AQR1: A Peerless Genius from Two Cities [COMPLETED]

10: Chess Pieces 6*

It was a normal day for the people inside the Purple Boutique. It was neither hectic nor boring.

Sakto lang. After all, sa mahal ng mga damit na gawa nila, iilan lang ang mga customers nila.

But it didn't mean wala silang pera.

They had several staffs na pinapasweldo but it was not like they were limited to the work within the Boutique.

Ganun ang inabutan nila Emy when they entered the boutique.

Agad naman silang sinalubong ng isang babae.

"Welcome! Anong maipaglilingkod ko sa iyo, Young Miss?"

Iniikot muna ni Emy ang kanyang paningin bago tumingin sa sumalubong sa kanya na babae.

"I'd like to speak to your manager."

Nabigla ang babae maging sila Grace at Anika.

"Err..."

"I specifically come here today for your manager. Please call him."

Him. The woman noticed the pronoun she used. Could it be that she knew Mr. Bao personally?

"Please have a seat, Young Miss. I'll be back."

Emy nodded and watched the woman walked towards the door behind the counter.

Mabilis lang din ay lumabas mula doon ang isa pang babae. The woman was more sophisticated looking than the first one. But she was not the one whom Samantha wanted to see.

"Young miss, I heard you are looking for our manager. Unfortunately, he's not here at the moment."

Nilapitan siya ni Samantha. Agad na nawala ang mga ngiti ng babae as she was surprised by her.

"Please tell Calix that Q wants to see him. You are already the second person I have met. Please don't disappoint me further."

For a very slight moment, the woman's eyes widened. Pero mabilis lang ay nakabawi na din agad ito. She smiled saka inimbitahan si Samantha sa pinakaloob ng boutique.

"You don't have to follow me, Grace and Anika." She told her maidservants when they followed behind her.

Both hesitated but seeing that seriousness of their Miss, they decided to simply go back to the waiting area.

***

"Miss Q, I am Harley Park, assistant manager of Mr. Bao."

"Nice to finally meet you, Miss Park."

Harley just nodded. Tapos ay nagpatuloy na siya sa paglalakad. Dinala niya sa isang private room si Emy at doon pinaghintay kay Mr. Bao.

***

"Calix, may naghihintay sa iyo sa baba. Siya daw si Miss Q." Balita ni Harley sa kanyang boss.

Kasalukuyang kasama nito ang Fifth Prince at may pinag-uusapan silang mahalaga. Ayaw niya sanang istorbohin ang mga ito pero the lady downstairs gave her a fright.

"Miss Q?" Sabay na tanong sa kanya ng dalawang binata. Then nagkatinginan sila.

"Go downstairs." Utos ni Sebastian kay Calix na tumango lang. Saka tumayo at pinuntahan na ang bisita niya.

Months ago, sure siya kung sino ba si Q. Hindi nga nagpapakita ang babae sa kanya pero minsan na niyang pinasundan ang maidservant nito na nagdadala ng sulat sa kanya at napag-alaman niya na kay Samantha ito nagtatrabaho.

But now, he didn't know what he would think about this situation. This lady who was claiming to be Q was very unexpected. Nasabihan na siya ni Sebastian tungkol dito. But he was still unsure how to confront this unknown lady.