big shot 2

“Hurry up, there's someone you'll have to meet” he gives me a side glance, “he's been waiting for you, Santiago.”

“Who?”

We take a sharp turn.

“Me.”

A familiar voice speaks from behind me. I turn around to see who it is.

“We meet again, love.” He smiles, showing off his perfect set of teeth.

Well, damn.

||•••||

“Sebastian?”

“From the elevator.” I smile.

But my smile instantly fades away the moment I remember the last thing I said to him. Fuck!

My face goes red and I clear my throat.

He walks towards me, giving me a kiss on my cheek. “It's alright, love, your secret's safe with me.” He whispers into my ear.

“How?--” I point between him and Fredrick.

“We're cousins.” Fredrick replies coldly, almost as if he regrets having Sebastian as his cousin.

“Oh” I say.

“He doesn't love me very much” Sebastian whispers. “But I love him either way.”

“So you work for the company? Or is it a…

“Cover up” we both echo.

Fredrick stares at us, irritated and angry. “What's wrong with him now?” I ask Sebastian, feeling relived and relaxed for some reason.

“Oh darling, it'll be dawn if I decide to answer the question. Come on, we have a lot of things to do.” He pulls my hand, making me follow behind him and Fredrick.

“In case Fredrick hasn't given you a head start on what you're supposed to do, I'll do it.” He releases my wrist and slips his hands into mine, intertwining our fingers.

“You're going to have to seduce someone for us. You can do that, right?”

I nod.

“Good, then you'll slip this” he dips his free hand into his pocket and retrieves a tiny bottle from inside the pocket. “Into his drink.” He grins at me.

“And what's that?” I ask.

“Poison.” He replies nonchalantly.

I snatch my hand from he's he stares at me. “I'm not killing anyone.” I say sternly.

Fredrick sighs.

“Oh, you're not killing anyone, it's not a deadly poison.” Sebastian shakes the bottle, “it's more like a type of food poisoning, but much more effective. It makes you dizzy, nauseous, and hopefully makes you pass out!” He says cheerfully.

Then it hits me, since Sebastian is Fredrick's cousin and he works in the same 'association' as Fredrick, then that means he's also killed people too.

I step away from him,

“You've killed people too?”

He lifts his head, switching his attention from the bottle to me.

“Well, that's the whole point of this?” He says, “you might not believe it, but we're the good guys. You just have to go deeper to see it.”

“And I should believe you?” I question him.

“No, but for now, just trust me. You'll see.” He stretches his hand towards me.

There's something warming and calming about the way he talks to me. Trust him? Can I really do that? I stare at his stretched hand. I sigh and hold on to his hand.

“Right choice.” He smirks.

“You didn't believe when I told you, but now you trust him?” Fredrick grumbles.

“He's not an animal.” I reply.

“What?"

"Anyway” Sebastian brings me to his side. “Time's running out. Let's get you prepared.”

||•••||

We enter another room but this time it's massive with two women standing, waiting to welcome us.

“This is Claudia and Rebecca. Our stylists.” Fredrick introduces them.

“They'll give you the best glam up ever.” Says Sebastian.

“It's a gala themed ball, I want the best you can offer.” Fredrick orders them.

“Do people normally have shopping malls in their mansions?” I ask, staring at the rows of clothes, shoes, hats, robes, you just name it.

Sebastian placed his hands on my shoulders, “no” he replies before pushing me towards the ladies.

“While you're getting dressed listen to everything we have to say, don't forget anything because I'm not coming back.” Fredrick says.

So, they're not leaving? One of the women draws a curtain, demarcating us from the two men In front of us. I doubt that'll do anything, but okay, I guess?

“The ball starts by 10, but we'd be making the grand entrance. Or rather, you'd be making the grand entrance.”

“10? Then why'd you rush me so much?”

“When we get there, you'll be given the poison” he ignores my question. I roll my eyes.

“You'll hide it in the harness you'll be wearing underneath that dress.” Fredrick explains.

“What harness?”

Rebecca brings a black harness from underneath a table.

“Oh”

Sebastian clears his throat, “The man you'll be going after is Mr. Lee dong. He's a deadly South Korean drug lord, who was recently released from prison. He has the whole of the South Korean government under his palm, he controls the whole underground drug sales.”

“Why was he released from prison if he's so dangerous?” I ask.

Claudia pulls my jeans to the ground, and I swear I see Fredrick's silhouette nod towards my direction.

“The question should be why was he arrested in the first place. He controls the police, governor, sheriff, and even president. He rules South Korea from the inside.” Sebastian explains.

