Chapter 4
Xander stood in the hall of the municipality of Sunset Valley in his daily clothing which consisted of short pants and a white tank top. Basically, he wore the same thing as the previous day and observed the large clock on the wall to see, what time it was.
He began to give attention to the noise of clacking heels on the ground and turned aside to see Tamara Donner in her work outfit come along the hall, then she shrieked as she saw Xander didn't dress properly for the meeting with her boss.
"Are you kidding me? Why didn't you dress yourself up decently for the interview?" Questioned the brunette embarrassed as she watched Xander analyze himself.
"I realized this morning I had nothing else to wear and the other clothing I still have gotten in my dad's house," Responded Xander a little unsure about the moment.
"You better have a good excuse if you're questioned about it," Added Tamara. "The one good thing is, that Nick usually doesn't focus on people's wearing," Noted the friend. Afterward, along the hall a similar dressed woman came to approach the two friends while carrying a block in her hands, thereafter Tamara turned around faking a smile hoping things would do okay.
"This is the Alexander, you've been talking about?" Questioned the woman with a short hair-do and looked at Xander taking down his head, surprising the woman by the sight of the low hair presence.
"You look familiar to me. Aren't you somewhat related to the Langerak clan?"
"No, but I know there's one guy named Parker Langerak, which sort of wears a similar hat to mine and I happened to be mistaken with him once or twice," Commented Xander making the woman nod.
"Perhaps that's why I felt like I knew you. Well, I'm Vita Alto. Your friend Tamara told me that you were thinking about changing your lifestyle and had an interest in another type of job,"
"Yes, I am. I thought about something I felt would be more useful. I've been selling fish for a long while and... I feel like it's not what is meant to be for me,"
"I can see why. You clearly look like a strong man, capable of handling machines or heavy things," Mentioned Vita. "I'm pretty sure Nick would like to meet you,"
"Cool" Responded Xander. "Is there a chance, that I can meet him?" Questioned Xander making Vita nod.
"Yes, but first I would love to have a chance to chat with you. I would like to get to know you better," Offered Vita making Xander nod, then she moved around and signaled at the man to follow her along the hall.
"Good luck, Xander," Wished Tamara quietly making Xander smile a little.
Later at the office, Xander sat in front of the desk from the brunette woman and noticed she had on the divider a few photos stuck with pins on it, which revealed that the woman had a family of her own.
"That one boy there in the scouts' image resembles you very much," Xander commented making Vita nod, which searched through her paper files for something while Xander was waiting and admiring the images.
"Alright, Mr. Clavell. I haven't obtained anything from your side about who you are exactly. I wish to know you a bit better. Tell me, who you are. What your goals are, and which ways you're willing to follow to be a member of our society?"
"Almost everyone calls me Xander. Originally as you sure must know from Tamara, my full name is Alexander. Back in sports class I received from classmates that nickname and kept it over the years. I knew Tamara from the 5th grade and we've been friends for a pretty long time. I had for about a year a part-time job as a book sorter, so I would learn according to my mom, what life would be like when I would grow up someday,"
"You were employed in a library?" Questioned Vita surprised making Xander nod.
"It does sound weird, I know. The time there felt like an eternity for me and it wasn't really entertaining in any case. Nor a little amusing,"
"It's understandable. Have you got any goals here in this place you believe you could get to realize?"
"Dealing with less monotonous work. Work pals, you can count on for help maybe. Eventually, the paychecks should help me through the months when there are the bills to pay...so far this..."
"Nick will see that with you. What are you willing to do for us in order to be able to work with us?"
"Anything," Responded Xander confident. "I will take the time to learn it as well if I gotta do something I haven't done yet,"
"You're at the start okay to follow the orders of Nick and eventually anyone else in his absence?"
"Well, this is what most of us are supposed to do in the other places," Commented Xander unsure about the question. "Or am I understanding it wrong?"
"It was right, don't worry." Mentioned Vita. "By looking at you, you seem pretty strong or capable to carry or move heavier objects. Am I right?"
