Author's Preface
"What does Madame L mean by that?" Francis turned to ask Nicole
Nicole suddenly felt a wave of nervousness creep up inside her
"What is she talking about? I... I have no idea what she means," Nicole replied, stammering
"Hmm, nice one Nicole. You really are a great actress," Madame L remarked
"You know what? It would be better if you just left, Madame L. We don't need you here!" Nicole shouted at her
Miguel Chavez stepped forward and intervened in their conversation
"Ahem... excuse me for interrupting, but may I join in?" Miguel spoke calmly. "Could you please stop shouting at Madame L?" Miguel requested of Nicole
"But she is just..."
"I said, stop shouting at Madame L," Miguel repeated firmly. He looked at Nicole with a sharp, piercing gaze, and immediately Nicole felt a deep sense of fear
"Miguel, it’s alright. I can handle this," Madame L said reassuringly
"Who exactly are you, Madame L?" Nicole asked, seething with anger
"Me? I am merely an investor," Madame L answered
"Why does she look so much like Samantha?" Nicole wondered to herself
"Well... if you are not interested in my offer, I suppose I will just leave then," Madame L said
And just like that, Madame L turned as if to go
"Wait a moment, Madame L... could we please talk about this a little bit more first?" Francis called out to stop her
"What is it?" Madame L asked
"I apologize for her behavior. She simply doesn't know how to control her temper," Francis said, glancing sharply at Nicole
"You know Madame L... I have decided to agree to your terms and..."
"Good. Well, for now, I will hand over the one billion pesos, along with the contract," Madame L said directly. She took out the document and handed it to Francis
"What is this? Wait just a minute..." Francis said, looking at it closely
"You can sign the contract now. After all, you’ve agreed to the deal, haven't you?" Madame L stated
"Can I read it through first?" Francis asked
"According to the agreement, once I pay the one billion pesos, this company will automatically belong to me," Madame L explained, wearing a smug and irritating smile
"What?" Francis frowned in confusion
"Madame L, wait just a second... do you even realize what you are saying? This is my company!" Francis exclaimed
"From what I know, you are not the owner of this company. Rumor has it that your wife is the rightful owner... isn't that correct?" Madame L said casually
"Who exactly are you?" Francis demanded
But Madame L just smiled and looked back at Francis with a sharp, intense stare
"I told you already, I am just an investor," Madame L replied
"No, I will not sign this contract," Francis declared
"Yes, you will. Because... my true intention is to drive you parasites away from this company!" Madame L said, her voice rising in anger
"You have no right to kick me out of my own company!" Francis defended himself
"Your company that is already on the verge of collapsing?" Madame L emphasized her words
"Who told you that our company is losing money?" Francis asked angrily
"Why don't you ask your brilliant secretary about it?" Madame L suggested
"What does she mean by that, Nicole?" Francis turned to her
"Francis..."
"She keeps saying over and over again that the company is going bankrupt!"
"How should I know what she is talking about!" Nicole yelled
"Oh come on Nicole, you are the one holding all the data. Every single record of the company is in your hands, isn't it? After all, aren't you the one who acts as if you are Francis's wife?" Madame L countered
"Shut up! Why don't you just leave already!" Nicole shouted back at Madame L
"All the company data is in your hands, every record is kept by you... honestly, I really cannot understand why Mr. Malvar trusts you so completely. Perhaps there is something going on between the two of you?" Madame L teased her further
"Did she say something is going on between them?"
"Isn't Nicole not really Mr. Malvar's wife?"
Whispers began to spread among the people listening nearby
"Well Nicole? Why can't you answer me?" Francis asked her
"Francis, it's just that..." Nicole couldn't seem to find the right words to say
Suddenly, Nicole’s cellphone started ringing. It rang five times in a row
"Why don't you answer the call, Nicole?" Madame L asked. "It might be something important?"
"No... it's nothing really..." Nicole denied
"Nothing?" Madame L repeated
"Stop beating around the bush and just tell Mr. Malvar where the records of the whole company are kept so we can finish this once and for all," Rico Chavez suggested
"The truth is... so far, the company records are perfectly fine," Nicole tried to reason out. "Right Amara? Even if you ask Amara, she will tell you that the company is doing well," Nicole added
"I really admire how you lie so effortlessly, Nicole. Are you really incapable of hiding the truth?" Madame L said
"What is that supposed to mean?" Nicole asked
"Tsk... I wonder where Mr. Malvar's real wife is? She is the one we truly want to speak to," Madame L said, speaking as if thinking aloud
"I told you already, I am his wife..."
"Shut up!"
A loud, heavy slap landed hard on Nicole’s face, coming straight from Madame L.
"You have been saying that nonsense from the very start and I am sick and tired of hearing it!"
"What on earth! Why did you just slap her?" Francis asked, stepping in to defend Nicole and holding her close
"To be honest, that was not even enough punishment. Not enough at all!" Madame L snapped back
"Have you gone crazy?" Nicole screamed. "Francis, she slapped me!" Nicole clung tightly to Francis for support as he comforted her
"Madame L, why did you do that to Nicole? You have no right to hurt her!" Francis shouted angrily
"Is that so? And what if I do have the right to hurt her?" Madame L replied firmly
"What do you mean by that?" Francis asked
"Have you still not realized the truth, Mr. Malvar? Or are you simply just stupid!" Madame L said, her voice filled with rage
"I don't understand what you are trying to say, Madame L..."
"You are blind to the truth, Francis..." Madame L spoke, sounding almost on the verge of tears from pure frustration
"Don't you realize that she is nothing but a demon!" Madame L shouted
"I am not a demon! Just admit it, you are just jealous of me!" Nicole insisted, still trying to fight back
"Nicole, please calm down," Francis tried to soothe her
"Whatever Madame L means, it is nothing important," Francis said
"Nothing important? Don't you know that she is the one who killed your wife!" Madame L screamed at the top of her lungs