Chapter 2 – The Target

Nisha’s POV

The next day, I was in the airport with my luggage with mom saying farewell to me, along with Boone and Imr, who thought I was going on a one-year business trip. grandmother merely informed me where my target was residing, which was in New York, and that I needed to fly from the United States to New York. That's all she told me. She stated that everything will be discussed to me once I got to my destination.

"Mom, we'll miss you," Boone whispered, fighting back tears as she embraced me firmly.

"I will also miss you sweetheart, so in the meantime, follow what your grandma says okay?" I hugged her back tightly.” Don't cause any havoc while I'm away? " I answered, issuing commands for them to obey while I am not around.

"We will, mom," they both assured.

"Good, let me embrace you both again so I can have energy to finish my work and come home early," I said, and they both moved to hug me, and I held them strongly till I was contented.

After saying my final farewell, I boarded the plane and began planning my strategies to kill my target swiftly so that I may come home to my children as soon as possible. Just wait, whomever you are, I'll kill you in an instant and return home.

After hours of waiting in the plane, I eventually arrived in New York. After getting off the plane, I walked directly to the apartment that my mother claimed she had purchased for me; this is where I will live for one year, but I suddenly realized why one year? I mean, I can kill the target right now and go home the next day. It's strange, and I've had negative sentiments about it since grandmother informed me about it.

"Welcome, Ms. Damore," a 40-year-old man said as he stood in front of the door of the apartment where I'll be residing starting today, a grin on his lips.

I stare him in the eyes, mystified as to who the old man in front of me is. "May I know who you are?" " I questioned the elderly gentleman.

"Oh, please pardon Ms. Damore, I forgot to introduce myself," the old gentleman apologized and cleared his throat, "I am Mr. Cato Favian Xander Ms. Nach." The old man presented himself to me while also calling my deceased name. 

“How? " I probed again, startled that he was also aware of my deceased name.

"Don't worry, Ms. Damore, your grandmother, Madam Lylah Irita Damore, has told me about your deceased and current names," he said “But don't worry, I will never tell anyone about it because I made a promise your grandmother and grandfather that I will be loyal to them while also serving my loyalty as a payment for their kindness that they have shown to me," the old man made clear, trying to assure me that he would not tell anybody about my past.

I examine the elderly man's face to see if he is making things up or not, but I can tell he is not lying and is honest in his claims, so I chose to believe him.

"Did my grandmother tell you about my mission?" " I questioned the old guy about the assignment that Grandmother had assigned to me and how much he knew about it.

"Yes, Madam Damore has discussed the entire assignment you needed to do for the sake of your grandfather's dying request," the old man answered.

"So, whom shall I kill?" " I questioned the elderly guy directly, expecting he'd tell me.

"You'll learn about it tomorrow, Ms. Damore," the elderly guy said, without revealing who I should murder.

Why can't they just tell me who it was? that I can be prepared to confront that guy, this is gradually growing suspicious. I return my gaze to the old man who is still standing in front of me, smiling softly. Whatever it is, I simply need to get rid of it as soon as possible without knowing who is who.

"So, Mr. Xander, how should I address you?" " I asked him how I should call the elderly gentleman.

"You may refer to me as Mr. Cat for short Miss," he answered.

I nodded in response to his answer. "Okay, Mr. Cat, let's work together for a year or less, and great working at you," I remarked to Mr. Cat. "Let's give it our all," I added, extending my right hand in front of him.

"All right, Miss," Mr. Cat agreed, and offered his hand for a handshake to clinch the agreement.

After that, we went inside to our apartment, where I relaxed and began to prepare for the upcoming task. It's been a long time since I've been in action, so I should prepare properly to avoid failing the operation that was assigned to me, just as I failed my last assignment due to meaningless feelings before my old self decided to stop my profession by fabricating my death.

Now that I think about it, how was that guy at the moment? It's been 17 years since I've left, and I hope he's doing well with his wife- my heart tightens when I think about the woman he married while I was gone, but I can blame him because the way I left him all of a sudden will make that guy hate me and forget that I still exist...argh but I just shake my head and go back to preparing.

"This is not the time to think about that person," I reminded myself, returning my attention to the work at hand.

Yes, I can't deal with the past any more, since everything in the past must be erased permanently.

Dhruv’s Pov

"Ruv, you need a secretary," Lionel Oz Fawz stated to me.

I didn't glance up at him and continued reading the papers. "Why would I need a secretary?" I wondered. "I'm Perfectly all right without one," I replied solemnly.

