CHAPTER FOUR

Later in the afternoon, I wake up after a much-needed rest. I spend most of my nights out and sleep whenever I find time during the day. Picking up my iPhone, there are few missed calls which remind of that I never returned morning call. I must have dozed off while thinking my brains out.

There's a spin show outside town, tonight. The boys must have been calling about that. This is practically, our job. We organise spin shows and races with the owner of the racetrack outside town. The old man as we call him, was a friend of my dad, and that's how I got to work with him. Nobody really knows the organisers behind these events. Even the racers and spinners there only know the old man and his garage.

I Quickly send them a text on WhatsApp, and head to the bathroom. My stomach growls terribly reminding me that I haven't had a proper meal since yesterday. I pick up my other phone on the nightstand and order Pizza before going to take a shower.

It's 3pm and the show will be starting at six in the evening, I guess I still have time to eat before leaving. Spin shows usually start early before sunset, especially now that it's late April and the sun sets a little bit earlier than during summer. Tonight's show will exceptionally start late because it's a weekday.

By the time I am done, I hear voices from the living room. I wonder if Sarah had unexpected visitors. We don't usually receive guests, especially without notice. With the security at the gate, people don't just enter or exit the complex without the host's security check, and our neighbours never knocks at our door unless it's an emergency case. After quickly getting dressed I head out to see our rare guests on a weekday.

When I open my door, I am greeted by a familiar voice making me sigh out of frustration. After quietly closing the door I turn to look at the two figures sitting comfortably on my living room couch, eating what I believe to be my meaty triple-decker pizza with extra cheese. My tummy cannot help but growl no longer in hunger but anger.

As if sensing my raging mood, Sarah looks up at me from the floor carpet, with her innocent big eyes and a half-opened mouth that is about to devour my dinner. The two unwelcomed figures on the couch follows Sarah's gaze and freeze when they see the cold look on my serious face.

"Sorry, it wasn't me! It was his idea!"

"What? Kid, what do you mean it's my idea? You took the first slice."

"Nathan, Matthew… what are you both doing in here?" Speak not caring about their bickering, as I walk slowly to the coffee table and pick up the box with two slices remaining. I can feel all eyes follow me when I head to the kitchen are and put the pizza in a microwave dish to heat it up.

"I thought I asked a question, why are you all gawking at me as if I took away your candy from your mouths?"

"Uhm, Shaz, Nathan said they came to pick you up and I thought you already gotten the security check for them. When I came to your room you were taking a shower. So, I let them wait here." Sarah tries to explain nervously.

Well, of course I was in the shower when they arrived, I never gave a security check, except that there is someone who does not follow my rules.

"Yeah, Shazzz, we came as you told us to pick you up. And anyway, we are 'family'." Matthew says emphasizing more on the Shaz name and the word, family. Nathan also backs him up looking at me like an innocent child who was caught stealing food.

"Yeah, that's right. Sorry about the Pizza though, we just couldn't help it."

I take out the heated pizza from the microwave oven and walk to sit on the armchair then start eating. I asked Sarah if she ate enough and leave her my bank card to order supper later. I make a note to get the other two people to buy my pizza since they ate my dinner.

"Nathan, give me my access card back."

"Really? I just used it once and for the first time since you gave it to me. Anyway, didn't we just agree that we are family? How am I supposed to come check on you, or Sarah?"

Nathan whines but reluctantly give me the card when he sees that I am not joking. As if I'll ever need him to check on me. Even though I introduced him to the security at the gate, it was only to allow him access only when it's an emergency or he needs to update the security system.

I look at the singe card placed on the coffee table and look back at him. He looks at Matthew with pleading eyes for help, but the latter refuses to help and just focus on the TV.

"The two other copies you made without my permission; I want them also."

After saying that I stand up with the empty dish in my hand and take it to the kitchen. Nathan follows me trying to convince me that he knows nothing about copies of my apartment complex access card. But when he realises that I am not buying it, he takes out another card and hand it to me.

"Come on, Shaz. How do you even know that?"

"Kid, I think you forget who your teacher was and who is now. I know all of your work. I know everyone you hacked, and I know that you have been playing with my security system." Hearing what I have to say, he sighs as a sign of retreat.

"But I was not playing with it, you told me to help you update it and make sure everything remains protected. How am I supposed to do all that without testing the system?"

I sigh and turn to leave knowing, that it's no use talking about it because he is just going to continue.

"Okay, but stop trying to hack into my businesses, especially the complex. There are people renting all these apartments and I don't want their security compromised."

"Okay ma'am"

After saying goodbye to Sarah with Matthew trying to get her to come with us, the three of us without wasting anymore time.

...