Chapter 9

Skai’s POV

Days passed, and I haven't been able to find any information. My right leg above the other as I swing in the chair. Staring at the ceilings, I remember the six rules engraved within my memory like a scribe on a parchment.

Do not assume anything

Do not trust any individual

Stay within your core

Maintain your cover

Do not look behind you, you're never alone

Blend in, go with the flow

Gradual, deliberately and measured.

My moves - It's like a wave, no matter how it tries, it'll always crush against the rock at the shore. Because that rock?

The rock is a dead end.

But I'm that wave that never crushes.

Impulsive movement - It’s like falling down a cliff. There should be nothing pleasing about that because when I hit the bottom, I’ll be dead. But right now? I'm concerned about the landing. I’m suspended in the act of falling. After fear and self-imposed shackles, there’s a thrill, excitement. The… unknown.

I don't have to act according to my reflexes. I can't go and say, “hey, you're a criminal” . That's a warrant to an instant death.

A strong hand knocks on my door.

I arranged myself closer to the desk like I was busy. “Come in”, my eyes fixed on the door looking forward to the person.

Carlo saunters to the middle of my office with confident steps. I cautiously check his expression like a deer caught in the headlights.

He’s freaking everywhere. People feel awkward — or at least reserved — when entering a place for the first time.

Well, it's his father's company.

Not Carlo. His gleaming eyes fix mine with so much ease like all this is an everyday occurrence.

He stops by my desk, looming in front of me like suffocating smoke as he bent over.

If there's anything you notice about Carlo, it's his expensive perfume. His scent explodes in the room.

“Hi, princess”.

“Carlo, what are you doing here?”. I said with widened pupils. I've seen him around the office a couple of times but this is his first time coming in here.

“Well, I just decided to stop by. Are you busy?”. He pulls out a chair and has a seat. Like he wasn’t even expecting a yes.

“No, I'm done with work, just a few documents. I can go through them later”.

“So, Sophia. How did you find LIAS?”. That's a very straight question. He wants to know me better. More of an interrogation session.

“Well, I just wanted a fresh start. I searched for sites with vacancies, and I stumbled upon the website of this company. Since it's not far from where I stay. It feels good to be here”. I leaned my back in the chair as I watched him.

“So, no boyfriend, no husband”, he asked and I know he has already done his checks on me.

“No, just me. I'm still young, that's not my priority. Down my scale of preference. How I like it”. He nodded in agreement or better described as convinced.

“It's nice to just be on your own. It gets lonely at times doesn't it”, he said with his left elbow on the desk. Let's do this.

“Yeah, it does. But we deal with the cards we are dealt.”

How does he manage to maintain eye contact?

“You know, you're different. I can't just figure you out. Too confident for a new recruit”. With a tone of concern, I guess I'm difficult to understand.

“It's part of me. I never knew confidence was a crime here. Maybe, I'll try to be afraid next time. I said, my lips forming a thin line.

You could tell so much about a person from the way they smile. But not me, smiles give away nothing. I know he is fishing for information just like I am.

As the clock strikes 4pm, I cleared my throat.

“ I hate to do this but I need to go home, it's been a long day”. I said, stretching my hands to reach for my bag and standing up.

“Okay princess, can I drop you home?”, he stands by the desk with his hand on the edge staring at my lips for an answer.

“Yeah, that'll be fine”. Good, I'll try to screw more information out of him.

We approached the elevator. He located the button labelled 'G’ and it takes us to the ground floor.

A slim lady adjusts her clothes on seeing him. She blinks her eye lashes, looking at him seductively. Well, whatever.

He parked his car in front of the company. A black Rolls Royce. As expected, a black car.

Guiding me to the passenger seat with his hand on the small of my back, he moves to enter from the driver's seat. Facing me, he asked "So, where are we heading to?”.

“ No 52, John Avenue”. He has a nice interior, red light illuminating from the interior lights.

“My sister's best friend stays around that area, that was before she left the country, I'm quite familiar with the place”. He said as he started his ignition as his engine revved to life.

With the squeal of tires, Carlo pulled through the gates

Ohh, he has a sister. Why wasn't she mentioned in the files?

The car revs in the wide streets. I suppress a gasp at the strength of this thing.

He stole a glance and noticed I wasn't comfortable with the driving. “Ohh, sorry”, he reduced the speed with an easy-grip on the steering wheel.

“Overspeeding isn't advised, you know”, I sounded like a lecturer.

“It's just my normal way of driving”.

He halts right in front of my apartment.

“I'll take my leave”, I said alighting from his car.

“I'm happy to be of service, my lady,” he says in a Shakespearian tone and even kisses the back of my hand.

As much as I know him as a criminal, he has a softer side to him. A side that not everybody gets to see.

I giggle as I stand beside his car and fake a curtsy.” Thank you for the ride”.

“Ciao”, he lowers his head to the level of the window.

This is going to be easy, change of plan. I know what I have to do to get to open up and bring me into his little organisation.

A happy man spills his secrets.

I turned my back, my hands searching for my keys in my bag. I could feel his eyes piercing through my back from behind.

I opened my door and entered. After the click of the door, he zoomed off.