The Larcenist Queen

Chapter 2: Plan

Narating namin ang table namin nang nakamasid sa bawat detalye ng lugar. Ani Eleanor ay mayroong CCTV sa chandelier mismo at sa bawat corner ng room. I don't think dito gaganapin ang mismong auction. There are three floors. I'm pretty sure sa second floor iyon.

Binuklat ko ang menu. Sobrang mamahal ng pagkain dito. But I don't care about the cost. I can afford it. I settled with the buttered lobster, and pink salmon.

"You'll pay?" taas-kilay na tanong ni Wine. Unlike Eleanor, who's a bit jolly, Wine's the serious type. And also, he's a jerk.

"Of course," sabi ko na lamang. Nang umalis ang waiter ay tumayo ako, sumunod naman si Eleanor.

"We'll look around. Stay here, Wine. Then mamaya, i-scan mo gamit iyang device ang kabuuan ng resto," I told him. He didn't say a word, but he nodded. Eleanor and I acted normal while roaming around the place. Ilang beses na naming ginawa ito. We're good.

Later on, we parted ways. She needs to go through the security area. Hula niya ay nasa third floor iyon. She can do her job uncaught kaya hinayaan ko na lang siya. I'm confident she wouldn't fail. I won't trust her on this if she isn't good anyway.

Pagdating sa second floor ay mas elegante ang lugar. There was a huge stage at one corner. I'm sure the auction will be held here dahil mukhang ito ang event's area.

May malaking chandelier ulit sa gitna ng ceiling, katapat ng mga tables. I presume there'll be an event tonight dahil busy ang mga staff sa pag-aayos dito.

Kung ganito rin ang magiging ayos sa auction ay medyo mahihirapan ako. If I'll try to steal the necklace during the event, malaki ang tiyansang mahuli ako. So I'll do the usual. I'll sneak and steal the necklace before even the event starts. I just have to know where it'll be located.

"Uhmm, miss, sorry, but this is a private section. Sa baba po ang public dining area," said one of the staff.

I smiled sweetly at her. "I'm sorry I was looking for my friend kasi."

I scanned the place once more before turning around. Sakto namang may natamaan akong isang matigas na pader. Or should I say, a man's chest.

I lifted my gaze and saw none other than, Axis Jeo Croix. He was wearing a business suit at mukhang may ka-meeting ito dahil may kasama siyang lima pang lalaking naka-business attire rin.

"Oops," I murmured, grinning before walking pass him. Hindi naman niya ako pinigil dahil wala rin namang dahilan para mag-usap kami.

Hinintay ko si Eleanor sa dulo ng hagdan. Hindi naman siya nagtagal at bumaba rin. She raised her thumb. "I can manage to disable the security cameras. Perfect timing lang kasi para makapasok sa security room nila, kailangan ng fingerprint ng authorized staff."

"So?"

"I need to go through the staff's files pati 'yong sched nila. It's pretty basic. How 'bout you? Nakagawa ka na ng final plan?"

I grinned and crossed my arms. "I'll tell you when it's done."

Bumalik na kami sa table namin. Wine was waiting there impatiently dahil dumating na ang aming order. When we got into our seats, I told him to do his task. He did what he was told.

Eleanor and I decided to start eating without him dahil baka magsuspetya ang ilan. While eating, hinibla kong mabuti ang aking plano.

I will steal the necklace before the event starts. Then I'll replace it with a perfect replica to fool the Croix. Rylan can make a perfect duplicate of the necklace. I just have to tell him the details, and he could do it in a snap.

I'll tell Axis to meet up at some random place so I could give him the fake necklace in exchange for the photos in his hands. Let's just hope he won't get too suspicious so that I could escape his wrath. But of course, an unexpected thing might happen, so I need to put my guards up.

"I'll send you what I got later," Wine said, slumping on his seat. Hindi man lang ito pinagpawisan sa ginawa.

"So, mind telling me who's the hot guy staring at you right now?" Eleanor grinned. Dinungaw ko kung sino ang tinutukoy niya. I wasn't stunned to see Axis' stern look.

His facial features really have similarities with someone I know. If only he'd be less uptight, mapagkakamalan ko silang magkapatid. Which is quite impossible since that guy is very righteous habang itong si Axis naman ay kabilang sa isang ilegal na organisasyon. They might have a resemblance, but they're entirely different. Isa pa'y walang kapatid si...

I stopped myself. Why am I even thinking about him?

Kumaway ako kay Axis at ngumisi bago binaling ang tingin ko kay Eleanor, "That's Axis."

"Oh. He's the CEO of their company?" Medyo tumabang ang kanyang boses.

I nodded.

"He's young..." aniya saka palihim na sinulyapan si Axis.

Bumaling muli ako kay Wine. "I need something from you."

"Again?" he scoffed.

I raised my eyebrow and continued, "I'll give you his phone number. There's a big possibility na nasa kanya lang ang mga pictures. So, I need you to trace his location now and then. If you're able to do that, inform me right away."

Wine, still having his blank expression, nodded.

"Thanks, Winey," I cooed and turned my gaze to see Axis still looking at me. I grinned and flipped my hair before mouthing a tiger growl. You know, the things flirt does when they try to get a man's attention.e

Kumunot ang noo niya sa ginawa ko at umirap. Natawa ako sa sariling kalokohan bago ibaling ang atensyon sa pagkain.