“Good morning Miss Richards.” The receptionist greeted with a pretty smile as soon as Kristine stepped in.“Good morning dear.” Kristine replied, returning the smile. “How are we looking today?”“Beautiful ma'am. Uh the boss would like to see you.”“Right now?” Kristine asked.“Immediately. He said I should send you up immediately you arrive.” The receptionist replied.“Okay thanks.” Kristine replied and headed for the elevator.Kristine stepped out of the elevator and made for Martelli's office. It was the first time she was going to be on this floor and the place looked exactly as she imagined. Cozy but formal.She tried to imagine why she was summoned and after giving her brain a lot of work, she settled for an induction-like conversation. At least it was the most comfortable scenario. One was a query, maybe Alexander passed her demands up the ladder and they felt she asked too much. But she cancelled that quickly since it was normal to demand for a remodel.“Hello.” Kristine greet
Francisco sat on a little rock along the shore of the island. It was a routine. Sometimes he would fish at a pond not far off and sometimes he would just sit by the shore and enjoy the scenery. He often said it was therapy.Victor joined him and after a while began to toss some little rocks into the water.“There… that is the world in one illustration.” Francisco said.Victor observed him with a little frown. “Where?” He asked.“Here right now. By default, it’s supposed to be peaceful, just like it was before I came to sit. And then there are those who disrupt things for whatever purpose and in whatever way they want… You and I. Just like you threw the rocks into the water producing little ripples that travel for a little distance. That is how we disrupt the peace.” Francisco explained.“I see. “ Victor said as he hurled a larger piece of rock into the water, resulting in a splash and bigger ripples “That one right there, that would be me.” He smiled childishlyFrancisco smiled and inh
Camille sat at the dining attending to some work in her PC. She had just returned from a work trip, the reason Kristine had not gone to her for some time. Now she was making a report.“Are you going to tell me how great your trip was or you’re just going to sit there punching those keypads?” Kristine asked. She was stuck in the kitchen making dinner.The friends took turns whenever they were together and just before Camille left for her trip, she had her turn. Now it was Kristine’s.“It was just as normal as other times?” Camille replied, still attending to her work.“Just normal is not a thing. Moreover, other times had different experiences, so be specific.” Kristine demanded.“Would you be okay if I talk to you and end up forgetting I have a report to make?” Camille asked.“That won’t be bad.” Kristine joked.“Sorry babe I don’t plan on being jobless like you.” Camille responded.“Ouch...that hurt. And I thought I was a curator.”“Yeah you are. But not to me.” Camille replied. “I s
"Your chauffeur is here.” Camille informed Kristine who was putting some finishing touches to her make-up.“Don’t be ridiculous.” Kristine replied, “That is no chauffeur. It’s Alexander.”“Well, if he’s driving, he can as well be called a chauffeur.” Camille insisted."What if he's not the one behind the wheel?" Kristine asked."We could place a bet." Camille replied“I know what you’re trying to do and trust me it won’t work.” Kristine said as she rounded up with her make-up.The doorbell rang and the two women went over to the door.“Wish me good luck.” Kristine asked Camille who smiled while helping her work a corner of her dress.“You are good luck.” Camille responded, then proceeded to open the door.Immediately Alexander saw Camille, an icy feeling went up and down his spine. Camille on the other hand looked like a mother hen. Her eyes sent the message so that she did not need words.Kristine stood behind Camille, trying to understand if they were both in a staring contest or wha
It was almost noon on Sunday, and as the name implies, it was a sunny day. Kristine felt too lazy to do anything and Camille had already returned to her place earlier. There was not much to do anyway just some compulsory grocery shopping. Camille had helped her through the rest before she left.She summoned her strength to the bathroom. Once she was done showering, a new surge of energy flowed through her. She got dressed, picked up the list she had made and headed out.While at the shop, Kristine felt someone following her all through like she was being watched. She hurried through her list and once she had paid for her purchase, she hurried out of the shop towards her car at the parking lot.Kristine got into her car cautiously. She still had the feeling that she was being watched. Immediately she turned on the ignition, a man entered into the back seat. He wore a black hoodie and had a black scarf over his nose and mouth so that only his eyes were visible.Kristine froze and for a m
Alexander supervised as similar boxes to the ones he purchased with Kristine were loaded unto some MARRT trucks. The shipment was designated for Thursday due to the fact he didn’t know they would be all available by Tuesday. Keaton had told him he would bring them in batches but as luck was on their aide, he got them all at once.The loaders worked tirelessly to make sure they got everything in place ahead of the transport the next day. It was more stressful for a Monday than they had imagined.As the boxes were loaded, sculptures were loaded into the truck as well, quite carefully. All tagged for similar locations with the boxes.Kristine had accidentally stumbled upon the loading process, unnoticed while enroute Alexander’s office. She stayed hidden from view until she could get the necessary information and then returned to her office in haste.Once in her office, she texted Octavio, who requested she took pictures and sent to him. ‘Quite dangerous' she thought, but she headed back
