo ang CEO ng Stellar sa kinauupuan nito at nagtungo kay Rowan, umupo ito sa sofa na kaharap ng kinauupuan ni Rowan.

"Alam kong ayaw mo ng manager, you manage the past years alone without an assisting of a manager, but you are a the important pillar actor of my entertainment. Dumadami na rin ang mga schedule mo, ang daming nakahanay na project for you from acting to interviews. So i decided whether you like it or not i will give you a manager." pahayag nito na plain na tingin lang ang binibigay ni Rowan sa kaniya.

"I don't need one."

"Laging 'yan ang sinasabi mo, Rowan, but trust me you need a manager. Here's the resume of the applicant who wants to work with you, i'll give you the right to decide." ani pa ni Mrs. Perez na inilatag sa center table ang limang resume na nag-pasa ng mga resume nila.

Napatuon ang tingin ni Rowan sa mga resume ng mahagip ng mata niya ang isang resume kung saan pamilyar sa kaniya ang litrato na nakadikit roon.

"That one..." turo ni Rowan nang tingnan iyon ni Mrs. Perez at kuhanin iyon.

"Oh? Hindi ito kasali sa pamimilian mo, i'm mistakenly brought this one pero itatapon ko 'to. This one is from the fallen YZ Entertainment, i don't want someone from that loser agency works here. Just choose between this four applica--"

"--let me see that." putol ni Rowan na inilahad ang kamay sa harapan ni Mrs. Perez.

"Don't bother to see this Rowa---"

"--i said give it to me, Mrs. Perez, should i ask again?" malamig na putol ni Rowan na wala ng choice si Mrs. Perez kung hindi ibigay ang hawak nitong resume kay Rowan.

Agad na tiningnan ni Rowan ang hawak niyang resume kung saan tama ang kaniyang nakita.

"So this woman is a former employee of YZ Entertainemnt, and she had a surname of Valdez. Are they fucking connected?"

"May sinasabi ka ba, Rowan? That woman from YZ is not a good choice in the position of being your manager. She's from YZ so i'll just throw that paper no--"

"--hire her."

"What? Did i heard it right?" kunot noong ani ni Mrs. Perez na seryosong ikinalingon ni Rowan sa kaniya.

"I'm sure you're not deaf Mrs. Perez, aren't you? I said hire her, i'm picking her as my manager. You want to give me one right, and i'm choosing one. Send Sandoval to my leisure area." pahayag ni Rowan na tumayo na sa pagkakaupo nito.

"Sandali Rowan, bakit siya ang kukunin mong manager? Narinig mo naman ang sinabi ko kanina hindi ba? She's a former employee of YZ Entertainment, the shameful agency that was fal--"

"--you might be the CEO of this company, it's yours but don't forget that i was the one who make this agency on

top. I fucking literally saved this company of yours from bunkcrupcy, so just do what i said. Whether she's from YZ or not, i chose her to be my freaking manager. Have a good day, Mrs. CEO." walang emosyon at plain na ani ni Rowan bago naglakad na paalis ng opisina ni Mrs. Perez na nagpambuntong hininga.

"That devil, ang gusto na naman niya ang gusto niyang mangyari. Anghel sa harap ng camera pero kampon naman ni Lucifer pag wala ng nakakakita. But his popularity gave too much opportunity and income to my company, then i have no choice." pahayag ni Mrs. Perez na tumayo na sa kinauupuan niya at bumalik na sa mesa niya.

Tinawagan niya si Miguel at sinabihan itong puntahan si Rowan sa leisure area na tinatambayan ni Rowan pag nasa Stellar ito.

Nasandal lang si Rowan sa mahabang sofa at nakatitig sa kisame ng magbukas ang pintuan ng Leisure at pumasok doon si Miguel.

"Pinapatawag mo daw ako, may ipapagawa ka ba? Ipapaalala ko lang sayo Rowan na executive manager ako ng Stellar at hindi manager m--"

"--the woman you see a while ago, tell her she's hired as my manager." plain na putol ni Rowan na ikinakunot ng noo ni Miguel.

"Sinong woma--ahhh! Ang tinutukoy mo ba ay 'yung fan mo na nakapasok sa building ng Stellar? Kukunin mo siyang manager mo?"

"That's what i've said."

"Bakit siya? She's just a fan, baka mamaya obssess fan mo pa siya makasira pa siya sa caree--"

"--she's a former artist manager from YZ Entertainment, she has a background managing an artist. So go tell her that she's hired." muling putol ni Rowan na sandaling nawalan ng imik si Miguel.

