14 The Poison (1/2)
We walk into a high-class bar called ”The Cosmopolis”. Suddenly, I feel all out of place. This is not the place that I would usually step in. Sure, I could see Eloisa and Emma lounging with a couple of cocktails while flirting with some men, but I could not see myself doing that. Mateo said that this is his usual stomping ground.
This bar is not visible in name and it requires a secret password to get in. It's a secret VIP bar for the elite. He brought me in as his companion. The bar is beneath a bungalow home. As we go inside the home, a bouncer first asks for Mateo's name and the password. I was made to be far from him as he does his business since I am not to know the workings of this bar. When all was done, the bouncer granted us permission to enter and before me, I saw the most luxurious bar I had ever seen.
”Aren't you a disgraced Macedo?” I say as I remind myself that he would have no permission here as the disgraced heir.
”I am not entirely disgraced,” he says. ”I could get everything back once I have secured a formal forgiveness letter from Emma. I doubt that will happen anytime soon, but I already like my life as it is. I am both a member of the elite and the working class. It's fun to get the best of both worlds. Don't you feel the same, Rosanna?”
”I do not get the best of both worlds,” I say flatly.
”Sure you do,” he says. ”You already have. You just don't know it.”
”Let's just find the woman and get this thing over with,” I say. ”I want her behind bars as soon as possible.”
”No,” he says. ”It's not going to be easy. She can bribe her way out.”
”Well, use your name as a Macedo and get her behind bars,” I suggest instantly. ”An elite versus an elite is the way we can do.”
”Slowly, now,” he says. ”Things take time. For now, relax. If you truly want to ask someone, I'll go get my good friend, the bartender.”
We approach the serving area and I can see the bartender performing some tricks as he prepares a cocktail to be served. Then, the bartender sees Mateo and he is instantly glad to see his friend.
”Well, if it isn't the old MJM,” the bartender says as he leans in to talk to Mateo.
”What's up, Kyle?” Mateo greets back at him in the same flamboyant nature.
”Doing well, Matt,” he says. ”Doing well. So, who is this lady?”
”Oh, this is my new girlfriend, Rosanna,” he says casually.
”I am not your girlfriend!” I say in complete denial of the lie he made.
How could he dare announce that I am his girlfriend? He can be my friend or partner, but he will not be my lover. Love is of no use to me. If I have to love, there must be an advantage for me about it.
”Oh, sure you aren't!” Kyle says sarcastically. He turns to Mateo. ”How's the journalism thing going?”
”Oh, it's been great,” Mateo says positively. ”You know, if I hadn't applied at Lucia City Times, I would have never met the love of my life.”
”We have known before, Mateo,” I say, reminding that I met him years ago as a lover of my friend.
”Oh, come on, miss,” Kyle says in a carefree manner. ”Don't you like a boyfriend who is proud of you?”
”I certainly don't want to be his girlfriend, that's for sure,” I say spitefully.
”Ah, the old cat-dog relationship. I love it!” he exclaims in delight. ”So, what can I get you lovely couple?”
It seems that his ego has not changed. He still wants a woman to be called ”his girlfriend” in order to boost his status that he is still that same eligible bachelor before he was disgraced. I do not tolerate this lie. We are here to investigate and find the woman. That way, we can have a picture of her to publish and to give to the police.
Mateo asks for a shot and a cocktail for me. As we watch Kyle make the drinks, I begin to look around for suspicious women. There's this seductive lady wearing a black dress. I might think that she is the leader of the mafia, but I see that she is nothing but a seductress. Next is a lady with another woman beside her, but I can see that they are merely sisters that came for a drink and discussed business matters. I am truly running out of people to suspect. Anyone could be the one.
”Still can't find her?” Mateo says as he notices that I stare in blankness.
”We need to find her,” I say simply. ”That woman is essential. Once we find the root, we can scorch the tree.”
”What comes next when we find her?” he says. ”Are you going to file a charge? Publish an article against her? I'm saying this to you right now, it won't work for now. The lawyer already told us to stay away from investigations and let it cool for now. Once we are at peace, we can begin and garner support.”
”Yes, but to garner support, we need to know who her enemies are so we can get them on our side,” I say.
”I am telling you this, Rosanna, you should have waited a little while and disregarded the call,” he says in disappointment.
”This is the chance to find evidence,” I say simply. ”Maybe we can record her voice and words and make it as an evidence.”