Chapter 5: Undercover

The double doors of the luxurious hotel ballroom opened as he was welcomed by the silent chatters and serene instrumental music in the background. Maverick stood on his stance as he roamed his stares around the hall. He sneered. For him, parties are a form of hypocrisy. Rich and famous just wanted to flaunt what they’ve got.

“Boss, the woman was at nine o’clock on your right. She was wearing a long red gown, talking to a couple.”

Maverick heard Diego from his earpiece. They were eyeing Mark Uttenberg’s wife for a certain reason that could help them find a clever and easy way to find him. He knows that Uttenberg was a savvy veteran in terms of technology preferably in software. They have to be quick before he can intercept their communication and he locates them. He doesn’t know much about Mark Uttenberg’s wife and never met her even once aside from he saw her on television guestings.

“She is the only daughter of the business magnate, Arndt Ziegler. Married to Uttenberg for five years and they have a three-year-old daughter.”

Maverick recalled the information that Diego relayed to him on their flight to France regarding Uttenberg’s wife. He doesn’t know her and the information that Diego managed to gather was a big help to be successful in their mission.

“Ziegler has multiple relationships with gays but his wife paid all those guys to shut their mouths. Dignity is highly protected in their family and disclosing it to the public will bring them down. Here are the pictures to prove that.”

Maverick smirked as he continues to recall the information that Diego had told him. Just those few pieces of information, he knows already how to get to Uttenberg’s wife. He walks casually while briefly roaming his stares around. He was aware that there are Ziegler’s people inside the party as well. He doesn’t know all their foe’s appearances so he has to be vigilant in taking the risk to get to her. He was a quite known personality and it was difficult for him to infiltrate the foe’s territory which is why he has to make a change in his image. Ginaya niya ang imahe ng isang lalaking imbitado na kilala din ng kanyang grupo at nagawa niyang bayaran para hiramin ang identity nito. Isa ito sa imbitado ni Arndt Ziegler at may meeting ito sa asawa ni Uttenberg pero hindi na makakapaghintay pa si Maverick sa oras ng meeting na ‘yon at gustong madaliin ang lahat kaya pinlano nila ito ng maayos.

“Where is that waiter now, Diego? I need to get out of here with that woman. The soonest possible!” Mahina ngunit may diing wika ni Maverick. Their earpieces were connected to each of them, enabling them to communicate from a distance.

“He is approaching. His target was that woman. Follow him and stay alert!”

“Copy!” replied Maverick. “Brando, are you there?” he asked Brando who was connected as well but was assigned outside for their vehicles.

“Yes, Boss! I’m ready here just give me a signal”

“Good!”

Agad na naglakad si Maverick patungo sa direction ng babae nang mamataan ang waiter na sinasabi ni Diego. Wala siyang alam sa iniutos ni Diego sa waiter pero alerto siya sa susunod na mangyayari. Maverick saw the guy was a few meters away from the woman, carrying a tray with a glasses of wine on it. People around were busy chatting with others about business and everything when someone blocked his way and seems to recognize him— ah, no! The image he was wearing rather.

“Hey, Mr. Bernardi! How are you doing? I didn’t expect that we would meet here,” the man said.

Bernardi was the surname of the businessman from whom he borrowed his identity.

Maverick recognized the man in front of him. He was one of his clients in a car manufacturing business. Nakaharang ito sa kanyang harapan na naghihintay ng kanyang kasagutan. However, his eyes were focused on the woman, who was unaware of the next thing to happen. Akma na niyang sasagutin ang lalaki nang mahagip ng kaniyang paningin ang isa pang lalaki na sumalubong sa waiter at kumuha ng inumin sa dala nitong tray pero dahil hindi nito napaghandaan ay biglang bumuway ang pagkakahawak niya sa tray na may iilan pang inumin na nakapatong. Kapag hindi ito maagapan ay mabubuhos ito sa kanina pa minamatyagan.

Mabilis na hinawi ni Maverick ang lalaking nakaharang sa kanya at mabilis na inilang hakbang palapit sa babaeng kanina pa binabantayan. He moved like “The Flash” when he managed to pull the woman on her hips, and tried hard to protect her from the falling glasses. Napasinghap ang babae sa pagkabigla. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito sa magkahalong gulat at pagkamangha sa mabilis na kilos ni Maverick. Her mouth widened but no words came from it. Napigilan nito ang kanyang pagbagsak dala nang pagkapulupot ng braso nito sa kanyang beywang.

The glasses shattered on the marble floor and drew the attention of everyone. Saglit na natigil ang lahat sa ginagawa. Some, who were about to drink their wines, stopped midway due to the sudden occurrence of the incident.

