Chapter 25: The message.
" I'm not hungry anymore, are you?"
....
" So, you're rich. Hella rich, I see." Alex blurted out, in amazement. She had always grown up in a middle-class society unlike the other kids in their school. Mel and she were able to enter due to a scholarship, by luck, as they were good at literature and finance, that's the only way they could go to that school.
She always felt that if they had the monetary power by their side, her teaches wouldn't have bullied her and supported the rich, 'All the time.' Similarly, she had faced a lot of familial problems in which money was the root cause. Don't blame her for being money-minded and cold.
" Well, yes. I'm the 3rd-gen, along with my sister whom I rarely meet. " Steph said casually.
" What about you? " Alex nudged Hayden.
He chuckled, " Well, my dad is rich but I'm just a bastard son. Not everyone is lucky as Brenden you see.." he said shrugging.
" What's with Brenden and being rich? " Alex asked monotonously hiding her curiosity.
" Nothing much, he is just the heir of the White family in Seattle. The same that as invested in this charity banquet," he explained.
Steph saw Alex confused with Hayden's words and added a brief history.
" Well, earlier he was working and living a hard life but then, he was found by Erick white when he was 13 and he was introduced as his 1st son, James White's, son. That's the only thing we know. It's strange, right? "
....
DT syn. Paris base :
Brenden pressed a key in the keypad located in the bark of a designed tree and led, the blindfolded Mel, into the staircase which opened beside the tree.
The staircase was narrow, short, and dark. At the end of the staircase, a metal door with a highly secured password stood.
Brenden typed the password and pulled Mel inside by hand.
Inside had a spacious and bright atmosphere. Mel could distinguish the difference through the blindfold too.
He continued to go further inside and stopped. He pulled Mel over and removed her blindfold.
Opening her eyes she blinked a couple of times to adjust to the bright light. Then, she looked at the small garden, which was in front of her.
The garden was filled with plants that grow in the dark, with orchids and lilies. The roof was filled with flowy spider plants and the devil's ivy almost filled all the gaps. The most stunning part of this garden was the huge waterfall-themed fountain around which the evening primroses bloomed.
Mel stood there lost in the scenery. The waterfall was lit by small turquoise and lavender shaded lights and the rocks were given a tinge of teal and shamrock green, to duplicate the mosses making it a truly alluring sight.
Melanie stood awestruck by the creativity and it's beauty.
" It's gorgeous. " She managed to utter, after a few minutes, as soon as she found her voice.
" It sure is." He smiled.
The entire time that she took to enjoy the garden, he looked at her.
She looked cute and almost lost in the garden. The shades of blue accentuated her cute face and brown eyes. She was lively, the light suited her. At the surface, she was nothing but normal, all she was, was anything but... Her beauty lied inside of her heart and he wished to know her more. She attracted him for no reason. Her life was perfect, as it should be. He didn't belong in it. Never did and never will!
" Alex was right..." He muttered, ' I am like the devil, in her life. Never too near, but not far. '
Mel eyed him strangely, ' This guy and Alex were too damn self-obsessed to compliment each other or accept that the other was right. What had happened, that made him to say that? Did she miss something? '
....
It was 8.45 in the evening when Brenden and Mel arrived at the resort. For the entire journey back there, from the garden ( wherever it was ) they did not open their mouths.
....
Brenden (straight-faced):" Let me take you back."
Mel ( totally confused ) : * nod *
Brenden ( handing her something ): "Put it on, we'll leave."
Mel ( ???????? ) : * nod *
....
Reaching their room's corridor they turned to each other.
" Goodnight," he said curtly.
Sensing his ' no-nonsense ' attitude she sighed and smiled, regardless.
" Well thanks for taking me there, it was really beautiful. Good night." saying that she went into her room to face her 'way-too overprotective cousin.'
He smiled bitterly at the shut door. ' Don't act cute in front of me little sunshine, it's way too dangerous. '
....
