"Is everything okay?" He asked, not missing the change in her countenance.
Her gaze turned to him and she replied, making sure her voice was as composed. "Of course I am. Just, just a little frazzled."
"It's okay. Seems you have not been getting enough sleep as of late. You should take a lot of rest, I trust the task will not be much of a hassle to you."
"Not at all. It definitely wouldn't."
The moment Zara stepped out of the house, she let out a deep breath.
'Is this merely a coincidence?' She wondered to herself, as her hands held the photo tightly. Slowly, she brought the photo up, staring at it carefully.
For a moment in there with Shadow, she had hesitated a bit, the moment she saw the face on the photo. She wanted to inform him but decided against it. Shadow did not know of her special assignment from the Central Intelligence Agency because she hadn't informed him.
And how would he react when he comes to find out that the same person he had ordered her to assassinate, was the same person, the Central Intelligence Agency had entrusted her to bodyguard?
Alexander Bennet.
This should not be complicated, she thought, as she walked to her car. All she had to do was bring him down. It shouldn't be that hard, anyway.
Plus, her duty as a bodyguard serves as an extra layer for the work to be carried out effectively.
But then again, Emily was not stupid. She knew all this was wishful thinking. It was going to be a hard task, one which she had to face head-on.
She knows that if anything happens to Alexander, no one, but her would be held accountable. She needed to be smart and calculating about this.
She drove home quietly, but her mind was a mess. it was very late at night, and the streets were emptying. At some point, she felt like she was being followed.
Her eyes narrowed as she gazed into the rearview mirror. A black car, its headlights shining brightly, had appeared behind her. She raised an eyebrow, surprised but not concerned.
Without hesitation, Zara pressed the accelerator, and her car surged forward. The black car tried to keep up, but she knew its limits. She navigated the turns sharply, driving through the streets in a circle until she finally lost it.
After driving for quite some time, she finally got home in the dead of the night. Her sharp eyes scanned through every corner of the road, making sure no one was in sight before she stepped out of the car.
For a moment she was still. Suddenly feeling the hairs on the back of her neck, rise. Unable to shake off the feeling, she became suddenly alert, as she felt like she was being watched.
She was standing still, but her eyes were darting around. Suddenly, a hand held her shoulder from behind, and in an instant, she grabbed the hand, twisting it so hard, that the person gasped.
" Ouch, Emily!"
Zara turned at that moment, her eyes widening slightly as she discovered it was just Mike.
He seemed shocked for a few seconds and then he smiled, "That was quite a grip you had me on, Emily."
She quickly released him and spoke softly, "I, I am sorry. I thought it was someone else."
Mike raised a brow at her, "And who do you think would be roaming the streets at this hour, Emily?"
She bit her lips, as she regarded him with a narrowed gaze. Shrugging her shoulders, she said in her usual soft calm voice. "There isn't anyone here at this time."
Peeling her eyes away from him, she made her way into the building where she resided. Just as she stepped in, Mike took fast steps toward her, grabbing the little bag she held in her left hand.
Zara's eyes widened in alarm and he quickly spoke, "Relax. I just wanted to lend you a hand."
She shook her head, stretching forth her hands to take them back from him, but he simply held it back. "Give it back." She asked.
Mike simply gave her a toothy smile, "No Emily. Just allow me to hold it. What is the big deal anyway? It's just a bag. Besides, you owe me an apology for leaving me all alone in the mall." He raised a brow.
Zara felt her temper rising as she stared at the obnoxious man in front of her. Ever so relentless. So persistent, that it was beginning to piss her off.
She inhaled deeply and said in her most calm voice, "I am tired, Mike. Please, give it back."
She hated it when others messed with her stuff, not to talk of her personality.
They were standing at the foot of the stairs.
A bang was heard beside them and a voice screamed out, "Hey! Some people are trying to sleep here. Mike, leave the freak alone and go to bed, will you?"
Zara and Mike stood frozen in place as the neighbor spoke these words, before slamming the door shut. In a swift moment, Zara reached out, grabbed the bag from his arms, and walked quickly up the stairs to her room.
Mike sighed as he stared at her from the foot of the stairs. "Good night, Emily," he whispered. Her response was the sound of her door, shutting so loudly he flinched a bit.
He stood there for some time, staring at the space she was, in a few moments ago, until he heard a snarky whisper behind him.
"Hey, Logan."
Mike snapped his head around sharply, taken aback at the face of the person before him.
"Akira?" He gasped in surprise.
"Happy to see me?"
Mike's eyes quickly darted sideways, as he grabbed her arms roughly, pulling her in the direction of his room.
As soon as the door opened, he pushed her in, quickly locking the door behind them.