The plan.

HARRY

Our destination was an extremely luxurious skyscraper, one of the futuristic kind. Futuristic in the sense that there were no doors on the ground floor. Infact, it was inaccessible from the outside.

We were here to see George Grail.

Numerous elevators were stationed around the perimeter of the building, leading up to even the highest floor. The entrances to the building were only accessible through the elevators, making it nigh impossible for an intruder to get out, but with good defense also helps the intruder keep others out.

Kate stared at the highest floor with a somewhat distant expression, an almost reluctant expression.

After a while, she let out a sigh.

"I guess I don't exactly have a choice."

Looking at me, she gestured with her head.

"Let's go."

She made her way to a secluded area that seems to be restricted from public use. The sign in front of it does say; "Restricted Area. Keep Out!"

I slowed down as we approached it.

"That place seems to be restricted."

She didn't stop as she replied.

"What? Are you scared?"

"Not exactly, scared," I replied. "Just being smart. We can't complain if we get riddled with bullets once we are in range. They did warn us."

She chuckled.

"I would like to see them dare."

I shook my head.

"Well, I won't. I don't know about you, but I'm not bulletproof."

"Oh, come on," she dragged me along with her. "No one is gonna be shooting at us and you should know by now that I wouldn't be coming here if I wasn't sure I wasn't sure of getting through."

"Fine," I sighed as I followed her.

"You're such a stressful employee," she remarked as she reached the door.

A scanner which I imagine was metal detector scanned her and she came clean. The same was done to me and the detector flashed red since I had two guns tucked in my belt.

"So....., are the turrets coming out now?" I asked calmly.

"Calm down," she sighed. "They already expect a bodyguard to have guns. This is a mere formality."

The door slid open, revealing a well lit interior and the sheer thickness of it. The door was so thick that I imagine a tank would have problems running through it in one go.

"What exactly are they protecting in here?" I asked rhetorically with sheer amazement.

"You're better off not knowing," she replied, peaking my interest even though I acted like I wasn't.

"Not sure I want to find out either," I replied as I walked in with her. "I'd rather just live as the lowly bodyguard that I am."

"Good choice," she smiled as we approached a receptionist desk behind which a beautiful lady sat with practiced grace. She gave us the rehearsed smile as we approached, flashing her pearly white teeth.

"Good day, ma'am and sir," she greeted. "What can I do for you?"

"Tell a white lie," Kate replied, confusing me.

The lady however didn't seem confused like I was. Instead, she glanced at me and then turned to Kate with a smile.

"Is he going along with you?"

Kate nodded.

"He's my bodyguard."

"Noted," she replied and pressed a button on top of her desk. She then gave us one last smile as she gestured with her hand. "Go to the far left and wait patiently, ma'am and sir."

Kate immediately walked towards the designated area while I followed after her in bewilderment.

"What was that?"

She looked at me and smirked.

"What happened to living as the lowly bodyguard that you are?"

"Well, that is a curious exchange, don't you think?" I replied.

"Nope," she shrugged. "I don't feel curious about it."

"Of course, you don't," I replied. "I'm speaking from my point of view."

"Harry," she called with a serious tone. "Curiosity killed the cat, and cats are not the only things that curiousity has killed."

"Noted," I replied calmly, choosing not to probe.

As we approached the point where an area marked X was situated, the ground immediately gave way to an elevator rose to the surface.

I was dumfounded for the second time today.

"What the hell is this place....?"

She didn't reply and simply walked into the elevator while I followed.

The elevator was see-through and that gave me another surprising shock as the elevator..... didn't elevate, or descend.

Instead, it moved horizontal until it was close to the wall. A different compartment opened up once it was in close proximity to the wall and closed up immediately after, covering the see-through glass and the elevator finally moved upwards like a normal elevator.

"You sure have some curious connections," I commented as the elevator too us to our destination. "So where are we going?"

"The top floor," she replied nonchalantly. "These elevators only go to the top five floors and back. We are going to the topmost floor."

"Wow," I remarked as I laid back on the wall. "I guess I had better make myself comfortable. This is gonna take a while. This place has at least two hundred floors."

"Two hundred and fifty," she corrected. "But you have no time to relax. We'll be there right about now."

True to her words, the elevator stopped and dinged as the door opened and we were once again moved horizontally until the see-through glass opened and let us out.

I had already lost the ability to be dumbfounded so I did bother voicing it, but I couldn't help but wonder.

'How does an elevator cover a distance of two hundred and fifty floors within the period of two minutes?'

Our new surroundings were the same as the last, brightly lit with an insanely beautiful lady seated at the reception desk.

She flashed her beautiful smile at us and greeted calmly.

"Welcome to Rigged, how many I help you?"

Kate rolled her eyes at the reception.

"Stop the act and take me to your office, Yelena. I can't imagine why on Earth you love roleplaying as a receptionist.

The gorgeous lady, Yelena pouted at her.

"That's not nice, Kate. The least you could do is indulge me."

"Well, I am not going to," Kate retorted while I stood there in awe of the beauty in front of me.

She glanced at me and noticed the way I stared at her before I could look away.

"It's okay. You can look. I know I'm beautiful."

Her eyes then travelled back to Kate.

"Even though, little Miss Mean here doesn't seem to appreciate it as much as she should."

"I'm here on urgent business, Yelena," Kate replied with a bit of agitation in her voice.

"Is it about the coming invasion and possibly annihilation of your cartel? I mean after your visit to Aldenburg of course."

Kate glared at her for a few seconds before asking with a voice dripping with venom.

"Where did you hear that?"

Yelena shrugged with a calm smile, totally unperturbed by Kate's anger.

"A magician never reveals his secrets, Kate. You know our business deals with the exchange and trade if information. We're quite well informed about your issues. Besides, it isn't exactly a secret. That's why I tell you to leave your mansion a lot more than you do."

Kate calmed down as she asked again.

"What do you mean by not a secret?"

She gave Kate a look of pity. The first person I've ever seen do so.

"Your suppliers spread the news. They are planning to use you to the last even in your death."

"I see," Kate said as a sadistic grin. "Well, that's good for me. Annihilating them will make my cartel's reputation will soar."