03: Encounter

"So, you mean to tell me the guy you had a one-night stand with gave you this cheque?" Bell asked for the hundredth time as she stared abruptly at the piece of paper in her hand, making Mystique roll her eyes dramatically.

"He is paying me for the sex and I don't want that" Mystique sighed as she massaged her temple.

Suddenly, a bulb lit up in Bell's brain. "We could use this for your uncle's surgery"

Mystique immediately took the cheque from her. How could she use such money? "No, I can't and I would not. Am gonna find this guy and return his stupid cheque. I mean, what does he thinks of me. Some whore he can pay for sex. I won't allow him to treat me that way!"

Bell stared at her friend, who was ranting. Sighing, she placed her elbow on the table before them with her fingers to her chin."Do you even know the name of this guy?" He finally asked when Mystique stopped blabbering. "Or where to find him?"

"No, but that doesn't mean I won't recognize him," Mystique told her but she suddenly pouted. "This is all your fault Belle, if you hadn't dragged me to that bar, I wouldn't have met this guy"

"Nor would you have been blessed with this huge amount of money. Consider it a gift" Bell rolled her eyes. "Misty, going to that bar and meeting that man might have been for a reason. You were looking for money, you have money. Use it!"

"I don't think you get it Bell, I..."

"I know how you feel Misty, but you need to forget your pride for once. Your uncle's life is more important. Think after, save your uncle first" Bell told her as she called over a waiter in the restaurant they were in.

Mystique sighed as she also rested her forehands on the table. Pride? Was her dignity more important than her uncle's? Of course not!. She was willing to do anything to make sure Uncle get the treatment he deserved. She nodded as she had made her decision, she would use the money to pay for the operation, find this guy and pay him back his money.

Then her eyes caught a guy that was sitting on a table beside them. He was dressed in a black suit and was busy making a phone guy but he suddenly got up and walked out of the restaurant in a hurry but Mystique's gaze landed on a piece of the file left forgotten on the table. Seemed like the man had forgotten his file...

Getting up, she moved over to the table and picked up the file, and immediately ran out of the restaurant, ignoring the calls of Bell. She scanned both sides of the street and found no sight of the man. Wow, he walked fast!

"Mystique!" Bell suddenly came breathlessly running towards her friend as she caught up with her. "Why did you suddenly run out?" 

Mystique titled the file from side to side, examining it. "Some man left his file. They seem important"

"Let me see" Belle took the file from Mystique and opened it, reading its content. "Yes, it's an important document. Ps Cooperations" Bell read the name written on the file.

"Ps Cooperation?, Isn't that like one of the biggest companies?" Mystique said, her eyebrows joining in confusion.

"Yes, and these files are important. I think you should return it to the owner" Bell shoved the file back to Mystique.

"Why me? Why don't you return it?" She frowned.

Bell smirked. "Because, you saved the file" she turned and went back to the restaurant, where her newly ordered meal awaited.

"I hate my life" Mystique murmured as she followed Bell back to the restaurant. Maybe the man would return for his documents...

She waited, waited, waited, and waited, still no sign of the person she was waiting for. For the hundredth time, Mystique stared down at her wristwatch. She breathe out for the hundredth time as she popped her elbow on the table. 'When would this man notice his file missing?' she thought. Looking around the restaurant, she noticed that she was the only customer left. Her gaze landed on the wall clock on the wall as she let out a frustrated breath from her mouth. It was 10 pm and she was still waiting. Bell had left as soon as she had her meal and with a random guy, she met. Mystique could still remember the smirk Bell gave her before walking out from the place hanging on the man's arm. She rolled her eyes at her friend who was a typical playgirl, jumping from one guy to the other for fun. Mystique shook her head. She pitied that man that would spend the rest of his life with her. Maybe, just maybe, he would be able to tame her inner demons.

"Sir, we are closing" A waiter informed her nicely and walked away.

"Oh well, seems like I would have to return it myself," Mystique said as she picked up the file and walked out of the restaurant, heading towards the direction of her home.

