CHAPTER 4

THE ASSISTANT — Veronica Lianda

Savannah

Accomplishing Mission

Everything happened so fast. The news of my  embarrassment have spread to the whole ALV. X Compound.

'You are only my daughter, and nothing more!'

His words were repeating again and again inside my mind. Dad was getting suspicious lately. Everytime I asked for his help solving cases, he always lend his hands for me.

I was driving on my way to the A.X.X.E to start my job. 7 am in the morning when I arrived at the agency. I removed my earpiece before entering the first floor of the underground building.

The machine scanned me from head to toe before entering the conference room. Henry gave me the blue card, which means I am officially working here.

Looking at the table, I tapped it twice to turn it on. My name was on the side of Axxe's name. I'm his assistant, so I better not leave his side.

The conference room was empty, but seeing the message from the big tablet on my table, made me amused for a second!

Come into my office.

-AXXE

"Finally" I heaved a sigh before walking happily to his office.

Finally, I can see him now.

Walking on the most quiet hallway, I can hear my footsteps barging on the floors. I was on my way to the elevator, securities were everywhere guarding every corner of the compound.

The elevator was going down to the deepest room of the agency where Axxe's Private office was located.

Before I could even slide my blue card, the door opened. I quickly walked inside the room, mesmerized by the dark designs and vibes.

Looking back at the door made me more amuse for a moment. There's no security camera, the door was a metal type substance when you're looking from outside—but when you're inside looking at the door, it was perfectly clear. You can see every workers passing by the room, the 19 paintings of ZILVV outside, the guards, and even the smallest parts of the floor.

I tried to tap the door screen, but a dark deep voice stopped me.

"Veronica Lianda" From the dark shadow, I saw someone walking towards me. His footsteps were heavy and his face was in the dark part. I cannot see his face, but his whole body is in light.

"Uh, yes sir." I almost jumped in shock when he suddenly spoke up from the dark.

"You're 2minutes and 23 seconds late."

He step out to the darkness and came to light. He was so fucking handsome. His long hair was tied behind leaving small strands of his hair on his forehead. His nose were perfectly pointed, his eyes were perfectly shaped and his face was heavenly made. I didn't know a guy could be this attractive.

He was busy folding his sleeves up to his elbow. Staring at his face, I noticed his earpiece on the right side of his ears. He was wearing a white dress shirt with two buttons open, a black tie, and his left hand was holding the black suit.

He walked pass me before tapping his ear saying: "Prepare the car."

I quickly followed him outside. He was talking to someone using his ear device. I don't know who his talking with or what they're talking about.

We entered the elevator and the silence filled the room. I don't know where exactly we were going but he suddenly told me to press the button that can lead us to the garage.

He entered the car at the driver's seat. I don't know if I will get into the car too, he was not speaking! I just walked back to the elevator, because he didn't even speak! It's embarrassing to enter without being invited!

Suddenly out of nowhere, I heard him opened the car window, and before I could even look, he said:

"I am in a hurry, miss. So if you don't mind, just hop into the car so I can start driving."

I hurriedly walked towards the car and opened the back seat as I hear those dark voice. I don't know how was I like this, I was trained as a professional artist in my agency, why was I scared?

I encountered lots of things like this tapos ngayon lang ako matatakot?

"Sorry sir."

•••

We arrived at a restaurant, a fancy one. Geez why are we here? Now I feel like I'm on a date. We sat opposite in a small table for two. The sound of the pianos, the clinging of the utensils, and the elegant people all over me were music to my ears.

"Good morning madame Veronica and mr. Axleove." The waiter said as he handed over the menu. How did he know the name of my fake character? I don't know who's Axleove, maybe one of his names?

"Good morning." I said, softly and gave him a slight smile.

"Morning."

"We'll take two of this." My boss said, pointing at the food he was going to order. He also gave his menu to the waiter and tapped his high technology watch .

"Actually, I'm not that hungry." I gave the menu back to the waiter before he left. I'm not really hungry. Just a bit, and I'm on a diet so I won't eat breakfast.

I don't know who AXXE really is, but he really looks so familiar. I feel like I know him well, like we were friends before. Was that possible?

Minutes later, the food has arrived. But I was surprised when the waiter placed a plate of salad in front of me.

"I'm sorry, I did not order anything." I Said to the waiter, but he was on his way back to the kitchen.

"Eat." My boss was just starring at me with a serious face. He got salad too. The way his fingers move, holding the utensils pushed my mind into a deja Vu. But I can not remember anything, even his face.

"Uh, I cannot eat this." Saying that I pushed the plate slowly.

"That's not chicken." He continued eating after saying those words. How does he know? I quickly pulled the salad again and started eating, actually gutom na talaga ako.

I looked at him. We ate in silence after leaving the restaurant. He didn't pay any bill so I decided to talked to the waiter while my boss was heading to the door way.

"How much was the bill?" I asked while counting the cash on my wallet.

"No, no ma'am. Mr. Axleove owns this place." The waiter said and smiled immediately before bowing and then he left.

Weird. I wonder how many names was this man holding. Mr. Axxe was just leaning his back on the door way with his arms crossed, waiting for me.

I just walked towards him before he scolded me. Where are we going anyway?

"Flirting with the waiter? You better stop." He suddenly turned his back to me and started walking. Why is he thinking such things?

Flirting? I was just asking for the bill!

"I wasn't" I started explaining as I walked quickly to catch up after him, boy he was walking way too fast! "I was just asking for the bill, I did not expect that you own this place. "

A grin showed on his place before he entered the car. I entered the backseat but I heard the dark voice again instead.

"An assistant should stay close to his boss. But why is my assistant sitting on the back?" He looked at me through the driver's mirror reflecting me behind. I can only see his eyes, his dark red eyes starring at me.

I sighed inwardly before getting out of the car to sit beside him.

Is this hacker teasing me?

I inserted my seatbelt before he started driving.

"We are heading to the orphanage. But we're going to get dressed first. We received an anonymous tip saying that Mrs. Thiara Francisco was hurting and harassing the children inside the orphan. The tip said that childrens were sold for cyber sex so they will get paid." He continued speaking while his eyes were on the road.

"What I want you to do is to help me scan the room. Do not bring journals or something you can write on, they might doubt us. Agent Henry Dawn prepared everything, all we have to do is to pretend that we are a couple. We ha—"

"A couple?" I cut him out. My first fucking day and mission at work was to pretend to be his wife!

I should warn you, mister. I can be as naughty as you expected.

His eyes were on the road, while mine was on his  hands gracefully rotating the steering wheel. I was just listening to him, gathering every single word that comes out on his mouth.

Poor children. Why do they have to go through this.

We have to get to the bottom of this. Goodluck Prey, your predator's here.

K_SHADES || K.S.