Retaliation is no good.
Right after the party, they saw themselves sitting on the dining table, wearing off their masks. The reek of the rich wine wafted around the room, and Leo still have a good sense of smell. Someone even had a beer before coming up here.
Jeremy settled himself on the seat, asking, "You heard the announcement, don't you?"
Vincent was the one who spoke up. "Cassanos are the assigned ones for the fugitives. Yes, we are reminded of that every week."
"It has been 3 weeks since I assigned you there, but I gathered you up here to ask…"
Leo knew he had to be careful on the next few questions. The one he's hiding might surface if one wrong word comes out. Leo licked his lips, leaned forward, and propped up his elbows on the table.
"Why aren't you bringing me any fugitive?" This has scared Randall the most. He kept on pestering Leo to carry out a mission on weekends, but he kept on saying no. Now that Jeremy was asking, Leo would be in a tight situation. There's no way to get out of this.
"Actually, Mr. Jeremy Tyran, we have prepared plans for the fugitives. We're supposed to carry out a mission the day after tomorrow." The Cassanos didn't react. Leo is full of surprises. He only dropped a date whenever Jeremy was asking.
Jeremy squint his eyes. "Is it hard to locate a fugitive? We have systems to do that. But one thing's for sure: I know it'll be hard to accomplish and secure a location to Zella Albert."
Leo's legs tensed up. He knew how to play the game, and even though his heart was beating louder, Leo had to remain calm. Leo sighed, uttering, "Yeah, it'll be. We couldn't locate her Tempus Moneda, even though Etienne has been doing all the hacking on a program to locate her. We don't know exactly where she was."
Jeremy somehow is convinced. He is clueless of the idea.
"Right, that's the reason I recruit my sister to work along with you, Leo."
Leo didn't know if he should be grateful or turn down the offer. Jeremy has made a remark earlier, that Hailey would be a great help for them to locate the fugitives. Leo doesn't want to turn down an order, or they would find themselves in a coffin the next day.
"Mr. Tyran, I don't think I understand what you meant of that. Is she going to be part of the Cassanos temporarily?"
"Do you want her to be permanent?"
It made Jon Cho uneasy. He cleared his throat, asking, "Is it really necessary for us to have a female comrade?"
Leo thanked God he gave him diligent members who wouldn't allow their leader to speak up for them. Jon Cho raised his eyebrows, continuing, "We have 5 members inside the Cassanos. We are very good at our job, and we know how to take care of the people you assigned to us. If we shelter another one under our wing, does that mean we have to adjust to her?"
Etienne didn't seem to like the idea, too.
"That might be it, Mr. Jon Cho Kingsley. We did know these fugitives are dangerous. If they ever found the outside world, they'll become aggressive, and you know what happened next. They can kill everyone as long as they have a firearm," Jeremy pointed out. Leo crossed his arms over his chest.
"I know we didn't have to go against your plan, Jeremy, but so you know, if your sister gets in my way, I wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet in her head." They agreed to have that ever since the Cassanos first built. There's no exception when it comes to the dirty work. Leo gave a small smile, stood up from the chair, and left the conference room.
Randall shook Jeremy's hands, and the rest of the Cassanos went out.
…
"Hi, handsome."
Leo puffed out the smoke to the balcony while waiting for the hour to come home. He turned to the woman's voice by the door, and Leo saw she changed her clothes. She's now wearing a super short, red strapless dress, more like a tube one.
Her blonde hair cascaded all over her shoulders as she tiptoed on her way to Leo.
"Ms. Hailey."
"Oh, don't call me like that. Jeremy just informed me I'll temporarily under your team. I just want to check whether it's true or not." She shrugged, leaning by the railings, showing off her flawless skin underneath the moonlight. Leo doesn't seem attracted to her.
Leo doesn't feel attracted to anyone except…
"Do you have a woman?" Hailey asked bluntly.
Leo threw the cigarette butt on the trash bin, slipped in his hands inside his slacks, and raised his eyebrows. Leo asked, "What do you care?"
"You look like someone who has. You'll never turn a goddess like me if you didn't have one." Leo had to admit she's beautiful, but she isn't his type. He threw her a look, and it seemed to work on Hailey. But instead of taking a step back and building a wall, she reached out to his collar, hitching it.
Hailey planted a soft kiss to his lips. Leo didn't even know what happened after a second of meeting her mouth. He widened his eyes as the blonde girl closed her eyes, stayed like that, holding onto his tie. Leo has a second to snap awake out of those soft lips, and tugged onto her wrist.
He pushed her gently away from him. Hailey seemed to be bewitched.
Leo held onto her wrist. Hailey laughed, brushing off his grip, reckoning, "You were so surprised! Why are you so shocked to lend a woman a kiss?!"
This woman must be crazy. Leo sighed, gritting his teeth, and asked, "Are you seriously like that? Randomly kissing guys without their permission?"
Hailey doesn't seem to mind what a scene she caused. She shrugged.
"If you're that affected, you have a woman," Hailey pointed out. She reached out and brushed his shoulders. Leo glared at her, but she doesn't acknowledge how angry he was with the kiss. Hailey smiled at him, pulled in for a whisper.
"Good luck with the mission. I'll be there on time." Her breath lingered on his ears, tensing his jaw up. The way she's too close to his body made him feel hot. But he had to shake off that urge. She's too crazy to even lend time with.
She looked at him one last time. Hailey raised her eyebrows, walked away in a strut, making Leo too stunned to speak.
…
"I kissed him in surprise. His reaction was too odd, Jeremy. Not the same, usual reaction you say he could be in." Hailey walked at the corridors of the Calvorite Hall while talking on the phone. She fumbled for the keys inside her purse while bowing her head down to the maids.
"What kind of reaction?"
"Like a married man would react. You should be able to know that since you're a married man. What would you do if some strange girl kisses you? You'd think of your wife, right?"
Hailey went inside the room, and switched on the light.
"Something's suspicious with Leo, I guess."