The seventh floor out of twenty
*Two days after the storm*
The storm had cooled Paris, but Milan was as unbearable as always during summer. Moreover, the humidity made everything worse. It was difficult to breathe, and people would move with the subway - at least they had air conditioning in there.
However, once got off from the train, Vera felt the heat of the city. She had been glad to leave for a few days, but she was back to difficult nights and hot days. The pollution made it even worse, painting the sky purple some days.
Now that she was free, she would have left that city. She would spend the rest of the summer with her grandmother in the countryside. She just needed to collect her pay and bring some money to her.
«What a beautiful day!» she said, her back covered in sweat.
The couple of passers-by who were out at that time glared at her but continued on their way. It was too hot to stop and wonder about a weird girl.
Vera walked through the familiar streets she had learned to know, wondering whether to delay graduation for a few months and take a well-deserved break. She had worked for ten years and finished a hundred missions. She deserved a vacation.
Her phone rang, and she saw the familiar number on it. It was time to end things, wasn't it?
«Yes?» she said.
«Come to the base. Now.»
«Sure,» she chuckled. The voice on the other side hadn't heard her so jovial in ages. Yet, no one commented.
«I'll be waiting, so don't delay any further. We know you are in Milan already.»
«I am,» she confirmed. «Give me the time to commute there, though. I still can't teleport.»
«Half an hour.»
«Come on, it's impossible!»
«Not a minute more.»
«I have to change the subway twice! I can't make it in half an hour.»
«Be on time.»
That said, the line fell. The other side didn't seem interested in hearing her complaints.
«Oh, whatever,» she sighed. It was the last time she had to bear their tyranny. She could as well survive it.
Nothing could ruin her mood that day, not even the humidity and smog of the city.
It took her forty minutes to reach the base. It was a high building, with around twenty floors. She had only visited one of those - the seventh. She had signed the contract in the boss's office and would go there to report after her missions. That was all.
She had no clue what happened on the other floors, nor did she care.
She walked past the reception, waving her hand at the two women sitting behind the counter. They barely glanced at her, uninterested.
She hadn't developed any kind of relationship with the people of the agency. For her, they were a page of her life destined to end. There was no point in building anything more.
At the same time, she was the same for them. They had signed a contract for ten years. Once those were over, she would have left. She was just an asset, either way. Nothing worth getting attached to.
She pressed the button to call the elevator when a faint scent of vanilla filled her nose. Oh, that wench.
Vera's mood worsened, but the thought it would be the last time relieved her a little.
«Hello,» said Sara. She even smiled, moving a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. Her grey eyes were smiling just like her lips, giving the impression of a young, confident woman.
She was wearing an azure dress that day. A string of lace tightened it around her waist, giving shape to it. She was at the same time proper and appealing, the dream of any man. And she knew it - which was what annoyed Vera.
That witch knew very well what kind of effect she had on males, and she didn't care enough to hide it. She had charmed everyone at the agency and made friends with colleagues and higher-ups alike.
She was the total opposite of Vera. A white witch, collaborating with the agency since she was eighteen. A total of eight years, Vera recalled.
When Sara appeared, Vera had been working there for two years already. She was her senior, in some way. However, Sara had never valued that aspect, treating her like a junior since day one.
She had also made a career, which couldn't happen with Vera. But the latter didn't care enough to be envious. She just disliked that woman, nothing more.
«You look good today,» Sara said. «I'm happy to see you like this. You're shining!»
«T-thanks,» she muttered, unhappy.
«Has anything nice happened on your way here? You took your time.»
«Nothing much. Just visited a couple of places.»
«Alone, right?»
Vera shrugged. What kind of question was that?
«Maybe it's time to find yourself someone, Vera. You don't want to be alone forever, do you?»
«Why not?»
«Having a man by your side is fulfilling, believe me. You will know it too when you allow yourself to fall in love. Your nature doesn't prevent you from that, does it? Of course, not!»
«Are you giving me advice, Sara? You're older than me yet still single. Please, refrain from this. Help yourself before attempting it with me, okay?»
The elevator door opened, and Vera took a step out. She had just placed her foot on the floor when she felt Sara's hand on her forearm. That woman's nails dug into her skin and scratched her when she tried shaking her off.
«Oh, sorry,» she moaned.
A few drops of blood appeared on Vera's white skin, and Sara used a napkin to clean them away.
«I didn't want to hurt you, but you retracted your arm too fast.»