The next evening when he walked into the restaurant and saw that middle-aged man with disheveled blonde hair and blue eyes that could see through any mind by a single glance, sitting casually at the table, the game had begun. Daniel Heinrich curled his lips. It was time for him to put on the poker face and play, he remembered what Velika O'Sullivan said, everyone loved to play.
"What a stunning night," Said Bryce Sanchez when Daniel Heinrich sat down, "Summer is truly coming."
"It is." He smiled and asked the waiter for champagne, then he turned to Bryce Sanchez, "Champagne for celebrating."
Bryce Sanchez nodded, after the waiter left, he took out a delicate leather briefcase, put on the table, then pushed towards Daniel Heinrich with two fingers: "Let's keep this simple, I have other errands to run later."
"Absolutely." Daniel Heinrich noticed Bryce Sanchez's watch when he was pushing the briefcase, 'LW', that was what carved on the watch. Now Daniel Heinrich assured himself about his bold guess, without showing any sign of his discovery, he took over the briefcase and settle it at his side, and gave Bryce Sanchez a suitcase in exchange, "All in cash, as you asked."
"Lovely." Bryce Sanchez took the suitcase without checking what was inside.
"Not going to check?" Daniel Heinrich rose his eyebrow.
"No, we are long time partners, are we not?" After sipping his drink, Bryce Sanchez laughed, which to Daniel Heinrich, was nothing but a fake. However, he laughed back, and at this time, his champagne arrived, so he toasted to his business partner, who was also a potential threat to his life.
"Quite long." He gave another smile, look into the man's eyes, trying to see the scheme behind, but he couldn't. Bryce Sanchez had the expertise in keeping secrets, and he was dangerous, behind that gorgeous smile hid blades, ready to give lethal stabs at any time.
"Are you married?" Suddenly Bryce Sanchez asked, and Daniel Heinrich was confused, "Or had any committed relationships?"
"No, never married and hardly had any commitments." Said Daniel Heinrich attentively, observing expression changes from the man across the table, "It's not something to be taken into consideration when you are doing a job like this."
"Indeed," Bryce Sanchez curled his lips, there was sympathy in his blue eyes, "You see, sometimes we just can't reach to a balance, so we have to choose one thing over the other."
By this time, Daniel Heinrich became aware of what was going to happen, Bryce Sanchez sold him out to Velika O'Sullivan. He knew without a doubt that Velika O'Sullivan would offer a generous price for his life.
"I have to tell you something before I leave," Said Daniel Heinrich quickly, staring right into Bryce Sanchez's eyes, "That's a very nice watch of yours."
He saw Bryce Sanchez frowned, then he confidently assured himself about his guesses.
"Oh, thank you." Said Bryce Sanchez, seemingly unalarmed.
"You are welcome." Said Daniel Heinrich with a smirk.
Then he heard cars approaching when he got into his car and started the engine. The risk he took tonight was worthy, he knew the conspiracy behind it now, even he still couldn't figure out several details or connected some points, but he was sure the only thing he could do at this point was trying to escape, in any way he could.
It was raining, getting heavier as he went on in the night. Daniel Heinrich realized he had indeed underestimated Velika O'Sullivan. No matter which narrow road he chose, or any abrupt turns he made, there were always new vehicles appeared, seemed they were parking there just waiting for him to show up.
His company had planned an escape route for him, but since all his secrets were exposed, he definitely couldn't go there and volunteer to be captured. But all his attempts of getting away had failed, and he felt like a puppet being controlled by the string on his back and had to follow the instructions. Daniel Heinrich visualized what would come up to him next. Confronting his nemesis on a rainy night, what a classic movie scene.
Although he was fairly confident about his deduction of things going on behind the heavy curtains of his company and Velika O'Sullivan's, he decided to remain silent. Daniel Heinrich was an intelligent man, who kept his mouth shut until the minute he joined every single point together.
Then, desperately, he reached his final destination, the escape spot set up by his company, where a helicopter located on the roof of the tallest building in the city and supposed to take him to safety.
He parked at the narrowest alley behind the building and used his car to block the entrance so that no other vehicle could park near that entrance and gave him more time. Slowly he stepped up on the metal stairs, the old metal made an unbearable sound with his steps and formed echoes in a chilly late spring night together with the sound of rain.
Right at the moment he opened the rusty door, he saw her sitting on the stairs in another evening dress, a sharp knife was tied on her thigh and a pistol lying beside her on the stairs.
"I still hope you can take me to dinner, you know." She complained, but looked at him with a foxy smile, "And I've been expecting you for a while."
"I don't think it's a good choice to take someone who has a knife on her thigh to a date." Daniel Heinrich said calmly, "But I'm pretty impressed with your team, they successfully 'guided' me here."
"Please," She rolled up her eyes, "I trained them to work faster than this."
"Anyway," He changed the topic instantly, "What do you want now?"
"One question," She stood up and walked down the stairs, stared right into his eyes, "Is there anything you want to tell me to make me spare you tonight?"
Daniel Heinrich paused for a while, he was certain what she wanted him to say, but he was also positive if he said what was on his mind, his life would be even more threatened.
"No." He shook his head, "I don't think so.
"Alright." She rose her eyebrow, pulled out her knife, and put in his hand, he was surprised, she stepped back a little, "Now, I'm going to make a bold move."
This woman was insane, he couldn't believe his eyes, this woman was out of her mind. Either she was a hundred percent sure she could take the consequences followed, or she was just one of those arrogant young people who had no clue what she was getting into.
"You are going to stab me," Said she swiftly in an extremely low voice, "Yes, I'll let you go, we both know there was something rotten about our employers, I have to figure it out. And one day, I guarantee I'll need you; you are hiding something important."
"O'Sullivan, you are completely crazy." He took over the knife and sneered, "What if I just got away? I can make myself disappear."
"Heinrich, you can't get away and you know it." She said, took his hand, and stabbed her, "You know better than I do."