Eighteen: Atonement
Monalissa was all dressed and ready to meet her master. Thanks to Hanabi's nursing, the pain had subsided a bit and she felt better compared to when she woke up. She walked out of the dorm and was almost at the factory's entrance when she met Luke. He was already dressed for work and was holding his face towel in his hand.
He took some steps towards her and soon they were close enough to hear each other. He looked her over and nodded.
"Hana told me what happened".
"She sure talks a lot", she said with an eye roll follwed by a slight smile.
"Does it still hurt a lot?"
"Not like before, thanks to Hana".
He walked closer to her. Taking her hand in his, be dipped his other hand into his back pocket and took out a small bottle. He placed it on her palm.
"It's an ointment. Apply it on the injuries. You don't have to get injured 'cause there's a lot of work to do".
He closed her palm and stepped back. Monalissa was a bit flustered by his actions. She didn't even get to push him away.
"This... You don't have to bother. Hana gave me some".
"Another one won't be bad yeah?"
Monalissa smiled and nodded." Thanks. I will use it well".
She turned and walked to where the car was packed. Kim was with them. He took note of what had happened between the duo so he didn't bother asking about the ointment. They boarded the car and left.
The Alpha company.
Ezekiel was standing by his window when a knock came on the door of his office. He thought it was Kim and let him in.
"Kim, did you bring her?"
"Yes. He brought her", a hoarse voice answered. Ezekiel gave a start and turned almost abruptly. On seeing the person, his countenance turned into an ice cellar.
Monalissa saw him scowl so hard that the lines on his face were almost folding up. She swallowed hard and twisted her fingers. She couldn't believe she was being nervous in front of him.
"Your assistant had something up so, I took his direction and found your office".
Ezekiel didn't say a word and just sat down behind his desk and began reviewing some papers.
"I...", She began. Ezekiel paused in his actions. He wondered if she was planning to apologize.
He smirked. "There's no need for your apology. It won't change my mind towards you"
"I'm not apologizing. I was doing my job at that time but, I didn't know it would cost me a lot. If I had known, I would have talked my mother out of it".
She blinked her eyes to stop her tears from flowing out. She took a deep breath and swallowed the hard lump in her throat.
"I...will atone for my sins and that of my family, however, I will make the person behind this pay".
Ezekiel dropped the papers and leaned into his seat."And how do you plan on doing that? You don't have your martial arts and you have no money or power, so, how exactly?", he asked his voice laced with a tinge of mockery. Monalissa lowered her gaze as her mind wheels began to turn. As though she had conjured something, she looked up abruptly.
"I will help you find out who it was. I can still remember telling you about a code last night. I guess..."
"Who said you could do that? I don't need your help. You just need to dance to my tunes, got it?"
With her face downcasted, she nodded. "I understand".
"You'll be going with me to a party tomorrow. So, you should stay over at the villa today".
"What am I doing there? What's my role?"
Ezekiel was tempted to smile at her question. She sounded like a professional who had never lost her touch. But he still kept his face straight.
"I need some information on someone. Somethings has been going on and I need to catch the culprit. No one knows you yet, so it should be very smooth".
Monalissa nodded. "I understand ".
Ezekiel looked at her and his gaze landed on her wrist."What's up with that bracelet?"
Monalissa looked at her wrist. "Oh, you mean this? It's mine. It's been on my wrist for as long as I can remember".
Ezekiel didn't mind her explanation and just busied himself with bringing his cigarette. He placed a stick in between his lips and took the lighter.
"Let me help you", the hoarse voice rang in his ears. He looked at her.
"You're my master aren't you? I should at least be of help with that much". She looked at him, hoping that he won't turn her down. If she wanted to get her revenge, she needed to gain the devil's trust first. She needed to be the slave that he wants for her to get the asshole that put her in this shit.
"Come here, Walker".
She moved her feet and was soon standing in front of him. She took the lighter from him and lighted the cigarette. While she was at it, the guy watched her actions.
She was a pretty one, he admitted after his alter ego beat him to it. Her lashes fluttered several times as she busied herself. They were like the wings of a butterfly flapping its wings happily on a sunny day. His gaze moved down to her lips that was like a cherry on top of a cake.
He noticed that his body was reacting to her presence so he took away the lighter from her and ordered her to get out.
Monalissa who couldn't understand what she did wrong walked out of the office under his fiery gaze.