THE ELITE AGENT

34. GIDDY WITH HAPPINESS.

Alex's POV:

Empty. Void. Hollow.

Emotions that I have never felt in my whole life invaded my body. A foreign pain which was incomparable hit me as I stood outside the conference room.

When chief said that I have to resign, I felt my life spent here in agency flash in front of my eyes. Something that usually happens right before your death. A series of moments rush through your brain. That's how it felt. Though I wasn't dying.

Maybe emotionally drained. Emotionally dead.

That is not how I imagined I would retire from the job I gave my whole life to. A job that built me, helped me grow, made me strong and the respect I received is now stripped out of me. Just like that. Somewhere deep down, I feel I should have stood up for myself. Maybe I should have fought against chief. Maybe I should have shaken my head rather than nodding. Maybe for once fought for myself. A lot of maybes' which is now too late to take actions on.

But she stood up for me. Though she had nothing to do with my job or my career, she is standing up for me. Why? Why help me so much for no reason? Chief might have, though hurts to admit, concluded that I might also turn like Meghan. A betrayer. A traitor. I mean, who saw it coming? Everyone were shocked when Meghan revealed her other face. Maybe chief also thinks—

Well, I don't wanna accuse him though. If I were in his place, I might have come to same conclusion. I might have...

God, when did my life turn so complicated?!

But why doesn't Elena think I would turn into Meghan? Like it or not, at the end of the day, like Jayden said, I have Antonio's blood running through my veins, which should make Elena hate me more. But why doesn't she?

So many questions I have no answers for. I shake my head and look around. So many memories invade my brain. The place where I felt lively, which I call it a second home felt like a whole other planet right now. The tug in my heart grew. I clench my fist as I close my eyes.

I wish I could cry the pain out. Scream on top of my lungs. Break a few things. Punch the wall until my knuckles break. But I don't do any of that. Society won't allow it. That would make me less of a man. A protocol made long ago, a stereotypical way of living where we push ourselves to fit through.

I hear the door unlock behind me. Footsteps follow. I turn around to look directly at Elena. She seems slightly frustrated. I give her a neutral look, trying my best to make sure my face doesn't act like an index of my mind.

"Why didn't you fight?"

I saw that coming. I knew she would ask that. What am I supposed to say? That I am coward? Too afraid? Too tired?

"I didn't think it would make a difference."

She gives me a look, which says she doesn't believe me one bit. She walks a little more closer. People around us seem to disappear as her eyes focused on me, and mine on hers.

"You're not leaving the agency. I spoke to him. He agreed that you will not resign and will continue to work on the mission."

"What did you do?" I ask. I know chief. If he comes to a decision, mountain will get split, but he wouldn't renounce his decision. But I also know Elena. If she wants something, she would go to an extent to put the split mountains together to get what she wants.

"What do you mean? I just talked."

"Blackmail or bargain?"

She lets out a sigh before speaking, "Blackmailed first. Didn't work. Had to bargain."