Chapter 3

I instinctively stepped back the moment she moved to put down her legs and rose.

There’s something about this woman that doesn't sit well with me. Her aura was dark and dangerous. The darkness of the room only added to that.

She stepped out behind the desk and took careful steps towards me. Once she was halfway towards me, I could see her more clearly now.

She was wearing an all white business suit. One that perfectly fitted her. Her long dark hair was up in a ponytail. She was very tall. A few inches taller than me.

My back hit the wall as soon as she reached before me. She didn’t need to push me with her own hands. Her presence alone pressured me to push back.

I couldn’t believe that there was a woman taller than me. I was already tall, over six feet. And the height she possessed added more to her menacing aura.

“I believe you have something that belonged to me.” She spoke in a way that was calm yet firm and intimidating.

“I...I-I… don’t know what you mean.”

She snorted before leveling her face to mine. Our faces were only two inches closer. “Do not be scared, tesoro. You only need to tell the truth and your life will be spared.”

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

The beating of my heart didn’t slow down. It quicked like it joined a race aiming for gold.

“I… I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She withdrew the distance and stood straight. She crossed her arms and smirked. Her stance was powerful and dangerous. Everything about this woman was powerful just by looking at her. “Oh, silly me. How could I speak in vague words? How will you answer if you do not know whatever was wrong?”

Her smile was small and forced. It gave shivers down my spine.

She’s a woman. I could easily take her down with all the defense classes I attended. But how could I hurt her when all she did was strike a conversation. She did trespass in my apartment though but I don’t think it’s enough reason for me to hit her… or to risk my life. She might have back up.

I don’t know what to think anymore. The woman was fucking intimidating. There’s something about her that I know will put me in danger. Perhaps I’m already angry.

“I hope you know, tesoro, that what you stole cost a billion fucking dollars. I know you were the one who had the guts to hack into our computer. I know that you waited for a perfect time when whoever built those walls’ guard was down. His name is Alvaro by the way. The best of the best. You only bested him because he wasn’t around. And you…”

She grabbed my neck with her hand and wrapped it around to choke me. She surprisingly didn’t grip it tightly but I knew what she intended to do. It was to warn me. And if I ever did something she didn’t like, she'd make sure I wouldn’t be able to breathe… ever again.

“You think you could steal from me without being traced? You could get away without being caught?” Her chuckle was filled with threats as her hand around my neck tightened minimally.

I was sweating pretty badly. I could hardly breathe. If it wasn’t her hand that was choking me, it was fear. Even if taking her down crossed my mind, I knew in my guts that I would be dead in a second even if I initiated a slightest touch. My instincts tell me this woman is far from normal, far from ordinary.

“I will give you the privilege to breathe if you only state the truth. And that is to tell me who the fuck ordered you to do it?” Her grip tightened for a few seconds rendering me unable to breath before she withdrew her hand away. “Now speak!”

Her voice was that of growling. And I know I should never mess with her.

I gasped, inhaling oxygen greedily as soon as she let me go. I was coughing and luckily she gave me the time to adjust before answering her.

“I…” I pant. “I… I needed money. I was… I was searching where I could possibly… get the money. I found your shipment…”

“Where did you direct the vessel?” She asked with narrowed eyes.

“I sold it to an organization somewhere- I just know it’s somewhere in North America. I wasn’t allowed to know. After I was paid, I instructed them how to get the vessel without being detected. I lost its trace after that.”

She was quiet and her eyes were steady at me. I kept on looking down. I feel suffocated just looking directly at her eyes.

“Franco.” I flinched.

“Boss.”

The man stepped out from the darkest corner of my room. I didn’t even notice that she had company.

My eyes widened now fearing for my life. The man was as tall as me and looked to be the same age as me. He too was also wearing a business suit but it was all black. He had a straight face but I knew there was something more behind it.

She smirked before speaking. “I’m in a mood to play a game.”

All of the sudden, the man dragged me towards a chair that he placed in the center before coming to me. He pushed me to sit down with obvious roughness.

The woman was pacing back and forth as she waited for the guy to finish his task. It amazed me that she held grace and elegance despite the evil she was emanating.

“Shall I tie him?” He asked.

She stopped pacing and looked at me. She tilted her head to the side and grinned. “No need. He’s impressively docile.” She chuckles while sauntering towards me. She leans and levels her face to mine again. She slowly takes my eyeglasses off. “I must admit. Behind this silly cover, you are handsome, aren’t you?”

She was praising me with that usual forced smile that I noticed. I could not miss the real emotions that resided in her… gray eyes. She was really uninterested in my looks despite the praise.

In an instant, she threw my glasses against the wall and threw a heavy punch against my face. My head whipped to the side from the sudden impact. I felt liquid falling down my nostrils.

Her punch was powerful and heavy. This was by far the strongest I have ever received. Stronger than the people I spar with in the gym. I can hardly compare them since all we did was play during sparring sessions.

Before I could even turn my head, she threw another punch again, and again, and again. She even offered blows to my stomach. Blows after blows after blows.

I felt dizzy and lightheaded when she stopped. I thought I was going to faint. Though my eyes were blurry, I knew that the stain in my shirt was my blood.

“You really think you could fool us, don’t you?” I feel her hand against my throat. Her thumb brushing it and then pressing with a warned force and then brushing it again.

“I gave you a chance but you’d rather choose to be tossed around like a toy.”

I could only reply in silence.

In the corner of my eyes, I saw her reaching her hand behind me. The man gave something to her. And then I saw it, my eyes widened.

“You just landed yourself into a big trouble, tesoro. A big dangerous trouble.” The gun was pointed into my forehead. She made sure to cock it, ready to blow my brains out.

I can’t die. I can’t die now! I was all they rely on. I can’t leave them like this when they need me the most right now.

My eyes shut close, tears forming as a decision was made in my mind.

“Sol…” I answered hopefully not too late. “It was Sol.”

When I opened my eyes, her gun was already down. I slowly brought my eyes to her face and saw that she was scowling as she looked at me with interest.