"And everything's ready?" Lorenzo inquired, entering his study. His room was large and divided into his office and bedroom. Given that he was too sluggish to leave the room anytime he needed to perform something vital at work.
"Yes, everything's ready." The person on the phone responded, and he exhaled deeply.
"I'll see you tonight." He stated, sitting in his chair.
"Alright."
Beep!
His door swung open, and a furious Marco stormed inside.
Loren raised his eyes to look at him.
Loren knew why he was so angry.
But he pretended not to know and began picking up littered papers from his table, merely asking, "What is it, Marco?"
Marco scoffed: "How could you? How could you insult me like this?"
Lorenzo dropped the papers on the table and glanced up, "What have I done?"
"How dare you ask a bitch to challenge me to a fight?"
Loren raised his brow, "Are you underestimating Eve?."
"What?" He exclaimed, raising his brows, "The bitch who had only begun learning how to pitch brows three years ago. I'm too big to get into a lame girl fight like that."
Loren's lips twisted into a smile, "If you can beat Eve, I'll give you one of my cars."
His eyes widened, "The BMW?"
"Yes."
"The black one?"
Loren chuckled, "I'm not going back on my word."
He suddenly smiled, "You better don't."
Loren chuckled as Marco turned around and left the room.
~
Eve stood by the window, admiring her hand band, while Nik stood beside her. He was determined in his efforts to convince Eve not to fight Marco.
Nik has loved Eve when she was brought in. He had fallen in love with her ever since he saw her get out of Loren's black SUV. He went on to help nurse her to life, and they've become closest friends.
He didn't want her to leave, but he also didn't want to interfere with her revenge. Eve had never thought about anything other than the people who had hurt her. As a result, he avoided expressing his affections for her.
"It's not too late to get out of this fight." Nik spoke behind her, and she spun around to face him, "I hope you know I can easily beat you in a fight."
Nik shook his head; it was true. Eve was determined to learn martial arts. During the nine years she spent plotting her revenge, she used four years to complete her education, three years to learn how to fight, and two years to purchase assets and penetrate the world of business.
She had grown and accomplished much for herself, but what she did to achieve so much remained a mystery to others. Some claimed she sold her soul to the devil, prostituted herself among the city's elites, or plundered them. Many things had been said about her fortune, things that did not get to her. And this was when she acquired 'the Belle's Manor'.
"Marco was a former military general. I hope you know how strong he is. He's far stronger than you'll ever be."
She rolled her eyes and looked at him, fed up. As she peered into his eyes, eyeballs to eyeballs, she cautioned, "If you don't stop talking, I will knock you off the floor and make sure you end up in the hospital. Do not push me."
His lips zipped up. He couldn't say another word. Eve could be terrifying when angry; if provoked, she will ensure he spends the rest of his life in the hospital.
"Wow. I can't imagine how happy I am deep down now." A voice speaks from the door. They both turned to see Stacia entered the fitness room. Her heels were so loud that the sound could be heard in the next room. Stacia is a classy lady who always dresses nicely.
Eve sneered at her, her arms folding up as she began walking toward Stacia.
"You should be happy, because if I leave, you won't have to die thinking about me and Lorenzo."
She sighed. "At least, you know you've been trying to get him to like you."
Eve's smile deepened: "Oh, poor sweetheart!. Is this what you have been doing?" She asked, resting her palm on Stacia's cheek, "That's why you've gotten even more stricken in age."
A gasp escaped her lips, and Nik's giggling made matters worse as she turned and fled away, screaming.
"What the fuck!!"Nik couldn't control himself as he burst out laughing.
Eve turned around and couldn't stop herself from smiling. Nik paused in his laugh, observing her smiles. She rarely smiled, and when she did, it made her look very attractive.
When she noticed Nik standing there staring at her, she stopped smiling and cleared her throat. She gazed at the door as it opened, and two men dressed in black suits stepped in, one of which was Marco, and the other was Lorenzo, charming as ever.
Lorenzo had black well-shaved hair and emerald attractive eyes. He had a stud earring in one of his ears, and his presence commanded respect. He was five years Eve's elder and appeared to be very attractive.
He stood there studying Eve. Damn, those asses.
He couldn't take his eyes off her. Eve wore workout pants and a bra. She was so hot that if it was to be another girl, Loren wouldn't stop until he'd have her. But that was Eve, his dearest buddy.
He could recognize himself in her. Her family handled her similarly to how his own family treated him. Nobody wanted him. He was simply caught up in a web. His father and maternal homes both rejected him. He did not trust any of them.
"Evelyn." He called quietly, his gaze fixated on her body. He had just caught a sight of before him. His eyes lingered on an inked tattooed write-up on top of her breast. He wanted to approach her, grab her waist, and read it to himself. He had not seen her exposed before. So many things were playing in his head.
He turned to Marco and said, "Non colpirla troppo forte (Don't hit her too hard)."
Marco simply nodded, but Eve stunned them by stating, "You don't have to listen to him."
Lorenzo scoffed, "Now, you hear Italian?"
His eyes were full of admiration. He wouldn't deny it: she'd grown.
Marco approached her and said, "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."
"Bring it on, Marco."
