Chapter 7"School is such a bitch, I'm telling you." Clarissa pouts as she squints at her books.Ever since she stepped through the doors of Harry's cargo, she's been this way. Tense and bitch-mouthed. I'd offer to help her with her calculations but this girl is pretty much like me. Stubborn."I'd offer to help, but you'd just turn me down, so. . ." I shrug. From the corner of my eyes, I see her head turn towards me, so fast, I think she'll have a crick in it later."Would you really. . . help me?" She whimpers. I take back my words. It must be pretty bad if she needs my help. That means only one thing- something else has her upset, blocking out her lack of concentration."Yeah, sure." I shrug once again, already moving towards her.I pick up the huge binder in front of her and check out what has her so frazzled. My eyes widen as I take in the figures before me. Calculus has never looked so complicated than
Chapter 8When we get to the canteen, it's packed full with other workers. The canteen is a moderate-sized room with tables scattered around. I search for an empty table while Clarissa goes to take our order. There's no unoccupied one except at the back and it has two females I recognize, already sitting at it.One of the cashiers and the HR officer, both females. One of the things I like about Harry's cargo is it's an all-female company, there are no males working here. I make my way over to them and slide into one of the seats, sending hi's their way. They chorus their greeting in between mouthfuls of food. Not long after, Clarissa comes back with our orders. A sandwich and a soda for me, and a lame-looking burger with chips on the side and a soda for her.I lean close to her and whisper. "At least you got a burger."She rolls her eyes at me and sticks out her tongue. I'm going to cut it off one of these da
Chapter 9"Hey, slow down, kitten, what's the rush?" He turns me round to meet his gaze.Kitten? Is this man bipolar?He see's the confusion in my eyes and that damn smirk appears on his lips once again."I didn't want to call you that in the presence of your boss. Respect and all that jazz."I nod, not understanding what he means, and continue to walk, but this man wants to chat while all I want to do is give him the damn price list and stay far away from him."So. . . did you see your sister?" His question sounds innocent enough. There's no mockery to it, unlike the last time we met.I don't stop walking, I only reply. "Yes, she came home that same night.""That's good."Anger wells up inside me and I turn round, almost running smack into him. "That's good?" I stare at him as if he just sprouted a second head. "There's nothing good about my sister getting missing and popping up whenever she likes."His b
Chapter 10Anger surges through me, hot and fast. I'm back to holding the table. If not, I might lunge at him, claw his eyes out. That would probably get me sacked though, and a harassment lawsuit as well. Instead, I try to be dignified about it. "How-""Dare me?" That what you were going to say,?" The smirk has returned on his face as he backs away from me. "I dare because I can."This cannot be happening to me right now. "I'm not for-""Sale?" He lifts a brow as he comes close to me once more. "Come, now, kitten, everyone's got a price, and that includes you. Name yours. Any amount, and it's yours." He shrugs. I'm trying. I'm really trying to keep my anger at bay but it doesn't seem to be working. Curse words dance on the tip of my tongue, waiting to be unleashed, words I've heard Clarissa use many times as well as from passerby's. "You're insane." I finally choke out."He shakes his head, that damn smirk si
Chapter 11"The Asian drug syndicate?"I cock my head as I look up from the list in my hand."The Chinese drug syndicate precisely." Lobos says.He has a list in his hand, one that's similar to the one in mine, as well as the rest of the other six."Ash, I think we've already crossed off the rest. You burnt the bridge with the Mexican drug lord some years ago." Night eyes says with a grimace."Yeah!" Koldis echoes. "And we all know the Canmora - the Italian drug syndicate- is a no-go, especially after leaving Don Cleto's daughter at the alter."I grimace, remembering the past. I was a rebellious kid, well into my twenties. Actually, they were the most rebellious times of my life. I force myself to focus on what Moro is saying."Oh, yeah, and let's not also forget Europe, Argentina, Australia. . . man, Argentina, you painted that town white, and then bathed it in red." Moro shakes his head as a faraway look enters
Chapter 12They all turn wide eyes to me, including Rip, so I shrug, affecting an air of indifference. "What? It wasn't my fault she was easy.""You savage mother fucker!" It happens within the blink of an eye. Rip vaults up and tries to knock me out, but I throw the contents of my glass in his face. As he yelps, I punch him in the gut and he doubles up. I hold onto him and he mumbles in a pain-filled voice only I can hear. "You really are a motherfucker.""And you're playing along." I whisper back as I pat his back. Out aloud, I say. "Now you be a good boy and remember no pussy is worth coming in between two men."I pat his shoulder once more and watch as he hobbles off, mumbling obscenities."Well, damn, I missed out on all that fun." Capo says. He's the only one who I never had history with. I hired him a few years back but he's proved his loyalty to me time and time again.I shrug and pour some more g
Chapter 13It's been two weeks and three days since I made a promise.The promise.That wretched promise.The promise that would see me sell my body to Ash Thunder so he could do business with Harry's cargo. Do business he had. Not one day has passed that hasn't seen him sending goods. Heavy goods that put every other goods that have ever passed through Harry's cargo to shame.So he was true to his word. He has sealed his own part of the bargain. The bargain I created in the first place. Unfortunately, I'm having cold feet. Try as much as I need to, I just can't wrap my head around the fact that I would need to sleep with a man I don't have feelings for. A man who's not my boyfriend. Not just that, I can't stand Ash Thunder specifically. He's so cocky, so annoying, so rude and so. . . hot.Yes, he's definitely hot. Only a fool would say otherwise. It's in that devil may care smile of his. It's also in the way
Chapter 14Raven.A real high class bar and restaurant. They also have a live band that plays classical music every Friday. I know this because it was recently on entertainment news on TV. The downside is that it takes ages to get a table here, not unless you know someone that knows someone that knows-"Come on, Alicia, let's go." Leonard's voice drags me away from my thoughts.I look up just in time to see Clarissa and Tommy disappearing inside the building. She's definitely going to get an earful from me later, leaving me in the hands of a total stranger. I huff as I come out from the car and watch as Leonard hands the keys to the valet.It should have taken us almost thirty minutes, or we should have even been turned back. I certainly expected it. What I don't expect is for us to be immediately ushered to a table, smack in the middle of the already-filled restaurant. This guy called Leonard, definitely