Chereads / The Countess and the Beast / Chapter 22 - 022 · The Countess

Chapter 22 - 022 · The Countess

"Exactly! I'm not stupid, Thea, despite what I said to uncle and his arse-kisser secretary, I know all of my limitations better than anyone, and I know that as of right now, as a rank S, I have no real chance against a rank SSS. Maybe a good fight, if they feel like playing with their prey, but I'd be ultimately bloody defeated. I know better than that, I know how to pick my own fights, and The Beast ain't it."

Getting up, geared up in the Prada clothes and accessories she got me, I passed the things from my previous Prada handbag to the new one, then handed the clothes I came here on to her. Then, she gave me the key of my black Mercedes G-Wagon in a fiery red saffiano leather keychain, also from Prada, together with a different case for my iPhone in black leather with triangles design with the Prada logo at the bottom.

"Just don't be reckless, Lea, please. I'll kill you if you die in this damned mission, yeah? You are the best boss I've ever had, I have loads of privileges with you, free pass on countless luxury brands, and even cars. Not simple cars, but Mercedes cars. But more than anything," she held my hands softly on hers and I tensed up, "you are like a daughter to me, and I do not want to loose another one, understood?"

Thea lost one of her twin daughters in her last mission for MI6, that led to her retiring, and I offered the job to her, because I was in that mission with her, and it broke my heart when the sick fuck broke into her house and used her daughters as hostages, ultimately killing one of them. Taynara. Tiana is still alive, 20 years old as of now, and attending Medicine in the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. Thea is a single mother, who had kids from a one night stand in Toronto, Canada, she's a strong one.

"I'll do my best," I raised my pinky to her, "I promise."

Hooking hers with mine, she let out a sigh, "Be careful."

They keep telling me to be careful, it makes me wanna be reckless. But of course, I know better than that. Especially right now when the stakes of danger around me will be so extra high, "I will." Then I retracted myself to the door. "Did you see Jung-jin?"

A nod, "Yeah. I bought and handed some lunch for him, and also some Prada, Armani, and Dior clothes. And I gave him the keys of the navy blue Mercedes Maybach GLS you told me to. The kid was quite bruised."

Her last remark made me clench my fists, "Hah, I really want to kill those shiteheads that call themselves his parents. But he doesn't want me to do it, so, I won't. However, make sure whatever business they try, doesn't work, yeah? He doesn't need to know. Sabotage them if you need to. I want them to feel miserable. His mom is born in London, but his dad ain't, so, do something to make his green card get fucked and to make them move back to South Korea."

That familiar mischievous grin curled up on her lips, "I will."

"Good, good. Now, I'll buy some things to make food for me and Jung-jin, head to my place in Mayfair, and after we are done, I'll head back to the airport and go back to Scotland in the jet. So, tell Marina that," I took a lock at my wrist watch, noticing that it's 4:12 pm, "we'll be going back by 7:40 pm, so tell her to be ready by then."

"On it, boss. I'll call her in a minute. I'll be in Edinburgh in a week after I'm done with everything you asked me to do here in London."

"Aye," winking at her, I put my sunglasses on again, left the office by the door, and as soon as I went down the stairs, Taaniel came to me, a big Starbucks in hand, already used to what I like, as I always change here when I drop by the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) building.

He's 45 years old, but looking young enough to be mistaken by 35, with dark chocolate skin, 1.89m, with buzzed black hair, build in muscles that cling to his suit, in a navy blue suit today, with a strong jaw, thick full lips, and attractive light brown eyes. Thea has a fat crush on him, and I have a lil feeling that it's mutual. I don't butt in her personal life like that, for all I know, they could be hooking up. As long as it's consensual, I'm okay.

"Double Chocolaty Chip Crème Frappuccino® Blended Beverage, your favorite Starbucks, boss," he handed it to me and I took it, taking a sip of it instantly. He knows I work in MI6 aside from owning some brands and being an architect, but he signed an NDA about it, and he doesn't really know what I actually do there. It helps the fact that I always change here.

"Ugh, you're my savior. I was missing this, it's been a while since I last had a Starbucks," I gave him a please smile, and he beamed in relief.

"Anything you need, boss. You look happy today!"

I rolled my shoulders softly, feeling the weight of the file case under my arm, "You could say so. I'm feeling good today, that's for sure."

"That brightness my day, boss. Which car are you on today?"

Shaking the keys of the G-Wagon, I showed to him, "G Class."

"When will you come around again?" He asked expectantly.

"It'll take some time," I took another sip from the Frappuccino. "Do you want to move to the Mercedes-Benz store of where I'll be living?" The unsaid question was: Do you want to move there and be closer to Thea?

He didn't even take two second to think, "Yes."

"Talk to Thea and tell her to station you to the main store located in Edinburgh, Scotland!" With that, I walked away to where one of my security guards here in London were standing, in front of my car, then I nodded to them and one of them opened the door for me.

Getting inside, I passed my things to the passenger seat, putting my Frappuccino on the cup-holder between the driver and the passenger seats, closing the door, I turned the car on and in a second I was out of there, and heading to the Whole Foods Market in Kensington High St, at the sound of Where Have You Been by Rihanna, which I sang together.

Thankfully, the traffic wasn't as horrible as it is 7 am, at mid-day, and at 7 pm, which helped getting there quicker than usual.