Chapter 2
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Cry for help,
sanity,
and the lost of noble people.
--
"You must be fully informed of his history…"
Lucia rudely checked her watch, noting feverently that is was already one hour she had spent with Andre, hearing about all the criminal commitments her Uncle's gang made. It was all too familiar to her.
"Yeah." Lucia briefly lifted the corners of her mouth, and spoke, "Sorry, I've got a meeting. Time flies, doesn't it?" With that she quickly grabbed her umbrella and took out her designer wallet. Looking distressed, she ruffled through and pulled out a hundred dollar bill and threw it on the table.
Andre as well got up. They shook hands again, and he said, "Till next time."
"Pleasant working with you, Andre." Lucia said.
"Oh, one more thing. Our discussions and partnership should be only between us two and the CIS. A third party should not be involved. Understood?"
Staring at the hundred dollar bill, Andre sat down again.
Lucia opened the door in the café to meet cold winds and beating rain. With her umbrella protecting her, she walked to the back to where her car was parked. The car beeped, and before she could enter she felt hands grasping her from behind.
All that was left was an open car door and a deserted umbrella.
--
Struggling against two built men, her mouth was duct taped and her hands tied behind her back. A sac was thrown over her head and she felt and she was being lifted and placed into a truck. Once the engine started moving, Lucia felt a tremendous rage built up within her. After long hours of driving, her emotion never subsided even when the truck came to a halt. She was lifted out again, and was led through what seemed like many corridors.
Finally, she was roughly seated and the sac pulled off her head. Before her eyes could adjust to the light, the duct tape on her mouth was yanked off.
"Fuck!" She swore loudly. Her eyes squinting, the figure of her uncle came into view.
He stood there, standing in front of her and looking down. "What happened, Lucia? I thought I trusted you."
"What did you see?" she asked coldly.
"You and your former enemy, the CIS, planning to expose me?"
"I never intended to do that. I was just fooling around with them." She sneered.
Snyde Vanderson stayed silent. After a few minutes, he lifted Lucia's chin. "I'm sorry, child. Release her."
The ropes on her hand were cut, and Lucia had to control her anger. "We'll meet again, Uncle."
The two men that kidnapped her made of move of helping her find the way out, but she stopped them, and opened the door herself. There was only one hallway, so she followed that. When she neared a metal door, she twisted the knob. Fortunately it was unlocked, so she opened it to reveal an underground parking lot. She took the stairs and entered a seedy part of Aprillius One. And it was raining.
Lucia quickly headed toward a variety shop, in hope of finding an umbrella. At least her kidnappers didn't take her wallet. She purchased an umbrella, and stood at the streets, trying to hail a taxi.
"Goren Street" She told the driver. His eyes widened. "That's a damn long way from 'ere, missy, --"
She glared, and he shifted back and started driving. Lucia was bewildered at her uncle's low amount of trust in her. If he was going to be that way, she would go separate her path from his. She was going to bring him down.
--
"Ms Vanderson, nine new messages for you and from our domestic profit, two errors of infiltration and misfile"
Lucia gave a nod, and entered her office. On her computer she hurriedly inserted an USB and opened the files of her Uncle. Feeling assured, she closed it. There was knock on the door and it opened, walking in a middle-aged woman dressed in a pantsuit and black shoes. She smiled with confidence, and spoke in an even and low tone, "How are you, Ms. Vanderson? My name is Terriane Frayloc, and I will be your new agent, according Mr. Grever."
"Very well, Ms. Frayloc. Grever's review please?"
"Please, just call me Terraine is fine." She handed Lucia the papers.
"Terraine? Start by contacting the YRT productions on a misfiled invoice, here it is."
When Terraine left, Lucia sighed and continued her work on her computer. Her eyes scanning through the list of new customers/investors, she stopped at a particular name. She double clicked on Jule Ltd.
There listed the details. The investor was obviously Yzak Jule, and he had just become an investor of one of her bank branches.
Shrugging to herself, she was pleased. It would bring in money, and that's what counts.
She closed her eyes and suddenly remembered her car. Lucia had no intention of ditching it; she had grown accustomed to the Lexus. She quickly got up and strode out of her office.
"Ms. Vanderson?"
"I'm in a hurry, Terraine."
Down in the building's underground garage, Lucia started her BMW and roared out, nearly scratching another vehicle.
Driving dangerously to the back of Reno's Café, she didn't find her car but saw her umbrella. Suddenly she took a tremendous U-turn and moved out. Eyes flaring, she pressed the accelerator and rushed back to her building. Walking briskly to her office, she slammed the door as hard as she can. Many workers turned and stared, but she ignored them and pulled down the shades of the glass walls.