“From the shadows” Fredrick continues, “he has spies in every place he does business. But this time he picked the wrong place for business.”

“New York belongs to Animus, and he knows that. So, he sent a spy to sneak into our association and leak out vital information to him.”

At this point, I don't know who's talking, since they both have similar voices, and I'm facing the other side because Rebecca and Claudia are trying to fasten my harness.

“That's when you saw me killing Wong that night. He was the spy, I didn't just kill him because I wanted to.”

I'm guessing that's Fredrick trying to redeem himself.

“So…” I grunt when Rebecca pulls the straps tighter, “what are his crimes?”

“Well for starters he raped and killed over 20 high schoolers, and that was before he became as deadly as he is now. He distributes 'zuns' a deadly effective drug, all over the world. And now rumor has it that right now he's building a warhead, strong enough to wipe out half the population of New York.” Sebastian answers my question.

“Why build a warhead?” Is this sanity?

“Because he's a very filthy rich bastard. That's what they do, they think they're invisible and no one can touch them.”

“Is that why you're after him? Because he's building a warhead?” I ask.

“What?” Sebastian laughs

“Oh no, we aren't concerned about that, we're not the avengers or whatever. We only retaliate when provoked to do so.”

“And last month he bit more than he could chew when he went after one of our own.

He killed her and sent her pieces to us.”

“Every single fucking day, we'd get a delivery with a different part of her body in a box.” Sebastian sighs.

“Oh my God, that's horrible. I'm so sorry.” It is unclear to me why I'm apologizing, but if they decided to retaliate, she must have been a dear friend.

“No” Fredrick stands on his feet. “The only person to feel sorry is Lee dong.”

“Is there a picture of him I can see?” I ask.

“No, you'll see him for the first time at the ball, so your reaction will be natural. He's good at reading people. Your moves, tone of speech and words used must be calculated thoroughly before action. If not, you're dead.” Fredrick explains.

Not that any of that makes sense, but I nod either way.

“But trust me” Sebastian walks towards me and stops mere inches from the curtain, “when you see him, you'll know.”

I can sense the smile behind every word he spoke.

“She's ready!” Rebecca calls out, her Russian accent pronounced as fuck.

Claudia slides the curtain away, and I'm met with two properly dressed gentlemen. When did they change their clothes?

And good Lord do they clean up nice.

They're dressed in designers from head to toe.

“You guys look good.” I exclaim.

“That's the point.” Fredrick rolls his eyes.

“And you look immaculate. Honestly, going to steal the show aren't you?” Sebastian teases me.

“Thank you.” I beam.

Fredrick scoffs. I ignore him.

I'm dressed in the most beautiful ball gown I've ever seen. It has two layers, the first one with extra paddings which is obviously detachable. Then the inner one, it's a knee-length gown, that fits me perfectly, and I'm shocked the harness isn't visible in any wa

The stones attached to the first layer makes the gown heavy as hell, it's hard to actually walk, coupled with the five-inch heels; I'm just exaggerating, it's actually two inch and a half, I think.

Someone walks in, “the cars are ready sir.” He reports to Sebastian.

“Shall we?” He draws me towards his side and gives me a kiss on the check. “You look absolutely stunning, and Fredrick knows that too.” He grins.

I turn towards his direction and lock eyes with Fredrick. He looks away as if nothing happened.

Stepping out of the main mansion, they're 5 cars lined up outside as our convoy, but neither Fredrick nor Sebastian move towards any.

“Uh, what car are we taking?”

Just then a black ranger rover SVAutobiography rolls in.

My eyes nearly fall on to the ground, but my jaw has reached hell by now.

“Holy shit!” I scream.

“This is fucking astonishing!”

Fredrick stares at me, “you know cars?”

“Yeah! My dad used to be a car dealer, so it grew on me.

But is it really a SVAutobiography Range Rover?”

Sebastian walks up to the car and snacks the rare.

“What do you think?”

With wide eyes, I get into the car. It has that new car smell, and the windows are obviously tinted to the darkest shade.

Don't even get me started on the interior. Fine leather, soft and soothing to the skin.

“Is it bulletproof?” I ask curiously.

A normal SVAutobiography Range Rover is fucking expensive, imagine if it were customized to your taste?

“What do you think?” Fredrick grins, he's whole face looks a few years younger. Him grinning is a sight for sore eyes, how can someone look so stunning in dim lighting?

“Look alive people.” Sebastian bellows sticking from the car window

“We've got a big fish to fry.”

Did I forget to mention I'm about to pee my pants?