Marco scoffed and took low strides towards her; the man was massive, staring down at Eve like a predictor about to tear apart its prey. Eve knew she couldn't compete with him; she'd have to battle harder and use her intellect more quickly.
He threw a punch at her, which she dodged by bending her head; her ponytail brushed the floor as she attempted to avoid Marco's big fist. He didn't let her regain her footing; instead, he slapped her hard with his left palm, causing her to huff out blood.
Eve saw red and staggered back, but did not fall. She cautiously brought her hand to her lips and touched her blood. She looked up and glared at him as he began unbuttoning his suit.
He took it off and threw it aside.
"You tasted blood?" He mockingly inquired, "How do you think someone like you could fight me? You must have a death wish!" He threw a blow at her face, which she caught just before it hit her. Everybody was watching him and his eyes widened as he realized he couldn't withdraw his hand from her. Her hand tightened around his fist, he tried to use his other hand, but Eve, knowing what his plan was, kneed him in the groin. He let out a deep painful grunt and immediately dropped to his knees.
"Your prejudice against women has led you to underestimate your opponent. Watch your ass get kicked by a woman." She spat in his face and kicked him hard, knocking him out.
Everywhere was silent as a graveyard. Loren was astounded and stunned.
What exactly happened in front of him?
His gaze moved from Marco's body to Eve's face. "Evelyn, come with me."
He walks out of the room without saying another word, leaving them behind.
Eve softly pulled a towel from Nik's hand as he stood, shocked. She wiped the blood from her mouth and placed the towel back on his shoulder. She grabbed a bottle of water and walked out, matching Loren's pace.
~
Loren entered his room and walked straight to his refrigerator, where he pulled out an ice bucket, spread a piece of fabric from his closet, and poured the ice into it. Eve just watched everything he did with amusement.
Loren avoided eye contact with her and did not speak or look at her. He extends the ice pack to her, and she accepts it, nodding in acknowledgement.
"Now," his hands were akimbo, "Did you just knock off my best fighter with one kick?"
Eve hisses at the spreading pain in the corner of her lip. It was busted, and she swore inside herself for allowing his hand to touch her face.
"How dare he slap me in my face?." She fumed, getting enraged as she thought about it.
"Oh, you're still pretty. It merely left a little cut that is barely noticeable." She glared at him, and he took a step back.
"I meant you still looked gorgeous as ever." He added, and she went to sit down, putting the ice on her red puffy cheek. "Evelyn, you haven't answered me. How can you beat him up after only three years of training?"
"Well, I did everything I could to survive. I've completed my task. What is the next step?"
She did not want to continue the conversation.
He began nodding and walked directly to his study. He walked around the table and sat down.
Eve watched as he opened his drawer and brought out a large file. Eve followed him up to his table. He extended the file towards her, which she collected.
"Actually, there's another job."
Eve frowned and glanced up at him, "Another job?"
She slowly ripped open the file.
She took out a pile of papers and began sorting through them.
"Every three years, the mafia community hosts a night out party with the mafia king. They called it "International Mafian Day."
She nodded, continuing to read the thesis word by word. Her eyes widened when she recognized the mafia king's name, Ivan Petrov.
"Yes…" He responded, and she urged him to continue.
He went on, "He is a highly powerful individual, perhaps the most powerful of all mafia leaders. My father wishes him dead tonight."
A profound stillness descended between them.
"He wants him dead?." She questioned, shook her head before sitting down.
She reclined in her seat and crossed her legs, "And something makes you believe I can achieve something others can't? I've heard a lot about this man; he is guarded by incredibly powerful guards, and you cannot pass through the same door as him unless you want to die. Legends claimed he was untouchable. So, how can you expect an ordinary businesswoman to kill him?"
Lorenzo scoffed at her final query, "I know what you are, Evelyn."
Eve swallowed a large lump of spit from her throat.
"I understand you're the highest-paid assassin in the world." He leaned forward to her face and added, "And your name in the underworld is 'knife'."
Silence descended.
Her gaze was locked on Lorenzo.
"How the fuck did you…"
He didn't let her finish her sentence, "I figured."
He relaxed back and continued, "I have had my doubts for a long time. You are 'knife', the lethal assassin. You've entered the realm of crime, getting paid for many killings throughout the city. And that is how you have gotten to where you are today. Of course, that's how you have many assets to your name."
She blinked.
"You sure know too much."
Then it struck her. He knew who she was even before he asked her to do such a task.
"Beating Marco wasn't the task." She remarked, looking up at him, "You were testing me."
A knowing smirk quickly went to his lips.
"I was."
Her eyes deepened somewhat.
She nodded and flipped over the pages.
"When is the party?"
He cleared his throat, prompting her to look at him again.
"Tonight."
"....."
"What?"
"It was all too sudden. So you have all day to prepare, lest I forget, my brother, Francesco will arrive tonight."
His half-brother.
Eve knew him.
She couldn't help but wonder, "Does your brother know too?"
He nodded negatively and proceeded to add, "You will come as Marco's date if at all he's still alive. This is the only way to go through security."
She rose up and nodded, "It's okay. Please email me all you know about him." Then, she started strolling towards the door.
He called "Evelyn."
She paused and turned to face him, he bit his lower lip and said, "Don't die."
She nodded and stated, "I'm a survivor." And then walked away.