CHAPTER 33: NIGHTY NIGHT

"Twerp?"

He glanced at Anton,

"You look like you’ve seen a ghost— what’s up?"

"It’s... That Man" he pointed to the screen,

Cisco turned to look at the screen, "Which of them?"

"The Oldie in the green suit"

"Senator Montclair..." Marie muttered, taking her seat.

"Do you know him?" Cisco turned to him.

"I met him yesterday— at the supermarket" he replied, walking forward.

"You met one of the most powerful senators of the country at the supermarket?" Anton asked, whistling.

"Yeah— gave me his number too," he said, sitting.

"Woah" Cisco muttered, "that’s awesome"

"But, what’s this about?"

"While that’s awesome and all, you’ll both be going to the gala in three days— Protection job"

"That’s the Military or NIA’s job" Marie huffed, leaning her back on the seat.

"Client insists— someone important."

"Who?"

"Congressman Felix Umber— Ex- military turned lawmaker for the lower house" Cisco replied, displaying a picture.

"Forget the military thing," Anton scoffed. "Five years behind a desk doesn’t count. Privileged bastard."

"You seem to hate the guy" Marie glanced at him.

"I don’t have a hating bone— I just don’t like bullshit"

"If it’s bullshit, why send us?" Trent asked, raising his brows.

"His father helped with the Program when he was alive"

"Still... I don’t see the need for Handlers at a gala"

"It’s a power thing, no?" Marie cut in

"Not with the military or the NIA , but with the program that’s shrouded with the most intrigue"

"Exactly"

Showing off his better toys then? Trent’s jaw tightened at the thought of it.

"Send someone else"

"What?"

Marie glanced at him— the anger in his eyes. She turned to the screen... Leaves a bad taste to be paraded as a kind of mascot.

"It’s important," Anton said.

"I’ll be there—just not as the muscle."

Cisco exhaled, tired from standing. He rubbed his eyes, turning to the screen.

"Why though?" He muttered— louder than he’d expected.

They looked up at him,

"I–I mean..." He stuttered, surprised.

"You don’t like him" he glanced at Anton,

"He’s obviously parading you guys as his clowns— just send anybody. There’s no need to make him know their identities if it goes south"

"I don’t like it either" Marie hissed, turning to Anton.

"We’re not dogs of the state" Trent muttered.

Anton exhaled, shaking his head,

"Alright— just go to the gala and have fun. Meet some celebrities"

"Right" Marie scoffed, glancing at Trent.

"Just enjoy yourselves— we prepared invites. You seem to need the timeout"

"Another thing" Trent said as he stood up, "We can’t be going to missions with our faces so publicly"

Marie turned to him, "That’s a point— we’ve become oddly famous"

"Yeah" Anton laughed softly, "Congratulations on acquiring the companies— Seren was a great friend"

What?

"You knew him?"

"Yeah— We did some missions. Smart guy. Why?"

"It’s just surprising"

"About the face issue" Cisco cleared his throat, "We’ve been working on synthetics and they’re so damn good you’d be fooled"

"That’s great— run their specs and have them ready. Odios, fellas"

Icardenian? Trent’s jaw tightened. What a sour reminder.

________

"Hey" he glanced at her, steadying his hand on the wheel.

"... What?"

"I’m sorry about this morning— I shouldn’t have"

"It’s alright— must’ve been tough" she replied, chuckling.

Sarcasm? His grip tightened.

"I really am"

"I know... Just don’t pull that anymore. Tell me if you’re angry"

"Thank you" he muttered,

"What made you so—"

She stopped as he stretched one of his hands, alert.

"I think we’re being followed. Black SUV" he muttered— eyes peeled on the side mirror

She turned her head to look—

"You sure?"

"...Let’s see" he turned into a corner— they followed behind, matching his pace. Same thing with another corner.

"Yep... They’re following us" she muttered.

"They don’t seem hostile, yet—"

He glanced at his phone as it rang— unknown caller.

"I think you should take that" she turned back,

"Hello" he spoke as he picked the call

"Hello, Mr. Trent" a lady’s voice answered.

Fuck... A bad feeling.

"You seem to have noticed my Men— pardon the rudeness"

"How may I help you?"

He knew better than to ask for a name, so he doesn’t get dragged into whatever danger she bore.

"Rosa Theron— nice to meet you"

Shit.

Marie flinched as she heard the name,

"THE Rosa Theron?" She spoke, excitedly.

"Yes, Love" Rosa chuckled, "One and only"

"Who’s she" he looked at her and whispered.

