Joe sat at his desk in his office, visibly anxious.
"Thank you, guys," he said to the officers standing by.
"It's our duty, Joe," one officer replied.
Gazing out the window, Joe sighed. "Gosh, I wish this was a nightmare. Selina? She was meek as a prey."
Just then, Selina entered, disguised as a sophisticated French lady.
"Bonjour," she greeted with an air of authority.
"Bonjour, Mrs..." Joe hesitated.
"(in a French accent) My name is Madame Geneviève de Montclair. So, let's talk business."
"Officers, please leave us," Joe instructed. The officers nodded and exited the room.
"Mrs. Geneviève, how are you?" Joe asked, attempting to make small talk.
"I am not here to chit-chat! Mind you, I have no time for pleasantries," she replied sharply.
"Pardon me. No more beating around the bush," Joe said, focusing on the matter at hand.
"Hmm, let's see... It's quite attractive from the outside, but the question is, is it worth my money?" Selina questioned, her tone critical.
"Yes, it is. We focus on a holistic education, emphasizing both academics and personal development," Joe assured her.
"That sounds intriguing. What age groups do you cater to?" she asked, leaning forward.
"We enroll students from ages six to eighteen. Our curriculum is designed to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and leadership skills," he explained.
"And what about extracurricular activities?" Selina pressed.
"We offer a wide range, including art, music, sports, and even coding. We believe in a well-rounded education that encourages students to explore their passions," Joe replied confidently.
"Fascinating. How do you ensure academic excellence?" Selina continued.
"We employ experienced educators and utilize innovative teaching methods. Our students consistently achieve high scores in national examinations and are accepted into prestigious universities," Joe stated.
"Thank you for the information, Joe. I'll consider it seriously," she said, her tone softening slightly.
"Of course, Madame Montclair. I'd be happy to arrange a tour of the school whenever you're ready," he offered.
"I look forward to it. Thank you for your time," Selina replied, rising to leave.
Just as she reached the door, she paused and turned back.
"One more question. Do you torment students and make their lives miserable?" she asked, her expression unreadable.
"What do you mean, Madame Montclair?" Joe responded, confusion evident on his face.
"I'm just asking," she replied with a smirk.
"Did Selina get to you?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
"No, but she did get to you," Selina shot back, crossing her arms as she remained in the room, a knowing smile on her face. Joe shifted uncomfortably, realizing the conversation was far from over.
Selina stared intently at Joe as she pulled out a suppressed firearm.
"You still don't remember me?" she asked, her voice icy.
"Selina? Officer…" Joe stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
Without warning, she fired the gun. "Your guards are outside, so be careful not to scream," she said coolly.
Joe gasped, clutching his chest. "How did you... get here?"
"I didn't kill Madame Montclair, so relax. Maybe she'll still buy your school, but who's going to sell it? The bullet went straight to your heart." A grin spread across her face. "Bye, Mr. Joe."
"Why... all…" Joe's voice trailed off as he collapsed to the floor, lifeless.
Selina smiled, a rush of triumph coursing through her. "Mission accomplished. It's time to surrender, as I promised Jake. I wish he were here to see me win. I did it. No, they won't catch me; I will surrender." She hurried out, adrenaline pumping.
Moments later, officers burst into the room.
"Sir, is everything okay? Sir... oh my God, he's been shot. But how is it possible? Selina wasn't here... she was the French lady," one officer exclaimed, disbelief written across his face.
Outside, Selina felt her heart race. "It wasn't easy to accomplish my mission, but I did it. I miss Jake already." Spotting officers approaching, she turned and ran.
Roberts and his team quickly surrounded her. "Stop, Miss Selina, or we will shoot!" Roberts shouted.
Selina laughed, a defiant glint in her eyes. "I can't hear you, Officer Roberts. Speak up. I see you've finally caught me; sorry, I surrendered."
"We've got you, Selina," another officer said, closing in.
"Drop your weapon, Selina!" Roberts ordered.
Pointing her gun at the officers, Selina retorted, "I will surrender when I want. Don't tell me what to do."
"Drop your weapon and step away from it. This is a warning!" Roberts shouted, the tension in the air palpable.
Frances and Anne entered the tense scene, their expressions filled with concern.
"Selina, my love, please drop the gun," Frances pleaded.
"Listen to your mom, Selina. Please, just drop the gun," Anne added, her voice shaking.
Selina hesitated, gripping the weapon tighter. "I'm not ready for this. Why did I promise Jake I'd surrender?"
"If you loved him so much, then why did you kill him?" Anne asked, a mix of frustration and hurt in her tone.
"I didn't kill him, stupid! It was an accident, I promise," Selina shot back, her voice rising.
"Selina, for the last time, drop your weapon and step away from it," Roberts insisted.
"Selina, listen to them. Please, just drop the gun," Frances urged, desperation creeping into her voice.
"Ugh, this Roberts. I don't want him to win," Selina said, disdain clear in her tone.
"As you can see, I've got the upper hand. I win," Roberts replied with a smug smile.
"Yeah, keep flattering yourself. I haven't gotten rid of my gun," Selina retorted defiantly.
"Soon, you will," Roberts countered.
"No, Officer, please don't hurt her. You promised me that," Frances cried, her voice breaking.
"Mom, relax. Roberts couldn't catch me, so he definitely can't shoot me. He's just a pawn in my chess game," Selina sneered.
"What are you talking about?" Anne asked, confusion on her face.
"He is weak. Poor Officer Roberts, leaving home and family just to take down a criminal because he couldn't do it years ago," Selina said with a mocking laugh.
"Love, what are you talking about?" Frances pressed, worry etched on her face.
"He knows," Selina said, locking eyes with Roberts.
"How did you find out about it?" Roberts demanded, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"Let's just say I did my research. It wasn't your fault; the criminals are always smarter and way ahead of you," she replied confidently.
"Selina, surrender or I'll shoot," Roberts warned, his patience thinning.
"Is that a threat? I can sue you," Selina shot back, a smirk on her face.
"Really?" Roberts replied, incredulous.
"Yeah. I'm just an innocent soul trying to walk the silent streets of this city, but you and your team interrupted me," Selina said, feigning innocence.
"We all know what the truth is, so drop your weapon," Roberts insisted.
"Let me think about it," she replied, her tone mocking.
"Officers, aim at the target," Roberts ordered, his voice steady.
Frances burst into tears. "Selina, stop this madness and drop the gun!"
"Selina, please, we don't want to lose you. Your mistakes already cost Jake his life," Anne begged, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Selina, my patience is wearing thin. I'll count to three, and if you don't drop your weapon, we're going to shoot. One," Roberts said firmly.
"Keep it up, Robot," Selina taunted.
"Selina," Frances cried, desperation rising.
"Use your brain this time, not your cold, bitter soul," Anne urged.
"Thanks for the compliment, Anne," Selina replied sarcastically.
"Two… three," Roberts counted, his voice steady.
Without hesitation, he fired his gun. Selina dropped to the ground, and Frances and Anne stared in shock, their cries echoing in the silence. The scene darkened around them, the weight of the moment hanging heavily in the air.