Another woman
Jenica returned to the Desmanas’ mansion and immediately looked for Bryce. She believed that she had cleaned the mess Lynet created for her. And it was a bonus that she got evidence against Bree from the information she copied from her phone.
She already checked the file containing Bree’s inbox history and surely, she got a handful of evidence against her. She just needs to give Bryce the evidence to finish her promise to the man.
“What is it?” Bryce asked with a frown. He was reading something on the phone and he didn’t even look up at her.
Jenica put her phone on the table and looked seriously at the busy man. “I got evidence against the Mondragon. You can do your plans now.”
That’s when Bryce looked up, his eyes confused and in awe. “What?”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
…
Bree Mondragon was invited by the Prosecutor’s office. Bryce has presented the evidence against Bree to the court and has formally filed charges against the woman.
And while the Mafia Don of Laguna is holding the frontline, making sure that Bree doesn’t get help from the South, the court proceedings hasn’t reached the ears of Gray Mondragon yet.
It was too late when Gray found out that Bree was charged because the case was in the final hearing. He quickly sent a team to investigate what happened upon receiving the news.
“What is the meaning of this Mr. Desmana?” Gray said angrily and glanced at Joseph Antonete who was silent next to him, before turning his gaze back to Bryce standing in front of him. “I haven’t heard of this hearing until today!”
Jenica secretly sighed.
It turned out Mondragon was not the only one the Mafia Don was keeping an eye on. He was also keeping the Antonetes in check, blocking the news of Bree’s court trial, so both the Antonete and Mondragon failed to give Bree help on time.
A private hearing happened so Bryce had kept the information about the previous hearings in secret, and the Mafia Don had kept the Antonete branch family busy with their falling stock market so it’s not surprising that no one informed Grey Mondragon of the matter, especially when his spies in the Desmana Group was cleaned through.
“Bree Mondragon has done evil things to the company, Mr. Mondragon. I am also disheartened to know this,” Bryce said sadly, but his eyes revealed mirth.
Jenica’s lips twitched. If she didn’t know Bryce personally, she would really think what he was saying was true.
Grey sneered. “If you are truly sad, you should have informed me before submitting the evidence against my niece!”
“This can’t be,” Bryce said and looked at Grey. “The evidence is not only pointing to Bree as the one who instigated the crime, but also pointing to the whole Mondragon clan as the mastermind behind this.” Bryce sighed. “Mr. Mondragon, this matter might implicate your whole clan so please forgive my boldness to use the evidence against Bree as not to implicate your clan. In fact, it’s better to sacrifice one person than to drag the weak women and children in jail. ”
Gray was left speechless after Bryce’s analogy. Seeing that he made the man speechless, Bryce excused himself with a smile hanging on his lips. Jenica followed him.
Joseph, who was nearby, moved his wheelchair towards Gray who was standing stiffly. He cleared his throat. “Mr. Mondragon, this matter… is not as simple as you think,” said Joseph and looked around, making sure that no one was listening to them.
Gray looked down at Joseph sitting in the wheelchair. “Your family’s the true mastermind!” Gray exclaimed. “I just followed what your father instructed me to do but look what happened? You failed to inform me of this huge matter, Mr. Antonete!”
Joseph’s face darkened. “It’s not that I failed to relay this huge conspiracy, but I am not able to send a message to you these past few weeks.”
“What do you mean?” Grey asked and took a deep breath.
“Someone is helping that bastard behind the scenes. And it is someone we can’t afford to offend!” said Joseph, clenching his jaw in annoyance.
“Is it a government official?”
“No.” Joseph stared into Grey’s eyes. “This mysterious man’s influence exceeds that of a mere local government official. I believe this man has the whole Laguna in his hands.” Joseph cleared his throat. “In fact, the troubles my Antonete clan was facing these past few weeks, I think that mysterious man was behind all of it.”
Grey was silent. He kept his rage in check while seeing Bryce Desmana’s grinning widely while talking to his family members who attended the court hearing.
That bastard has the guts to smile at this time?
Grey shifted his gaze to Jane Lau who was standing next to Bryce and his feelings worsened. He remembered what that woman said a few weeks ago. Grey secretly took a peek down at Joseph Antonete who was silent beside him.
