I. Mysterious Woman.
. . . . .
"Does it look like I'm a fool?" The words sliced through the air, sharp and biting, as the boss's voice reverberated off the sterile velvet walls of the dimly room. A palpable silence descended upon the gathering, thick enough to cut with a knife.
The summoned soldiers all swallowed hard, maintaining their silence, motionless and still. They did not dare move.
The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, each person acutely aware of the gravity of the moment. The only sounds were the faint hum of the air conditioning and the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock, marking time in a way that felt almost mocking given the circumstances.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Their silence angered the boss even further. His face flushed with rage, the veins in his neck pulsing as he glared at the three of them. "ANSWER ME!" he bellowed, his voice booming through the room like a clap of thunder.
The trio flinched, their hearts racing as they cowered under his fury.
Clang clang. . .
The sound of glass shattering reverberated through the room, echoing like a gunshot. The once pristine vase, a symbol of elegance and calm, lay in jagged pieces on the floor, its shards glistening ominously under the harsh fluorescent lights.
Their enraged boss had hurled the vase from atop the desk, and it was certain that everything in the room would be destroyed unless they managed to soothe their boss's fury.
Yet, despite knowing that, they still did not move.
It would only make things worse if one of them said something wrong that would displease their boss further.
The memory of the shattered vase lingered like a ghost in the room, a reminder of the consequences of their mistakes. They had failed their mission, and now they were trapped in a tense standoff with a man whose patience had run thin.
There's nothing else that can be said to him, and they can only hope they'll receive a punishment that won't cost them their life for this failure.
"You guys had one fucking job, and you decided to mess it all up?" The cold glare of their boss burned holes into their heads, each word cutting deeper than the last. "For fuck's sakes, you've been trained for a reason!" He growled, his voice low and menacing.
'Please. . . Someone say something!' They all prayed inside their heads, glancing at one another with fear visible on their eyes.
They broke out into cold sweat as the silence prolonged.
They are now holding onto the hope that someone amongst them was capable enough to explain to their enraged boss.
Clack clack. . .
The metallic click of a gun echoed ominously in the still air. Tension surrounding the room.
"No one wants to say something it seems." The boss hummed. "Not only did you got caught and beaten, but you also brought rubbish of an information." Disdain was evident in his voice as he pointed the gun at their heads. "It's only fitting if you pay with your lives for wasting my time and failing the mission."
They flinched and trembled at the threat.
Their boss had always been known to be heartless and cold, much like his father, the current head of the Dimitri family.
'Say something. . .' They all internally panicked as they closed their eyes shut. 'S-someone please. . .' They cannot bare to look. They can't help but quiver in fear, knowing that any moment now a bullet will be inside their skulls.
Tick tock.
They might've failed this mission but they're competent, they always get the job done, they're skilled and an expert in their field.
They weren't just lucky in this mission, unfortunately. That's all.
"Hmm. . ." Their boss hummed dangerously, a low, menacing sound that sent chills down their spines. He was playing with the gun in his hands, fiddling with the trigger as if it were a toy rather than a weapon capable of taking lives in an instant.
His patience was on the verge of fading. Brows were furrowed together at their quivering figures.
Then, fortunately, someone stepped forward. Finally!
He was trembling but tried to gain courage or at least, appear courageous before their boss. 'I-it's now or never.' He thought as he took a deep breath to calm his nerves.
"What? Do you want to go to hell first?" The boss scoffed and turned to look at the man with a grim look on his face. "Gabriel, is there anything you want to say before I shoot your skull?"
Gabriel, the man in question, swallowed hard, his body trembling as sweat dripped down his face.
Despite the fear making his voice tremble, he attempted to explain. His appearance was a sorry sight, covered in bandages, blood tainted the linen slightly, evident that those gashes and wounds were only inflected recently.
Gabriel stuttered through his explanation, shaking ever-so-slightly. "N-no boss, I-i just have something t-to say regarding the m-mission." His voice trembled as he struggled to get the words out.
Gabriel could tell his teammates were rooting for his explanation as he glanced at them from the corner of his eyes. Their expressions were a mix of hope and anxiety, silently urging him to continue. He could feel their collective energy pushing him forward, and it gave him a flicker of confidence amidst the overwhelming pressure. In hopes his explanation will be enough to save them from the wrath of their boss.
"Speak." The deep voice of the boss made him divert his attention back to him.
