Kristine looked at her wrist watch, they had been over thirty minutes on the road. It was at that moment she came to her senses and it dawned on her that she was being kidnapped, but then there was no blindfold, no cuffs, no gags, she wasn’t in the trunk. She was fully aware of her environment. She took quick glances at the men who sandwiched her, they acted like she didn’t exist. She tried to get a view of the driver’s face through the rear view mirror to no avail. When the driver noticed what she was trying to do, he adjusted the mirror so that it served the purpose she wanted. It troubled Kristine when she tried to piece everything together. Kidnappers were said to blindfold their victim so they couldn’t take note of routes or get clues about their identities. But these ones went against such rules and didn’t care if she noted their faces. ‘This is weird' she thought ‘maybe it’s a surprise’. In short distances the car made two stops and two Rudy looking men dumped two black bags in
Once they got past the gate, the car climbed up a hilly road lined with pine trees. They took two left turns and came in view of a magnificent gated mansion. It was well structured with defensive positions in which a handful of guards were stationed. The gate to the mansion was at the end of the trees. Immediately the guards at the gate saw the vehicle, they opened the gate so that they drove through.The car pulled up in front of the mansion and the rear doors flung open. The two men alighted and stood guard until Kristine came down too. She looked around and immediately fell in love with the place.There was a fountain across from the house with a standing horse sculpture right in the midst of it. There was a greenhouse to the east and an artificial stream that flowed into the pool. Kristine took her time to admire the environment until one of the men cleared his throat, bringing her back to her reality. Once again, her bitterness took over.“This way.” One of the guys motioned for
"You look stressed.” Camille said to Kristine who continuously paced around her bedroom while chewing at her fingers nails. “And you may have no finger nails left if you keep on like that.”Kristine paused, turned to Camille as if she wanted to say something, and in a blink her countenance changed to that of despair.“Hold on before this develops into something bad.“ Camille then held Kristine, pulled her to the bed and made her sit beside her. “Now take your time and tell me what’s wrong.”Kristine thought about how she could put everything in a way Camille won’t blow it out of proportion. She felt she shouldn’t let her know since her life was also at risk, two of them shouldn’t be running crazy at the same time. But then she had to.“I’m in a mess. A big one.” Kristine said at last.Camille laughed as if she just heard a joke. It sort of infuriated Kristine who looked her friend with disappointment written all over her face. Camille noticed and raised her hands to demonstrate surre
Alexander sat in his office , attending to some document when Martha, his secretary for roughly eight years walked in.“Good morning sir.” She greeted.“Morning.” He replied. “Just in time. How is my schedule for Tomorrow?” He asked.“Let me see.” She replied and scrolled through her tablet. “You have a meeting with Mr. Naoki at 3pm. Other than that, you’re free.”“Hmm. Seems odd.”“What sir?”“Nothing.” He replied. “I’ll be having a visitor tomorrow. Just make sure nothing is added to my schedule. Okay?”“Okay sir.” She replied and started towards the door.She stopped suddenly and turned to Alexander “Mr. Victor wants to see you.”“What? Let him in.” he ordered.She ushered Victor in and once he was inside the office, she left and shut the door behind her.“Cousin.” Victor greeted. He looked more ordinary and human than he did during the deal with Octavio.“My heart kind of skip a beat whenever you cone around.”“Evil people experience that lot.” He teased.“If evil was a person, it’
“Welcome Miss Kristine.” The receptionist greeted. She had this beautiful smile that could charm even the most subtle of people. Its no wonder she got the job here.Kristine wondered how she knew who she was, ‘had Alexander given her photo and name to the receptionist?’ that was her first thought but then she waved it off. He couldn’t be that childish. Its must be because she had an appointment and she came exactly on time.“The boss is waiting. Follow me please.” She said and motioned for Kristine to join her towards a door.The organized nature of the place thrilled Kristine. Immediately the receptionist left her post to take her to Alexander, another equally pretty lady took her place. And attended to the next person in the same warm manner.“This way Ma'am.” The receptionist repeated, snapping Kristine back to reality.They went through a door and into a dull-lit passage walled with thick glasses , shielding some artworks hung on both sides of the passage walls and transparent eno
Alexander and Kristine went down a dozen steps once they went through the door. A wave of emotions took over Kristine as they got to the base of the step. The place was a crypt, a spacious one and it had a lot of artifacts from different ages. The first thing that crossed her mind was Octavio's mission. ‘Could these be the stuff he was telling her about?’ She imagined the worth of the treasures laid before her eyes and how one person could amass such.Alexander noticed how bright her eyes were and how carried away she was by the things she was being exposed to.“What do you think?” He asked her.“Magnificent. They are…” she spun to reality and looked at him, her brows arched. “How did you get all these?” she pointed randomly at some artifacts.“Let me put it this way,” he folded his hands and faced her. She had an expectant look, waiting for an explanation as to how one person could gather such.“I am a collector.” He started. “I always had an eye for history, just like you. The artif
Any positives from today?” Camille asked Kristine, who hurriedly walked into the house and rushed to the fridge to take some milk. She took a whole glass in two gulps while Camille watched without any intention of interrupting her, but after she did the same to a second glass, Camille had to stop her. “I see your anxiety levels are night right now, you’ll probably drink goat piss if it was put in a glass before you.”Kristine just stood by the dinning, no word still.“Are you now deaf, dumb or both?” Camille was beginning to get worried.“Okay, so I met one of the best receptionists in my life today, I saw arts…good ones, I saw some wonderful collection belonging to him and they appeared to me like what we are looking for…” She stopped.“And?” Camille asked“I saw death.” Sweat drops began to break through Kristine’s forehead.“What do you mean by you saw death? Shouldn’t death be invincible?” Camille asked.Kristine frowned a little at her friend, it seemed she was surprised at the w
A black sedan car pulled up in front of the venue for the ball and Kristine alighted. The red was no red carpets nor paparazzi and the place was teeming with security details. There were two serious-looking guards at the entrance who checked passes of people who wanted to go in. “You can do this” she whispered and took in a deep breath and headed for the entrance."Pass please." one of the men requestedKristine held out her pass to the man who took if from her and inspected it, checked her name on the list of invited guests and then directed her through when he was done.Kristine walked into the party hall and had heads turn in her direction. She was elegantly dressed in a fitted plain long blue evening gown which matched her eyes.A waiter walked up to her with a tray that had some glasses of champagne on it and held out the tray to her. Kristine took a glass."A lone lady in this large pool" a man said as he walked up behind her "or maybe someone who enjoys the party in a way diff
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