He had gathered information last month. Joseph mistreats his niece Irene and treats her like a servant.
Grey realized that this young handicap is stepping on his face when he mistreats his niece. But because his clan and the Antonete branch family decided to cooperate years ago, he turned a blind eye on this issue as long as the public don’t know what’s happening behind doors.
But this? Sending his other outstanding niece to prison?
It’s not just his face that the Desmanas are trampling on, but also the dignity and reputation of his clan. But what Grey hates the most is the hypocrite Antonete branch family.
Those hypocrites were the ones who wanted to deal with the Desmana, but they borrowed a knife from him to do it. And after his plans were foiled, they chose to remain silent and turned a blind eye?
Huh. Why did he agree to deal with Desmana when he had no grievances against this clan?
Gray clenched his fists and turned back his back on Joseph. “Mr. Antonete, today is the end of our cooperaton. My clan has nothing to do with your clan anymore. Tell your father not to expect anything from Mondragon again,” he said before marching out of the courtroom.
The cooperation between the Antonetes and the Mondragons was broken because of Bree Mondragon’s case. And it was something Jenica has been working on for the past weeks.
Jenica smiled and looked at Bryce, raising her wine glass for a toast. “Congratulations, Mr. Desmana. You’ve successfully snatched back the power in your hands.”
Bryce smiled broadly and raised the wine glass before gulping it down. He’s a little bit tipsy but still manages to stay clear-headed just to toast with Code X.
“Code X, you’ve done a good job.”
Jenica lowered the wineglass and looked at the man with a smile. “Now that you’ve mentioned it, let’s talk about the compensation.”
“What compensation?” Bryce asked. “I thought you didn’t want my money?”
“Did you forget what I’ve told you?” Jenica rolled her eyes. “I want your company’s help dealing with Antonete.”
Bryce smiled then laughed. “Dealing with Antonete? Do you know what you’re talking about, Code X?” He leaned forward and smiled foolishly at the woman sitting on the couch opposite him. “That clan has the support of its main branch in the capital. If you want to deal with them, this small company of mine is not enough to strike them down.”
Jenica chuckled at the man smiling at her. “Are you certain I can’t deal with that little Antonete branch?”
“Oh?” Bryce raised an eyebrow. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He was not drunk and he still knew what he was doing. He knew it’s unlike him to act brazen in front of Code X but the alcohol was making him do things he normally ‘won’t’ do. “What are your plans then?” he asked.
“It’s simple —”
Suddenly, the door of the VIP room opened and a woman in her early twenties walked in gracefully. She looked around inside and when her eyes stopped on Bryce, she grinned widely.
“Ice, long time no see!” she chirped happily with a smile and took big steps closer to where Bryce was sitting.
Bryce frowned hearing a familiar voice. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted with a beautiful face leaning close to him. He could smell the faint feminine scent and the woman’s warm breath was fanning his right ear.
For a moment, Bryce was in a daze.
Jenica raised her eyebrows while watching what was happening between the two. She reached for the wineglass and took a sip, swirling the contents inside while thinking. This woman’s familiar.
“Daisy?” Bryce said.
“Oh? You still remember me? Hmmp!” The woman stood straight and crossed her arms against her chest. “I heard you got a fiancee who cheated on you. Heh. That’s what you got for being impatient. You promised to wait for me but in the end, you’re the first one who broke the promise between us! What a bastard!”
Jenica curled the corner of her lips. Without Mondragon on the scene, Bryce now held all the power in Desmana Group. He was no pushover nor weaker than the Patriarch of the small Antonete branch, but this woman has the guts to cuss Bryce Desmana? Interesting.
Jenica looked away and was about to take another sip of the wine when a memory strucked her speechless. A glint flashed across her eyes as she pressed her lips together.
No wonder, she found this woman familiar. This woman was Agent D, a low ranking agent of HQ.
But what’s this woman doing in Laguna? The last time she checked, Agent D was one of Agent Z’s recent sidekicks for his mission. Unless, Agent Z’s planning to visit Laguna?
Jenica slammed her hand on the table. Damn it!
That arrogant bastard who dared to snatch her side mission is messing with her again?!