Daniel Heinrich laughed and walked out of the door. It was almost nine o'clock, he had to get to the restaurant he reserved as soon as he could, there was a possibility that woman would leave if he wasn't there on time.
How many years he hadn't seen her? When he gathered his courage to dial her number, he was worried she had changed it. But fortunately, she picked up the phone. Her voice sounded more mature, he hoped she became mature now, she could never survive the business she was in if she was still childlike and innocent like how she used to be.
Did he miss her? Part of him thought he did, but he denied it. Indeed, she was the only woman he had the silly idea to marry, but his career wouldn't allow him to get emotionally attached. They worked together for almost five years, and at the beginning of his exile, she offered to help but he refused it. He had the feeling that Velika O'Sullivan would come to him one day, so he decided to wait for his opportunity. He did, however, offered to go back to Germany with her, but she turned the offer down.
Then she left him and disappeared from his world. He never heard from her again until two days ago, when he contacted her and asked her to return his favor from many years before when he rescued her from the crime scene, saving her life.
With mixed feelings, he held his head up high and walked into the restaurant. He saw her sitting there, tasting champagne. She didn't change much, her blonde hair was still charming, but she did look more mature. There she was, the woman Daniel Heinrich loved but had to leave behind:
Clarabelle Lewis.
She glanced at him, then turned away like she didn't notice him at all and continued tasting her champagne. He sat down in front of her, she finally spoke:
"It's been a while."
"Definitely." He smiled politely, poured a drink for himself, "How have you been these years?"
"Surviving." She answered simply, put down her goblet, "I don't have much time, and there are eyes everywhere. What do you want from me, Daniel?"
No one had referred him by his first name for the longest time and it took him a second to realize she was addressing him. He was amazed by how different she became, it was beneficial for her, but somehow, he missed the talkative woman she used to be.
"You truly grow up now, Clara," He smirked, then attentively showed her a photo he took out from his jacket pocket, "Do you recognize this woman? Before you answer, let me tell you, her name is Larissa Weiss."
Clarabelle Lewis's eyes widened. She took over the photo from his hand and examined the woman carefully, didn't want to miss any detail, she returned the phone and said sullenly:
"Larissa Weiss is she..."
"Yes, she is." Daniel Heinrich confirmed her thoughts.
"This is ugly." She frowned, "Why did you come to me?"
"I believe you are capable of finding out the truth for me," Daniel Heinrich said slowly, "Let's just say, I need to plan things."
"You are after Velika O'Sullivan, correct?" Clarabelle Lewis laughed dryly, "You want revenge."
"Not quite," Daniel Heinrich lowered his voice, a sly smile climbed on his exquisite face, "O'Sullivan has a dark past, and I do want to know about it. However, besides her, I want something even more substantial."
"Aren't you afraid I'll betray you?" Clarabelle Lewis shifted in her seat.
"I can tell you are interested, if you join me, we can share the profits." Daniel Heinrich said in a deep and sincere voice.
"Please, Daniel, stop being so arrogant." She sat back and laughed, "Do you fully realize what kind of game you got into? You probably can't even save yourself, where can you get benefits from? I'll help you this time because I'm returning your favor, after this, don't contact me anymore. We are over."
"Deal." Daniel Heinrich toasted to her, "To our last collaboration."
She sneered, didn't say anything.
Daniel Heinrich did realize what he was getting into, even he wasn't quite down the road yet. This was a dark, filthy play he had no choice but to be involved in. Right now, he had to be prepared and tried whatever he could to keep himself safe. Being out of the business for two years cut off all the links and allies that he used to have. He knew perfectly that this was their plan, in this vulnerable state of his, he had to follow whatever orders they gave out.
However, there was one more person he had to conquer and be used for himself, and that was Velika O'Sullivan. Daniel Heinrich was well aware of how she had a dark past, which she refused to let anyone know about. Partnering up with someone who knew all about him, but he knew nothing about it was intriguing. He never doubted how this woman was a clever, outstanding agent and that was the reason he needed to get to know her more.
She didn't trust Romeo Leontes as much as she appeared to be, and she was trying to throw hints at him. Perhaps she wanted to be an ally of his, made use of his ability, and so was he. To gain her trust, he had to crack her impenetrable shell and make her told him her story voluntarily, which might be the hardest task in his entire career.
He wandered the streets for an hour after dinner with his old lover, relating all the information he had once more and hoped to conclude a plan that can work on Velika O'Sullivan. But he wasn't an expert in this field, and he ended up with nothing. When he returned, it was late into the night and he thought Velika O'Sullivan was already asleep. So, he locked the door behind him carefully.
He saw her lying on the couch, talking on the phone. He was quiet enough not to be noticed, so he stood at the doorway and eavesdropped on her conversation.
"I miss you too," He heard she said in sorrow, "Tell everyone I said hi."
Who was on the phone with her? Did she have a secret lover somewhere out in the world who she was trying to hide from others? Questions started rising in his mind, and he didn't realize when she found out his presence. She hung up abruptly and threw the phone into the trash can. It was a disposable phone.
"Hello, Heinrich, you could've said hi." She said coldly, staring at him.
"I didn't want to interrupt your conversation," Daniel Heinrich shrugged, "So, who are you calling?"
"Well, just a friend." She shrugged back casually, "Who I haven't spoken with for a while and finally got a chance to call."
"It's nice to have friends outside work," Said him dubiously, but he went with it, "And I couldn't believe you stayed up this late."
"I don't trust you, Heinrich." She said suddenly in a partial rude way. He couldn't see her face as she was rear-facing the window. The moon was bright outside, and the moonlight shone on her back but buried her face in the shadow. She was sitting there like a wretched statue.
"We are in the same boat now," He said as soft as possible, adjusted from the initial shock, "Plus it's about your past, and there is no record of it. Even if I want to sell you out, I don't have the proof. If you told me, I may be able to help, you know what I've been through when I was a teenager."
He heard she sighed, for one second he thought she was crying, then slowly, she said: "My past is no better than yours, and it's even worse in some ways. And I don't think there's a need to bring it up."
"Then you need to tell me, so we can get over it together." He insisted sincerely. Her voice was fulfilled with hopelessness, reminded him of his old days when he struggled to survive. He didn't know if he was only professing, or truthfully feel sorry for her.
"Maybe later." She said softly, stood up, and walked towards her room, "We still have a long journey ahead."
Velika O'Sullivan was a woman with a strong mind, holding everything to herself even though she probably didn't want to, thought Daniel Heinrich. He always wondered what made her this way. He was worried that she exposed the fragile side of her to him on purpose, he suspected she might be plotting something on him as well. Had to be careful, he told himself.