"Someone who’s interested in doing business with you— my Men were just supposed to snoop around and I’ll appear before you like an angel" she laughed.

Yep. Definitely a crazy person.

"You can always meet me at the office, Miss Theron"

"Oh, you flirt..." She burst into laughter, "Miss? I’m already starting to like you"

Ugh.

"Can we talk about this later?"

"Of course... The angel Magician act has been ruined. See you at the gala" she replied, hanging up.

Trent turned to Marie,

"Who’s she? And how does she know we’ll be at the gala?"

"She’s my— Morlov’s biggest hater and one of his biggest competitors"

"And your role model" he chuckled.

"Please..." she scoffed, "I admire her life"

"Sure you do"

She picked her phone as it continued buzzing.

"I think I know how she knows" she muttered.

"How"

"Look" she showed him her screen, "We’re trending— Business sensation couple invited to gala... We’re on a lot of sites"

"Just great..." He sighed

Definitely not Angela this time.

_______

"Welcome back" Mia greeted them as they walked in.

"Thank you, Did you get the ingredients?" Marie asked, with a smile

"What ingredients?" He turned

"How’s it going, Mia?"

"Not your business" Marie chuckled.

"Yes, Ma’am... I’m alright, Sir"

"As long as I get a taste" he watched as she dragged Mia towards the kitchen, whispering to her.

It’s great they’re getting along.

"Welcome back, Sir" Xander greeted, walking out of the drawing room.

"You look exhausted, Man" he turned to him— he had dark circles on his eyes.

"You haven’t slept, have you?"

"There’s a lot of work, Sir— I contacted the managements of Reeves and Frazer and passed down your order"

"How’s everything going?"

"Not so bad— those punks tried to dip into the companies before they left" he growled.

Bet they skimmed a little before selling out.

"What about the scientists?"

"They’ve been cooperating— I hosted an online meeting and more than half showed up. The others gave stupid excuses."

Playing hard to get, huh? He laughed softly

"The card with you— there’s ten million— send the scientists that attended ten grand each. Add for the higher ranks"

Xander chuckled, his face lighting up.

"Go to Athen’s Autos and pick a Car you like. Tell them to keep working hard"

"Yes, Sir"

That should keep them working.

"Ah... They asked what we should name the model if it’s completed"

Trent thought for a while... Something meaningful.

"Seren" he muttered, "Name it Seren"

Xander gasped, "Y–Yes, Sir"

He picked his phone as it buzzed— Scarlet.

JONAS’ PLACE, THIRD STREET.

"Shit..." He growled.

"Sir?" Xander asked, not hearing what he said.

"I’m heading out for a bit" he looked towards the kitchen

"The supermarket"

Xander scanned his expression,

"Yes, Sir. Take care"

"Thank you" he murmured as he turned to leave.

________

"I swear to the stars... If this isn’t good, I’m killing you myself" he spoke into the phone immediately she picked up.

"It’s good— very good" she answered

Why the cold tone?

"What’s happening?"

"Just get here... Boss"

Something was definitely up— a bad feeling that brought cold.

"Alright... I’m almost there" he replied, hanging up.

He turned the stereo’s volume up and hummed along with the song to calm himself.

As soon as he got there, he pulled over the parking space of the place— a diner at a rather secluded area.

He tucked the gun behind his back, under his shirt and stepped out of the car.

His gut twisted. Everything screamed: Don’t go in.

He exhaled, looking around before walking into the place.

"Here" she waved from a corner seat,

"What’s the sudden message? I paid the favor already" he asked as he got to her, glancing at the plates on the table.

"Chill... Just eat— we’ve got a place to be"

"Let’s just head there"

She looked at him, raising her brow,

"Your call..."

She stood up and waved to a waiter, placing some cash on the table.

"We’re taking my car"

"Alright" he muttered, following behind.

_________

"How’s the handsome Man doing with the companies?" She asked, chuckling.

"I’ve been busy"

"Don’t flatter yourself" she scoffed, "The crazy business guy"

"Xander?" He glanced at her

"Yeah— how’s he doing?"

"He’s doing great... You should focus on the road"

She glanced at him,

"You’re a real stallion, huh?"

Any normal person should’ve been knocked out already. She could feel it kicking in even though she had a resistance.

"What?" He coughed, "it’s stuffy in here"

That’s more like it. She grinned.

"The Madam says she owes you one"

"What?"

"Nighty night." She drew and fired—straight to his head.

"S–Shit..."