**Xenon's POV**
"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't let you in," a woman wearing a business suit said. She must be the secretary.
I didn't expect the Blue Fire Gang to be this successful; they have their own headquarters, bigger than my house, more like a small company. In just a short period, they had acquired this success.
"We set an appointment; they should know we're here," Lucas said.
"Sir, I already told you. They are not here; they have a sudden emergency to take care of." She kept saying this, but we could tell from her reactions that she was lying to us.
"Do you think we believe you?" Coby asked, trying to test her.
The woman blinked. "I—please just go. You will not get anything from staying here." This woman is really tough; I sighed.
"They're playing us," Adrian stated firmly.
I know. It's been almost an hour that we've been pursuing this woman to get inside their office for a talk with her bosses, but we are still here at the front desk, trying to convince her. This place is huge, and we don't know where the leader's office is.
"If you keep insisting, this time I will be forced to call the guards," she threatened.
I smirked. This place is full of guards, armed men to be exact, but they just keep watching us. The others ignore us; it seems like they know this will happen or they're already well-oriented.
One thing is for sure... they're toying with us.
"Go on. I don't think they will throw us out," I blankly stated. Being with Claire for a longer period has made me adapt some of her behavior. I sighed.
What might have made her become that kind of girl?
Who was the devil?
Did he make her that hard... that dark?
What did he do to her?
Questions filled my mind. I don't know if I can handle the answers, but one thing is for sure... I love her.
"Sir—"
"What's happening here?" A man from behind said. We turned to see Blake coming from the entrance door, walking towards us.
"Sir Blake, they keep insisting on getting into your office," the woman stated.
"I have an appointment with them; why didn't you let them in?" he asked, partly angry.
The woman just bowed her head in apology.
"Where are the others?" Blake's voice turned hard.
"I—inside your office, Sir Blake," she stuttered, still looking down.
"Those bastards... will they ever get old?" he murmured and turned to face us.
"I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. I had a sudden emergency that I needed to take care of, but I told my members to face you instead while I was gone." His jaw clenched. "I need to teach them a lesson for disobeying me."
"That would be great!" Coby exclaimed, which earned him a slow punch in the stomach from Adrian.
"That wouldn't be necessary. We just need to have a formal talk with you," Adrian said.
"No, I have to. I'm really sorry; it won't happen again. By the way, follow me," he said and motioned for us to follow him.
He has changed so much since our last encounter. Before, he was a cowardly puppet of Nicholo who couldn't fight against his will. Watching him from behind, I wondered what might have happened before. How did Nicholo go missing?
"You have changed a lot since the last time I saw you," I couldn't help but say as I caught up with his pace.
"Oh, someone taught me well and changed my perspective... our perspectives, to be exact," he said.
I had heard rumors that the Blue Fire Gang had become a well-respected gang.
"Oh, I see." I nodded in understanding. I was afraid that if I opened up, the chance to gain their trust would diminish.
"How are you, by the way? The last time I saw you, you were in... a poor state," he said, his voice turning low.
"Time passes, and it heals," I said.
"How about... the girl with you?" he asked hesitantly.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but I let it slide.
"Claire? She's doing fine." The moment I mentioned her name, he stiffened.
"Yeah... Claire..." he murmured lowly and opened the door to his office.
Suddenly, I saw three guys doing their own work. One was tapping on his laptop keyboard, wearing big eyeglasses; another guy with red hair was playing on his cellphone; and the third was calling someone on his phone.
"What did you do!?" Blake yelled in anger. They glanced at him as if nothing was wrong and continued minding their own business.
"I'm busy tracking our targets and have nothing to do with that. Talk to Jake and Jacob instead," said the guy wearing big eyeglasses.
"Jake, Jacob! I told you to entertain our visitors while I was gone. What the hell did you do!?" I could sense the anger radiating from Blake.
"I think we came to the wrong place," Lucas whispered beside me.
"I wonder how they earned respect in such a short time," Adrian murmured.
"With that kind of attitude? They're impossible," Coby added, shaking his head.
"What did you say?" the guy with red hair asked.
"Oh, nothing," Coby said, rolling his eyes.
"Did you just roll your eyes at me!?" he angrily asked.
"Jake!" Blake warned.
"Tch." Then Jake went back to playing with his phone.
"It was fun, Blake. Sorry about that, by the way," the guy who had been calling earlier said while grinning. He's probably Jacob.
Blake sighed. "If Master knows about this, you'll be dead," he stated.
The three suddenly stopped. "Master isn't here," Jake said, and kept playing on his phone, while the others just shrugged and continued with their business.
Going here is useless.
Blake sighed once again and went to his swivel chair in front, taking his seat. "By the way, what do you want from us?" he asked, getting straight to the point.
"We need your help," Lucas started.
YOU ARE READING
The Risen HODWII
حركة (أكشن)A monster that fell in love to a man full of secrets. A monster that secretly saving her man. A monster that died and coming back to life. Let's follow the journey of Venice Claire Tarre as she face the new life, new ways of living and loving a man...