***

Two days later, Mystique found herself along with Bell standing in front of the Ps building, staring up at the huge building like they were staring at the tallest giant never seen in the world. The place was larger than they thought.

"Nah, am off," Bell told her as she turned to leave but Mystique pulled her back.

"W-what?, You can't leave me here!" Mystique said as she held Belle's arm tightly, giving the best puppy dog eyes beneath her glasses.

"And why the hell not!?" Bell grilled as she tried to push Mystique off her arm.

"Because, you took me here after I said a thousand No's, remember?" Mystique tried blackmailing.

"Look Misty, I have this hot dick waiting for me. I can't delay him any further. What do you need for me? You just have to find this guy and return his file. Why do I have to go in with you?" Bell said in a thunderstruck manner.

Mystique stormed her feet on the ground. "Why are you so difficult Bel. You know what Rodriguez Thalia Isabelle, you can go back. I bought this mess upon myself when I picked up the file from the table" Throwing one last glare towards Bell, Mystique matched towards the huge building, leaving a dumbfounded Bell behind as she scratched the back of her head.

"You don't need to say my full name" she uttered to herself and took her to leave.

Mystique turned just in time to watch her friend walk away from their previous spot. "Some friend you are!" She murmured before stepping into the building, towards the receptionist's desk.

"Welcome to Ps Cooperation, what can I do for you?" The lady behind the counter greeted nicely with a big smile, showing her little dimples.

Mystique also smiled, adjusting her glasses. "Hello, please am looking for one Mr. Garcia. Where can I find him?" She inquired politely.

The lady's smile widened. "Mr. Garcia is having a meeting with Mr. Martinez. If it's not urgent, you can wait for him in the waiting lobby or you can go up to the 19th floor. There you can find him" she informed her.

"Thank you!" Mystique appreciated as she made her way towards the waiting lobby but stopped when an idea found its way to her head. If she waited in the lobby, there was a huge possibility that she might miss this guy. Nodding to herself, she made her way towards the elevator and climbed in.

Reaching the 19th floor was a longer journey than Mystique expected. But considering the tall building, she knew he would be having one hell of a ride. Reaching the top floor, the elevator stopped and the lady made her way out, fortunately, she was the only one left.

Mystique scanned the area, the top floor seem pretty empty except for the secretary's table that was right outside a large door that must lead to the boss's office. Her long legs carried her towards the desk that had a young lady behind it.

"Hi" Mystique greeted with a wave and a smile but the Secretary ignored her after taking in her appearance. How rude! The lady outside was far nicer. "Hey!" She couldn't help but call louder, maybe she was deaf.

"I heard you the first time!" She snapped angrily at her, gazing daggers at her with her cold brown eyes. "State your damn business and leave!"

Whoever this lady was, she must have woken up from the wrong side of the bed.

Deciding to ignore her premature behavior, Mystique opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted when the door suddenly opened and a man in a suit walked out. Mystique noticed how the man's forehead was covered with sweats and his hands were quivering. She wondered what was going on in there to make such a grown man fear so much but that was none of her business as she turned her attention back to the lady, who seemed to have forgotten about her existence.

"Miss, am looking for..." Again, she was interrupted as the door opened again and another man walked out with the same expression the last man had earlier but things time, an angry voice was heard shouting from the inside.

"Find that file or I will have your heads on a block!" The angry male voice shouted as the slamming of glasses could be heard. A shiver ran down Mystique's spine. Whoever their boss was must be a tough nut to creak. But the 3rd man that walked out from the office, she recognized him as the man she was searching for. With a smile, the lady walked towards the man but the doors suddenly burst open in full force, as a chilling shiver ran down her core and a deadly aura emerged from the depths of the office. Then a man in a black suit stepped out, his steps harsh and heavy, pitying not the poor ground as his feet slammed on it. Then, the man filled up his head and their eyes locked, Mystique swore the air in her had been knocked out as time itself had stopped on its own, wanting to witness the scene as well.