A sanitary truck drove into the complex loading area, where the workers began loading black trash bags unto the truck.Few minutes later, the three target trucks hit the road. They got to an intersection where they all took different routes. Octavio had placed a lookout on the roof of a building few meters from the complex. Once the lookout saw the trucks leave, he informed the squads in order for them to be at alert.On seeing the trucks separate at the intersection, the squads went to work. Each trailing his target and as for the fourth squad, they stayed at alert waiting for anyone who ever needed an extra hand. They doubled as both a substitute and a clean up team. Apart from being an extra hand, they were ordered to make sure no one got caught. If any team got overpowered and exposed, the fourth team had to make sure they do not end up in cuffs.The first truck hit the highway and was going under the speed limit. The driver looked in his side mirror and noticed a police jeep trai
A man sat on a piece of rock, fishing in a stream. He had two containers close by, the bigger one held a few fishes he had caught and in the much smaller container was his baits. He was fastening a bait to his hook when Octavio walked up beside him.“At your age, I never had half the freedom you enjoy right now.” The man said, without taking off his concentration from the hook. “I was knee deep into the life before I knew my left from my right. You had a good dad, God rest his soul, and a fantastic uncle.”Octavio smiled, he wasn’t planning on saying anything.“We got what you sent to us…or should I say what your uncle sent to us.” The man cast his hook at a farther part of the stream. “Of course you won’t be surprised when I tell that we knew he was the one who made the plans. We knew it was your plan initially, but then he took over and tossed you aside. Correct?” the man asked.Octavio remained silent.“You see son, we tolerate failures only for a while, and m
Alexander, Francisco and Victor were seated in a Alexander’s study. The three men looked so fresh one would not know they had just gone through a stressful period these past days.“What would you do now?” Alexander asked Francisco.“Well, something I should have done long ago. Probably put people to oversee some things so I can live the life I always wanted.”“What life if I may ask?” Alexander seemed curious.“Explore.” Francisco replied “I always wanted to travel round the world, go wine tasting, try new food, stuff like that. I actually have a bucket list”“No troubles?” Victor asked.“Not at all. No troubles.” Francisco responded, smiling.“Anyway, I would do the same if I was in your shoes” Victor said as he lifted his bottle of beer to his lip.“Maybe you can be” Francisco teased“How?” Victor seemed interested.“A change of name would do.” Francisco suggested.Victor turned to Alexander with raised brows like he was seeking validation.“Feel free. You are of no use to me…” Alexa
Kristine woke up feeling weak and having blurred vision. She laid back and shut her eyes for some time in an attempt to correct her vision. It turned out she had to stay that way much longer as it was a side effect from the medication she was given, unknown to her. As it wore off, she regained her sight and noticed she was in her room. She turned to her side and saw Camille bundled up in a chair just by her bed.She sat up at the side of her bed and stared at her friend who was fast asleep. Camille was probably exhausted from the stress of the recent event, so Kristine thought.Kristine could not recall how she ended up at home. The last thing she remembered was getting into the vehicle with Alexander and Victor. “Camille?”Camille did not respond. She was still fast asleep.Kristine exhaled. “Camille?” this time she was louder.Camille jerked and came awake. “You are up.” She said, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands.“Yeah.” Kristine smiled as Camille rushed to hug her.“How
Octavio ignored all the road signs as he drove furiously back to home, he did not even care about the cops who trailed him for over speeding although they turned back after they recognized his vehicle. He had just escaped with his life from a dangerous place and he needed his wrist tended to as soon as possible. It felt like his vein was severed as the bleeding was yet to stop even though he had strapped it with a piece of clothing.Octavio got to the gate and honked before it was opened. He did not even spend a second to curse at the men stationed there like he usually did whenever they made him wait as even for a second.He stopped in front of the house and hurriedly came off, strode straight to his bedroom without minding anyone or saying a word.Octavio quickly opened his safe and began taking out large wads of cash, his gun and a few passports. He stuffed everything in a little bag and made for his office where he took out his first aid kit and started tending to his wrist.When
