Carlos was running for his life with a briefcase that contains a huge sum of money he stole from the bank.
He was with a gun but he still panicked because of the sirens he heard that were chasing him.
Carl's car was at the front because he was at a high speed. He finally stopped because there was an extremely tall and wide fence in front of him.
"he couldn't have jumped past this fence. I guess he's around here somewhere" Carl thought to himself as he got out of his car.
Meanwhile, Carlos was behind him but Carl saw his reflection on the windscreen of his car. He saw a man figure that was obviously the criminal but he was wearing a black mask revealing just his eyes.
Carlos walked quietly toward Carl with a gun from behind and Carl pretended not to see him.
"Mike shoot him he's right behind me" Carl yelled.
Carlos quickly turned back to see who was coming but he couldn't see anyone the police were still far behind.
He had been tricked by Carl and Carl used that opportunity to kick Carlos on his side. Carlos's gun fell from his hand as he held his waist still holding onto the briefcase with the other hand firmly.
Carl pointed him with his gun and remove the mask from his face.
His eyes widened in shock seeing that the Armed robber was no other than his best friend, Carlos.
"Carlos??? What the fuck??" Carl whispered and Carlos winked at him.
The sirens became louder as they approached them. Carl quickly grabbed the briefcase from his hand still pointing the gun to his face
"Quick, get into the car," he said huskily but Carlos gave Carl a puzzled look.
"get into the fucking car now'' Carl yelled and Carlos quickly got into Carl's car and slammed the door closed.
Carl quickly hid the mask and the police quickly got to the scene where Carl was standing with his briefcase in his hand.
"where is the criminal sir? One of the cops yelled searching around with a gun.
"he escaped," Carl lied.
"No, that's not possible, he couldn't have jumped past this fence and there's no other way he must have followed." another police said
"then he must've run past you guys and you all were too blind to see him," Carl said, trying hard to convince the cops because if they find out he's harboring Carlos, he'll go to jail too.
"prosecutor Carl, how come the criminal's briefcase is with you? It means you got a hold of him. Sir we all know you're one hell of a fighter and the criminal was just one with no back up" said the second police.
"Are you trying to say your boss is protecting the armed robber from going to jail?" Carl glared at the police.
"at least I got hold of the money he stole. I already got into a fight a few hours ago and I'm still a little weak. Yet I drove here as fast as I could but you all lazy cops who didn't get here on time are blaming me for letting go of the criminal!
From what I heard, no one got hurt in the bank" Carl said as he tossed the briefcase to one of the cops.
"take it back to the bank," he said.
"I'm sorry for our incompetence sir" the officers pleaded.
"it's okay you can all leave," Carl said
"yes, sir" the police echoed.
Carl watched them leave and got inside his car.
"so you're not just a thug you're also an armed robber?" Carl questioned Carlos with disappointment on his face.
Carl has known Carlos for more than twenty years and he knows nothing about Carl being in the black blade or doing all sorts of illegal acts.
Anne and her family are not exceptional. They also know nothing about Carlos's criminal acts.
"it's only wrong if you put it that way" Carlos responded
"It's wrong in every way. I'm not even that surprised you're the criminal. You've always been a bad boy" Carl slapped his forehead.
"that makes two of us. There's no difference between the criminal and the one who harbors the criminal. It's in the Bible." Carlos replied to justify himself
"That's bullshit, I'm only protecting you because you're my best friend and you're like a brother to me," Carl said furiously.
"Alright I'm sorry I messed up," Carlos replied flatly.
"the next time you commit any crime against the law, I won't hesitate to put you behind bars" Carl threatened while Carlos rolled his eyes like he knew Carl wouldn't dare do that.
"I already gave you a job why rob a bank? Carl asked.
"I couldn't wait to get my pay, I needed that money to do something as soon as possible" Carlos said
"Carlos you could've just asked me… I asked you this morning if you needed money for something and you know I'll give you any amount within my power without hesitation". Carl said and then he brought out a slip and wrote something on it.
