Prologue - All these things will catch up to you
Unnamed Location. Penthouse Office. August 2023, 2230H.
The sound of heels clacking alerted the woman sitting behind the desk. A gentle smile graced her features upon seeing her guest. “Roberta, it’s good to see you. How long has it been since we last saw each other?”
“20 years, Victoria. I’ve seen better days, but andito pa rin ako.” Replied the other woman with a kinder-looking face. A small smile escaped her lips as if reminiscing her memories with the woman sitting behind the desk.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation to meet. I have something for you to see. I was told not to open the envelope before our meeting, so consider this my first time seeing this. Perhaps, it would be an opportunity for our agencies to work together, ‘no?” Victoria stood up and moved closer to Roberta, clutching a brown envelope.
“Hmmm. Perhaps. Now, let us see what is inside this envelope.”
Victoria opened the enveloped and was surprised by the photograph inside the envelope. Schooling her features, she passed the photo to Roberta, standing across from her, who was also shocked upon seeing the picture. It was a photo of two people sitting across from each other having dinner. Both wear matching wedding rings.
“Hmmmm. This is very interesting. Don’t you think, Madam R?”
“It is, isn’t it, Madam V. Sino sa palagay mo ang mas magaling?” Roberta said with a hint of a tease and a smirk.
“I would like to say mas magaling ang apo ko, but we both know that your granddaughter is just as good, especially if she has trained under your late daughter, Leonor, and, eventually, under you.”
“I can say the same about your granddaughter. Having been trained by you and the legendary Rex Vanguardia himself. Mukhang patas lang naman ang laban,”
“ Siri, inform all agents that operations ‘intrappolare’ and ‘divido’ is a go. Both Operations will be carried out with Roberta’s agency.” Madam V instructed her assistant.
“Yes, Madam V.” replied Siri, Madam V’s assistant
“Hija, here’s the number of my assistant. Her name is Ten. Work with her for both operations.” Roberta said while handing Siri her assistant’s business card. “Will do, Madam R.”
Victoria sat back down behind the desk, smirking. “May the best apo win, then?”
“May the best apo win” Roberta replied with a smirk and then left Victoria’s office.
Somewhere in the same building. 0000H
A lanky man in an oversized suit approached the elevator. “Hi, my name is Brian Robles. Pinapatawag daw ako ni boss. Is this the way up?” Brian asked the woman in her late forties, sitting behind the desk near the elevator.
“First assignment mo ba, hijo?” The woman said while staring strangely at Brian. “Opo eh.”
“Here’s your mission packet.” The woman then gave Brian a Manila Envelope. “That contains the details of your mission. Photos of the targets are inside na rin.”
“P..Pero tawag daw ak-”
“Nobody gets to see the boss, kahit pinapatawag niya. Masanay ka na. Welcome to the agency hijo. Maritess nga pala.“
“Sige, salamat po Ms. Maritess” Brian then walked away.