"Try this tea," she put a small green cup in front of him and poured the tea gracefully. The sweet fragrance from the tea filled the entire room, set one's mind to relax. Indeed this is a high-quality tea. It has a deeply sweet and roasted flavour and a bit of bitterness after taste. The flavorful taste relaxes the brain and body.
His body felt refreshed the moment the warm tea entered his throat. He unconsciously nodded. Manzana's eyes sparkled when she saw his reaction. He used not to show any emotion since his job requires him to hide it from the people, especially their enemies. So, it's become his habit even though he is with this girl. Well, she just his bed warmer, not someone important. After he had enough fun with her later, he won't stay committed.
"Is it good?" she leaned forward, exposing her cleavage to him. Her naughtiness to always find a way to seduce him was enchanting him the most. She knew her best advantages and exploited it smoothly. This naughtiness was what he enjoyed to spend his time with her.
Suddenly, she disappeared behind the door and came back with a small box. "Look, the box is beautiful, right?"
"Where did you get this?!"
His half yell startled Manzana. Her face turned pale and confused.
"Where did you get this box?" this time he used a calmer tone. He was so shocked before when he saw the carving on the box and forgot to control his emotions.
The tears welled up in her eyes, her lips shivered, and her hands shook profusely. "It was given by Miss Fanna. It's the tea container. I'm sorry… I'm sorry… Please don't be mad…"
The carved seems beautiful and unique. Nothing suspicious about it but, to him it was the carving that he knew pretty well the hidden meaning behind it. Well, it meant that he is assigned a mission. But this is too sudden. For him, right now is not the time yet but if Mistress thinks it's the time, then be it. It will be his honour to sacrifice his life for his mistress.
He must startle her. Thus this girl is naughty, but she also a crybaby and of course he understands why she easily scared — a lover from the yakuza world, not a charming lover.
"Come…"
"Ple-please… I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
Her tears drop to her cheeks, unable to reply to him. He smirked. This girl must be confused, yet she still apologised.
"Come…" she still hesitated, but she obeyed eventually. When she was closer to him, he grabbed her face and kissed her forcefully. She froze and let the kisses dried her tears. The kisses travelled to her neck and chest. The dark ambience just now dissolved in the heated lust between two people.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He opened his eyes to the body that sounds asleep beside him. A small movement from Manzana's chest assured him that she was in a deep sleep. Must be tired from the extra exercise earlier. The messy hair she had doesn't mask her attractive facial features. She had long eyelashes that emphasise her round eyes and her cute button nose compliments the small seductive thin lips she had — lovely lips to enjoy.
He stared at the ceiling while he lost in his thoughts. The silences kept his captives in his mind, 'What is the mission? Why Mistress approached Manzana? What she wants?' He had no answer for that yet, but he wasn't planning to disobey the Mistress even it meant he needs to sacrifice Manzana. The box will give him the answer he sought for at least what he needs to do. When he thought about how the Mistress knew about Manzana, it shivered his spine. What else did she know?
Well, there is no love between them, not for him. She merely a tool for him, his pleasure tool. It's not a problem to find a new tool anytime soon. He smirked and glanced at her before he makes himself out of bed. His movement stopped by a hand around his waist. As gentle as he could, he lifted her hand and replaced his body with a pillow.
She is a hugger. He scoffed. She's so adorable, yet her fate was dark the moment she crossed the line with Miss Fanna. The person Mistress trust the most even though she looked frail and fragile. No one has seen Mistress real face except Miss Fanna. Rumoured said they were related, but no one can confirm it for sure.
Under the dim light of the night lamp, he directed his paces to the living room. The living room wasn't too far from the bedroom. With a limited view, his eyes squinted to focus on the small box and top of the table, there was a tea set Manzana used to serve him earlier, and the box was precisely at the same place he left last night.
The carving on the box was beautiful peacock design for the lid and only the round unique abstract carve on the front side of the box. It might seem obscure to others, but to him, it was the Mistress's mark. A mark he gets every time she wanted someone to die. Mistress is mysterious, and this was one of the ways she reached to her followers. He inspected the box thoroughly and found a small notch below it. The notch was hidden in between the carve. A bit of pressure on it and the hidden compartment revealed itself.
He smiled. Mistress indeed really clever to know he would check the box eventually but he wondered what makes the Mistress sure he will know about the box if Manzana decides not to share with him about it. Isn't it too risky?
Not going to lament on that, he pulled out the compartment. The compartment contains a small plastic sachet and a piece of paper. He opened and smelled it but instantly pulled it away. There was a hue smell of bitter almonds. The scent was almost odourless if one doesn't pay attention to it. Luckily, he knew this poison too well.
So, she wanted someone's life, and for her to give him this poison, she is indeed the wicked one. This poison can kill anyone in an instant just by smelling it excessively. He scoffed. The target is as good as dead.
He shifted his attention to the piece of small paper and slowly opened it. The moment his brain comprehended the words, his face turned as white as a ghost. His eyes almost bulged out, and no words escaped his throat.
'Fuck! She's crazy!'