C1

Jason.

The alarm clock on my nightstand rang, I stretched my hand and put it off.

I opened my eyes and looked around, another dull day.

I grabbed a new face towel from my wardrobe and headed for the gym underneath the house.

Pérez was there already lifting weights.

"Morning"

"Hmm"

I headed for the treadmill and set it to level seven before beginning my morning run.

After running six kilometers, I stopped the treadmill and went for the dumbbells.

I was sweating hard when I was done.

"Any thoughts on what you want to eat?"

"Doesn't Mr Tordoff have any thing to do?"

"Don't patronize me Jason, tell me, I want to shower"

"Pancakes"

"Only?"

"Add whatever you wish Pérez. I don't care"

"Velda is in trouble, you should be expecting her in days"

"What did she do now?"

"Insulted Mr Badger"

"She always said she never liked him, I'm not surprised, I still wonder why she works there. Tell him not to lay a single finger on her except he wants to go bankrupt"

"You spoil her too much"

"Do you want me to hit her? She can do whatever she wishes, even if it's to set the statue of liberty on fire"

"What do you plan on doing?"

"You'll find out"

He had switched the topic but I understood what he was talking about.

"I'll get going" he left and I continued to gym in silence.

I walked upstairs to my room, inputted my password and opened the wooden door.

I headed straight for the bathroom, stripped my boxer shorts and tossed it into the washing machine.

I turned on the shower and leaned against the wall letting the water run down my body, after scrubbing I tied a towel and entered my closet.

The closet was set in a rectangular way, the long right side of the closet contained my white shirts and suits, the left side contained causal wears, the end of the closet was were my shoes, wristwatches and other accessories were neatly arranged.

A huge round glass drawer sat in the middle, cufflinks, shades and brooches were neatly arranged in it.

I plucked a white shirt from a hanger, the drawers under it contained three rows. I opened the first drawer and selected a black and silver embroidery tie.

I grabbed the first black Brioni suit that caught my eyes and wore it, after that came a diamond Patek Philippe, my movements were almost mechanical, it was something I did everyday, something I could do even if I was asleep.

A pair of leather moccasins followed the setup, I wore my cologne, styled my hair in my usual way and headed downstairs.

Pérez dumped a plate of two fluffy buttermilk pancakes, two eggs cooked to order, two sizzling bacon strips, two sausage links in front of me and a cup of black coffee, no sugar and milk.

"I can't finish this, I'm busy—"

"Benjamin can wait, eat"

He placed his own plate on the table and began to eat.

With no choice I grabbed my fork and began to eat.

I was in a hurry to catch that man named Benjamin Odyssey Parker, the first person to steal from me and live for two days now.

My sources had told me that he had talked to a young girl probably in her teens with black hair and deep blue eyes in Ozone.

I'd intercept her first, torture her to give up his hiding place and any information she knew then kill her, Benjamin would follow after.

Perez cleared the plate after we were done.

"When is Maverick going to be done with his vacation?"

"A month"

"A month? That's way too far"

"Are you complaining because you have to drive"

"Of course"

"Shut up and drive Pérez or should I tell Velda"

He sighed and took control of the wheels.

We drove to the Ozone.

"So this is the Ozone" he looked around.

"Stay in the car" Pérez was a little soft because he had children, me killing a young girl in front of him would earn my ears a lengthy discussion.

Chris opened the door and dusted a chair for me to sit.

"Call the whole staff out"

A man in his early sixties came out from behind a glass door at the end of the building, he wore a fake smile, a smile to please, a smile I hated so much, I closed my eyes.

Whispers informed me of their presence but I kept my eyes closed.

Chris bent to my level.

"The woman at the back Sir"

I opened my eyes to look at her. She was beautiful, the type that men lusted after, her long black wavy hair glistened and those blue eyes reflected sun rays.

They reminded me of my days in solitude on my cabin cruiser in the middle of nowhere enjoying the quiet.

But that didn't mean anything, she wasn't the first woman to be categorized under beautiful by me and they always say a beautiful face hides vile thoughts.

"Take her"

Two of my men grabbed her roughly, she looked surprised and struggled against them.

"What are you doing?" She screamed at them and thrashed her hands wildly.

"Come quietly and I'll make your death less painful" I said firmly.

"I don't know what you're talking about" she hit the one of her right with my elbow.

I waved two fingers in the air, the men stopped pulling her roughly but the still held on.

"Tell me. Where are my files?" I looked straight at her, she looked about confused.

"What files?"

"Don't you dare lie, bitch" Warren always had such a temper but he was efficient.

"Zip it" I commanded him, he closed his mouth but continued to give the confused woman heated glares.

"I'll ask again, where are my files?" From the way she stood, I knew she could tell I was dangerous.

"I don't know, I'm new here. The rest can vouch for that, I don't know what you're talking about" She swallowed as she spoke carefully.

"Confirm that" I gave the order without looking away from her, if she was working with Benjamin she was really good at masking her expression, she didn't look scared only confused.

"Actually I can—" The old man started when I cut him off.

"Shut it" He closed him mouth again, smiled and bowed slightly.

"She's saying the truth Sir, Selene Fernandez Rodrigo Orlando, a twenty year old Spanish immigrant, arrived a day ago" Chris whispered.

"Selene Fernandez Orlando..." My eyes stayed on her, I could see her twitch slightly.

I stood up and walked towards her, the men let go of her and stood aside. I stopped at her back, before leaning in a little, she was small.

Actually, she was the right height for her age, she reached my chest.

"Do you know any Ben?" I kept my voice low knowing the effect it had on guilty people.

"No" she quivered slightly.

"It's best not to lie to me, Orlando"

"Don't say that" she gritted her teeth.

"Say what?"

"My father's name like It's a speck of dust on your shoe"

I scoffed.

"Is it not?"

"It's not" she yelled at me, fisting her hands by her sides.

"Selene" her coworkers whispered trying to warn her.

She shut her mouth.

"Daddy's girl?" I asked mockingly, it was always fun to touch people's pain.

She furrowed her brows but didn't say anything.

"No?"

She didn't still say a word.

"Is he dead?"

The change in her expression made me realize that I hit a nerve.

"Dead it is"

"What do you know!" She yelled angrily at me.

"On the defensive bases now, are we?"

"No-one gave you the right to talk about my personal life"

"I do what I want when I'm wanting to, why so cynical"

"My life isn't something for you to play around with"

"I—"

"Sir, Benjamin has been spotted in Club Athena" Chris came back to report.

"Stay with him"

"Yes Sir"

"Orlando..."

She glared at me, her blue eyes expressing her anger over her fears, she was the second woman to give me that look, the first being my aunt.

Chris returned again.

"What now?" I didn't want to be interrupted.

"He's making a run for it, Sir"

"Can't you handle things if I'm not there" I growled out.

I sighed and looked back at her.

"Let's continue later, Miss Orlando"

She looked away.

I entered the car.

"I didn't see you ordering them to drag out a dead body, wrong sources"

Pérez hadn't even let me buckle my seatbelt before firing questions.

"She isn't on Benjamin's team, if anything its a coincidence that they met"

Pérez started the engine and we drove off.