chapter 8

Avery's eyes remained fixed on Cathryn across the desk. She had to know if this woman had a hand In her death because if she knew who she was then she knew something about how she died but then again if she did know her then she would know that this wasn't Dalia but Avery.

"How do you know that name" She asked with squinted eyes

Cathryn didn't answer immediately, instead she leaned back comfortably in her chair, studying Avery with obvious satisfaction that her stunt had made her crack.

"I have my ways" she said as she finally smiled

He answer was so vague it infuriated Avery.

Then she spoke again.

"Money buys many things, information is one of them. It shocking just how far people will go to find a name of you offer just enormous."

Of course she could afford it. She could pay hundreds of people just to fit her and they would but the problem was she had hidden all traces of Dalia when she got better at being KARMA.

So the people she sent were either very very good or they accomplished this from her mistakes. Mistakes she might have made from her early years. But how deep did they dig and how observant were they.

So is that all you know.... or did you find more" Avery asked trying to gauge whether she knew more.

Sadly...no" Cathryn said with fake sadness. There was no disappointment on her face.

"I know your name, I know reputation, I know your principles " she continued

But"... she folded her arms together

"I wanted to know you, I thought that if we met properly and got to know each other we could be more than a client and a helper. I thought that we could be friends."

Avery kept her expression stone cold. A scoff escaped before she could try to stop it....

"Friends..? I don't think so....In fact I think I know exactly why you wanted to meet me." she said

Cathryn raised a brow

"Really, ok .Please enlighten me then"

" You weren't interested in getting one contract completed, you wanted leverage. You wanted something to hold against me. You knew I choose my contracts, you knew I rejected the ones that don't interest me and you assumed that yours would be a part of them." Avery's gaze sharpened as she continued

" So you wanted something else, information. If you knew just enough about me, you could manipulate me. You would never have to worry about whether I accepted a job or not. If I ever refused your jobs , you could threaten me" she finished with squinted eyes.

The office became silent, so silent you could hear a pin drop. For a while Cathryn simply stared, then she laughed. She laughed so hard she leaned further into her chair. But her laughter wasn't one of mockery.

It was genuine laughter filled with admiration. When she was bearly done laughing she looked at her with a smile.

"You...

are remarkable" she said with traces of admiration in her eyes.

" I have negotiated with politicians, military officers , billionaires, heads of criminal organisations and I've met some intelligent people but you..."

her eyes remained on Avery

"Read people faster than anyone I've ever met"

" You are right" she added

"well mostly "

"I did investigate you, I wanted to know more about you, I wondered if knowing more about you would make future negotiations easier.

she smiled again

"But my objective was never to use or manipulate you"

Avery remained silent as Cathryn stood up. She slowly walked around the desk until she stood beside the enormous windows overlooking the city. Her eyes filled with determination and inspiration.

"You know Dalia, this city belongs to the people with influence. The government, corporations, crime syndicates, they are all fighting the same war" she said as she looked below the streets, her reflection shimmering dainty against the glass.

"they simply wear different uniforms and make their cause fit their narrative."

She turned back to Avery, Avery met her gaze.

I possess wealth, more wealth that I could spend in several lifetimes but....wealth can be stolen, taxed, frozen and destroyed. "

She folded her arms looking directly at Avery

But influence.......lasts much longer. I don't need another employee, I certainly don't need a body guard, I have money for that. I have enough people who are willing to doy work for me"

Her words were spoken deliberately as Avery listened carefully

She walked back towards her desk and stopped directing across Avery.

"What I don't have is an equal, someone capable of building what I cannot. You possess what money cannot buy. Discipline,ethics, and loyalty.

"I've investigated all your contacts, your success and your restraint, how innocent people do not get hurt and there are no collateral damages. You don't just do your job you perfect it. And you do it because you care about your craft."

Avery did not speak, she just let Cathryn talk so she could understand whatever she had in mine. She had a faint idea of why she wanted to ske her but she wanted to hear it from her first.

Cathryn leaned forward slightly as she continued talking

"I don't want you to work for me, I want you to work with me. Together we could build something this world has never seen something that the government couldn't control, something the crime syndicates couldn't infiltrate , something cooperations could never buy.

"We could build a network built in Information, influence and absolute loyalty."

"So let me ask you this properly,Dalia" Her eyes held Dalia's without wavering.

For the first time since she arrived, Cathryn 's face held seriousness. One that people only had when they were about to mak

e a big decision.

"Dalia, will you become my partner and help me build an empire that no one will ever be able to bring down ?"

Her question hung in the air as silence occupied the room.

....................