The sun had set and stained the once blue sky with vibrant hues of oranges, purples, indigo, the back streets of the bustling city of Dorado was filled with the locals on the search for the best deals the various shops offered. The scent of sweets, various foods and spices wafted through the main street and tapered out as the streets continued on towards the inciting golden sands of Dorado's beach.
The beach was one of Dorado's main attractions, normally crowded with those on vacation, children's laughter as they built sandcastles, played in the crystal blue waters with their family, and others just lazily lounged on the beach. It was a bit cooler tonight, all of the families were on their walks home, or had their evening walk.
All the shops were closed except for one floral shop.
Kallista carefully wrapped a dozen of roses that had yet to bloom, a request from the customer, she wrapped them in her boutique's signature colors, black, white and pastel green and finally covered them with a plastic shield before she handed it to the man dressed in black.
Black dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbow,
Black dress trousers with a basic black belt with a designer looking belt buckle,
A thin sepia colored scarf,
And nice dress shoes.
He didn't wear many accessories, a simple but expensive looking wrist watch, no wedding band.
Just by his looks alone, she could instantly tell that the man was not from the area and she had seen the man two days prior before he came into her shop. As she passed by it sounded like the man had asked one of the locals for directions but she knew better. Whoever the unknown man was he was he was in Dorado for a reason.
"How long have you been living here in Dorado?"
The man's voice was low, deep in octave, every word that came from his mouth felt as if it had authority, strength behind it.
"I've lived in Dorado my whole life, I just recently opened my shop about five months ago," Kallista replied with a small smile.
"Oh? So you're native here then?"
"Yes. Are you on vacation with your wife?" Kallista questioned. She knew that the man wasn't married, she already noticed that the man didn't have a wedding band. In the back of her mind, she knew that that the man was fishing for something in the guise of small talk.
A deep rumble of a chuckle came from the man at the mention of "wife"
"I'm flattered you would think that I'm married but I am not. These are for a friend,"
"I apologize for assuming!" Kallista replied with a feigned surprise.
"It's fine...How long until the roses bloom?"
"With these specific roses, a day or so...maybe a little bit sooner," Kallista replied
"Ah, ok. Hopefully, I can get them to my friend before then," the man said as he studied the roses.
Kallista quickly studied the man's feature, dark olive like skin, stern cognac like eyes, a few scars, neatly trimmed facial hair, his hair short with a slight curl to it.
Definitely not a local from Dorado.
"All of your flowers are beautiful. I can see all of your hard work and dedication that you put into growing them." he began as he looked around the open air boutique.
"Yes. It's something that I've wanted to do since I was a child. I am happy that I'm able to follow a dream of mine," Kallista replied.
"Ah...following your dreams...that's admirable and it seems like you're doing well. I was asking for more floral shops in the area and all of the locals I spoke to recommended you...which says a lot,"
"I'm flattered," Kallisa smiled.
"Well then...I won't take up any more of your time. I've already paid you correct?"
"Yes, you requested no receipt as well," Kallista replied as she looked up the previous transaction.
"Wonderful...also I don't think I ever asked for your name,"
"It's Camilla...here please take a business card," Kallista said as she handed the man her business card.
"Camilla...thank you. I'll be sure to come back before I head back,"
"Sounds good. I hope to see you soon. Thank you for your patronage," Kallista said as she watched the man leave her shop.
A sigh slipped past her lips and soon her fingers were gliding across a holographic keyboard in hopes to find out who this man was.
Dillan Berardinis, CFO of Hypogen Technologies.
She knew the name and information about the man was fake.
All of it.
A day had passed since she had seen the man, Kallista had her suspicions about the man but figured it was best to have a hands-off approach. If she were to see the man again and approach her, she would then take action, but until then, she continued as normal.
Caramel Iced Coffee from her favorite local coffee boutique, responding to emails from clients and friends, spending her time at her shop tending her flowers and online orders, and then return home. Only this time when Kallista returned home there was something different. There were a dozen of fully bloomed roses on the doorstep.
Cautiously she looked around to see if anyone had trailed her or were watching her, no one. Hesitantly she picked up the roses and read the attached note.
8 PM
The roses were no doubt hers and the fact that they were here confirmed her suspicions about the man who went by the name of Dillan. Kallista glanced at her cell phone and the time, it was 7:45 PM, she had 15 minutes to prepare for whatever the man had planned. Her curiosity piqued as to what the man could want and for him to seek her out at her home. Kallista entered her apartment to prepare herself for whatever was to come her way.
Things like this didn't happen very often, her location was usually the hardest thing to find, she was hard to find, she wanted it that way for obvious reasons. The hacker extraordinaire, the woman who rivaled the government's own intelligence departments, a wanted woman hidden in plain sight. She weaved her way into any technology with her sticky fingers, taking information that she needed and left ruin in her wake. She was a dangerous woman that could bring down CEOs, politicians, cities, states, nations and countries alike, she could do it with just a few simple keyboard touches.
A woman with so much power, of course, they would want someone like her.
Kallista looked at her watch on her wrist before she went over to the door and opened it slowly. She saw the same man who casually leaned on the side of a sporty black coupe.
"They blossomed like you said they would," he began.
"They are my flowers,"
"That they are," he chuckled.
"You've been here for a week...watching me. Is there something you want?" Kallista questioned the man.
"Good eye. But I will say I enjoy watching you work and blend in,"
"I'm not sure if that would be a compliment or borderline unsettling,"
"Take it as you will,"
Kallista scoffed at the man's comment and shifted her stance, arms crossed, her weight shifted on her right side.
"What do you want Reyes?" Kallista was the first to break the silence.
"I need your assistance with a matter," he began.
"What is it?" Kallista scoffed.
"Your presence,"
"My presence?"
"Yes, I know that this borderline breaching the contract we established but this isn't for Phoenix Arms...this is for me personally," he continued.
"I don't do personal favors," Kallista replied.
"This isn't a favor, I intend to pay you in addition to what Phoenix already owes you once you complete their task,"
"How much?" Kallista questioned.
"An addition 100 grand which would make your total gains, 600,000 USD,"
Kallista looked him from head to toe, she had never met the man but she knew of him, Gabriel Reyes, the boss of the small company called Blackhawke Corps, but worked on the behalf of her current client, Phoenix Arms. She quickly connected the pieces together, Blackhawke Corps did the dirty work while Phoenix kept their 'clean' appearance.
The offer was at least decent in her standard, especially just to have her presence, and sure everyone wanted money, but what would be the aftermath what would come after.
"Come from behind the screens and stretch your legs a bit,"
"Funny. How long will I be gone?" Kallista questioned.
"Hopefully just for a night,"
"Hopefully?" Kallista questioned.
"It depends, the night is young...unless you have a curfew," Gabriel quipped. Kallista scoffed at the man's comment.