Chapter 6

ALEX

My back ached from sitting on the chair for that long. It was time to quit. I had worked for almost twelve hours. Sifting through documents, signing papers and crosschecking files. It wasn't my thing but there wasn't much of a choice. I hated the fact that I had to resort to the oddest situations anytime I got into a mess. I wanted to lead the mob, but here I was, sitting down like a clerk working in one of the lowest cover companies of my father. Anyone who heard my story would laugh, it would be a bigger joke when they'd realize my brother made it and I didn't. The task was to marry a girl, and I failed. I wished I could have taken one of the girls that went crazy for me and made an arrangement. I would have been the king now, not sitting here, typing and sulking at my unfulfilled life.

I packed my things up, and stood up to get ready. It was my first day and I was already exhausted for the whole month. If I could I never wanted to come back there anymore. But I had to prove my father wrong, so that my existence wouldn't be a mere flaw. Even if he already thinks that way. I checked my wristwatch for the time. Time was far spent and the girl had not called yet. I was a bit infuriated by the delay. What impression did I give off? I was sure I played my cards well. Could she have recognized me? No it's not possible, we had not met before. The investigator I sent to get me the details on her was one of the best and my father's favourite. He couldn't have made a mistake.

Sofia Griffin. Are you smarter than I thought you to be? Certainly not. I had to think of another idea. If I had said something wrong surely she would be preparing her escape from me. Was it because I gave up her name? I thought it was a good idea, hoping she'll want to see me again to find out how I knew. But she didn't show up, there were no phone calls or text messages either. I picked up my keys and headed out. I needed a cool drink first then I could retrace my steps and find out where I went wrong. Driving through the night reminded me of my brother. He was a bit reckless but anytime he carried out the assignment Father gave him and succeeded he liked to celebrate wild. He had a white convertible he was obsessed with, and he'd drive around the city at night, drinking and playing the loudest music. I smiled at the memory. On good days, he'd ask me to hop in, and our Father would end up scolding just me. On bad days... Well, bad days were just bad.

I got the hotel I booked for my stay in New York City. I phoned room services for a bottle of champagne and I asked one of my guards to get me a lighter. I took a cold bath and then I was ready to think. I remember going into the bar and seeing her at the counter sulking. I was nice to her, I offered to buy her a drink and she refused. I scratched my head, struggling a bit to remember the remaining events. I made sure to act clueless. Cool too, so she'd think I'm one of those guys looking to hang around. I'm guessing the name thing was too much. But I can't tell, women liked to be weird. I learnt that from one of my brothers escapades. When she talked, she grumbled about her parents and how they were both killed in the same place and I pretended not to know anything about it. Truly it was sad, but she won't be in alll this mess had she not run away. Hell, I could have helped her then being my wife. Things were different now. I was after her life. She just had to pay for what she did to me.

I was sure Father had heard about Ronaldo and I wondered why he didn't call me yet. He celebrated my brother's first kill, and they had dinner together after it. He didn't fail to call me a failure and tell me to learn from my brother too. He asked me to be their steward as they ate, so I could watch how men talk incase I ever wanted to become one. I was angry that day. I wanted to kill one of the guards just to proved that I wasn't weak, but he only stepped on my shoes, and that would have been one hell of a mistake. There was a knock on the door. My wine was ready. Finally, I could think deeper.

The lady serving me was pretty and I wondered if I could grab her. I thought about the consequences, I would end up tired and I would go to bed early ignoring all that was at stake. She seemed into me too, a few buttons of her shirt was undone, and her cleavage was showing clearly. I licked my lips aroused by it. She gave the tiniest smile before leaving. I would fuck her, but I couldn't mess things up. Sofia's long brown hair flashed in my memory. Such pretty hair. Perhaps I'll cut it off before I kill her. Perhaps it was the 'special client' talk that got to her. Was it too much? She seemed to be listening at the time. Was she too drunk that she forgot it? No she did not forget it. She put the card in her bag. Maybe it was the discount I gave. She probably thought I was a stranger that had it out for her. I was too nice. Goddamnit! I was a fool. Ladies didn't like nice guys. If she ever called, I would be stern towards her. After smoking and drinking and pacing for a while, my eyes felt heavy. It was the next day already, I had just remembered I had to go to work early. Shit! I hope this is all worth it. I hope Father still has a little faith in me. I closed my eyes and let my brain rest. I had done enough thinking for one day.

I now understood why robots had to charge. I'd always thought they were like us, only that we could control them. They were not like us, they did more work and they rested so little. It was unfair. I felt like a robot now. My head ached from the amount of wine I drank and my joints too, from the work I did yesterday. My alarm was still blaring loudly, I threw it to the ground before I got up. I hated work. I hated that I had to work when all o could have done was marry. That was the more reason I couldn't let Sofia go Scot free. I stood up to get ready for work. I put on a suit like the men who worked with my Dad and I plugged in my earbuds.

Sitting down at work after going through some files, the issue of what went wrong still swirled round in my head. I should look for her again. I remembered the investigator saying she was at the bar for her first two nights in exile, after successfully escaping the wedding. She must be a regular customer there. I wouldn't blame her, I'd drink if I were in her shoes. Her both parents were dead, her stepdad too, and she was about to trust me, the wrong man leading her to join them. In a way, I was helping her. But she sure won't see that. I should go back to the bar. She must be there again this night.

I couldn't help but think I had made a grave mistake. She was good in investigating, and she knew the mafia family she was marrying into. She must have googled pictures or something. How could I have been so stupid. She would have been playing mind games with me as well, pretending to be naive and hurt. What if she had her own plan? "Fuck!" I cursed as I hit my hand on the table.

A young woman in a suit and skirt walked in with some papers in her hand. Clark introduced her as my secretary but we had not met alone after that time. "What is it that you want?" I was in a foul mood and it reflected in my tone.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I just wanted to ask you to approve this budget. We need some money from the other job to settle some suspecting people. It's..." I didn't let her finish before I cut her off.

"Get out." I said, staring hard with a cold glare. I could rip her throat out because of the way I was feeling.

"I'm sorry?" She repeated herself, leaning in like she couldn't hear me.

"I said, Get the fuck out!" I yelled at her, hitting the table again. She scurried out of my office like the rat that she is. What a nuisance! I said before gulping down the rest of my henessy.