Chapter 3

Ashley

I had arrived in Manhattan a week before to get to know the place l was going to start living in.

    I had learned everything I needed to know about Owens and the person who ran it and was sure I wouldn't be in dark about anything.

Today was my interview as Jake Owens's personal bodyguard, more like a babysitter. I hoped what I had provided in my CV was more than enough. I still couldn't believe I was going to be working on this mission.

I had known that the master was cruel but this was out of it, I didn't even know the man existed until a week ago. I still remembered how shocked I was when I found out what my mission would be.

             

            "You can't be serious about this mission master. You know this is a hard limit for me!"

I had slammed my hand on his desk in an outburst which he seemed to find amusing.

He knew this was going to get a reaction from me but I didn't care about that at the moment.

          

        "Control yourself, Ashley. You would need those hands for your mission unless you want another person to go in your place." 

He had said in a calm and collected tone as if he was merely discussing the weather and not the matter of my sanity.

He knew his actions had gotten to me when I had fallen back into my seat suddenly drained of strength.

I couldn't allow anyone else to go in my place even when I knew I could have chosen the easy way out but I had always known there would never be an easy way for me in life and I had learned to accept it.

     I didn't know he existed until that moment and now I had to end him with my hands, maybe this was how my life was meant to be, full of endless suffering. Suddenly I knew what I had to do and I looked up with resolve.

         " No. You don't need to replace me, I will take the mission." He nodded and smiled.

       "That should have been your first reply instead of the tantrum you displayed like a child. Now go ahead and prepare for the job and don't do anything stupid." 

I nodded as I stood up to take my leave. I wasn't going to do anything stupid I was going to complete the mission and that would also be my last mission because, after the mission, I was going to pay for my sins.

I was going to end my life.

  

    I schooled my face to reveal no emotion and walked towards the receptionist at the front desk.

            "Hello there, I'm Elena Davis. I'm here for an interview."

I said with a tight smile.

"Elena Davis, you're to go to the fourth floor." The receptionist replied with a smile after checking through her appointment file.

"Thank you." I took the lift to the fourth floor and met with the secretary who directed me to the personal assistant's office. 

I knocked on the door and went in. A woman looked up from behind her desk and looked up with a smile.

"Miss Davis?" The woman inquired.

"Just Elena please," I replied.

"Well Elena has a seat and you can call me Celine." The woman gestured to one of the two chairs in front of the desk.

" I applied for a job here and I'm here for an interview." I winced a little. Of course, she knew you're here for an interview, how else did she know your name? 

As if sensing my dilemma she smiled and nodded.

" Yes, of course, we have your file here and it says that you've worked for several companies and that you're competent enough for this job."

"That's right." It's amazing what kind of string you can pull when you're in my line of work.

"If I may ask, why you don't work for any security company in particular?"

"That's because I like to work at my pace."

"Okay then, what do you think are your strength in this job?"

" I don't know if you've read through my file but you would have found that I'm experienced in all sectors of this job. If I'm being candid I might say I'm one of the best out there." She looked up at that a smile playing on her lips, I knew I had her then. This job is mine.

"Okay, since we cleared that up that would be the end of the interview. We'll get back to you." I nodded and stood to walk out of the office. That was pretty easy, I thought to myself. I had half expected for me to be called out.

As I turned the corner that led to where I was going to board the lift, I bumped into a hard wall and lost my balance. 

I prepared myself for the inevitable fall but was surprised to be held up. I realized someone was holding me up and I quickly stood upright and looked up to thank the person. I froze when I recognized who I'd bumped into.

It was him.

Jake Owen.

           

                       JAKE

        I looked at the woman in front of me looking as if she'd seen a ghost. I could have sworn I'd seen her somewhere before but I couldn't place my fingers on where exactly. 

She stayed that way for a moment before she sprang back as if she was suddenly electrocuted. 

It was as if she was afraid of me one second and she couldn't wait to get away and the other second, it felt as if she was shocked to see me.

" I - I'm sorry." She cringed and practically disappeared from my sight because I had never seen a woman walk that fast away from me before. Instead, they seem to cling to me like bees to honey.