TEMPTING THE DEVIL - EPISODE 6 AND 7

Natalie ✓

I went through the article over and over again, after the third time, I came up with a new title for her.

She went to Mr Thompson’s office to submit hers, returning with a wide smile on her face.

” He appreciated it. He promised to launch it for tomorrow’s newspaper. ”

” I told ya, your article makes a lot of sense. I hope the government reads through them and finds a better way to help the poor masses. ” I said.

She sat on my desk, ” All thanks to you. He wouldn’t have chosen it if not for your help. ”

” It’s nothing, besides, it’s just the title. It’s not like I wrote the article myself. ”

We dismissed the discussion with a brief laugh, then silence took over.

” So, you know about this drug gangs, don’t you?” I asked, breaking the awkward silence.

” Yeah, just a little, tho. Any problem?” She asked back.

” Not really, tho. I was only asking.”

” Well, the drug gangs aren’t the type of people you want to have around. They aren’t just drug addicts, they’re criminals too.

A lot have been going on the newspaper lately, they keep killing themselves for power and popularity. What do you think? Everyone wants to be in authority. ”

” What’s so special about being a drug lord? ”

” To me, I don’t see anything special. But to them, there is. Being a drug lord is more like being a billionaire. They know what they do, so, I guess that’s why they find it so special. ”

” Take for instance this, ” she said, pulling out her cell phone from her pocket.

She swiped through her phone to her gallery app. She opened a photo, showing it to me.

” That’s Mr Mark, the deceased from two nights ago. Heard about the incident?” She asked, fusing her phone back to her pocket.

” Yeah, it’s all over the net.”

” Whoever did it is from the drug gangs. It’s looking much like a war to me than just a fight. ” She yawned, ” I can’t really remember the name of this drug lord, very popular though. ”

” What about him? ” I asked, curious.

” London’s most wanted criminal. ” She said. ” That’s what everyone knows him for. He’s known all over the internet as the most notorious gangster.

He’s probably not the type of gangster you see, he’s invisible. You can’t find him, but we all know he’s somewhere around the city.”

She heaved. ” Those who have seen him are nowhere to be found, except those who works for him.”

” Isn’t it possible for his location to be tracked down? I mean, we’ve got upgraded technologies for that. ”

” Hmm… ” She chuckled. ” That’s not as easy as you’ve said. You might end up meeting him on the way but you won’t know. ” She smirked, ” The hidden devil. ”

There’s some thing weird about this notorious gangster, some thing enticing to know about.

But there’s a problem now, with Ruthie not knowing his name, there’s definitely a problem creating an article about this.

Guess, I’ll have to talk to Mr Luciano about this, he’ll definitely have an idea.

*
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*

” I see you still haven’t learnt how to knock.” He stated behind his desk, puffing on an expensive cigar in his equally expensive suit.

” Oh please, spare me that trash.” The young lady said, dropping her hands on his table after a catwalk to his desk.

” What do you want?” He asked, dropping the cigar to a small glass plate.

” You know what I want. ” She said, walking to his seat. She sat on his desk, crossing her legs in-between his legs.

” How much is your money?” He asked coldly.

” Hundred dollars, sweetheart. ” She replied, taking hold of his tie. ” Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.”

” I just asked a question. ” He rumbled, shifting his drawer open. ” Here… ” he dropped a bundle of hundred dollars to her. ” That’s a hundred dollar.” He pointed.

She took it from the desk, smirking evilly as she playfully flipped it in her hand.

” Whenever you need me, just give me a call, I’ll be at your service.” She blew an air kiss at him before leaving the office.

He picked his cigar again, smoking on it. Today felt boring to him.

Though the lady who left was pleasing on bed, he wanted to get another laid.

He picked his phone from the desk, checking on his contact. He clicked on Charles’s name, tapping the desk as he patiently waited for him to pick up.

” Hello, boss. ” Charles said from the other side of the line.

” Hello, Charles.” He responded. ” Will you be busy tonight?”

” Yeah, I’ve got to escort my mother to her sister’s place and I’ll have to spend the night with her. ” He explained. ” Is there something you want me to do, sir?”

” Don’t worry, you should attend to your mother first. Good night.”

” Thanks, boss. Good night.” He hung up the call.

He dropped his face on his palm, and after the last sip on his alcohol, he dozed off.

*
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** MR LUCIANO’S COMPOUND **

Natalie ✓

I yawned tiredly as I watched the television with a sleepy eyes. It was getting more boring by every scene.