Somewhere far away in a distinct office, underworld:
" Who is she? " a cold woman's voice echoed in the study.
" Melanie Lambert, the Chief detective's daughter. " a man reported.
" Is she trying to get any information or..." the lady asked.
" None boss, not yet. She's under our watch now," he informed.
" Good. It better be just that. "
....
Mel, oblivious to all that complications or that she had offended someone, continued to joke along with Hayden and Steph sitting beside Alex.
They all laughed and spoke for some more time and Hayden stayed with Steph in their room that night.
Alex was ready to kick him out but he wouldn't budge. In the end, Alex kicked him in his chin and went to sleep.
" You deserved that. " Mel grinned and Steph giggled agreeing.
....
Later that night Hayden and Steph slept together in the same bed ( only cuddling ).
Mel was up reading her R-18 novel when there was a low knock on the door.
She frowned as she checked the time. It was almost one in the morning.
She got off her bed and went to open the door. ' Shit, it's creepy.'
Her subconscious agreed from below the blanket.
Opening the door she saw a huge figure's silhouette. Her face turned ghastly.
" Melanie, is Hayden inside? " Brenden asked softly, seeing her ashen and pale.
He had searched for him everywhere and this was the only place that he didn't, so he had come here.
Realizing that it was him she sighed, it was just him! ' It was creepy alright? '
" Yep, he's inside asleep with Steph," she said pointing to the bed near the vanity mirror.
Brenden could see that the room was similar to his, same old-fashioned vanity mirror, three beds one near the single French window, one near the vanity table, and one further apart from both near the entrance.
" Why are you awake, this late?" He asked staring at the phone in her hand. He could make out some words, like- moan..... Ha! harder ... Yeah ... go on ... moan...
' What the hell is she reading? '
" Umm.. no sleep." She lied, hiding her phone behind her. " Come let's go stroll outside. I've always wanted to try it," she said stepping outside.
" No. Go to sleep," he denied, pushing her inside lightly and closed the door. He could hear her stomping her feet and walking away.
He sighed, ' All of this will be over soon... very soon... '
....
Getting back to his room he locked it and opened his laptop. It was self-built when he was 12 years old. He was a very big techie. He loved weird gadgets and learned to build them.
Taking his glasses off he checked the messages from his wing-man Zack.
Zack was his most trusted subordinate, more like an own brother. He was the one who saved him from the nightmare of his life. The mass destruction in search of a stupid heir!
History apart, Zack's the only reason he was alive now!!!
The messages went on and on about, the newly installed security device in the Grenell industries, owned by a gangster of a well-known mob.
The CEO of Scott law firm wakes up from his deep slumber of 17 years!
The murder of the Bada*s syndicate's leader.
Bada*s syndicate under the Hound's blood syndicate.
The ring of r*pe brings pregnant women, furious husband scums to mass murder.
The secrets of the past being dug: Into the myth of criminal royalty!!!
The cops after the mythical city 'Artim' - The city of crimes.
The newest release of Dark prince's computer software, installed to protect working computers, against bugs and tapping, it was not completely protected from hacking, but it could save important files.
A few tires below the one used in DT syn. of course, made by the Dark Prince, himself.
Brenden smiled at the thought of the purchases. By installing this software they were letting the Dark prince take entire control over their computers and files. But, do they know that? No, of course not.
Information was easily attained through this. But many would not trust him and buy the product. Not because the product is bad but because their egos can't take good products from DT syn.
' What a pity! ' a cunning a*s smirked.
Skimming through all the messages, a message caught his eye.
' The task is to be completed tomorrow. ' the message read.
He frowned at that thought. He hesitated, ' Well that's another first !'
If thought clearly, he would've readily agreed to it if he hadn't met- her.
Her liveliness was like the forbidden fruit which, everyone longed for after their first bite.
His task...
' Ok,' he replied and shut his laptop not wanting to put much thought into it.
' Brenden's not supposed to live! ' he reminded himself.
' Brenden must die!! '