"Yes," Responded Xander. "I used to go with a friend of mine to the gym, 'cause he wanted to make muscle training and I did it along with him. It wasn't quite a thing I was fond of. When it comes to sports, I'd rather jump or run around. I attended as well in the 6th grade a club, where we would do altogether a parkour twice a week and that's where I got my interest in that,"
"Good...oh have you got a driving license?" Questioned Vita earning a nod from Xander. "Good, if you're interested, the current offer I have for you is to work at the warehouse as a logistician. You'll get to know about it more later when we meet Nick. Your future boss. Are you interested in getting to know him?" Questioned the brunette earning a nod from the man. "Follow me,"
Nick Alto stood by a medium-sized limousine leaning against the side of the vehicle and observed his wife Vita come along with Xander, which widened his eyes surprised at seeing the vehicle.
"It's great, isn't it?" Questioned the dark-haired man making Xander nod, which held out his hand expecting the man to introduce himself to the young man. "Get in. I'd like to get to know you as well," Nick asked opening the back door of the vehicle and entered into it, while Xander waited on the outside a little perplexed.
"Do you need a special invite?" Questioned Vita, making Xander nod, which got into the car and watched the brunette close the door. Xander gazed at Nick, which sat vice versa to the man, afterward Vita entered the vehicle as well from the other side to approach the husband, which showed him another file, which Xander didn't seem to have seen before.
"Have you ever thought about the possibility of making more money than usual?" Questioned Nick making Xander nod.
"I believe many of us have," Responded Xander. "Is the job offer so special, it requires a different earning?"
"It does in one way, to be honest," Responded Nick seeking through the sheets of Xander's files, making him swallow hard wondering what was up with the file. "Tell me an honest answer...have you ever stolen in your life before?" Questioned Nick raising up an eyebrow at the man, which shrieked a little at the question.
"Like something...from school or from...a store?"
"Doesn't matter,"
"I kind of did steal a phone charger once and got a fine. That's it so far. Sometimes out at the parties, we were brought home by the police due to the curfew...I did a few times dumb things, but I swear I have regretted that,"
"Well, your sentence extract a common friend of mine has printed out shows a few more things than just that... illegal street racing, vandalism, and property damage. We're more interested if this can be handy for us in the future,"
"I know I'm not a clean sheet, but I will give you my promise. I will not steal or do anything that will harm your company,"
"Logistics isn't a fancy job as maybe doing bureau things, but I am convinced that you will fit well in here. Before I continue, I would like to know if we can trust that what we will tell you will stay and die in this car?" Questioned Nick making Xander nod a little bewildered about what was going on.
"Alright...Xander...were a group of outlaws in disguise looking for our next 'prey'. We have one lad less in our team and as Vita told me about you and we found you on the criminal record we were certain, that you belonged here. We have at least three things in mind we would like to perform and we could really use an extra hand or two. You don't have to fear, were all experienced enough to bring you all our knowledge to help you further. All you have to do is to listen to us, trust us and show loyalty. Our team values this from each other and I'm sure you can handle that as well,"
"So...uh...this is weird...you're hiring me to do...illegal things?"
"Legally you're hired to work as a logistician. Vita will make sure it will get out like that. In the meantime, in the warehouse, we make the plans and perform if necessarily our so-called warehouse task. The job we will perform when we're ready and a lot of cash will jump into our hands, then split fair and square. The score variates on the place, but it sure is enough for your kind of people to help through a crisis pretty fast,"
"That actually sounds great and...kind of worrying at the same time. I'm not sure if I can skillfully perform an act of crime and get away with it,"
"That's why you have us. You're going to learn what you need to get through it. There's nothing easier than this,"
"Of course, you can make it difficult for yourself and try your luck at college again or somewhere else, then study and find a suitable job with a high income, but how many academics out there do you see with a basic job such as a cab driver or a cook? Sure many have done it right to study through life, but this doesn't mean, it's going to solve your future,"
"Well, my friend Tamara got the chance to work here, and well...Leighton is a kids' coach at the stadium and actually had a degree in college,"
"There you have two options. If you have a plan for your future what you want to do, go ahead and do it," Said Vita making Xander ponder about it.
"It's alright if you are looking for something else and not this. We understand that. Nobody wants to be on the other line," Mentioned Nick, then watched Xander move his hand up to ask something. "Got something?"
"Suppose, I would be interested in this offer, what would it take for granted, that all this is real? Or...that I'm not being fooled?"
"Just show a little more confidence in your speaking partner and the rest will solve itself. What do you say, you're in?" Questioned Nick holding out his hand waiting for Xander's approval. Xander looked at Nick, which gazed serious at the brunette man, afterward, he smiled and shove his hand to press it. "Welcome to the squad!" Welcomed the Spaniard making Xander smile a little tensed about his agreement.