" Get me my brief case, Ronnie! Zack shouted, fiddling with his neck tie, facing his wall mirror. A young lady with a slender build and a masculine face entered the room briskly, holding a small brief case.
"When are the guards coming? The Annual General meeting would be happening in ten minutes" Zack asked, still fiddling with his neck tie. "They should be....."
'Knock! knock! Knock!'
"The Double silencer guards are here" A voice at the other side of the door said. "Let them in, Ronnie". "Yes Sire" She replied, walking briskly towards the door to let the guards in. Two men entered the King-size bedroom, dressed in black jackets which had a pistol Insignia. One had a huge physique with a brunette mohawk, the other one was bald, slender with a large scar across his face; a testimony to the dangerous missions he had undergone.
"Good morning Mr. Andrew, I'm Damien from the double silencer guards corporations. We'll be your bodyguards for the week". The bald man said as he made a slight bow. Zack had decided to apply for a change of bodyguards the previous night. He didn't want to risk being betrayed by his bodyguards.
★ ★ ★
Outside the gates of a large castle like building, reporters were waiting to cover a scene. Soon enough, a white Limousine stopped in front of the castle's massive gate . A plump man came out of the Limo to open the door to the passenger compartment. After opening the door, Zack stepped out of the Limo. He was wearing a white three piece suit which had a golden brooch. His bodyguards followed closely behind him, signalling to the reporters to stay at a distance.
Shortly after Zack's arrival, another Limousine stopped at the castle's gate . Four men who seemed to be in their Sixties came out of the luxury car and walked towards the gate. Zack made a slight bow to them. They traded pleasantries and proceeded to enter the castle's gate.
The Castle was heavily guarded ; CCTV cameras placed in inconspicuous areas, security guards on patrol and the drones having their day up in the air. It also had a Victorian architectural design.
The moment they entered the gates of the Castle, the reporters followed them closely trying to get a strong caption for their headlines but the security guards on patrol pushed them back. They finally entered the castle's conference room where their meeting would be held. They sat at a round table, ready to commence their meeting.
"Zack, you should know that this meeting is confidential. I see no reason why you should bring in your bodyguards." An old man with a beaked nose said. Zack's face flushed in anger but kept it in check by breathing in and out at regular intervals.
" You don't seem to remember that he was assaulted the last time we had our meeting. I would not be here if I were him." An elderly man with freckles replied, faking a smile. "And he wasn't assaulted once" Another elderly man added with a croaked voice.
The elderly man with a beaked nose tried to speak but his lips twitched. " I know that it's against the rules to bring in my bodyguards but I don't just feel safe without them". Zack finally said breaking the awkward silence. "That's exactly the reason why we've heightened our security and I'm confident that no one can breach our defenses" The fourth elder said.
" Don't argue with them. You know we need one of them on our side".The elderly man with freckles whispered softly in Zack's ear. Zack checked his wrist watch. " Cain should be here by now". He said as he stared at an empty chair at the round table.
Speak of the devil, an SUV with the brand name, 'Chimera' drove in with a crazed speed, leaving the reporters no chance of getting a caption for their News. A man with a shiny black overcoat stepped out of the car. The man wore a black top hat which was tilted in an angle, covering almost half of his face. The top hat did little to cover the heavy scar he had on his face. He sauntered to the castle's gigantic doors. He stopped by the door and whispered "Callousness is sweet, Vengeance is sweeter. " A creepy smile escaped from his lips as he touched the scar on his face.
...
'Help.'
Zack had a premonition; a bad one. He made sure to read the message twice. Sweat broke out of his temple, to his jawline and dropped on the phone which he just read the distress message from. " I'll be back in minutes, there's something urgent I have to attend to." He stood up ready to leave but the freckled face elderly man held him firmly by the wrist. "You won't be able to redeem yourself if you leave at this moment" He said slowly, not mincing his words.
Zack looked around and saw the eerie smiles on the faces of the elderly men. Instantly, a thought clicked in. ' They've been bought over. ' He muttered. He jerked away the elderly man's hand away from his as he left the round table in haste.
'Bang! bang! '.... Argh!
Those were the only sounds heard followed by a creepy silence. He fell on his knees, his back arched up. His three piece suit was dyed crimson. Zack could not believe that he would be assaulted in a crude manner; He was shot by the bodyguards he hired. "Liz, I'm sorry I couldn't help you this time" He muttered slowly, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.