Gabriel took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his teammates' expectations as he prepared to speak. "A-actually, the reason w-we failed was because t-there was another variable we're not a-aware of." He stuttered through his explanation, shaking ever-so-slightly, but pressed on despite the nerves that threatened to overwhelm him.
The boss only raised his right brow before both furrowed, his expression a mix of skepticism and disdain. His voice was laden with obvious sarcasm as he replied, "Not aware of? Our obtained information is always precise and accurate. The plan was perfect, and the three of you fucked it up, you meant to say?"
Gabriel's stomach dropped at the harshness of his words, the weight of blame crashing down on him like a tidal wave.
The room felt even smaller as the boss's icy gaze pierced through him, and the gun in his right hand seemed to loom larger. The fingers on the trigger were itching, and Gabriel could almost hear the ominous click echoing in his mind. He appeared to be in a quandary, debating whether to voice his objections or to silently acquiesce to his boss's words, despite them being disparaging of their abilities.
On top of that, it did sound ridiculous if he were to object.
As their boss had stated, everything was planned out perfectly. Therefore, there was no room for mistakes in the mission. They do not have any reason to as they infiltrate the enemy's abode at night.
'Well fuck it, if I don't speak, I die. If he won't believe me, I die regardless.' Gabriel convinced himself after considering the outcomes. He stood firm in place, no longer stuttering, he objected. "No, boss. There was indeed someone we are not informed about and interfered with the mission."
Their boss did not say anything, but his gaze towards Gabriel was menacing, a silent threat that seemed to hang in the air like a dark cloud. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
Gabriel urged himself to continue through the pressure that was now building up around him. "It was a woman. . ." he added in a careful, low voice, choosing his words with precision. He could see the flicker of interest in their boss's eyes, but there was also a dangerous glint— a warning that he needed to tread carefully. . . Or else.
"A woman?" The boss asked, his right brow raised.
The room fell silent, the tension thickening as everyone awaited Gabriel's response. It was clear that this revelation had piqued his interest, but it also put Gabriel under even greater scrutiny.
"Yes, boss. It was a dark-haired woman." Gabriel paused before continuing, "Her appearance in the place was not indicated in the file given to us. . ." He trailed off, and as he did, memories began to flood back— each detail sharp and vivid.
Remembering the scene, a stunning woman with dark hair and hazel eyes appeared behind him, her presence striking and unexpected. Gabriel's heart raced as he recalled the moment that had changed everything.
She lunged at him in an instant, and Gabriel felt a rush of air as she kicked him. Which sent him flying towards the wall of the Annex, the impact jarring his body and resulting in a loud thud that echoed through the area. Pain shot through him as he slammed against the hard surface, his vision momentarily blurred.
He hissed in pain and slowly turned back to look at the person who had kicked him. A woman. He noted her striking features— dark hair and hazel eyes that sparkled with a mix of mischief and confidence. She stood poised, a smirk playing on her lips as if she relished the chaos she had just created.
"Well well well. . ." He listened as the woman muttered in a somber tone.
Adorned in her white nightgown, which hugged her figure perfectly, she appeared ethereal yet seemingly deadly. The fabric flowed around her like mist, accentuating her graceful movements as she slowly walked towards him. The contrast of the soft white against her dark hair created an almost haunting image, making it hard for Gabriel to reconcile her delicate appearance with the fierce presence she exuded.
Her hazel eyes glinted with a mix of mischief and determination, and as she approached, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing in the presence of someone who was both enchanting and dangerous.
Gabriel collected himself, despite the excruciating pain radiating from his back where he had slammed against the wall. He knew he had to alert his teammates about this unexpected encounter, but the shock of what had just happened left him momentarily stunned before he took action.
He held his right ear where his earpiece was intact. "We got company here." He said in a low voice, he can hear the other line saying, "What?? You got caught?" They sound dumbfounded. 'I would be too.' He narrowed his eyes on the woman, which was menacingly staring at him, observing his every move. It sent shivers down his spine. "Just fucking come here." Gabriel snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface as he faced the dark-haired woman, who was still observing him with an unsettling calmness.
She had this aura that would make any man quiver in front of her. Gabriel couldn't shake the feeling that there was something unnerving about her presence. 'For her to be that strong. . .' He looked at her with keen eyes. 'Does she have any weapons? It doesn't look like she does. . .'
Only insane people do that, and she seem sane enough to actually do just that.