” Can I get you something to eat for dinner?” Asked a maid.

” No, thanks.”

I waited for what to like twenty minutes to keep myself awake until Mr Luciano comes back from work.

I heard the sound of a parking car, I know that sound. That’s the sound of his car.

I yawned again, and again, rubbing my eyes softly.

I heard the sound of the door open and close. ” Good evening, Sir.”

” Hey, Nat, how was your day?” He asked.

” Great, thanks. ”

” Have you eaten yet?” He asked while a maid came to take his office bag from him.

” No, I’m not hungry.”

” You look sleepy.” He said, noticing the tiredness on my face.

” I’m fine. ”

” Is there something you wanna tell me?” He asked, as if he knew I had some thing to tell him.

” You need to have something first, then we’ll discuss about it.”

” I don’t think I wanna eat anymore, and besides I had some thing at the restaurant before returning. Tell me, what is it you wanna talk about?”

” Mr Thompson will be launching my article for tomorrow’s headline.”

” Really?” He asked, surprised.

” Yeah. And we shot a live conversation video today, did you watch it?”

” Yes, I did. You were really great out there, I’ll admit. Your father will be proud of you. ”

My face flushed red. ” Thank you.” For a while, I was quiet. I didn’t know how to start the conversation about the notorious criminal Ruthie told me about.

There’s one thing I learnt about being a journalist, “ You ask to get more.”

” Mr Luciano?” I called, distracting him from his phone. ” There’s some thing else I really wanna talk to you about.”

” Mm-hmm. I’m listening.”

” It’s about the drug lords. I had a conversation with a colleague this noon, she told me of a man know to be London’s most wanted.

She couldn’t recall his name, so I was wondering if you know who he is.”

” Wanna write a new article on him?”

” Nope, just thought I needed to know more about them.”

” Well, there was one of which I know five years ago, but unfortunately, he’s dead. ”

” What happened to him?”

” He escaped the police custody, traveled to the United States. Poor thing, he never knew his profile has been forwarded all over the world.

When he got out of the plane, he was held custody and was later deported back to the country. A week after his arrest, he was found dead with his suicide letter.

“ I’d rather rot in hell than to suffer in this prison yard. ”

” If there are any other most wanted, I’m definitely not aware of it.”

I don’t know why but I don’t feel much convinced with Mr Luciano’s explanation.

If there isn’t as he claimed, then why did Ruthie talked about the net having this drug lord as someone currently…. Wanted.

I sat on my bed, surfing on the internet. I saw a lot of drug Lords recognized to be London’s most wanted and I’m certainly not sure which Ruthie was referring to.

And not knowing his name has only made things a lot difficult!

*
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Writer ✓

Natalie still felt like there’s more to know about this Drug Lord of a guy Ruthie had told her about the previous day.

Mr Thompson had called for a meeting at the meeting room. Ruthie rushed to sit beside her.

” Hey,” she called. ” Are you alright?” She asked, noticing her quietness since they all arrived to work.

Natalie flashed back to reality. ” Oh yes, of course I am.”

The meeting commenced, Natalie’s troubling thoughts seemed to be the end as today, Mr Thompson rose the topic of her article.

” Though Miss Bradeson has written about this article, I still want more info on it.” He started. ” We have a popular story on the internet. A victim was said to be found dead with two other men in his office yesterday.

And his suspect is said to be… ” The image of the suspect was being displayed on the television screen.

Ruthie tapped Natalie by the hand, ” You remember the notorious gangster I told you about yesterday?”

Natalie nodded her head, ” Yes, I remember.”

” That’s the guy Mr Thompson is talking about.” She said, pointing at the television.

Natalie’s eyes seem to have widened a bit as soon as she saw the image. ” Do you know him?” Ruthie asked her.

She nodded once, then a ” yes” which sounded much like a whisper.

She was surprised to see the so-called gangster lord was the same person who had saved her from the yelling brat the other day.

” His name is Christopher Adams.” Mr Thompson continued. ” I need you all to write on an article about him, I need it submitted by tomorrow morning.”

” Yes, boss.” They all chorused.

Natalie’s eyes haven’t left the image on the television screen. It really surprised her to see him.

She couldn’t even believe her ears. When he had saved her the other day, he looked innocent and moderate.

And she even admired him as a greek god.

But unfortunately, he’s just worster than any of that.