I heard him sigh in front of me as he walked around my office, "I mean Dhruv Ugo Mace, is this how you call a billionaire's workplace?" " He was perplexed. " There was so much rubbish and grime everywhere!" He grumbled further, "This is why your staff merely place the paperwork you need outside the door," Lionel observed as he looked around my office.

"Whatever, why are you here if you're only going to whine about the cleanliness of the office?" " I remarked sharply to him “Just leave me alone," I grumbled, urging him to leave my office if he was only there to complain.

"How would your wife, Isolabella, respond if her husband's office resembled a garba-" 

"She's not my wife!" I exclaimed angrily at Lionel, staring him up and interrupting what he was saying. 

"What are you saying, Ruv? She's your wife!" " Lionel replied, shocked, and looked back at my face, as if I was insane to say it.

I paused what I was doing and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. "No, she is not my wife, and in the first place, we are not married," I said to Lionel. "I only have one wife, and her name is Ranie," I said softly.

“Nisha? But she's already died, so why are you still fixated on the lady who deceived and abandoned you, Ruv? " Lionel was concerned with me.

She didn't betray or abandon me; I know Ranie had a solid reason for leaving me that night, and I also know Nisha is alive, not dead. "She's alive," I declared confidently, still staring at the ceiling.

"Jesus Christ Ruv, wake up, she's dead, and that's the end of it! Why is your mind unable to accept that fact? " Lionel scolded me angrily.

"Because she is still alive," I continue to insist.

When Lionel came in front of me, he grabbed my shirt and forced me to face him, saying, "SHE IS DEAD DHRUV! " Lionel yelled at me, enraged, forcing me to realize the reality.

I could see how upset Lionel was, but I just kept my blank face as I gazed at him. "Whatever you say, I will believe that she is still alive," I responded firmly again.

"Why do you keep thinking she's alive, Ruv? Why can't you accept that lady is no longer alive, despite the fact that you already have a wife and kids? " Lionel questioned again, this time in a befuddled tone, as he explained things to me.

I chuckled at what he said about having children with the woman he said was my wife. "Seriously Lionel, do you believe that bitch lie? Because if that's the case, you're a dumbass," I mocked him.

"What do you mean they aren't your relatives, Ruv? Why deny your children and your wife? Is that how insane you've become as a result of the lady who abandoned you? " Lionel questioned once more, horrified at how insane I had become for the lady who had abandoned me.

I gave him a crazy smile and responded, "Because they're not my family to begin with.

Lionel pushed me back into my chair as he let go of my shirt and walked away from me, who messed up his hair in irritation. "God, I don't know if you're insane or a bastard who can't take responsibility, Ruv," he muttered.

"Why do you have hesitations about what you believed in?" " I wondered.

Lionel returned my gaze with uncertainties in his eyes, and I just grinned back, "Now you're confused? Poor you," I mocked him, realizing he was having doubts about what he had believed. "So, Lionel, who are you going to trust, your long-time buddy who you believe has gone nuts or a lady who is a bitch and already has past issues?" " I seriously asked him to pick between me and that b*tch.

"I think you should pick our beloved buddy Lof, and you are correct, he needs a secretary or just a maid to clean the mess on his office, this doesn't seem like a billionaire's office anymore," Shmue Izik Flammia said abruptly, causing both of us to glance where he was standing.

"Oh my God, Shmue, you too?" " Lionel exclaimed, stunned.

"Of course, I always stand with my client who promised me large money," Shmue said, making the money gesture with his fingers.

"Wait, you're investigating Nisha?! ' Lionel questioned again, shocked. 

"Yep, to be specific, we have been investigating Nisha's death and Nyx for the past 17 years," Shmue grinned as he informed to Lionel.

"Wait, what nyx is that the legendary assassin who murdered many people 17 years ago unexpectedly vanished-" Lionel didn't continue his statement as he grasped it.

"Exactly what piqued our interest, why they vanished / died at the same time, and yes, we too assume it's simply coincidence, but all the information of how Ranie died doesn't line up," Shmue continued as he went into detective mode. 

"What exactly do you mean?" " Lionel murmured, perplexed.

"They vanished / killed in the fire," Shmue said solemnly as he glanced at Lionel, whose eyes had widened in horror at what he had heard.

"Do you believe me now?" I questioned.

Both Ranie and Nyx perished in the same fire 17 years ago in different locations, and both bodies have been recognized, but what made me suspect is that both incidents are linked to the same case I was working on while I was still a cop.