'What's up with these people? Truly. I'm surrounded by insane people.' If he was not complaining in his thoughts, one would be able to see him facepalming himself for the absurdity of the situation.
Gabriel surveyed his surroundings. His hand was already reaching for his gun, gripping it firmly.
He aimed the gun at the woman, his finger hovering over the trigger as he tried to steady his breathing. The weight of the weapon felt both reassuring and heavy in his hand. Yet, he felt a surge of intimidation when the mysterious woman didn't flinch or shown any response to his threat.
Instead, she stood there, calm and composed, her hazel eyes locked onto his with an unsettling intensity.
The woman only smirked and looked at Gabriel as if he was a coward with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Haha~ Do you really think that is enough to stop me from killing you? Not only did you intrude my domain, but you had the guts to dare think you can kill me? A mere minion of a cowardly boss." She mocked him and mimicked what he did with her hand. Making it seems like her right hand was a gun and she mouthed "Bang" playfully at his direction.
Gabriel's response was a stunned silence, taken aback by her knowledge of his true purpose there. Well now that he thinks about it. . . Maybe, it's not that surprising. The only thing surprising is how she appeared here and proclaimed the Viviana Manor as hers.
Especially when there's no record of the Viviana family having a daughter in this generation.
Gabriel shook his head, attempting to concentrate on the woman who stood before him in the annex of the Viviana Manor. 'She seems to know a lot. . . Who is she?'
Their enemy. Well. . . Might be an enemy actually.
The Dimitris harbor doubts regarding the Viviana's' loyalty, thus, they have ordered surveillance to collect more information on this reclusive family.
Which, apparently, led to this one on one with a woman. "Who are you?" Gabriel finally asked after overthinking a lot of things. He needed answers.
The woman stood still in her place, a sly smile playing on her lips as she regarded Gabriel with an amused expression. "Me? Why don't you take a guess." she replied sheepishly, a hint of amusement evident in her voice.
Gabriel only looked at her, analyzing her features closely. 'Black hair. . . hazel eyes. . . a mole on her bottom right eye.' Frustration mounted as he realized there was nothing in the information given to him that pointed to her identity. 'Just who the fuck is she?'
He held on to his gun tightly, the cold metal grounding him in the moment. He would be lucky if no one else heard the ruckus that had occurred in the back of the annex. "Don't move or else I'll shoot. . ." Gabriel threatened, his voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling in his mind.
The woman chuckled softly, clearly amused by Gabriel's confused expression as he tried to piece together her identity. Her hazel eyes sparkled with mischief, and the hint of a smile played on her lips as she walked towards him.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes as he looked at the woman walking towards him, menacingly, with a creepy grin on her face. "I warned you!" he shouted, feeling the tension in the air thicken.
With a swift motion, he pulled the trigger.
Bang.
To his astonishment, the woman deftly evaded the bullet. Now, she was charging towards him with incredible speed. 'Huh?!' Gabriel panicked and pulled the trigger multiple times until the gun clicked empty.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Clack clack.
"Fuck it!" he cursed under his breath as he dropped the weapon, realizing it was out of ammo's.
He had no choice but to fight her hand-to-hand.
He deflected her kick with his arms, the impact jarring his bones and sending a shock of pain through his body. It was such a forceful kick that had he not been quick enough to block it, it would have sent him flying once more across the annex walls.
It was ridiculous how fast she was. Gabriel could hardly believe his eyes as she darted around him, her movements fluid and precise. No one on his team would be able to catch up to her, no matter how hard they tried. Except for the boss or anyone that is above their rank. . . That is.
Gabriel caught sight of the woman's grin. As if sensing his disdain and exhaustion, "Hmm, not bad." She praised him.
One thing went through Gabriel's head. 'Am I going to die here?' He huffed and inhaled as much air as he could. Even breathing hurts. 'It was probably the aftermath of the kick.' Gabriel pulled out a dagger from the belt around his waist. 'When are they going to come here.' Referring to his two teammates.
He needed backup, and he needs them fast.
He underwent rigorous training, yet combat was not his strong suit, it seems. It was already surprising enough how he didn't pass out after being kicked by a woman straight to a damn fucking wall.
As Gabriel stood there, facing off against her, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his own injuries. The scars that adorned his body, remnants of past battles, now seemed to throb with a renewed intensity.
It all opened once again.
