"Make sure you aim well this time. Don't fail me again or I will end you myself" the man commanded.
"Sure, Sir, I'll do my best," the guy replied.
The man reiterated with irritation what the other guy had said, and struck him violently, "I don't want 'trying.' Your best is all I need. I want it done once and for all. If plan A doesn't work, move onto plan B," he clarified, exhaling heavily as his anger boiled over.
"Okay boss," the guy responded, positioning himself well before slightly bowing and walking away.
As the man moved forward, a smile crept onto his face. "No one messes with me and gets away with it i will deal with you accor," he muttered to himself. "After you meet your maker today, you'll challenge him the same way you did with me," he said aloud, his voice tinged with menace. "Mara Carter Castillo, you only have less than five hours to live," he proclaimed loudly, his words echoing through the air.
Hahahahahahaha
….............…..
The glass in her hands fell and shattered across the floor of her hotel room. Slowly, she bent down to pick up the broken pieces, her fingers grazing over the sharp edges. As she did, she touched her necklace, a strange sensation washing over her.
"Why do I feel strange today?" she murmured to herself, her gaze drifting into the space before her.
…..
Sometime later
Both Max and Mara stood at the site for their final inspection before they returned home. As Max cast his gaze towards her, he noticed that Mara's helmet had not been fixed properly. Just as she was about to move away, Max took hold of her hands and pulled her gently towards him. Mara bumped into his chest, letting out a small sigh as she looked up into his eyes with wonder.
He removed her helmet and adjusted it properly on her head before stepping away from her.
Positioning himself strategically in a black dress with only his eyes visible, he gripped the gun firmly and professionally.
"I'm not going to miss today," he declared, focusing on her forehead.
He began a countdown: "5, 4, 3, 2, 1..." Just as he was about to shoot, a worker rushed to Mara...
"Miss, you need to take note of the wiring and the type of stones we'll be using," the man instructed.
"Sure," Mara responded, eager to comply.
"Damn," the man with the gun muttered, leaning back against the wall he was hiding behind, clutching the gun tightly.
He regained his focus and aimed at her again, but once more, he was distracted…
"I think this is it now. We'll be back in the next 6 months to check how far it has gotten," Mr. Max Warren III said to the site director in charge.
"We hope to be done by then," the site director said.
Mara stood at the street trying to cross the road to the other side and join them over there.
Starting the car, with his hand firmly on the brake pedal, the killer adjusted his leg well. "This is it," he said, releasing the brake, and at full speed, the car raced down the street.
Mara checked left, making sure no car was coming. As she turned to look right, a car came out of nowhere at full speed, heading straight towards her.
The shock of it paralyzed her legs as she stared directly at the car with wide eyes, frozen in place as it raced towards her.
"Hey, Heyy, move out of the way!" the workers around shouted, urging Mara to move.
Max realized what was happening from afar while he was discussing with the site director. He turned to look at Mara and then at the speeding car, his heart racing with fear.
Before the car could run her over, Max sprinted to pull her from the street. Together, they fell onto the other side, sliding a bit away from the road.
Locked in a gaze, their eyes met intensely. Max then shifted his attention to the car's rear license plate before returning his focus to Mara, who had reclined on her back.
"Shoot," the killer muttered as he hit the car's steering wheel. "That was close, so close… I would have ended her," he said, running his hands through his hair with clenched teeth.
"Can't you see? Are you out of your mind?" Max furiously said as he blasted Mara, who stood there still shaky.
"I didn't know what to do," she said.
"That car could have ended and scattered you all over the place," he said angrily, pointing to the street.
"Hey, I said I didn't know what to do," Mara retorted.
"Are you a kid? Is this your first time crossing the street? Do you need someone to hold your hand to cross just this small road?" he lashed out.
"I can cross a street by myself. This took me by surprise," her voice trembling slightly.
"By surprise, you don't say. You could have lost your life and become a funeral about two minutes ago. Do you need some kind of control to get your life together and do the right thing?" he said sternly while nodding his head
"Why are you acting like you care about me, huh? Stop acting like if something had happened to me you would have cared. Come on, I only work for you. You don't have power over my life. The only thing you rich people think about is yourself and your money. So stop acting up, please!" She glared at him with anger before storming out of his presence, leaving him alone.
"Mr. Max Warren III, one of the best business tycoons in our century. What brings you here?" a voice said, followed by a small giggle. "How are you enjoying your win?" the voice added as Max approached.
Without wasting any time or listening to any further words, Max delivered a blow that sent him straight into his chair.…....…..
"End every trick you have for Mara else you will see the other side of me," he said, glaring at Mr. Green Wave, whose face had completely turned red as he sat in his chair.
"What makes you say that? Why would I want to mess with you?" Mr. Green Wave said, smiling.
"You still leave traces when you do those filthy works. I saw the car, and I know you own that car. I am only giving you a warning. You won't like it, the next time. You also know what I am capable of when I get mad."
"We are going back home tomorrow. Thank you for your honors throughout our stay in Dubai. Until we meet again, in the next board business meeting, in whatever country we find ourselves," Max said, bowing slightly before walking out.
Mr. Green Wave groaned in his chair, breathing heavily as though he had a cold. He spat on a tissue paper and saw blood. Anger filled his gaze as he stared at it, using his hands to push a decorative flower off the table. He tightly clenched his fist and gritted his teeth in frustration.
….....
Wrapping things to go back home….
Mara strolled around Dubai, soaking in every moment of her remaining days there. From visiting zoos to attending concerts, going on tours, and indulging in street food, she made the most of her time, documenting each experience on her Facebook account.
After placing the final item into her suitcase, a smile spread across her face, followed by a heavy sigh of contentment. She zipped it closed and scanned the room one last time, ensuring she hadn't left anything behind. With her backpack slung over her shoulder and suitcase in hand, she headed out, ready to embark on the journey back home.
As she walked down the hallway, pulling her suitcase and backpack behind her, Mara murmured to herself. "With all the ups and downs in this journey, at least I have a story to tell," she said with a smile, glancing around. When she reached the front view of the hotel, she stood and smiled broadly.
"Ma'am, I was assigned by Mr. Warren III to take you to the airport," a formally dressed man said, approaching her and taking her suitcase from her hands. A car was already waiting for them.
Mara looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Max, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Where is he?" she asked the man holding her suitcase.
"He left already, last Friday night," the man responded.
"Really?" Mara nodded thoughtfully, scanning the area one last time before entering the waiting car.
"At least I have all this seat to myself," she remarked with a smile as she settled in, crossing her legs. With a contented sigh, she observed the passing scenery as they drove her to the airport.
As soon as they arrived at the airport, Mara was startled to find herself surrounded by sharply dressed guards in all black.