The waiter, on the other hand, started apologizing profusely as he gathered the pieces of broken glasses but he was ignored by the woman as she was still in a daze on Maverick’s arm while the latter was staring at her intently.

“Are you alright, Madamme?” Maverick asked after he cleared his throat. Dahan-dahan niya itong inalalayan para muling tumayo mula sa pagkakaligtas nito sa posibleng pagkatumba.

Parang natauhan naman ang babae at mabilis pa sa alas kuwatrong kumalas sa kanya at inayos ang sarili.

“Y...yes! Yes, I’m okay!” Nauutal itong sumagot sa kanya. “Thank you!” Dagdag pa nito at inilibot nang bahagya ang tingin sa paligid bago ibinalik ang tingin sa kanya.

“I’m Greg Bernardi!” Pagpapakilala niya agad dito.

“Yes! I recognized you. We met once and supposedly have a meeting later,” wika ng babae. She regained her composure na tila ba walang nangyari sa mga nakaraang minuto.

Nangunot ang noo ni Maverick sa tinuran ng babae. Hindi niya agad nakuha ang ibig sabihin ng winika nito.

“What do you mean? Are you going to cancel the meeting?” Deretsahan niyang tanong dito pero sa loob-loob niya iniisip na niya kung anong diskarte ang gagawin kung sakaling ikakansela ng babae ang pakikipag-usap sa kanya bilang si Mr. Bernardi.

Tumawa ng pagak ang babae. “No! I mean we can have a meeting now as a gratitude for what you did earlier, we can do it in advance than the set schedule,” turan nito.

Maverick chuckled but he cursed in thought. Stupid!

Everyone around them was just looking at them dahil tila wala silang pakialam sa paligid habang nag-uusap. Ang kaninang mga kausap ng babae ay umalis na din pagkatapos ng munting insidente na kahit ang waiter ay hindi na rin namalayang tapos na sa paglilinis at umalis dala ang mga bubog ng mga nabasag na kopita.

“Shall we go?” Muling wika ng babae at nagpatiuna na itong naglakad.

Matipid na ngumiti si Maverick pero agad ding binura at sumunod sa babae. While striding following the woman, he briefly roamed his stares at the affluent settings of the party. Napaismid siya. He knows everyone belongs to the silk-stocking society, some were outlawed. He knows his kind. Living with opulence but dealing with a felonious enterprise.

“Boss, the woman was heading to a private lounge. We send someone to back you up when the negotiation doesn’t go well.”

Maverick was startled a bit when he heard Brando’s voice from his earpiece.

“Good!” Matipid na tugon nito at sinundan agad ang direksyon na tinutukoy ng tauhan. Inilang hakbang niya ang pagitan para halos pumantay sa paglalakad ng babae.

Dalawang lalaki ang agad na sumalubong sa kanila. Alam niyang mga guwardiya ito ng babae pero kita din niya mula sa sulok ng kanyang mga mata ang pakiwari niya’y mga taong tinukoy sa kanya ni Brando. Hindi kalayuan ang pwesto ng mga ito sa papasukin nilang lounge. Agad na binuksan ng dalawang lalaki ang magarang pintuan ng lounge nang tumapat sila dito.

“S’il vous plaît entrez, Monsieur Bernardi!” yaya ng babae sa kanya na inilahad ang kamay para bigyang daan siya sa pagpasok.

“Merci!” Maikling tugon niya at pumasok sa silid. Agad na iginala ang tingin sa magarang silid. He noticed two men standing prominently inside, waiting for them. Alam niyang hindi basta-basta ang pinasok niya that was why he handled it by himself. Ayaw niyang iasa sa mga tauhan niya ang ganitong mga sitwasyon. Isa sa dahilan kung bakit tagumpay lagi ang kanilang mga plano because he was a hands-on leader. He always took the risk to infiltrate their foe’s territory.

“So, what’s with the deal, Mr. Bernardi?” wika ng babae while pouring a glass of wine from the minibar at one corner of that private lounge. Agad ito umupo sa isa sa mga bar stools na nandoon. She crossed her leg on top of the other kaya bumuka ang bahaging may long slit paharap kay Maverick, exposing her skin to her tight.

“There is something between this woman and Bernardi, I think!”

Naisip ni Maverick gawa ng napapansin niyang kilos mula sa babae. She bit her lip and smiled seductively as he strode towards her pero hindi siya apektado. He loves doing séx with several women but married ones are an exception. Ayaw niya sa mga may sabit.

“Boss, I received a report. Mark Uttenberg was going home tonight. Make sure that you will be in their place before he arrives.”

Maverick heard Diego on his earpiece. He took a deep breath as he approached the woman.

