The Wrong Place to get Lost

‎The car pulled onto the main road, merging smoothly into the morning traffic.

‎For a while, no one spoke.

‎I looked out the window before turning to Enzo.

‎"So... how long have you worked for Mr. Moretti?"

‎"A few years."

‎I nodded.

‎"Do you always go with him to meetings like this?"

‎"Most of them."

‎I was about to ask another question when Mr. Moretti's voice came from behind us.

‎"Focus on the road, Enzo."

‎His tone was cold.

‎Enzo's eyes lifted to the rearview mirror.

‎For a brief moment, they met Dante's cold gray eyes staring back at him.

‎"Yes, Boss."

‎Enzo immediately returned his attention to the road.

‎The car fell silent again.

‎I looked back out the window as the city gradually gave way to quieter streets.

‎A short while later, the car rolled to a stop.

‎Enzo switched off the engine and stepped out first. I followed behind Mr. Moretti, stopping for a moment to look at the building in front of us.

‎It was... nice.

‎Really nice.

‎The kind of place rich people probably came to when they wanted to discuss rich people things.

‎I took another step before something caught my attention.

‎There were guards.

‎Not just one or two.

‎They were everywhere.

‎Some stood at the entrance with earpieces in their ears. Others walked around the building without saying a word. One man shifted slightly, and I caught the black handle of a gun beneath his jacket.

‎I immediately looked away.

‎...Okay.

‎That was a gun.

‎My eyes wandered again.

‎A man with tattoos covering both arms stood near the entrance, talking quietly to someone with a scar running across his face. Neither of them smiled.

‎Why did a place like this need so much security?

‎I stayed close behind Mr. Moretti as we walked inside.

‎The lobby was even fancier than the outside. The floor shone so much I was half-afraid I'd leave footprints on it.

‎Nobody stopped us.

‎In fact, everyone seemed to move out of Mr. Moretti's way before he even reached them.

‎We continued down a quiet hallway until we stopped outside a pair of large wooden doors.

‎One of the guards opened them immediately.

‎Mr. Moretti walked in without slowing.

‎Enzo followed.

‎After a brief hesitation, I stepped inside too.

‎The room was quieter than I'd expected. A long table occupied the center, surrounded by expensive leather chairs. Bottles of liquor rested on a cabinet against one wall, while the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city below.

‎Only one man was inside.

‎He rose to his feet the moment Mr. Moretti entered. A faint scar stretched from the corner of his left eye to his jaw, but it did little to hide the smile on his face.

‎"Basta."

‎Mr. Moretti gave a single nod.

‎"Marco."

‎The two men shook hands before taking their seats across from each other. Enzo moved to stand behind Mr. Moretti without being told. Unsure of where I was supposed to be, I quietly took my place beside him.

‎Marco's eyes drifted toward me.

‎He looked me over once before raising an eyebrow.

‎"This is new."

‎His smile widened slightly.

‎"I don't think I've seen him before."

‎I gave him a small, polite smile, but before I could say anything, Mr. Moretti spoke.

‎"My secretary."

‎That was all.

‎Marco's gaze shifted between the two of us before he gave a quiet hum.

‎"I see."

‎He didn't sound convinced.

‎His eyes lingered on me for another moment before returning to Mr. Moretti.

‎"So..." He leaned back in his chair. "Shall we begin?"

‎Mr. Moretti turned his head slightly.

‎"Elias."

‎"Yes, sir?"

‎"Wait outside."

‎I hesitated.

‎"...Outside?"

‎"Now."

‎"...Yes, sir."

‎Marco let out a quiet chuckle before pressing a button on the table.

‎Almost immediately, a man in a black suit stepped into the room.

‎"Show him to one of the waiting rooms."

‎"Yes, sir."

‎I adjusted the folders in my arms and followed the man toward the door.

‎I thought this was just a business meeting.

‎It's not like I'd understand whatever they were talking about anyway.

‎The man led me out of the VIP lounge without saying a word. We walked down a quiet hallway before stopping outside another room a short distance away.

‎He opened the door.

‎"You can wait here."

‎I looked inside.

‎The room was almost as luxurious as the one I'd just left. A leather sofa sat against one wall, a television hung opposite it, and a small table held bottled water, magazines, and a bowl of neatly arranged fruit.

‎"...Thanks."

‎The man gave a single nod before closing the door behind him.

‎I stood there for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.

‎"So much for being a personal secretary."

‎I set the folders on the table and dropped onto the sofa.

‎"I thought I'd be taking notes or something."

‎Instead, I'd been brought all the way here just to sit in another room.

‎I picked up one of the magazines.

‎Luxury watches.

‎I put it back.

‎The next one was about yachts.

‎I put that one back too.

‎"...Yeah, definitely not my kind of reading."

‎After a few more minutes, I stood and stretched.

‎Sitting around doing nothing was somehow more exhausting than working.

‎I wandered over to the window and pulled the curtain aside just enough to look outside.

‎At first, everything looked normal.

