TEMPTING THE DEVIL - EPISODE 9

Draco Luciano ✓

I stormed into the company, still fuming from what happened in the warehouse.

I made my way downstairs to my father’s office, replaying the death issue of one of my men over and over again.

I didn’t recognize knocking as I grabbed the silver handle of the white door and barged in.

I found my father pacing his office, screaming at some poor soul from Spain.

I made my way to one of the decorative chair at a corner and sat, crossing my leg over the other.

” I don’t give a damn f*ck what you have to do, dipshit, just Fix It! ” He yelled as he held the phone away from his ear and directly in front of his mouth.

I watched as he walked over his black desk. Grabbing the black leather chair, he pulled it out before settling on it.

A large sigh escaped his lips before he brought his hands up to his temples, rubbing it roughly.

” Your cousin brother is going to be the end of me.” He mumbled as he closed his eyes.

Rico was my little cousin brother and he was by far the smartest idiot I knew.

He was also brilliant and learned quickly, but every action he took he left witnesses behind.

He was a mess.

He always end up killing the wrong target. I think that dude still needs more training.

” I’ve got a good news.” I said, finally breaking the silence. ” Uncle Joel is dead. ”

” Good Mary. I’m glad that sneaky bastard is gone. He has been stealing from the business and blowing out money over some shit. ” He said still rubbing his temples.

” Too bad they got him before I did. The Americans actually did us a favour for once. ” I laughed dryly.

” They did do us a favour killing him. But those bastards also helped stealing from us. ” He slammed his fist on the desk as he stared at me. ” I wish I had killed him myself. ”

” F*cking Americans.” I mumbled as I went to the cabinet at the corner, taking an expensive glass of whiskey from it.

I poured the whiskey into two glass cup, offering one to my father while I took the other, returning back to the couch I was sitting.

” Son, the ball is coming up soon.” Father spoke coldly.

” So? ” I asked, refilling my drink.

I tilted my head back as I brought the glass to my lips, drinking the entire contents in just one gulp.

” We cannot have a repeat of last year.” He said as he stared at me, glaring directly into my soul.

” What happened last year wasn’t my fault. It would have been nice if he hadn’t involve his son into it.”

” That’s why I don’t want the same thing to repeat itself again. If you want to have him dead, you can actually do that outside the ball. ” He warned.

” Sir, yes, sir. ” I said with a heavy sigh.

The club was two days after today. I would have refused to go if not for my father.

Seeing Remon’s face will only urge me to kill him without minding the public.

And I hated the fact that that kid was gonna show up in the ball. For damn sake, I’m not interested anymore.

” I change my mind.” I said to my father after a thoughtful while.

” On what?” He questioned.

” Attending the ball.” He rose an eyebrow at my reply.

” Is it about the kid, Remon?” He asked.

” I don’t want the same thing to happen again, so I better stay back.”

” This isn’t an option of if you are interested to come or not, it’s more of a decision that you have to be there.” He said, sounding less interested on my refusal to attend the ball.

*
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*

~ AT THE MASS STATION ~

*

Natalie ✓

” Peter, I need you in my office.” I heard Mr Thompson call from his office.

Peter went immediately to reply his call.

Many things has been happening lately in the city and every one has been a lot busy on their article.

I didn’t remember eating before coming to work and my stomach has been grumbling for hours now.

It isn’t lunch period yet, so I’ll just have to ignore the pains until one hour is over.

The telephone rang, I quickly picked it up. ” Hello? This is Natalie Bradeson, who am I speaking with? ” I said.

” Hello, Nat, it’s Dad. ” Dad said from the other side.

” Dad? ” I exclaimed excitedly. ” Hey, dad, how you doing?” I asked, glad to hear his voice.

” I’m doing good over here, what about you?” He asked back.

” Same here.” I said. ” How is Russia? ”

” Well, it’s cold over here and I’m honestly missing my daughter and home too. ”

” I miss you too, dad. How is the business going? ”

” It’s going good as expected. Though we are experiencing some challenges but the managers are working on it. ”

” How long is that gonna take? ”

” Probably days or so, I guess. How are you doing with your temporal home and work? Luciano told me you’ve been having fun lately, is that true? ”

” Yeah. I’ve hanged out several times with Tony and the maids, especially during shopping. ”

” Tony? ” He asked, as if to say that was the only word I mentioned. ” Isn’t that the driver?”

” Yeah, he’s really cool to hang out with. ”

” Well, that’s a good thing. Never expected you’d hang out with a driver. ”

I remember Mr Luciano making the same statement the day of the incident at the market.

” Do you think I shouldn’t?” I asked.

” No, I didn’t say so. I mean, I’m surprised. You hardly hang out with friends.”

” That’s because you don’t let me leave the house, who’s fault?”

” Okay, I didn’t say you shouldn’t, and I am totally fine with you hanging out with anyone. I’m only trying to avoid Luciano from suspecting there’s something going on between you and his driver. ”

” Don’t worry about Mr Luciano, he knows we aren’t a thing. I just love having him around, that’s all.”

” Okay. So how has work been this days? ” He asked, changing the topic.

” It’s been stressful lately.” I answered.

” Why? ”

” Since the killings and kidnaping became so serious in town, Mr Thompson made us write a story about them everyday.

Most times I hardly sleep at night just to make sure my stories are concrete and presentable. But don’t worry, dad, I’m used to already. ”

” That’s one major thing I hate about being a journalist.” He said. ” But since you said you are okay with it, I’m cool with it too.

But remember, don’t stress yourself too much and try to get some sleep as soon as you’re done with a story, okay? ”

” I will, dad. ”

” Okay, take good care of yourself for me. ”

” I will, you too. Bye. ”

” Bye, sweetheart. ” He hung the call.

*

I returned late that night. Mr Luciano had returned about an hour earlier than me.

I went straight to the fridge to get a glass of cold water, gulping it at once. I exhaled heavily.

I left to my room, throwing myself on my bed. I dozed off still with my shoes and clothes on.

I woke up around 10 o’clock feeling hungry. Mr Luciano had just finished answering a call.

He was sipping on his red wine on one of the decorative chairs in the sitting room.

” I was surprised to hear you had gone to bed without eating, hope everything is alright? ” He asked as I put the first spoon of rice into my mouth.

” Of course, I am. Just a bit tired, that’s all.” I said, grinding on the rice in my mouth.

He stood up from his seat, walking to the dinning. He sat on his favorite chair, then he sipped on his drink.

” I won’t be home on Wednesday night.” He told me.

” Why?” I asked. ” Is there a problem? ”

” Not at all. A friend invited me to come over to his party, I’ll love to be there. ”

” Can I follow you to the ball?” I asked.

” Do you want to?” He asked back.

” Yes, I do.”

” It’s up to you then. You just have to be back home on time, because I am supposed to be there by eight o’clock. ”

” I’ll try making it up before that time.” I promised.