[DIAMOND POV]
The first thing she did was to ask the good Lord to organise her, to bring all her shattered parts together inwardly.
Along about four in the evening Diamond sat at the bus stop looking around, for signs of that black flashy car. Signs of Hawk's mysterious demeanour. She had called him and he told her to wait at the bus stop for reasons she did not know. He told her to wait there twenty minutes ago and he hadn't shown up.
Her heart drumming violently in her chest. She called Hawk again and he picked it.
"Hello, where are you? I have been waiting". She said in a panicked voice.
"Just hold on, I'm sending a car to you". He replied.
She panicked even more. She caught her breath. "If you are not coming to get me, then who?"
Sensing her fears, he said "Trust me. You'll see a red Range Rover in ten seconds".
She nervously caught her lip between her teeth and looked around. Indeed, she sighted a red car from the left part of the road.
"Ask him, his name is Sergio".
"Okay, hang on".
She nodded as the red Range Rover slowly pulled up to where she sat. She got up, still holding her phone. A man got out of the car. He was clad in shorts and a plain t-shirt, over a pair of sneakers.
"What is your name?" She asked abruptly and the man had not even said a word.
"I'm Sergio. Hawk asked me to pick you up. You must be Diamond".
"Yes". She nodded and finally hung the call.
"So where exactly are you taking me to? Why couldn't he come pick me up instead?" She tried so hard to hide the paranoia out of her question but it was glaringly obvious... Her shaky voice, her sweaty palms.
"He's busy with work", He replied shortly. There was no actual reason to doubt him, she knew, still she was still nervous. He opened the door to the back seat and beckoned on her to come in. She sneaked a peek at the Interiors of the car. It was going to be comfortable and cool once she got in. She advanced towards the car and looked over her shoulders at Sergio who was still holding the door for her. He maintained a straight face and Diamond couldn't possibly have a clue what was going through his mind.
She got into the car and the door swung shut. She breathed in the rich smell of the car before letting out a nervous sigh.
Sergio was back in the driver's seat and he started the car immediately.
No words were shared... Sergio was fixated on driving and while Diamond stared out of the window trying to take note of the roads, other cars sped past their own.
Her mind was not at rest. It was racing with thoughts of Hawk. Why did he wants to see her.
She answered the question, she owed him a favour... big time. What she didn't know was what he was going to say to her... demand from her. She of all people should know that life wasn't a free city.
A random man who pick you up from the street and saved you from a mess, not once but twice, Diamond of course you are not so dumb to think he wouldn't want something from you.
If she didn't look at the rear view mirror, minutely, she would have missed stifling glances from Sergio. Their eyes collided. She stared back in apprehension, Sergio averted his gaze. Diamond said a silent prayer.
In a matter of fifteen minutes, the car stopped in an enclosed area. Far away from residential houses but definitely not sub-urban. Diamond observed that in a couple of five minutes, they had gone through deserted roads, no signs of human beings or houses, just narrow paths. And apparently they were in front of a tall gate with fences about it that seemed unending.
Sergio turned to look at Diamond who was lost in her own thoughts.
"You okay there?" He asked softly.
She looked at him. No she wasn't.
"Where is this place?"
"Gazelle Shipping", He replied and settled back and began to punch some digits on his phone. He left her to deal with her never-ending train of thoughts.
She was wondering what the hell he had just said. Was this their final destination? She knew Hawk wouldn't hurt her, he had helped her twice. If he wanted to he would have done it a long while ago. But the question is what exactly does he want? And where exactly is this place?
Suddenly, there was a jolting movement and the date slowly began to part from either side. Sergio started the car again and drove through the open space, all Diamond did was look about, observing.
Now Sergio parked the car properly where other cars were parked. One of it Diamond realised was the car Hawk used to pick her up. Sergio got out of the car. She didn't need any reminder, she yanked the door open and scooted out.
Ahead of her was a building. It wasn't a house for sure and she couldn't make out the style of the house. Tall chimneys silhouetted against the sunset. It was also a lousy place. Her ears picked up the sound of a working machine... powerful and big. Maybe it was an industrial place.
What exactly was Hawk doing in this kind of place? Does he own this? That would explain why he was so rich.
Sergio began to walk off to another direction and Diamond followed behind. She despised his attitude of not talking to her and giving specific details... he was brisk and rude.
They emerged in an open space. Diamond sighted a large truck. There was a bold imprint on it, she mentally read it... Gazelle shipping. She also saw Hawk who was talking to one of the men who were lifting sealed boxes into the truck.
She understood now. Hawk worked in a shipping company and he was the boss. Was that so hard for Sergio to tell her?
"Wait here", Sergio said, walking over to meet Hawk. Diamond blew out a breath, tucking strands of hair behind her ear. She watched.
While they were talking, Hawk looked in her direction and pasted a smile on his face. He said something to Sergio. Sergio nodded in response and went to join the other men who were stuffing more boxes into the truck.
Hawk walked over to Diamond who was absently hugging her arms. It was not a cold evening, the big red sun was in progress, sinking in the west and turning everything to pink and gold. Only now had she realised that Hawk was the reason behind the sudden cold she was feeling.
He was a scary man and yet again, he was wearing a black buttoned shirt over dark trousers. His dark eyes boring down on hers.
She felt a sudden urge to swallow her own spit.
"I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up", He started, studying her. "I sent Sergio to pick you up at exactly three-thiry as we agreed. He got to the bus stop and you weren't there. What happened?
She coughed slightly to remove the knot from her throat. "I'm so sorry about that. I was just held back with some family issues".
"Very well", He said. "I hope you're ok?"
Weird, she thought but she nodded.
He led her to his office.
"Lousy out there, I'm I right?" He said in a friendly tone.
Diamond could only give a nod to his question. He called it an office but it looked like a devil's nest. Above his desk, the wall had a hawk painting. Something registered in her mind.