“I love the nerves.” Octavio said at the top of his voice “You know, coming here like this.”Alexander approached him, hands in the air in a surrender pose and in one of his hands, he held a briefcase which supposedly contained the documents Octavio requested.Alexander stopped a few meters from Octavio. He knew the place was surrounded as he had seen a few men in strategic positions as he came in.“I presume my stuff are in that briefcase?”Alexander couldn’t place exactly, Octavio’s mood. If it was excitement or anxiety, he could not tell. “Its all in here.” He brought down his hands and tapped on the briefcase. “now where is she?”“Don’t be in a hurry yet. How am I to believe that briefcase holds exactly what I requested?” Octavio asked.“Mistrust.” Alexander noted.Octavio smiled “can’t help it” he opened his hands like he wanted to give a hug “I experienced it right here on this spot.”“And he was right not to trust you if my memory serves me right.” Alexander replied.“Yeah that’
“It feels weird you know, this request of his” Camille said as she bit into an apple she took out of the bowl on Alexander’s study table.“I feel same way about it like you do, but it’s a window we have to take. Especially with what is at stake.” Victor said.“You don’t get it.” Camille said “Why would he risk leaving the safety of his house, to come get something he obviously can’t keep?”Victor frowned at Camille’s question. It was one worth consideration because Octavio was a self conscious person who will never venture into anything that would put his life at risk. Moreover, it was the same warehouse location he set Octavio on his heels so he had serious doubts Octavio would show up except he had the place rigged. “Now I think about it, this is a bad idea.” Victor said.“A bad idea?” Francisco asked “which?”“This whole exchange thing with Octavio.” Victor answered.“We are moving on with it.” Francisco turned towards Alexander “yes?” he had this expectant look on his face.Alexand
“Someone get me Jeff immediately!” Octavio yelled at his men, who were obviously clueless as to where Jeff was. They knew his place in the city and have been there a number of times already, but he was not yet home. His neighbors last saw him three days ago, the same day Octavio saw him last.It was quite difficult for them to make any conclusion because none of them was aware of the cabin's existence. It used to be his refuge when things were a little bit clumsy, but now it was his grave.While he was still at it, the gate opened and a police vehicle drove in. It was Captain Harry’s vehicle. Octavio already had a number of encounters with him and so he could recognize him or his vehicle once within distance. The vehicle came to a stop and Captain Harry stepped out, along with two men who were casually dressed with police jackets.“To what do I owe this unpleasant visit?” Octavio meant to sound rude. Although he was right by addressing the visit as unpleasant because he had never up t
There was a knock on the door. Jeff wasn’t expecting anyone at that time of the night, but considering the fact his place was well secured, he answered the door.“Who is there?” Jeff's coarse voice flowed through the communicator at the door.“Package from Octavio.”Jeff thought for a moment. Octavio never sent packages, instead he texted and whoever had the package met him to pick it up. Since it was way past bedtime, Octavio would never take calls. It was his way.“Octavio never sends packages.” Jeff said. The person stood in a way the security cam could not pick his face, making it difficult for Jeff to make out who it was. “Look at the camera just above you. I need to see your face.”Francisco wore a wig and thicker eyebrows. He was no stranger to disguise as he had used it severally in these situations. He stared straight into the security camera and also held the little box in the view of the camera too.Jeff hesitated for a while. It was still difficult to believe, but if it wa
Police Captain Robert was at the gate waiting when Alexander arrived with the group. They already had an idea of how bad it was from the roadblock and now there was a heavy police presence at the gate.Robert took the group past the gate and beyond the yellow tape. He was the one who texted Alexander while they were at the bar. He had already tried reaching out to Martelli before Alexander but couldn’t because the network at his place was jammed.“Where’s he?” Alexander askedRobert pointed at an ambulance and the group immediately hurried towards it.Martelli was being stitched up.“He refused to be taken to the hospital.” Robert said.“Yeah I know.” Said Alexander “he got trust issues.”Martelli frowned at Alexander.“Does it hurt?” Alexander asked.“No… it stings.” Martelli replied. “They would need more to put me to sleep.”The group laughed.“What happened here?” Victor asked.“I had to take a nap after my driver decided to forget his duties, with the hope of waking up much later
Martelli had a meeting scheduled for much later in the evening. Rather than bore himself out with the news, he opted for a stroll. When his driver had not arrived after a long wait and his mobile was unreachable, Martelli decided to take a nap. He set his alarm for 9:30pm and ordered his house staff not to disturb him except it was something extremely important.About twenty minutes after Martelli had laid his head on his pillow for his short refreshing nap, he suddenly woke up. It was as if someone tapped him, but judging by the time interval between when he felt the tap and when he woke up, the person couldn’t have left the bedroom. He reached for his gun under his pillow and turned off the safety.Martelli first went to the door and examined the knob, it was not tampered with. He proceeded to check around the room, but everything was just normal. ‘Maybe it was a dream' he thought as he went towards the window to take a peek outside.The evening weather was perfect but the eerie sile