"Take this, it's a check for one million dollars" he handed it to Carlos.
"Just promise me you'll stop stealing, or doing drugs, or whatever criminal activity you're into. I want was best for you dear brother" Carl said.
"Carl, you're like the brother I never had. What am I going to do without you? Thank you so much for this." Carlos said feeling extremely grateful.
Carl got home after dropping Carlos off.
The next day, Carlos paid Anne's rent as promised.
*****
Anne's bakery
"Did you ask your boyfriend how he got the money to pay the rent?" Anne's grandfather asked Anne.
"Grandpa, why are you always being hard on Carlos?
Don't tell me you're suspecting he stole the money to pay my rent" Anne said.
"I'm not sure but I'm trying to protect you. You and Dexter are all I have left" he said.
…..
Meanwhile, Carl and Richie have been driving around town looking for a decent bakery.
"you're so selective why can't you just pick any random baker to bake your cake for your birthday? Our chefs at home can also do that" Carl complained as he drives
"and we almost died of diarrhea". Richie replied. "Look here's another bakery, let's check it out." Richie pointed at Anne's bakery.
"and it'll be the last one. I'm tired already" Carl said because it was the eleventh bakery they were checking out.
"stop whining and let's go," Richie said.
They both came down from the car and got inside the bakery.
"good morning sir, Do you by any chance know the owner of this store, I need to speak to the baker," Carl said to Anne's grandfather.
"that's my granddaughter, just give her a minute and she'll be here". He said to Carl staring at him in a way Carl won't notice he was being watched.
He looked at his wrist watch and he knew it was an expensive watch he checked out Carl's shoes and his outfits.
Carl was wearing a corporate white long sleeve with dark blue trousers. He looked so handsome like he was a Greek god.
Anne's grandfather smiled looking at him and thought to himself
"This is the kind of responsible fine man I want for my granddaughter but unfortunately she's into bad boys like Carlos." Anne's grandfather shook his head.
Richie was looking at posters of different kinds of pastries pasted on the wall.
After a short while, Anne came out from the back of the counter.
She was wearing an apron and she was slightly covered in flour. Her hair was packed in a messy bun and she was a bit sweaty from the heat of the oven.
Carl had seen Anne but she hasn't seen him yet. Carl's heart throbbed immediately after he saw her and he quickly grabbed Richie's hand and decided to leave in a haste trying to avoid Anne.
"Umm sir, please don't leave yet. let me get your order, I'm sorry I wasted your time" Anne yelled, pleading.
She could only see Carl and Richie's back view.
Richie pulled Carl and turned to face Anne.
Anne gasped as soon as she saw Carl in her bakery.
"it's you, you pervert" she screamed.
"What are you doing here in my bakery!" Anne asked glaring at Carl.
"for the last time, I'm not a pervert." Carl fired back. "If I knew this bakery was yours I would never have come here, you witch."
"Hey! why are you guys fighting like children?" Anne's grandfather laughed while watching the scene.
"this freak over here kicked me on the butt. Grandpa he's such a pervert and I'm not taking any orders from him". She said angrily.
Anne's grandfather knew she could be a drama queen but he wanted to know why Carl called her a witch.
"Richie tell her it was you who kicked her not me" Carl turned to Richie
"I just want a cake for my birthday" Richie replied flatly.
"Please forgive my brother for being a freak and a pervert. Please don't castigate me because of my brother. I really want you to bake my cake for my birthday. " Richie pouted.
Carl shook his head in disbelief.
"Richie you're so dead," Carl said to himself.
"awww you're such a sweet kid, unlike your big brother who doesn't respect women. Just tell me how you want your cake" Anne smiled sweetly at Richie
"Witch!!" Carl whispered to himself.
"I heard that," Anne turned to face him giving him a death stare that made Carl gulp.