Kai saw that smirk.
He knew very well what the guy was doing.
He was showing off that the woman in his arms was his.
His opponent was truly not ordinary.
Then again, which guy that his Angel was with, would be, right?
It was obvious that the guy knew that he, Kai Sheng, was interested in his girl. And from the start, he showed his dominance over her.
Or rather, that she belonged to him.
All of his actions were natural and not over-the-top, but enough to make Kai feel like his insides were twisting painfully and his eyes seeing red. It was bad enough one had to see such public displays of affection, it was worse to see her smiling face when receiving it … and it was bitter to have his opponent rub it in his face.
It took all of his willpower not to rush over there and tear them apart.
As in, making them have some space between them.
But who was he to do so?
How on Earth was he going to get rid of that guy and take his place??
Kai gritted his teeth.
He was going to treat this like any other mission or take-over.
First step.
Get to know the enemy.
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"Persistent bugger," Zero cursed under his breath.
"Why? What's he doing?" Lianne asked, as Zero drove the car out of the carpark.
"He's doing a background check on me," Zero replied, "And you."
Then, that familiar smirk came on, "Or he's trying to."
Kai didn't have their names, so he could only try to find out who they were through facial recognition. Kai had taken some pictures of them and sent it to his PA, who then started the work.
However, initial search received no hits.
Of course it wouldn't, not with the crawlers and AIs that Kay had placed in cyberspace to delete any pictures or search links relating to any of the Smiths and Diamond Team.
The AI had been something she dabbled in so long ago as a protective measure for Kyle and his undercover work. As it was self-learning, it continued to grow and evolve. Now, it would naturally add anyone related to Kyle and Kay, plus the Diamond Team.
The AI also 'gave birth' to (created, that is) more AIs to handle the growing Smith Line (the descendants), thereby ensuring their protection forever.
Zero knew of Kai's attempt as he received the notification from the AI about it. Zero, and the rest of the Diamond Team, had a special watch that was connected to the AI and many more like it.
Each AI had its function and this enabled the Diamond Team to keep track of whatever results that the AIs obtained. As each AI was task specific, there was no danger of something like the science-fiction movie, 'I, Robot' that had the AIs taking over the world to 'protect' humans.
MIB had an entire division that was responsible to monitor, maintain and follow-up on the reports the AIs gave. The Diamond Team was merely to oversee everything and be kept in the loop.
Zero wasn't worried about Kai finding out anything online.
"So the next thing he'll do is hire a PI," Lianne said, "Or get someone to be on my trail."
"Most likely," Zero agreed.
"So that means he's following us, huh?" Lianne said with a sigh.
Zero shrugged.
"Stupid man," Lianne complained but … a ghost of a smile formed on her face.
Zero, who was driving, did not notice this. If he did, he would have most likely turned the car around to confront Kai.
As it was, Zero was just happy that it was easy to talk to Lianne. She could figure out things without him having to say much.
Actually, Zero hardly talked.
The only person he really spoke full sentences to were Kyle, the Diamond team (even then, barely) and Lianne. With Lianne, he hardly needed to and that was part of the reason why he was so comfortable with her.
They connected at a level that could not be described.
"So?" Zero asked, wanting to know what Lianne wanted to do.
He would never do something without her feedback or approval, especially since it involved her. If it was up to him, he would lose him.
….. Okay, fine. He would love to just smash him up and make sure he doesn't get up and try to pursue Lianne ever again. But he knew Lianne wouldn't like it and he wouldn't do anything to make her upset.
Liane pursed her lips, thinking hard.
"Misdirection," Lianne said.
"Got it," Zero replied.
Misdirection meant that they would go to a place or area that Lianne hardly does, and then disappear. Thus, Kai would spend his time looking for her in that place rather than where she really is.
Lianne chose this rather than just losing him because this way, he would expand his energy elsewhere. It would take him much longer (if ever) to find her and hopefully, when he could not get a lead, he would give up.
Though a little, small part of her kinda hoped he wouldn't.
She quashed that little, annoying pest and leaned back into the chair, looking outside.
Zero noticed her drifting off and kept quiet, as he drove on.
They eventually stopped at a non-descript bakery-slash-cafe place, that had the weird and unusual name of 'Cookie Kitten Bakery'.
What?
Was it a Bakery that sells kitten shaped cookies?
Zero thought that it was surely a very unusual name, and there was nothing from the outside that would actually entice people in.
He had noticed the cafe at the intersection (that seemed to take forever to change lights), and his innate sense of curiosity caused him to head there and park. Initially, it had been the name that caught his eye.
Then, the fact that people were walking in and out steadily.
Lianne, upon realising that Zero had finally stopped the car, looked at him. She turned to look at the direction he was staring at and saw the cafe.
"Interesting," she said, noting the name, "Let's go."
Zero nodded, his eyes studying the structure and taking note of all the escape routes. He had also noted that he had taken the last nearby parking space. There were others, but it was about 8 minutes walking distance.
This would make it easier for them to escape later on.
Perfect.
Zero felt Fate had brought him here.
It was, but not for what he thought.