Lucia's fingers flew over the keyboard, typing something she would call a real blackmail. After that, she picked up her phone and dialed Andre's cell phone.
"Andre Pierce" he answered curtly.
"Hi, this is Lucia."
There was surprise in his voice. "Lucia? Oh, well, how are you?"
"I've received an email, presumed from my uncle, and, as you said, he has threatened me."
"…Alright. Are you at your office? I'll be there as soon as I can."
"No. If you frequently come, won't there be suspicions? I'll meet you at my estate. The address is—"
"I know where you live."
"…Oh, yeah" She said sarcastically. "Never mind then. Be there."
--
Lucia parked her BMW in the driveway just as an old Mazda came from behind. She came out to see Andre, his hands in his pockets.
"I see the CIS's agents are underpaid" She commented.
Andre looked unaffected. "Possibly"
Lucia smirked inwardly. She mentally noted he was expertly talented in lightening and changing the perspective of a subject. She inserted the key to her exceptionally large mansion, and welcomed Andre in. He looked around the lounge casually.
"Drink?"
"Water, please"
Lucia exited the lounge. When she returned, she handed him a glass and opened the laptop on the coffee table. Opening her email, she moved for Andre to sit in her spot. He put down his cup of water and frowned, leaning in. She watched, purposely behaving the way a person would if they were threatened or menaced.
Andre seemed to read the email over and over again. Finally, he leaned back, bit still frowning.
"So?" Lucia asked.
"…well, either it was really your uncle that sent this email, or it was really blackmail, possibly sent by an imposter. If that were true, the imposter would be using your uncle's name to threaten you—"
"Well, whoever sent me the message, they're asking for five million. At such a big number, there is a chance it might be Snyde. Maybe he has some kind of project coming up, so he would need that kind of money. Up until I was a teenager, my uncle has visited my family, but that was before we knew of his criminal career."
"Do you know anything about him? Anything miscellaneous, like a favorite color, theme…"
Lucia would have smiled at how everything was going. Turns out I'm the imposter, she thought wickedly. "Well, I know he is imaginatively creative in forming names. He likes anything to do with power or gold, something bold and strong, yet cunning and deceitful."
"Well, the email address is 'gold is power', which is very similar to what you have said. What also could be another possibility is that the imposter could know him too, and used that name. Any how, I'll try to do some research on this later. I understand the threat does not contain anything about your safety, but can't risk anything. I strongly suggest you hire a professional body guard.This whole bodyguard idea did not appeal to her. "From where?"
"Your most trusted choice would be one of our highly trained bodyguards. I can call one for you now."
Andre took out a cell phone from his pocket and dialed a number. "Yep. Lucia Vanderson. Long-term. What do you think? High-class." There was a pause from the other line. "Me?" Asked Andre. "Alright."
He turned back to Lucia. "Lucia, I'll be your bodyguard."
She felt her eyes pop out a little. This was not turning in her way. "But…"
He nodded, confirming. "It makes perfect sense, doesn't it? I'm your bodyguard, and your partner. Of course, I respect your privacy. I will be living in a nearby condominium minutes away, so you could give me a call any time you leave your house."
"Alright." She bit her lip. Another challenge.
--
"How do you feel about me, Ms. Vanderson, now that I'm one of your new clients?"
"Wonderful, really. More money and another aching migraine."
"Just another? You should see a docter, Luci." mocked Yzak Jule.
"Oh, thank you, Yzak". Lucia closed her eyes and leaned back on her swivel chair, while Yzak sat comfortably in the sofa facing her across the room. She wondered what will happen if she told him about Andre Pierce and her newest enemy, her uncle Snyde Vanderson.
"Busy life?" he smirked.
"More than you think."
"Still working for your uncle?"
She instantly snapped. She stood up, her eyes blazing with venom. "Him?" She sneered, "I don't give a fucking rat's shit about him!" Her voice was rising. Yzak side glanced at the people outside the glass walls, staring at him. Did Lucia just…he turned to her, frowning in disbelief.
"It's soundproof." She breathed and sat down. She fumbled with a pack of ordinary cigarettes, lighting one. Sucking in a mouthful of the smoke soothed her.
"Are you aware that smoking is detrimental to your health?"
"Obviously. I went to university."
"How old are you?"
"Same age as you."
"Are you some kind of psychopath? Because you show severe signs and indications."
"I dunno." She mumbled. "Maybe the stress of crime and money is getting to me" she sarcastically answered.
