chapter 3

DARANA

“I can't believe there wasn't a single CCTV camera in that whole house”. Gemma said once we had settled in the study. The lights were dim but I could make out the thoughtful expression she had on her face.

“I would have hacked the CCTV and gained access to the whole party and see which direction the guards were coming through. It would have made Adrika’s work a whole lot easier,” she muttered.

“That just proves that the Titteringtons are into some shady kind of business," Adrika said with a shake of her head as she paced back and forth the room.

“Well, that is no longer our business because we have the jewel now” Gemma said and all six eyes landed on the jewel laying on the desk at the center of the room. It glittered softly in the dimly lit room and our eyes gleamed with greed.

“How much did you say that was worth again?” I asked, needing to confirm the value one more time.

“One million, five hundred thousand dollars” Gemma said aloud and Adrika laughed as she punched her fists in the air. “Yes!”.

“Well, it's certainly worth all the trouble we had to go through,” I whispered and Gemma nodded. “Yes, it is. We'll sell it on the black market when things cool down a bit”.

“Hmm” I nodded. “Do you think the Titteringtons would realize it's missing?” I asked and she laughed. “Of course, seeing how Caliste had showed it off during one of her live interviews, she would definitely be aware”.

Something came to my mind and I smiled before turning to face Gemma. “How did you manage to get the exact same replica of Caliste’s dress on such short notice. I wouldn't have gotten her attention any other way”.

Gemma smiled slyly and thrummed her fingers against the desk. “I got the help of a friend”.

I sensed she wasn't willing to disclose more than that so I kept my mouth shut.

“So how's the grandson like?. Is he as handsome as portrayed in the pictures?”.

“More” I found myself saying out loud before I could process it. Gemma laughed and Adrika groaned at the back of the room.

My mind strayed to the man who had occupied a portion of my thoughts since I left the party and I sighed. “Maybe I need to get laid” I muttered as I reached for the glass of champagne in front of me and downed the contents in one gulp.

“Is it that bad?” Adrika asked from the far corner of the room and I nodded. “He almost kissed me. More like he would have, if I hadn't bolted the moment he closed his eyes” I said as I imagined the look on his face once he realized I had disappeared. I closed the thought off immediately.

“Damn,” Gemma whispered. “Too bad you'll never see him again”.

“Yeah” I replied back. “Too bad”.

But even as I closed my eyes on my bed that night, I couldn't stop thinking about those gray eyes and how good it might have felt if I had stayed back to kiss Niklaus Titterington.

I guess I'd never know.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Good morning Reggie” I chirped happily as I walked into the kitchen.

I plopped down on the barstool and grabbed a sandwich from the counter.

“Hey, that's mine” Reggie grumbled and I stuck my tongue out at him. “Go make another one. I'm starving”.

He shook his head and opened the cabinet, taking a bottle of ketchup and walking back to me.

“Don't you have something to do today? Maybe another jewel to steal?” He asked and I snickered.

“If I did, you wouldn't be here. You're our driver, remember?”

He muttered something under his breath and started making another sandwich. I smiled and ate the last remains of my sandwich.

“Are you and Reggie yapping again this early morning?” Gemma asked in a bored tone as she took a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Why aren't you wearing your glasses?” I asked, ignoring her question. She looked different without those professor glasses she was always putting on.

“That's because she's wearing contacts you dummy” Reggie snapped without taking his eyes off the sandwich he was making.

“Gemma, when do we get to fire Reggie?”I asked with an agitated pout on my lips and she sighed as she took a seat next to me.

“As soon as we find a mad ass driver that's faster than him” she explained and I rolled my eyes as Reggie laughed out loud.

“Trust me, you guys are never going to find a driver like me”. He boasted.

“You'll never find a driver like me” I mimicked, making a ugly face and Gemma laughed while Reggie’s expression turned sour.

“Guess what? You'll never get to eat this sandwich” I yelled as I grabbed the sandwich he had just finished making with a speed similar to a flash of lightning and bolted out of the kitchen.

I smiled to myself as I heard his strings of curses and Gemma’s booming laugh resonating through the kitchen walls.

With my sandwich in hand I hummed a happy tune as I walked through the hall in search of Adrika.

I frowned when I stepped into her room and found out she wasn't there. Where could she have gone?.

We had made it very mandatory to stay low for a few days after the heist, meaning we couldn't go out even if we wanted to, so why was Adrika breaking that rule?

Shrugging my shoulders, I hopped to my own room but stormed out few minutes later. I couldn't take it anymore. I was so bored. Maybe I could go check out the library downtown. It was quiet and low key. I wasn't going to arouse any suspicion there.

I changed into loose fitting pants and put on a beige baggy top—packing my hair in a loose bun and tying a scarf around it.

Wearing my most comfortable sneakers, I snuck out of the house and was out in the street in no time.

I smiled to myself as I walked down the few blocks that led to the library. I had just rounded a corner when a black sedan jeep pulled up in front of me causing me to halt in my tracks.

“What the hell?” I muttered to myself. I was just about to maneuver my way around it when the doors burst open revealing the last person I wanted to see.

My eyes darted back and forth seeking an escape route when his voice echoed through the driveway, chilling my spine.

“I'd suggest you get in, Miss Darana Ashcroft”.

My eyes widened at the full mention of my name.

How did he know my name?