‎Luxury cars pulled into the parking area one after another. Men in expensive suits stepped out, each surrounded by bodyguards.

‎Then I noticed something else.

‎Two men were unloading heavy black cases from the back of an SUV.

‎Another group stood nearby, openly carrying guns as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

‎A bald man walked across the courtyard with two young women following behind him. They kept their heads down and didn't say a word.

‎I frowned.

‎"...What kind of place is this?"

‎The uneasy feeling in my stomach returned.

‎I let the curtain fall back into place.

‎"...Who comes somewhere like this for a business meeting?"

‎*****

‎Back in the VIP lounge, the meeting continued as though nothing had happened. Marco picked up a bottle of whiskey, poured two glasses, and slid one across the table.

‎"To another successful partnership."

‎Dante didn't touch it.

‎"Let's get to the point."

‎Marco let out a quiet laugh and set his own glass aside. "Straight to business. Just like always." He reached into his briefcase, removed a thick folder, and placed it on the table.

‎"Our side has already fulfilled its part of the agreement."

‎Dante opened the folder and silently read through the documents. After a few moments, he closed it again.

‎"No issues."

‎"I expected you'd say that."

‎Marco gave a slight nod toward the door.

‎Almost immediately, it opened.

‎Two men walked in carrying a black suitcase between them. They placed it carefully on the table before stepping back.

‎Marco unlocked the case and lifted the lid.

‎Bundles of cash filled the inside.

‎Dante glanced at it once.

‎"Counted?"

‎"Twice."

‎Dante looked at Enzo.

‎Enzo stepped forward, inspected the contents of the suitcase, then closed the lid.

‎"It's complete, Boss."

‎Marco smiled.

‎"Good."

‎He locked the case and pushed it aside before standing.

‎"It's always a pleasure doing business with you."

‎Dante rose to his feet.

‎"The feeling is mutual."

‎The two men shook hands once more.

‎Marco's smile remained as Dante turned toward the door.

‎"Enzo."

‎"Yes, Boss."

‎"Bring Elias."

‎Enzo gave a nod and left the room.

‎The conversation came to an end as both men waited. A minute passed. Then another.

‎The door opened again.

‎Enzo stepped inside alone. His expression was unusually tense.

‎"...Boss."

‎Dante looked at him.

‎"Elias isn't in the waiting room."

‎The room fell silent.

‎Marco's smile slowly faded.

‎Dante's expression darkened. He pushed back his chair and stood.

‎"Find him."

‎*****

‎After sitting in the waiting room for what felt like forever, I shifted in my seat for what had to be the tenth time. I glanced at the closed door before letting out a quiet sigh.

‎"...I really should use the bathroom."

‎I stood, stepped into the hallway, and looked around. It was much quieter than before.

‎"...Hello?"

‎A waiter carrying a tray stopped when he noticed me.

‎"Excuse me," I said. "Could you tell me where the bathroom is?"

‎"The second door on the left, sir."

‎"Thank you."

‎I followed the direction he'd pointed without another thought.

‎The waiter watched Elias disappear around the corner before the polite smile slipped from his face.

‎A man approached from the opposite end of the hallway.

‎"Is he inside already?" he asked quietly.

‎The waiter gave a small nod.

‎"He just went in."

‎The man slipped a few folded bills into the waiter's hand.

‎"Good."

‎The waiter pocketed the money without a word and walked away.

‎The stranger's mouth slowly curled into a sleazy smile before he headed toward the same bathroom.

‎...

‎I splashed cold water over my face and looked up at my reflection in the mirror.

‎"...What a day."

‎I reached for a paper towel just as the bathroom door opened behind me.

‎I glanced over my shoulder.

‎A man walked in.

‎Thinking he was just there to use the bathroom, I turned back toward the sink.

‎A sharp click echoed through the room.

‎I frowned.

‎Slowly, I looked back.

‎The man had locked the door.

‎He wasn't looking toward the sinks.

‎He was looking at me.

‎A slow smile spread across his face as he took an unhurried step forward.

‎"I saw you upstairs," he said, his eyes roaming over me. "Couldn't stop thinking about that pretty face of yours."

‎A chill crept down my spine.

‎"...I think you've got the wrong person."

‎"I don't think so."

‎He took another step.

‎Then another.

‎I instinctively stepped back until my shoulders met the wall.

‎"There you are," he murmured.

‎"Stay back."

‎He ignored the warning and reached toward me.

‎I reacted without thinking.

‎My knee drove upward as hard as I could.

‎He cried out and doubled over.

‎I shoved him aside and ran for the door.

‎I barely made two steps before something struck the side of my face.

‎Pain exploded across my cheek.

‎Before I could recover, a rough hand grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head back.

‎"You little brat," he spat.

‎The next second, my back slammed hard against the wall.

‎The impact knocked the air from my lungs.

‎I struggled as he tried to pin my arms, twisting and kicking with everything I had.

‎The bathroom fell silent except for the sound of the struggle.

‎