"I won't accept anyone as my manager, just her." dagdag pa ni Rowan na ikinasalubong ng kilay ni Miguel.

"Just a minute, Rowan, don't tell me you fell in love with your fan in a first sight?" saad ni Miguel na poker face na tiningnan ni Rowan.

"Hindi? So trip mo lang siyang maging manager?"

"Just go and let her aware that she got the fucking job." ani ni Rowan na bumalik sa pagkakatingala nito.

"Saan ko hahanapin ang fan mo na gusto mong maging manager mo? Oh! I'll get the resume to Mrs Pere--" hindi natapos ni Miguel ang sasabihin niya ng tumunog ang cellphone niya.

Nang tingnan niya iyon ay nagkasalubong ang kilay niya ng makita niya ang isang pin location na tinuturo ang isang ospital.

"If you recieved a pin location, go there. You'll find her in that place." plain na ani ni Rowan na ikinalingon ni Miguel sa kaniya.

"Lo-location 'to nung babae? Pa-paano mo nalaman?"

"I just know. Now leave." ani ni Rowan na ipinikit ang kaniyang mga mata.

Napakamot nalang si Miguel ng kaniyang ulunan at wala ng complain na lumabas ng leisure area. Naiwan muli si Rowan na mag-isa at dahan-dahan na nagmulat at umaayos ng kaniyang pagkaka-upo.

Kinuha niya ang kaniyang cellphone at may tinawagan.

"Do you find information about her?" agad na tanong ni Rowan nang sagutin na ang kaniyang tawag.

"I already gathered information you need, i'll put this on your desk at your office."

"I'll leave then." pinatay na ni Rowan ang tawag niya bago tumayo at deretsong lumabas ng leisure area.

Naglalakad lang siya sa hallway kung saan binabati siya ng ilang employees ng Stellar na binabalik niya ng pagbati at ngiti. Not all employees of Stellar knew his real attitude, ang CEO at si Miguel ang may alam ng totoo niyang ugali.

But the rest of Stellar Entertainment employees knew him as the kindest, caring and approachable gentleman.

Pagkalabas ni Rowan sa building ng Stellar ay agad siyang sumakay ng kotse niya, at sa pagsara niya ng pintuan ay ang pagkawala ng peke niyang ngiti at deretso na siyang umalis.

Ilang oras na biyahe ni Rowan ay nakarating siya sa isang abandon place malayo sa bayan. May mga maliliit na building ang lugar na 'yun, bumaba si Rowan sa kotse niya at naglakad na. Habang naglalakad si Rowan ay siyang isa-isang paglabas ng ilang mga lalaking naka black suit at isa-isa ring yumuko habang dumadaan si Rowan.

Pagkarating ni Rowan sa isang building na mas mataas sa ilang building meron sa lugar ay dere-deretso siyang pumasok sa loob. Nang makarating siya sa pinaka opisina ng buildinh ay sabay-sabay na yumuko at bumati sa kaniya ang ilang mga lalaking nakasuit.

Dumaretso si Rowan sa mesa at kinuha ang folder na naroon bago umupo sa mesa at agad na sinuri ang laman ng folder.

"So i was fucking right, that woman is the planted and abandoned seed of my father's mistress." walang emosyon at malamig na pahayag ni Rowan.

"Does it mean she's your half-sister, el capitan?" tanong kay Rowan na malamig niyang ikinangisi.

"Half-sister? Does she?"

Ibinaba ni Rowan ang hawak niyang folder sa mesa at nagpamulsang nagtungo sa may bintana ng opisina niya.

"I'll find that out myself." pahayag ni Rowan.

"Just tell us el capitan what you want us to do, and we will do it to finish your mission in this country. Noviché Cassa, your kingdom in Russia is waiting for you to come back." pahayag ng isang tauhan ni Rowan na hindi niya ikinaimik.

Rowan Ivanovich Zaroza is not just a famous actor, but he is the mafia don of a large mafioso clan in Russia, the Noviché Cassa that he extended his clan in the Philippines because of his soley mission.

"What's your plan, el capitan?" plain na tanong ni Lev Kaminsky, ang consigliere-right hand ni Rowan.

And that mission is to find the mistress of his father who killed his beloved mother. And now that he found the result of his father's mistakes...

"..i'll make her life living in hell so she can tell me where will i find that bitch mother of hers."