The car moved quietly through the residential neighborhood set up near to the Company. Ian drove, staring occasionally in the rearview mirror at Ana's dark face, who looked thoughtful through the smoked glass of the car. The newest model of Mercedes CLA waited for them in front of the hotel when they left that morning. Ian couldn't be happier to tame such a beast so he was pushing over 130 mph, just to see how the motor puts little effort in fulfilling his wishes.
He set the GPS with Ana's new address so they were driving now towards home. Ana was silent since the explosion she had on the beach that morning and although Ian tried to joke all that day, he didn't manage to pull her out from that state of mind.
"You okay, Ana? You haven't said a word since we left.". He finally asked.
"I'm fine.". She said, smiling at him. "It's nothing that a hot bath and a bottle of whiskey can't solve."
"That's our girl.". Ian exclaimed.
Ana turned and watched Ian carefully. He had the looks of a police officer, he was stiff, careful and tidy, but his eyes were warm and sincere. All that blue surrounded Ana, making her feel comfortable. He saw that she checks him so he smiled again.
"You smile a lot.". Ana said, grumpy again. "I don't like people who smile for no reason."
"I don't buy it. And I only smile to you."
"How old are you, Ian? I don't know anything about you." Ana continued with a soft voice, feeling less lonelier than the usual.
"Almost forty.". Ian replied.
"Wow, you're young. Do you have a family?"
"I'm divorced, but I do have a ten-year-old son. He is wonderful. He's living with my ex-wife.".
"I'm sorry to hear that. Family... is important.". Ana murmured, looking out the car's window again.
Ian pulled the car in front of a small, but cozy house. The area was lovely, full of cute cottages with small gardens, flowers in front.
"This is where most of our managers and expats live.". Ian said, opening the car's door for Ana to exit. "You did good, Miss Scoutt. Oh, by the way, I don't think anybody mentioned it, but I'm living with you from now on.".
The house seemed small, but it wasn't. They entered a big lobby which opened direct into a living room and an open space kitchen. In the back, there was a room with its own bathroom. Upstairs, there was the main bedroom with a dressing room, a bathroom, and a small chic office. It was a feminine home, in white and cream. By the courtesy of Miss Gilbert, the dressing room was full of clothes, lingerie, shoes and accessories. As Ian installed himself in the room in the back, Ana poured two glasses of whiskey, walking slowly through the living room. It wasn't a cheap house, it was nice and it had the air of "home" which was enough for her. Amused, she entered the kitchen and she touched the unblemished appliances.
"I can cook.". Ian said behind her, with the glass of whiskey in his hand. "I'm pretty sure you only know how to make coffee. And I can't let you starve to death.".
"I used to cook a very long time ago.". Ana replied softly.
"For whom?". Ian aAsked curiously.
"I'll go take a shower, I need to wash away the smell of seaside and dead bodies.". She dodged the answer and ran up the stairs. She closed quickly the door of her bedroom. Her heart pumped strongly and she turned on the water in the bathtub, trying not to hear her own thoughts. I have such a different life since three years ago. I used to laugh, I can't remember how it feels to laugh. Or to have a friend. She sat in the hot water, feeling her body burning and heartbeat speeding up. I miss Lore. I would love drinking coffee with her again, talking nonsense, dancing until one of us drops. Maybe getting serious when one of us had a love problem. The Collector took my life and burned it to the ground, he gave me a new purpose and made me powerful, but I miss anonymity the most. Relax, Ana, you wanted to be somebody and you wanted revenge.
She descended again, wearing leggings and a t-shirt, with her hair in a ponytail. She looked like a teenager with no worries except questioning if she will be kissed at the prom. Ian made a salad in the kitchen, giving her a huge smile:
"I'm making a salmon salad, many antioxidants and Omega 3.".
"I'm not hungry, Ian.". Ana said, turning her head from food in disgust.
"No, no, Ana, you must eat, we have work to do tonight.". He said, showing her a pack of books and files on the coffee table in the living room. These came for you and you have to learn everything about HSSE and the personnel you'll meet in... Ten hours. So we have antioxidants, Omega 3 and coffee.
"Why are you so good to me?" She asked, sitting comfortably on the couch and taking the first book on top, "OHSAS 18001".
