THE CRIMSON STONE

CHAPTER 12

FIVE YEARS LATER…

Charlie took a deep breath as she walk through the doors of the BSAA building. She was wearing a black vest over her long sleeve shirt over her black slack pants. She though it was formal enough for her first appointment with the BSAA director. Her heels made loud and defined clicks as she walked to the receptionist's counter and told the receptionist what her purpose for being there was. The girl behind the counted called one of the departments to mention her arrival and to confirm it before, telling Charlie which floor she had to go to for her appointment.

"Okay, thanks." Charlie said and she made her way to the lift. The receptionist quickly phoned the other workers to inform them about her arrival.

Without her knowing it, she was making history that day. She is the youngest person to land a spot as an agent in BSAA. BSAA don't choose over people to act as their agents easily. Only highly trained professionals were chosen by them. And only they walk the halls of the building.

Once inside the lift, she pressed down the number 14 button. She waited patiently as the elevator went up to the fourteenth floor. The door slid open to a hall. It was huge. She made her way to the secretary's desk.

"Excuse me, I'm Charlie Evans here to see Mr. John Clarks," Charlie told the secretary.

The secretary looked up at her and said, "He's waiting for you,"

Charlie's stomach gave out butterflies, even though she knew she wasn't late. But she was nervous. She braced herself and pushed the door to the office open, and walked in.

The office was big and a man sat behind the big oak desk with the back of the chair facing her.

"Er, Mr. Clarks? You wanted to see me?" Charlie asked nervously. She can't help it.

To her utter surprise, the chair spun around to revealed no other than Leon S. Kennedy. He was smirking at her and said,

"Way to go for professionalism,"

"Y-you! Where is Mr. Clarkson?" She stuttered the question, obviously embarrassed.

"There's one thing you should know when working here, Charlie. You got to earn to see Mr. Clark. He's a very busy man, you see." Leon said as he got up from his seat.

"But he wanted to see me,"

"Yes, he did. That's why he sent me here to deliver the good news to you,"

"What good news?" Charlie asked, stumped.

"You got into BSAA. The pre- test and test you took showed excellent scores. Your interview was also good,"

"Shut up! Seriously, I managed to get in?!" Charlie squealed excitedly as she started jumping up and down, in her heels.

Leon was amused from her reaction. She still had loads to learn before she could actually become a real agent. After all, she is just twenty-one, which was pretty young to be an agent.

"But under one condition," Leon said shushing her out of her joyful moment. "I will be your mentor until you actually achieve enough achievements to go out on your own."

"So, I'm still under training?" She asked sadly.

"You're a rookie agent, kid." Leon said and winked at her playfully. "Congratulations."