Chapter 4

Shit.

Frank didn't know what was wrong with this city but lately it was as though he was always caught in a traffic.

He looked at his watch as he clambered up the steps leading to the company doors.

Harris would be pissed. He knew Harris was always waiting for an opportunity like this, an opportunity to remind him of how terrible a CEO he was.

He entered the doors and headed straight for the elevators without replying any greeting aimed at him. Few minutes later he was on the floor that his office was located in.

Beauty greeted him briskly as he hurried to his office praying that he would at least, by some stroke of luck miss bumping into Harris.

Frank entered into his office to see Harris seated at his seat his beady black eyes at the door.

"You're late frank what was it this time, let me guess another traffic?" Harris said scorn dripping from his voice.

"Actually yeah there was traffic."

"There you go again with your stupid excuse!" Harris yelled suddenly banging his fist on the table. "Are you not tired of giving lame excuses?"

Frank hated the way Harris usually spoke to him. Even if he wasn't a gem in his uncles eyes he was the CEO goddamn it, at least which had to count for something.

"You don't have to speak to me in such a manner Harris" Frank started."In what manner" Frank growled. "In what manner shouldn't I speak to you? You think I am going to sit down here and watch you abuse your position as the CEO of this company!" Harris roared.

"I am abusing no position. Just because I am the CEO doesn't mean I don't know my duties. Hell I didn't even ask to be given this position, I didn't want it anyway!" Frank said his voice rising.

By now Beauty was throwing worried glances over at the office.

Harris laughed.

"I don't know whatever made your father to make this decision. My brother had always been a very sensible man, maybe towards his old age he had become senile".

"Don't you dare talk about my father that way or I swear you'll regretit" Frank threatened advancing on Harris his eyes flashing with suppressed rage.

"Your threats mean nothing to me frank and you know it" Harris said his eyes equally flashing with suppressed rage.

The office door suddenly opened and beauty stepped in.

"Sir, a business associate is waiting for you over at the lobby sir" she

said pointedly at Harris.

Frank and Harris stared down at each other as their gazes both conveyed hatred.

"This isn't over Frank." Harris growled before leaving the office.

Frank kept mute and watched as Harris left the office with beauty at his

side.

He felt so mad. He wanted to hit something, anything. He was never really good at storing pent up rage. He exhaled slowly, counted to ten, exhaled counted again then went over to his seat. Dropping his suitcase on the table he sat on his swivel chair and turned to watch the Californian city skyline.

What was the problem with his uncle? Did he really hate him that much?

Frank was burning with rage. He hadn't asked for this CEO position in the first place. He had only been trying to please his old man at that time, but now he wasn't so sure anymore.

He didn't even know if this job was worth it anymore.

He needed a drink.

He got up from his chair and walked over to the elevator.

"Mr Frank…"

"None of your business Beauty" he said irritably.

*****************************************************

"Scotch on the rocks please".

The bar was quiet which was all right to frank because he needed a quiet place to think right now. A few people sat scattered around conversing in hushed tones.

The barman dropped his drink and frank paid. He took a sip and sighed as he felt the familiar heat lance his throat.

"Yo frank, is it really you" someone said coming to sit in the stool next to him.

Whatever happened to his peace and quiet?Frank turned around to see a tall man with brown eyes and a strong jawline, handsome face that didn't look to be aging and black hair thatwas gelled back.

"Luke!"

"Yup, me in the flesh baby" Luke said throwing his arms wide as Frank hugged him.

Luke had been one of Frank's best friends back in college. After college he had moved over to Hawaii so frank had lost contact with him.

"I heard you are a CEO now, that is great of you partner" Luke said thumping him at the back.

Frank suppressed a foolish grin. Partner had been one of the things Luke usually called him back in college.

"Yeah it kinda happened."

"I never saw that coming. In fact if anybody had ever told me that you could become a CEO six years ago I would beaten the person up prettygood." Luke said collecting franks drink and downing it in one gulp.

Frank knew it wasn't a joke he knew what Luke could do and couldn't do perfectly.

A sudden serious expression came over Luke's face as he dropped the

glass. He leaned over to Frank who was watching him curiously.

"You ever heard of any society that that catches men who cheat on their wives."

"What?"

That was the most absurd thing Frank had ever heard in his life but knowing that it had come from Luke's mouth he wasn't quite surprisedLuke could be a clown at times.