"I don't know, I'm a good person?" He laughed. "Let's start from the beginning.". He came and sat on the armchair next to her. "What would you prefer, rules or kinky stuff about your subordinates?". He winked.
"Neither. I just want to talk.". She said, sipping her coffee. For how long have you been working here?
"Well, I will have seventeen years next month. I have worked here since I finished college. Now I am called when there are work-related incidents and I make the internal investigation and suggest the measures the company should take. It's simple actually-". He continued, seeing Ana's interest growing. "-All you have to do in an investigation is to answer to several "whys". For example, let's assume a worker catches his fingers in a power tongue. Why did he catch his finger? Why was he there? Why was that operation advancing? Why didn't he stop the work? And from every answer, you will find another Why to answered. And there's one more thing: everybody lies, even if they did something right. When they drive and have a car incident, you asked them about their speed. Even if they drove accordingly to the legislation, invariably they will lower their speed to 10 mph. They know we oversee that every second. But they still lie.".
Ana took the first files on the table and opened it. A big photo of Collin was there and many things about his past.
"Does Collin live here? She nonchalantly asked while she spread the papers in the file, looking for something dirty. But from what she saw, he was perfect. Nobody is that perfect. A straight A student, no alcohol, no drugs, no police ever involved, no mistresses. His psychological profile said that he was a leader, sharp, hates being lied to, doesn't like to be controlled.
"Yes, he does. And Christian.".
"Oh, Christian. Thank you for that subtle reminder.". She said, taking Christian's file. "You know all this is fake, right?". She waved the papers. "Somebody who can act so good after killing his girlfriend can easily trick a psychologist. I'm just wasting time. Why do you think Collin is not married or at least divorced? For sure he has a problem.".
"A bigger problem than his dedication to work?". Ian started to laugh, pouring two glasses of whiskey, understanding the teaching time was over. "His assistant, Gabriella, works sixteen hours each day and when she comes and goes from the office, he is there. Nobody can have a family working like this. But if it comforts you, he probably has a small dick. My God, Ana, don't you ever laugh?". He exploded since his joke only placed a tormented smile on Ana's face.
"A small dick is a very serious subject, Ian." She said with a plain face, then started to laugh immediately.
"Tell me about it.". Ian replied, also laughing powerfully, thrilled to see Ana throwing back her head and laughing even louder, holding her belly.
The pleasure of laughing made her feel more alive than ever and she indulged to those feelings.
"I need to sleep.". She finally said. "I have to rest and we will take it in the morning. Good night, Ian, and thank you!".
She entered her bedroom feeling calm for the first time in many months. She felt secure having Ian in the house. Opening one of the closet's drawers, she found some night lingerie. She took off her clothes and changed into a black lace lingerie, short and sensual. She sat in front of the huge mirror placed on one wall, caressing the sweet lace, analyzing her body and started to brush her hair. I shouldn't have yelled at Collin, but God, I had a year of anger management training and he succeeds to annoy me. Why does he bother me like this? I want him to take care of me and I get frighten at the idea that he will fail or disappoint me in some way. Do I like him more it should? She shook her head in denial at the thought she might like Collin.
Ana turned off the light, sat in her new lavender sheets and tried to turn on the TV. It wasn't working. It's dark, breathe, Ana, it's dark. She unveiled and tried to calm her heartbeats, but fear pinned her to the bed.
"IAN!". She managed to scream desperately. "My TV isn't working!".
She heard him running on the stairs, entering her room, turning on the lights and trying to understand what was going on.
"What happened? I heard you screaming."
"My TV isn't working.". She sighed from under the sheets. "I can't sleep in the dark."
"Then sleep with the lights on or open the bathroom door. I will see tomorrow what's wrong with the TV.".
"I can't sleep with the lights turned on and I don't like open doors, they give me the creeps.".
"You're kidding, right?" He said, coming closer to Ana. He saw her legs shaking uncontrollably and placed his warm hand on her feet. "You're not kidding, you're actually scared. Try to relax, Ana, everything is Okay.". He continued to say, caressing her foot. He got up to go turn off the lights when Ana cried:
"Don't go!"
"I'm not going anywhere.". Ian said in the dark, sitting on the floor with his head on her bed, placing once more the hand on her foot. "I'm here. Relax. Sleep. I'm here.".