SPOTLIGHT

4. Judgment

"Please, stop tryin' to impress
people who don't care about you"
I repeat as a mantra.
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• 🌑 POV •

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«... So, yeah it was true I had forgotten my wallet at home. I mean, it happens right? I'm not the only man on this planet who's ever been pulled over by the police because he was driving without his license. That's what I told the officer – which was hella cute by the way – but he was still fining me. I was like: "Listen, why don't we grab something to eat and get to know each other? I'm sure you will trash that ticket if you get to listen to my story. I know a diner right after the next exit, you can drive me there if you want~". And you what he did? He told me to get off the car and says I'm under arrest!».

«Mm...».

«Yeah! You know, that time I was late for a meeting with a client, and really wasn't eager 'bout spending the night in a dirty blink-and-you-miss-it town's prison cell. I told him to think about it again, but he said: "Sir, you need to step out the car right now or I will have to force you". And so yeah, since he wouldn't listen to what I had to say I punched him in the guts, took his gun, shot him in the head, and buried the body in the fields».

Vitali waited for a reaction, his companion still staring at the void.

He sighed. «I knew you weren't listening. Is the wall actually more exciting than any human talking to you? Pronto??».

«What?». Johnson's entire person woke up as if someone had snapped two fingers in front of him. «I got lost in thoughts. Sorry».

The blond guy crossed his arms and rhythmically patted his foot on the ground. He so needed a smoke. «Your head will blow up if you keep ruminating on what Vanschin said in the hall. I can see smoke coming out from your ears».

«I'm not ruminating, I'm used to it by now. I'm just thinking». He turned his head to watch a dried leaf on the carpet.

«Don't think about it, my friend. He is jealous because you got the job as Miss D's close-in while he's been kissing the boss' ass since day one and got nothing in return. Oh man, you should've seen his face when they told him you were to be assigned to her, ha! Priceless».

Aurelius raised his head and met his coworker's eyes. They glinted on his scornful expression and made him chuckle. «I don't care what they say. I'll show them all they're wrong».

Sean laughed and patted his back. «There you go, my friend! Small but ready to strike, just like a mine».

Vitali and Johnson were standing at Miss Allende's office entrance, voices rising and shouting behind the big white door framed by two huge monsteras. They heard the mistress of the house shouting, followed by a strong sound that startled both men, who looked confused at each other. It was pretty clear there were some disagreements on the security arrangement.

Everything got quieter and Vitali spoke again with his pronounced Italian accent. «God, she's a coca-cola shaped force of nature. I knew, I heard stories about her size and power. But I never knew she could be so... mighty. I mean, how tall do you think she is?».

«Probably around 6"2' or something». He shrugged.

«Yeah, and she wasn't even wearing high heels. But you sure did notice, amirite? You don't comment. How professional».

Oh, Aurelius had a lot of commenting going on inside his head.

Back in the hall, when Miss D was watching all of them from the staircase like a lioness cruelly studying its prey, he slightly moved his body outside the line to see her.