"What the heck are you talking about Luke."

"I'm dead serious here. My wife Jessica she broke up with me because I had gotten into a sort of…funny situation with one of them" Luke whispered.

"One of who exactly" Frank asked a grin on his face.

"One of the workers" Luke continued whispering.

"And how do you know all this Luke?"

"I did a little bit of investigation. But its okay if you don't know about the society, I didn't expect you know though. They are quite hidden" Luke said leaning away from frank and ordering for his own drink.

"Ill prove it to you though" he said an old twinkle in his eyes which Frank had loved back then.

Luke took his drink and finished it in a gulp.

"Enough talk about secret societies and shit, tell me how is the old Harris hasn't he choked on a bone yet." Luke said rubbing his hands.

Frank didn't really know how much he had missed this guy but he could bet it was a lot.

*************************************

Amanda eased into her swivel chair and stared at her computer. She she had specifically requested to see no one today. The events of last night were still haunting her.She was thoroughly confused. Did it mean that Danielle had given her wrong information or had wanted to play a trick on her? She just didn't know what to make of it.

She shuddered to think what would have happened if the hooded man hadn't arrived. She could have been…

Amanda suppressed the memory. She didn't want to go there.

Besides who was the hooded guy. Amanda didn't even have the chance to thank him properly.

She had told no one of what had happened to her yesterday night. Not mother Kaline not Chloe.

She went over to her computer and hit the web icon, typing hooded man into the search button she waited for the results.

The results were much. Some useless some irrelevant some even…weird.

Amanda kept on filtering through the search until finally something caught her eyes.

A post by someone named watcher about a hooded man. Amanda clicked on the post and was rewarded with an image which a spitting replica of the figure she had seen last night although his face was still hidden.

Amanda read all the posts published by the watcher. Each and every one of them was about heroic acts performed by the hooded man.

Finally in a post Amanda saw the name Renegade.

He was some kind of vigilante.

Amanda bookmarked the site and switched off the computer.

Her phone rang and she picked it.

"Hello Amanda Jacobes on the line."

There was a brief silence at the other end before a voice spoke slowly.

"I hope you enjoyed yesterday night. I know that somehow you're still alive."

Danielle.

"Why did you do that to me Danielle? Why did you want to harm me?

Danielle laughed a short, cold laugh.

"Don't worry Amanda last night was a teaser. I'm not going to stop until you pay. I'm going to watch you die someday."

"What did…"

Danielle had cut the call.

Last night she had been reckless she had forgotten everything the society had taught her. She had forgotten her basic defense skills.But this time around she was calm. She wasn't afraid of Danielle or anything she could do to her. Because by then she would be ready.

Her phone rang again and this time she hesitated, staring with vacant eyes at the caller's name before she realized it was Chloe.

"Hello" Chloe said shakily.

Amanda suddenly felt cold all over.

Chloe was crying. Chloe wasn't one who spilled tears anyhow.

"Chloe talk to me what is it, what is going on."

"Amanda…she…oh god…I can't…"Chloe sobbed heavily."Amanda, Vanlik is dead." Chloe sniffled and started crying again.

Amanda felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach.

Vanlilk was Chloe's childhood friend and best friend. The two of them

were almost inseparable.

"Don't do anything Chloe I'll be right there." Amanda said rising from her chair and grabbing her bag.

Twenty five minutes later Amanda was inserting her key into the keyhole. She saw Chloe standing at one of the windows of the living room.

"Hey" Amanda said moving over to hug Chloe. Immediately Amanda hugged her Chloe began crying again.

"Shh, shh, it's okay, okay" Amanda consoled Chloe.

"They found her body this morning in her apartment" Chloe sniffled.

"How did it happen?"

"I don't know. Her body didn't have any injuries there was no sign of a struggle.

"I'm so sorry Chloe" Amanda said.

"It's not your fault." Chloe said wiping her eyes.

"If you ever need me, I'm here."

"I know Amanda" Chloe said wearily. "I'm going to get revenge for her."

Amanda only nodded.

"If I find them they are going to pay" Chloe said tearfully.

Amanda gave chloe a bear hug this time keeping her there. Chloe had been there for her now she should be here for her. She had to be strong, for herself and Chloe. She knew something was coming and she needed to be prepared.