Ariana glanced cautiously at both sides of the hallway as she dropped one foot at a time down the stairs while holding her black sneakers in her hands.
She tiptoed down the hallway slowly, making sure her feet covered in a pair of black socks weren't making any sounds in the dark house.
She was dressed in a black long sleeve tracksuit with matching pants that accentuated her slim figure attractively.
Her blonde locks were tied in a high ponytail without a single strand left to touch her face.
Her face was void of makeup and it brought out a very natural and innocent look to the beautiful young CEO.
She peeped her head into the ajar door of Freda's room as she moved past it slowly.
Then she heard the sound of the door pushed open and she halted in her tracks with her eyes wide open.
"Where are you headed to at twelve in the midnight, young lady?" Freda came out of her room, in her white silky nightgown as she crossed her arms over her torso.
Freda was a lady with two beautiful children and a loving husband but her love for the little child who had lost her parents at a young age made her move in with Ariana for the past seventeen years, though she stayed at her house on weekends.
"Oh, hey Freda, weren't you asleep?" Ariana turned back with a sheepish smile on her face.
"I was until I heard a little mouse tiptoeing down the stairs. Where are going, Ariana?" Freda asked.
"We have a mouse in the house? Wow, I didn't know that" Ariana waved her hand as she moved back stealthily.
Freda kept her steady gaze on Ariana as she raised her eyebrows, indicating she wasn't going to ask the same question a third time.
"I just want to step out for some air," Ariana let out.
"Some air? Do you know what time it is?" Freda asked.
"I do, Fredarling, but what can I do? I'm getting stuffed up here and I can't get some sleep. I just want to go on a drive to empty my head," Ariana said.
"When will you be back?" Freda raised an eyebrow.
"Before three, I promise to be back before three," Ariana promised.
"You come a second later and you will be grounded for a week," Freda let out sternly and Ariana simply grinned because she knew Freda will never be able to do that to her.
"Thanks, Freda, now go back to sleep," Ariana dropped a small kiss on her cheek.
"Wear a thicker coat, it's chilly out there," Freda said as Ariana stepped out of the Condo.
Freda shook her head as she wrapped her arms around herself to warm her body up.
She had noticed that Ariana have been acting strange lately but she didn't want to peer into the girl's life because Freda was never someone like that.
She just hoped that whatever she did, she was safe and happy. That was all that mattered.
________________
Jared leaned by the wall as he took a wary look down the empty streets with an uneasy stomach.
He took a look at his watch as the time showed a few minutes past twelve and he still couldn't believe that he had snuck out of his house in the middle of the night just because of a girl!
After dinner, Jared had gotten a text from Ariana stating for them to meet at a particular location by midnight and that was the only thing Jared was told.
She refused to give him any more information than that and he had no other choice but to keep his curiosity down until they meet.
But what made him even more suspicious was the dress code she had ordered him to wear. An all-black outfit.
Jared was dressed in black baggy joggers topped with a black sleeveless shirt and a thick jacket to ward him off the cold in the air.
He matched it with black sneakers and he looked like a model as he leaned on the wall with his hands in his jacket pockets.
He turned his head when he heard footsteps approaching and he saw a familiar figure walking down towards him in fully black attire.
"Hey, Jerry," Ariana greeted with a smile.
"Hi," Jared smiled at her too.
"Sorry I kept you waiting. I had to get here on foot as I wasn't in the mood to drive," Ariana said as she adjusted her black cap on her head.
"You walked here all alone? Why didn't you call me? Don't you know it's too dangerous at this hour?" Jared said.
"Oh, please, it's not that far from my place and besides, I'm here in one piece so that's what matters, huh?" Ariana shrugged and Jared shook his head at her easygoing nature.
"By the way, why would you call me out so late at night? What's the matter?" Jared asked as he was dying to know what they had come out to do.
"Forget about that for a while and let's come to your outfit. You look stunning, Jerry," Ariana said with a sparkle in her eyes as she gazed at him from head to toe.
Jared widened his eyes slightly at the sudden compliment and he hesitated to give her an answer.
What was he even supposed to say?
"Well, you said all black so..." he shrugged as he turned his gaze away from her.
"I know but you pulled it off so well, nice job, buddy," she patted his shoulder and he gave her a small smile.
"Now back to business. We are here because of my thirty-fifth item on the Death List and your first Death adventure with me," Ariana announced.
"Now? What are we going to do so late at night?" Jared asked as he looked around uncertainly.
"Look over....there," Ariana pointed at a shop just down the alley.
"The shop isn't open? What are we going to do there?" Jared frowned.
"Item number thirty-five. Rob a store," Ariana let out as Jared widened his eyes in shock.