Blood was gushing out from the open wounds, staining his clothes and skin, but not enough to cause immediate concern.
'Calm down, Gab. It's just a gash.' he breathe out.
"Hmm~ I pity you. You look so beaten. . ." The woman uttered sadistically. Laughing at his pitiful state. "Should've thought it through before breaking in." The smile on her face faded and her expression immediately turned grim in a flash.
She slowly sauntered towards him. Then halfway through, Gabriel gave her a questioning look as she suddenly leaped back away from him, her movements as fluid as ever.
The distance between them that was once only a few feet away, grew.
"TSK!" The new approaching person exclaimed, clearly frustrated by the situation unfolding before them. Gabriel glanced back at the individual, noting the scowl etched across the person's face.
It was his comrade, Jeremie. One of his partners assigned in this particular mission.
Gabriel huffed a sigh of relief after he saw his teammate.
He was not sure if Jeremie was pissed about him being found out or him seeing Gabriel all beaten up. But Gabriel knows one thing for sure. They must retreat. They're no match for her.
She's capable of killing them.
Jeremie was about to attack when Gabriel held his arm in protest then yelled at him. "Don't! Let's retreat."
Thankfully, Jeremie only nodded and turned back, preparing to run as he assisted Gabriel on the way back to the car waiting for them near the vicinity. Jeremie's hold on him was gentle yet firm, seemingly aware of his injuries and the possibility of a broken bone in his body.
Despite feeling all sore all over his body. Gabriel ran. They both ran as fast as they could. Looking back from time to time to see if the mysterious woman was catching up to them.
Fortunately, she wasn't. It did seem like she doesn't intend to catch them and only looked from afar. Eerily observing them with watchful eyes.
Up until now, Gabriel can still feel her burning gaze on the back of his head.
Run. Run. Run.
As if a chant in the back of his mind.
They successfully entered the car where their other teammate, Vanessa, Jeremie's sister, was waiting and then drove back to the Dimitri estate.
. . . . .
Gabriel explained everything bit by bit to their boss, detailing the chaotic events that had unfolded since their encounter with the woman.
The boss grimaced as he listened to Gabriel, remaining skeptical. "I see. If that's the case, we must closely monitor the Vivianas. Should there indeed be a woman we're unaware of and they're protecting her, I will spare the lives of you three."
The trio sighed in pure relief.
"However, it's your head that is on the line if not."
Their breath hitched at the threat.
"Scram."
At that, they all sprinted out after bowing and bidding their boss farewell.
The boss walked back to his desk, settled into his comfortable chair, and pulled out a folder from his drawer. He skimmed through it, closely examining the information it contained.
"A woman? If I'm not mistaken, Viviana's only have one heir and an only child. Which is, Lorenzo Viviana." He mumbled to himself, deep in thought.
Is there something more than meets the eye?
A woman? Claiming the Viviana as hers? Black hair and hazel eyes? A mole on the bottom of her right eye?
"What if. . . they have a daughter, a hidden daughter?" He tucked the folder away and slid it back into the drawer. "Ridiculous. I would have known beforehand if there were indeed a hidden daughter," he muttered, dismissing the thoughts from his mind.
It was likely either a delusional individual or someone with aspirations to possess the manor.
'Yes, that sounds plausible enough.'
He sighed and took his phone out of his pockets and dialed his assistant. "Aiden."
"Oh, Dakari. Boss, how may I help you?"
"Arrange a meeting and call for Silvestre Viviana. Invite him at our estate for a talk."
"—Why so sudden?"
A long pause.
Dakari clicked his tongue and angrily growled, "Don't question it and do as I say. If he refused, make him send for son. The heir is already 20 years old. He will have to meet with other bosses eventually."
"Oh I see, alright, I'll have that arranged. What time?"
"2:00 PM."
"Okay. Done. Is there anything else you wish to say?"
Dakari went silent for a second, pondering.
"Hello?—"
"Keep a close on the Viviana's. Take note of whoever goes in and out of their manor. And look for a dark-haired woman with hazel eyes and a mole located at the bottom of her right eye in their turf."
"It does seem like something happened huh, alright. I was caught off-guard when you actually described a woman in such a speci—" —fic way. . .
Dakari ended the call. Aiden tends to talk excessively, which he finds intolerable and utterly annoying. Hearing his remarks might as well be the cause of his insanity.
He let out a sigh and shut his eyes.
The outcome of the mission was truly, Unexpected.