November's Kryptonite (Calendar Girls Series #11)

CHAPTER 1

To: Agent November

Protect Mr. Volter Nate Rigler a CEO of Rigler Chains of Companies. Be his secretary and a bodyguard until your mission is done. Everything is already prepared.

From: Mr. R

That's what I received in my emails after my long tiring day on my last photo shoot today. I arched a brow and sighed heavily.

“Another mission,” I whispered then my gaze went to the penthouse’s glass door in my veranda. “Mr. Volter Nate Rigler. Protect? How important is he, by the way?” I asked myself while looking at the city lights.

My thoughts were now clouded by the mission Mr. R has given me now. I still have one mission to do, and it’s been years since I started to find Valdimour. He’s still on my pending mission. Akala ko nga ay hindi na ako bibigyan ng mga misyon ni Mr. R dahil sa hindi ko nagawa ang misyon ko kay Valdimour, pero sa nakalipas na taon ay nagbibigay pa rin siya kahit na nanggagalaiti pa rin ako sa galit kay Valdimour.

I will never forget what he have done to my family. How he killed my little sister. How he killed my innocent sister.

Umiling ako pagkatapos ng ilang sandali bago nagpasyang pumasok sa kusina at maghanap ng maiinom. I used to drink alcoholic beverages to sleep myself at night.

It’s been years since that incident happened. After that night, I never stopped looking for Valdimour. I really wanted to kill him. I really want to avenge my sister.

That day, I went back to Luxembourg and live there until I finished college. After graduating I decided to flew back to Philippines and live here alone... Again.

I live my life alone here for almost six years now. I'm already 28 years old and still single. I don't know either, why I'm still single and can't find a man to marry. Just thinking about the word “marry”, I cringed. I don’t think I can love someone again.

Hindi ko talaga gusto ang salitang kasal. Dahil pakiramdam ko, kapag kinasal ako ay matatali na ako nang husto at hindi na magagawa ang gusto ko sa buhay. Gaya noon, noong nasa puder pa ako ng aking mga magulang. Hindi ko nagagawa ang kahit anong gusto ko dahil palagi na lang akong pinapagalitan ng mga magulang ko.

Gusto kong maging independent sa buhay. Kaya naman nang makatapos ng pag-aaral sa kolehiyo ay ginawa ko ulit ang lahat para mapapayag ang mga magulang na bumukod at mamuhay nang mag-isa. At first they don’t want me to leave Luxembourg, because they don’t want to lose another daughter. Pero hindi ko ‘yon hahayaan. Hindi ako mawawala nang hindi lumalaban. Hindi ko hahayaang mapahamak muli ang aking pamilya.

Pero may mga kondisyon pa rin silang ibinigay sa akin. Na kailangan, kapag tumungtong ako ng trenta ay ikakasal na ako o may ipapakilalang matinong lalaki sa kanila. Parang noon lang ay ayaw nila sa mga natitipuhan ko.

Saan naman ako hahanap noʼn?

I wish that thing would be just easy as a piece of cake. Like, I just grab someone’s hand then have him in front of my parents. But I know that's not gonna be easy like that.

Nang makadalawang baso ako ng whiskey ay ibinalik ko na ‘yon sa lagayan at umalis na sa kusina. Pagkatapos ay dumiretso na ako sa kuwarto para makatulog.

I stared at my ceiling while thinking about my mission.

Mission...

Another mission, huh? After months of not giving me a mission, here Mr. R now, giving me a new mission with this... guy. I kind of heard Mr. Rigler’s name before as a most competent billionaire and a most-sought after bachelor in town. But never met him in person or in any magazines.