Maria

JULIAN'S POV 

The air stiffened, I slid a thin folder across the polished desk with two fingers, the sound of paper on wood echoed loud in the quiet room.

“Tonight,” I cut down the silence.

“You are starting tonight and Andrew here will be your team, you and Andrew are to deliver the job without any mistake” Andrew stepped forward, his face slightly looking down.

“I want you to dig up information about someone but that mission has to be on hold for now”. I slowly leaned back on my chair, turning slowly in circles.

“Yesterday I was at the Golden star restaurant, something strange happened”. I kept mute for a second, my fingers running together before finally looking up, staring at their faces.

“ You will have to find out about everything that happened there from 12:00noon till this morning”.

“Don't come back here without vivid information”. My voice was low but it sounded like a threat.

“Sir, please could you please say briefly what went wrong when you were there?” Vera spoke while her hand reached for her nurse bringing out her pen and book.

“This information will help me with the search” she went further, her eyelid raised, her gaze locked on mine.

I lean forward, adjusting my weight on the chair.

Uhmm uhmmm, I cracked my throat before speaking.

“I arrived at the Golden star hotel at exactly 12 noon,” I paused.

“I encountered Veronica as soon I passed the entrance. My parents introduced Veronica as my new wife after the death of my fiance. 

I turned down the offer.” My gaze meets Antonio who's paying rapid attention to what I was saying.

“I pushed her away, then I got welcomed by Hera, she's the one in charge of the VIP bar. She offered me a bottle of champagne , which I took, and soon later my mom called."

“She was sounding like someone who has been crying and so desperate for something, I got so tipsy after having an argument with her, then a waitress offered to take me to a room.” My gaze sharpens.

Vere raised her right palm, cutting me off.

“Sir please can I have a picture of Vera? It could be important to me,” she requested.

“I don't have her pictures, I haven't finished talking before you cutted me short, don't do that again.” Flesh bunched across my forehead, my eyes turned red.

“I'm done here” I shot at her.

I lean back to the chair, letting the weight settle in.

“Heyyyyy brother take it easy, they need the right information to get the job done”. Antonio snapped at me 

I forced out my breath, trying to suppress my rage.

“I leaned on her, as she supported me to take me to the room”.

Vera's hands came up again, cutting me off my words.

“Sir please forgive my manners”, Vera apologised before going further.

“Do you remember what this lady looks like?” She asked.

“ I really don't recognise her face but her body seems so much like an Angel, her lips brush mine like a soft bread, her breath was so warm, her body temperature was so cold, it could get one skin freezed, her touch, she fuck so well”. The thought of what happened last night made my dick erect.

“Hmmm”, Antonio whispered.

“I'm sorry, check the CCTV camera for all details, it was all dark and blurry last night so I couldn't see her face.” I finally sighed.

“ Okay sir, we will get all the information uprooted,” She confidently said.

“When you’ve got something solid, Antonio will bring you back here, not before, not after, just one clean report, Vera. That’s it.”

I shift back, finally lowering myself into the chair, a silent dismissal and an unspoken dare at the same time.

“Now go prove you belong in this room.” My voice was almost like a whisper but full of threat.

“Yes sir, I hope not to disappoint you,” she said.

“You better not because it might cost you your entire generations” I shot back.

She slightly nods, turning on her heel, she moves toward the door each step measured, deliberate, quiet, like the floor itself might judge her for making the wrong sound.

Her fingers find the cool metal of the handle. She pauses for the briefest second, breath held, and then pulls the door open. 

Without another word, Vera slips out of the office, the echo of her footsteps fading into the dark, as Andrew follows suit.

“Good to have you back man,” Antonio said while they clapped hands with each other.

“You said you have news for me Antonio don't let it slide I came anticipating your news” I sneered jokingly.

“Yeah that's true” Antonio hit his head on his palm.

“I was also at the golden star restaurant with Vincenzo and the guys for a meeting, “ Antonio said.

“Yes I know there was a meeting yesterday but I was already having a miserable day yesterday so I went there for a drink”, I responded.

“you wouldn't believe who I saw yesterday”, he snapped with an almost invisible smile on his lips.

“You know I'm not good at guessing stuff just tell me or forget about it”, I murmured.

“She is alive…….” Antonio screamed with laughter.

“Who's alive?”, I asked inquisitively.

“Ooohhh my God, you haven't crossed paths with her yet?” Antonio said while laughing.

“Man, cut this crab and just spill the cat out of the bag”, I responded feeling unconcerned, but a bit anxious.

“Maria was never dead, she's alive”.