Claude

CHAPTER THREE

Her apartment was adorable. The walls were painted a deep, emerald green and paintes adorned the walls.

"Did you paint these?"I ask and she brushes.

"Yeah," she murmured shyly and I jumped at her, shaking her shoulders.

"Holy shit, you're Van Gogh!" I shouted at her and she laughed.

"I went to art school but like anyone who wants to get into the arts, I ended up with a fucking receptionist job," she frowned.

She was different outside of work. More comfortable and less formal.

"Tell me about it," I sigh. "I want to be a writer but here I am."

She pulled out a bottle of wine. "I'll drink to that."

We sat on her lounge which was as chic as the rest of her apartment, balck and velvet. One glass later and we had both relaxed enough to move past small talk.

"So are you from around here or you just came for college?" Nina asked and I frowned at my wine glass.

"I moved here for college but I stayed here to figure shit out. Like what I want to do with my life and how I can achieve that without being dirt poor."

She laughs. "I used to think that was the worst thing in the world - being poor. But honestly, I'd rather be poor and happy."

"I like you," I said abruptly and she beams at me.

"I like you too. Friends?"

"Friends," I agreed and we hugged.

"You should sell your art," I tell her and she scoffs.

"No way."

"I'm serious!" I exclaim. "These are really good, rich people would eat that shit up."

"Maybe," she hums but I can see that my comment had pleased her. "Anyway, I think it's time to pull out the vodka.

Four shots later and we were wasted. I was a giggling mess and she was singing Britney Spears loudly using the vodka bottle as a microphone.

"You're toxic, I'm slipping under," she slurred and then fell off the bench.

I cackled before going over to help her. "What did you think of my performance?" she beamed, her cheeks flushed red from the alcohol.

"It was amazing," I replied honestly and she hugged me. It only took a few seconds to see that she was asleep. I was wasted but she was out of it so I dragged her to her bedroom. I didn't know her well enough to change her into pajamas though I'm sure she wouldn't mind. I settled with taking her shoes off instead and tucked her into bed.

I collapsed on the lounge with a smile on my face. I had a new friend.

I wake up to the sound of Nina's phone ringing and her cursing. I groan and sit up when the ringing stops.

"Yes,sir. She's here," Nina sounds very awake now and she walks out of her bedroom sending me a worried look. "Yes,sir."

She hands the phone to me. "Mr. Angelis wants to speak to you."

I stare at the phone like it was a poisonous snake before taking it from her. "Hello, Diana Carmody speaking."

"Come to the hotel now," his velvet voice says calmly down the other end before he hangs up.

My stomach drops and the familiar lump in my throat returns. It made no sense for him to fire me, I try to reason with myself. But you have been late twice in two days, I remind myself. Fuck.

"What did he want?" Nina asks worriedly.

"I have to go to the hotel. He didn't say why," I say calmly.

"I'll drive you."

The ride there was horrible. We sat silently and Nina didn't even try to lighten the mood. Like with most things, I imagined the worst cases scenario.

"Call me when you finish," she smiled at me and drove off. I walked through the golden doors and was met with an empty lobby.

"Hello," I called out but no one answered. I hesitantly walked up the stairs to where I assumed his office would be.

Suddenly, I ran into the guards he was with yesterday. They loomed over me like shadows and my voice got stuck in my throat.

"This way, Miss Carmody," the one on the left said as they both took my arms. I didn't try to struggle. They were too strong.

They walked me through a private part of the hotel and into the biggest room I had ever seen. It was an office that much was clear with thousands of books lining the walls and large velvet chairs. I wanted to look around further and touch all of the books but I remember why I was there and my stomach dropped again. In front of me was Mr.Angelis and two men who were equally as tall and scary.

"Mr. Angelis," I began.

"Did I give you permission to speak?" he cuts in coldly and I stare down at my shoes.

"Do you know why you are here?" he continues and I shake my head. I really didn't.

"Hmmm," he hums and it sends shivers down my spine. Not the time Diana.

"Does the name Georgio mean anything to you?"

Fuck. The guy from the emails. Had he been serious in his threats?

Mr. Angelis didn't wait for me to answer. "Who do you work for?"

"You, sir," I reply.

The man to his left sniggered. "Fucking smartass."

Even the man to his right seemed to find this amusing. Mr.Angelis, however, did not.

"Let me rephrase that. Tell me who you work for."

"I'm not sure that I understand, sir."

Mr.Angelis nods behind me and the bodyguard to my left punches me hard in the stomach. Gasping for air, I clutch my stomach but I don't fall to the ground. I'm not going to give this psycho the satisfaction of seeing me fall.

"This feels like it might be breaking some of the work codes that have been put in place," I gasp out and the bodyguard slaps me.

I taste the blood before I feel it dripping out of my mouth.What the fuck?

"Because of you, Miss Carmody, our hotel almost got bombed. How does that make you feel?"

I can't reply because my mouth is already swelling up and it's taking everything within me to not cry.

"Answer me," he says coldly and I shake my head. A brief flash of anger shows across his face and as he starts to walk towards me, a gun shot sounds through the building. And then another one.

Yet, the hotel is silent. Where is everyone? Then a bullet shots through the door and I scream. All the men pulls there guns out and start shooting in the direction of the door.

For a minute, the air is foggy with smoke and bullets are flying everywhere .

Then everything goes black.

A/N

unedited