THE BAD BITCH AND THE DOCTOR

Chapter Forty Five

A/n: Reader discretion is advised. At this point, pwede ko na gawing business yung holy water.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE - Dirty Secrets Part Two

Third Person's PoV

SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER...

The Elite Party Cont'd

"Tapos pinatayan ko na ng tawag. Ang useless kausap e'! Hahaha." Sumabay mga kasama ni Mayor Sandoval sa pagtawa sa biro niya. Umiling-iling ang mayor saka itinaas ang hawak niyang champagne glass. "This is the future, gentlemen. Our reputations will always prevail."

They all clinked their glasses, only to find an additional glass with water clinking with them. Nakuha rin ng kanilang atensyon mga acrylic nails na kulay pula at mahahaba.

"Evening, gentlemen." Bati ni Shane sa kanila nang may malawak na ngisi. "You are absolutely right. This is the future. A world ran by both men and women. Our reputations will always prevail."

Nailang mga nagtipong mga politiko na kasama ni Sandoval. Hindi nila magawang tignan sa mata si Shane sa kaba. Titig niya pa lang nakakamatay na, dagdag mo na kung paano ito magsalita.

Ngunit nagawang ngumisi din si Mayor Sandoval, "And our reputation will precede our character. What an honor for you to join us, Attorney Ramos. Have you gathered enough evidence against your parents yet? Or are you done throwing tantrums?"

Shane scoffed, intrigued by the insult, "Tantrums? Why, you wound me, Mayor Sandoval. Are you saying that my goals of serving justice for a human trafficking victim is nothing but a woman's tantrum?"

Kumibit balikat ang alkalde at marahang tinawanan si Shane.

"Madami kang napinsalang mga kababayan natin dahil sa kasong ito, Attorney Ramos. Kapag tuluyan nawala ang De Vera Industries, alam mo bang mahigit kumulang isang daang libo ang mawawalan ng trabaho? Malaki ang tulong ng mga De Vera sa ekonomiya ng lungsod. Don't you think it's irrational to save one victim over saving thousands of jobs? Like what I said, ginagamit mo lang itong...paano ba sabihin ito—ovcrreaction mo para lang makaganti sa magulang mo na ipinakasal ka sa Maclains. Hindi ba? All for your selfish revenge." Sabi ni Mayor Sandoval kay Shane.

Napatingin lahat ng mga kasamahan niya sa gawi ni Shane na hindi nakaimik agad. Hindi rin nagbago ang hitsura niya. Inaasahan niya na ito ang kanyang maririnig sa mga malalapit na koneksyon nila Divine.

Sandoval wanted to trigger a reaction from her to easily dominate her. Shane, of course, saw through his pathetic excuse to insult her and raised her chin to sip on her water.

"Maybe you're right. This may just be my 'overreaction' over the destruction my father and my step-mother caused in my life. I don't know about the economy part though." Shane took a step forward, which the men took a step back away from her. "I admire your patriotism, Mayor Sandoval. I didn't know that underneathe this..." tinuro niya yung suot na customized barong ng alkalde, "is a man who cares for his people."

"Of course. A good leader will always—"

"Besides, where else would you find money to launder other than the people you vowed to serve?" Pagpuputol ni Shane at pinaningkitan ng mga mata yung namutlang alkalde. Nagkatinginan din sa isa't isa mga ibang politiko sa pagtataka. "De Vera Industries keeps your pockets full of cash to shut you up so they can gain access to your local police stations. In return, you actually help them sneak in piles of—"

"I think Mrs. Ramos is begging for my attention hence the baseless accusations." Pagpuputol din ni Mayor Sandoval. "Excuse us, gentlemen."

The men left the two to talk in private. Mr. Rivera's party is still continuing in the background. Laughter still erupted along with some children running and playing by the buffet table.