CHAPTER 2

TRISTAN's POV:

"Boss, some businesspeople want to talk to you... They need your help," one of my men told me while I was sitting and drinking with Aeron, my best friend.

Aeron and I are both Mafia leaders who used to head different groups in other parts of the Philippines. But when he heard how formidable I was, he approached me about joining forces. And with us coming together, we finally decided to form one group to strengthen our power even more.

We're both still leaders. But my position is just a bit higher than Aeron's. People who want someone taken care of still come to me. I operate cleanly, and I make sure there are no loose ends in my work.

Of course, I'm just Tristan, the Mafia leader everyone fears, and the police have never managed to catch me. I'm wanted all over the Philippines, but no matter how many millions they put on my head, even billions, they won't be able to catch me. In their pursuit, they're the ones who lose their lives.

"Which businesspeople are they? If the payout is small, don't even let them see me, because you know my answer," I told my man. I took a swig of alcohol and even lit my cigarette.

Aeron laughed at what I said.

"You're something else, Tristan. You turn down small-time businesspeople... How much money do you want?" he asked.

"As it should be... Because I'm not some small-fry to grant their requests for mere change. I want millions," I replied directly to the young man.

"That's the right decision. But it's even better if you pair the millions with women; it feels better, right? You can even get off," Aeron joked, his mind immediately going to women.

This guy is always so starved for women. How else could he be juggling different women? Tasting a new one every day. He probably can't live without women.

"You really haven't changed. Are you still not tired of women? They all have the same 'pearls,' right?"

"They're the same, but they don't all smell the same," he said, which made me laugh too.

When it comes to dirty talk, Aeron always wins.

"Why? What do the women you've slept with smell like?" I asked curiously.

It wasn't even on my mind to ask this, but what he said made me want to know what women really smell like. I don't have any experience with sex yet. But many women have kissed me. I can't blame them because I have everything they want in a man. However, I'm not into tasting just any woman. I'd prefer to taste just one so I don't get sick.

"Tristan, women smell different... Some are fragrant, some are sour. Because some women don't take care of their 'pearls'... That's why I prefer to sleep with a woman when she's just showered. I don't like bad smells; it's a turn-off and disgusting," he said.

I just shook my head at Aeron's extensive knowledge of women. He'd probably memorized the smells of every woman he'd slept with.

We only stopped talking when my man spoke again; he'd apparently been waiting for my answer about whether I'd agree to meet the businesspeople who approached him.

"Boss, they're waiting for your answer. What's your decision? They're offering a large sum because they want to eliminate the daughter of the businessman who's competing with them," Ronald said.

I took another swig of alcohol before deciding.

"Alright... Send the businesspeople who want to talk to me in here. If they give the high amount of money I'm asking for, we'll take care of the businessman's daughter you're talking about," I replied.

Ronald immediately left my presence and followed my order.

If it's just about eliminating people, my men can do it even without me. I trust them to do it cleanly because when it comes to killing, they don't back down. Their souls are also chosen, just like mine.

"Whose businessman's daughter do they want killed, I wonder? If it's a woman, don't kill her, Tristan... Just give her to me, especially if she's beautiful and sexy. I'll just use her to get off," Aeron said.

"Work is different from your personal desires, Aeron. We might get into trouble if you just use the woman they want eliminated for pleasure and she escapes your grasp... Besides, we're not even sure if the businessman's child they want us to erase from the world is even a woman," I lectured my friend.

I just took a drag from my cigarette while waiting for the businesspeople who wanted to talk to me to arrive. They didn't make a mistake coming to me.

After a few minutes, three wealthy men entered the room where Aeron and I were drinking. Aeron isn't used to killings. All he knows is kidnapping women and selling them to foreigners. But before they put them on a ship, they "baptize" the women to see if they're good at pleasing men.

"Boss, these are Mr. Chou, Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Jack. They're the businessmen who clashed with Mr. Javier. They're asking for your help to eliminate Mr. Javier's daughter so they can get revenge," Ronald said, introducing the three businessmen who were a bit plump but clearly looked wealthy.

People who don't want to be outdone really get into dirty dealings. Like these three, who decided the only thing to do was kill the innocent child of the businessman they resent.

"Have a seat... I want to know how much is on Mr. Javier's daughter's head... Can I see her photo so we can get this done quickly tomorrow?" I began.

"There's ten million on her head, Tristan. If you do it cleanly, we'll double the ten million," Mr. Chou said.

"The one we want eliminated is Mr. Javier's only daughter. She's his only child and the heir to Javier's businesses. So we know that businessman will have a hard time recovering if he loses his daughter," Mr. Jack explained why they wanted to eliminate the woman.

Mr. Ryan then handed me the photo of the woman they wanted eliminated, which Aeron immediately snatched from my hand.

"Damn it, Tristan, she's so beautiful! She'd be great to impale. It'd be a waste to just kill her," Aeron said, actually cursing at the woman's picture.

I took it back from his hand to look at the woman too. I raised an eyebrow. And then I thought to myself that the young woman was indeed beautiful. However, my job is to kill and eliminate people. A lot of money is on her head, so it's only right that I choose the money over keeping her alive.

"Stop your obsession with women, Aeron. If you want a woman to sleep with, go find one at a club. Don't meddle with this," I told my best friend so he wouldn't annoy me anymore.

I don't want my work strategy ruined just because Aeron is a womanizer. I can't grant his request because it's not in my nature to give a second chance at life to someone I've been hired to eliminate.

"Alright, Mr. Chou, you can rest assured that this young woman will be eliminated tomorrow. Just prepare the money you're giving. I don't like empty promises. You probably know me when I get angry, right? I might just include you with this woman," I told them, so they'd be scared and wouldn't think of breaking the trust I'd given them.

A deal is a deal. So no one can trick me.

"Don't worry, Tristan, we stick to our agreements... Tomorrow, we'll give you the ten million we agreed on. And if you do the killing cleanly, we'll send another ten million after," he declared, which made me smirk.

I immediately extended my hand to shake theirs, a sign that we had just agreed on a deal.

"Thanks for the trust. But may I know this woman's name and where they live so we can act faster?" I asked, still holding the photo.

"She's Ms. Annie. She just returned to the Philippines early this morning. We understand that Mr. Javier keeps her away because many have attempted to kidnap their daughter. So we're sure she might return abroad tomorrow or the day after," Mr. Ryan said.

I now had information and an idea of how to instruct my men to abduct the woman. Her bad luck, being the daughter of a businessman who clashed with the three old men in front of me now, who paid a large sum just to end her life.

After they left, I called a meeting for the five people I chose to command. This task I'm having them do is simple. An innocent woman who is defenseless is what they will kidnap and kill.

"Find that woman. She is your target, the one you must kill. Your work must be clean, with no loose ends... Mr. Chou said she just returned to the Philippines, so go to their mansion and don't take your eyes off that young woman. Follow her wherever she goes. She must not leave the country without you eliminating that person. Do you understand me?" I told my five armed men.

They nodded, symbolizing that they knew what to do.

When they left, Aeron whispered to me.

"Why don't you finish the woman yourself, Tristan? If you leave it to your men, I'm sure they'll mess with that woman and just use her for pleasure. You'd practically be giving them enjoyment," he said, trying to change my decision.

"They won't do that, Aeron. I know my men. They'll only follow what I order them to do... Unlike your men, who are too starved for women," I replied.

"Of course, who else would they inherit it from? Only me, right?" he said with a grin, referring to himself.

At least he's very true to himself. He knows exactly what kind of personality he has. That's what strengthens our bond as friends.

Do you have any further questions about Tristan's character or his organization?