Tomorrow was another day, another day to live a secret life at TRIX and navigate the web of her case and this old problem of hers, Lucas.The weight of it all grew heavier with each passing moment. The more time she spent with Liam, the more she yearned to be honest with him. But honesty came with a price, and the potential consequences were too high.Jessica got home and fell on her couch. Several toss and turns for hours while her mind replayed the clips of the night's event, the stolen glances with Liam, the unsettling encounter with Lucas.Sleep, when it finally came, was a restless symphony of anxieties.And that too, forgetting the daily updates she had to give to the agency.**THE NEXT DAY.She arrived early at TRIX. Expecting Liam in his office, a flurry of activity around him as always.Jessica took a deep breath and a smile emerged onto her face. As she approached his door, it swung open, revealing Lucas, his features plastered with a charming grin."Ah, Jessica! There you
“I simply can't do what you're asking of me!” Jessica blasted at Lucas.As said, Lucas had asked Jessica to meet him at 8:00 pm. At first, she meant not to see him but Lucas could be a pain in the ass.What did he have to say tonight?Getting there, there was no sight of him anywhere close, not until an hour later he rode in, demanding a swaddle from her.“Get in!” He said as he parked his car beside her, his glass whined down to the eyes view only.Hesitant, Jessica stood in a way that showed she wasn't willing to do that.“... I said get in!” He demanded with a more controlling voice that sounded like he was angry already.Still hesitant, Jessica finally walked to the passenger side of the car, opened up, and sat down.There was about a minute of silence as both of them stared at the empty park right in front of them. The cold evening wasn't hitting on either of them tonight and Lucas looked angry.“I need you to make him accept the deal!” Lucas started.“What?” Shocked at his word
It's been two nights since Jessica gave reports to the agency. Bright and early on Saturday, Jessica tugged off her bed to prepare for some morning jog. There in the bathroom, her phone rang and she rushed out to pick up.It was Mr Troy. “Mr Troy! Good morning.” She said, startled. “Your presence is needed at the board meeting.” He started.“For two nights, two nights Jessica, you've withheld reports. Now, that doesn't look good, does it?”“The board would like to know why. They suggested a secluded physical meeting today.”Saturday was starting to look like another work day already.Arriving at the agency, discreetly through one of the restricted and confined routes, Jessica found herself in a round table of high board members, same people that had given her the last stretch of the Thorne's. “We thought you'd like a physical meeting this time.” One of the members spoke. Just then, the gush of statements started coming straight from the other members. “Is there a reason we have
A decision has sprung up in this young detective's mind. Monday was bright and sunny as usual and it wasn't surprising to have Liam seated at the front of a working laptop display and some paperwork featuring the day.“Good morning Mr Liam.” Jessica greeted as she walked into his office. “You seem uncommonly bright this morning Jessica. Is there a call for celebration?” He asked jokingly as she walked to where his chairs were fixed. As she stood before him, looking directly at his eyes before taking her seat, he responded to the initial greeting.“Morning Jessica.”She sat down and it was business and little butterflies sprouting in her stomach as usual. But those butterflies would be forced to go back to the caterpillar they sprouted from with the agency's keen mark on her case.As the paperwork progressed, the conversation settled from past businesses to most recent businesses, and the one of Lucas at that.“... I expected to see Mr Lucas as early as the birds today.” She starte
Jessica stared at Miss Beth, a hunch of confusion lacing her brows."Mr. Thorne wants me to meet him at the DeluxeOT Hotel?" she asked. The luxury setting felt like a steer contrast to the concept of a business meeting.Everyone knows who goes to the DeluxeOT, the big moguls and wealthy gents. For a while, Jessica had forgotten who her boss was or whose son he was.".... For a meeting?" Still questioning.Miss Beth, ever the picture of collected efficiency, nodded curtly."Yes, Ms. Willows. He mentioned a new business associate, Mr. Greg.”“Apparently, the meeting couldn't be held at the office…. He suggested something outdoor."Usually, Liam was a stickler for routine and transparency but for some other family and business reasons, he kept his reach only within the company.Requesting a meeting at a luxury hotel was not what Jessica would have ever expected.And also, what if she was seen or taken note of by known agency past victims?"Did he mention what Mr. Greg is involved in?"
Jessica rushed through the hallway, straight to accounting. Lucas hadn't stopped buzzing her phone with threats to expose her identity and she wasn't ready to let him have her that easy.A few knocks and she made her way in.Not wanting to seem somewhat suspicious, she approached one of the desk officers. A young woman with bright red lipstick and an air of easy confidence. She didn't look too occupied and even better, with a friendly aura from her bright smile.“Hello. I'm Jessica, Mr. Thorne's secretary.”“Newly hired.”“I'd like to take up any documents he'd be having today. He's running on a tight schedule, I have to fix things up.” The lies came out like bumps of hot coal from her. She wished she wasn't doing that.“Yes. There was a file sent for review …. —Let me … just…. Check. The lady said, making an instant up look for the files requested.“Ahah… It's ready. It just needs to be sealed and sent up.” She added.“I'm just going to him. He'd be needing these to start.” Jessica
“Hey best friend!” Ann spoke excitedly over the phone.“Hey girl!”“—I can't believe we've stayed this long without keeping in touch. How dare you Annabelle?” Jessica asks with a light, playful voice. “Who says I stayed away?”“You've been the big city girl. — All work and no girl's time.” Annabelle debunked.“You're right.”“I guess I'm sorry. — What do you say we make up when you show up on the weekend.” Jessica asks as she gently pats her face dry. It was the early hours of the morning and it felt cold in this part of town. The strong wind had sent the windows whispering and She could hear Ms Felicia complain bitterly from the hallway.“Weekend sounds fine to me. —I miss my girl, you know.” Ann responds, her voice woven with emotions.“See you then. I have to get to work.” Jessica said and with a friendly girl's joke, the call came to an end.Finally, she could think straight for a moment. Lucas has had his deal signed and would be off her for good.As for the agency, three mon
Jessica felt locked in within herself. Lucas was definitely high on his depressants. That had to be it.After several calls through to Mr. Troy, he finally picked up. With a tight and something barely above a whisper, she spoke up. “Mr. Troy!”Her voice was cracky and almost breaking.“Are you alright, Jessica?” Mr. Troy asked, concerned.Jessica tried to mutter out but the words wouldn't come out.“Are you there?”“Detective?” Mr Troy called out, now having an unsettling feeling from it all.“It's Lucas,” Jessica spoke up.“He's back. — He's been back for a while now.”“Oh goodness. It's a mess!” Jessica blurted out, a wash of tension lining each word that came out.“Be calm Jess?”“Is he there at TRIX?” “What’s the situation?”Mr. Troy requested in a calm yet, strong voice.“He… He isn't. I found out he was a friend of Liam.”“And I might have made a terrible mistake Mr. Troy.”“I helped him…. I couldn't risk him exposing me to Liam.”“But he wants something extremely wild now