“Okay!” Mahina niyang tugon kay Diego bago umupo katapat ng babae.

“Have some drink!” The woman gently pushed the glass in front of him while her eyes stared at him intently at bahagyang napapakagat-labi para akitin siya.

Maverick smirked. Bitch!

“Thank you, but can we get to the business?” wika niya to stop the woman from flirting. Naalibadbaran na siya sa presensiya nito at gusto na niyang matapos ang usapan at kating-kati na siyang makaharap ang asawa nito.

“Oh, com’ on, darlin’!” Maarteng tugon ng babae habang nilalapag ang baso ng alak at dahan-dahang bumaba para lumapit sa kanya pero maagap niyang nakuha sa loob ng suot na coat ang bagay na magpapatigil sa anumang binabalak ng babae.

Pabagsak na inilapag ni Maverick ang mga litratong hawak na agad namang ikinatigil ng babae sa balak gawin. Napakunot ang noo nito.

“What’s the meaning of this?” wika nito habang nanginginig ang mga kamay na pjnasadahan ang bawat litratong nilapag niya.

“Follow me and you will know!” he authoritatively replied.

Akmang lalapit ang dalawang tauhan nito pero agad siyang nagbabala.

“Stop right there!” Maverick commanded them and made them stop abruptly but eyes were looking at the woman, waiting for her command.

“Listen to him!” the woman said. Alam na nitong malalagay siya sa alanganin kapag pumalag.

“Where did you get these photos? And who are you? Why do you have these?” the woman asked profusely. Mga litrato ito ng kanyang ama kasama ang mga lalaking nabalitang karelasyon nito.

“If you come with me without any fuss then—”

“Is this blackmail?” putol ng babae sa gusto niyang sabihin.

“Yes, it is!” Agad na tugon ni Maverick at ngumisi ng nakakaloko.

“What do you want? Money? Power?”

Maverick laughed. “I have all those things. I want your husband dead or alive!”

“And what is the involvement of my husband here?” Kalmadong tanong ng babae pero halatang nagpipigil lamang ito gawa ng nga litratong nasa harapan. Alam ni Maverick na hindi ito agad-agad magdesisyon at pinoprotektahan ang dignidad ng ama, ng kanilang pamilya.

May hinugot na muli sa loob ng kan’yang suot si Maverick at sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi niya ito nilapag agad para ipakita sa babae.

“Tell your men to clear the area and we have to leave here right now!” He told the woman authoritatively.

“Are you commanding me what to do?” Ngumisi ang babae. Tila ayaw nito sa kan’yang sinabi. Kung sa bagay nga naman, isa ang pamilya nito sa makapangyarihan sa France tapos uutusan lang ng isang kagaya ni Bernardi na sa pagkakaalam niya ay hindi man lang nakapantay sa net worth ng tauhan niyang si Brando.

Inilantad ni Maverick ang litratong hawak pero hindi niya hinayaang mapasakamay ito ng babae. Kitang-kita nito kung paano naningkit ang mga mata nito at kumuyom ang mga kamao. Ang kanina’y medyo kalmado nitong ekspresyon ay nahalinhan ng poot at galit.

The picture he was holding was Mark Uttenberg receiving a million bucks from a syndicate with smuggled guns and ammunition in the photo.

“That’s not him! He’s not my husband!” Matatag na pagtanggi ng babae pero hindi ito mapakali sa kinauupuan.

Maverick smiled triumphantly. Alam niyang natumbok niya ang kahinaan ng babae. They were known as an ideal couple at halos laman ng mga magazines ang pamilya nito at tinitingala ang masaya nilang pagsasama kaya isa talagang malaking pasabog sa babae kapag inilahad niya lahat dito ang katotohanan.

“Well, as I’ve heard, your husband was on his way home from his trip. You can ask him later but...” Maverick looked at her intensely before he continued. “right in front of me!”

“What?!”

“Madame, I don’t like wasting my time and don’t let me take you forcefully out from here,” mariing wika ni Maverick pero ang mga mata nito ay nakatuon sa dalawang lalaki na alam niyang kanina pa nakahandang hugutin ang kanilang mga baril.

Napahugot ng hininga ang babae sabay tango sa dalawang lalaki.

“Clear the area and don’t let my Dad know about this. Then you two follow me,” utos nito sa dalawang lalaki na agad namang sumunod sa kanya.

Pagkalabas ng dalawang lalaki ay agad din silang sumunod.

“I don’t have any plan to harm you but please don’t ruin anything. Just go with the flow until we get out of here,” halos pabulong na wika ni Maverick sa babae habang naglalakad palabas ng lounge at dumaan sa gitna ng party.

Halos nasa pintuan na sila palabas nang—

“Mr. Bernardi!”