"So…what's your latest affair?"
"Nothing. But I plan on screwing my uncle's life."
"What's your first step?"
"Andre Pierce."
The name sounded familiar to Yzak, but he couldn't remember exactly who. "Who's he?"
"CIS agent assigned to capture my uncle and protect my safety as my partner and my bodyguard."
"I want to meet this Mr. Pierce. Does he escort you anywhere outside your company or home?"
"Correct"
"Mind if I take you out to dinner?"
"You really want to meet him? Or you attracted to me?"
"Both. Besides, you really are attractive."
--
Yzak was slightly proud of himself. His now easy-going and life took some temper out of him, making him more calm and collected. He was even more proud of himself when he remembered Andre Pierce and didn't go into a mad state.
The doorbell rang at exactly eight pm. From outside he could hear the clicking of heels across hardwood floor. The door opened. "I like that. Right on time." She smirked.
Lucia wore a strapless knee-length black dress with corset designs on her back. She matched her outfit with black and white stilettos, and a gold clutch.
When she stepped out of her house and made sure the mansion was locked with the beep of a key, she opened her clutch and took out her cell phone.
Less than a minute of a brief conversation, she sighed and replaced the cell. "He'll be here so see you. That bastard just won't leave me alone."
In a short while, Andre was seen jogging across the drive, his eyes focused on Yzak.
Andre laid his coal black eyes his teenager rival, Yzak Jule. That same silky silver hair and those blue-silver eyes that screamed: I'm a spoiled bastard! He was practically the richest person in the whole academy of wealthy students.
He had always thought of Yzak as narcissist, egotistic, bratty, and short tempered. Yzak thought Andre was really annoying: his optimistic attitude, his big circle of friends, and his calm nature.
"Andre, this is Yzak Jule. Yzak, Andre Pierce."
There was a moment of hesitation. "Yzak." He said with a sharp and grim smile.
Yzak grimaced. "It's been a long time, Pierce."
Andre nodded slowly. Lucia watched, noticing the tension. "How juvenile…" she muttered.
His voice even and cool, Yzak said, "Well, do you mind if I take your employer out to dinner?"
Andre instantly heard the hidden insult in Yzak's sentence. "I trust your ability to take good care of her. Her safety is my job, so don't jeopardize my impression of your years in military school."
"I understand. I'll be sending her home."
"And I'll be sure she gets home."
--
Lucia was seated uncomfortably in one of the finest restaurants in Aprillius One.
Everything was going normally after they ordered their dishes, and settled down. "You've met Andre Pierce before?"
"He and I attended the same military academy."
She smirked. "I presume it was enemies from day 1?"
"You bet." The way Yzak said it made her feel like a child again. He put down his fork to take a sip of wine.
Being polite, she asked, "How's your mother?"
From the look of surprise on his face, Lucia added, "I met her at the Political Convention two years ago."
"She passed away." He said, obviously saddened.
Unlike most people, Lucia stuck to the subject. Frowning, she said, "Was it a natural death?"
Two years ago Ezaria Jule had been in my mid-fifties, in a healthy state. No woman at that age could pamper herself more than Ezaria.
He glared at her. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes I would" she spoke louder, her boldness bordering arrogance.
"Why?" He asked, confused.
Lucia sighed, playing with the glass in her hands. "Ezaria Jule was a woman with many enemies." She looked at Yzak square in the eye. "You know that, don't you?"
He didn't say anything, he just stared at her, signaling for her to continue. She did. "Well, since you were fighting for PLANT, you don't know the rest. I once took a course on politics, though what I learned was only a theory. Many of her enemies were mine, and without just one of us, our project Union Corp could not be established. At that time I had already stabilized Vanderson Ltd, so I was working with Ezaria to launch a solar-energy power plantation. Policians are all criminals, working their dark little deeds for their own little pleasure. I'm asking you do you know if your mother died a natural death?"
"Authorities told me she died of internal injury."
Her mouth slowly dropped. "I can't believe this…" she murmured. "Everybody has gone to hell. Even the authorities are fucked up. I'm telling you, Yzak, your mother was murdered."
Yzak's face seemed to storm and darken, and then he asked in a low voice, "Why did they choose her to be the one that dies?"
"Two months ago, there was a meeting that I wasn't able to attend. So, Ezaria went alone, and," she paused, "I never saw her again. I was informed that after the meeting Ezaria went home, and died in sleep. I never believed that, but I didn't have any proof to present. Even if I did, who would listen? Most of the authorities are in the participation of your mother's death anyways."
--
