Call Me Aarinola

PROLOGUE

IVAN GATE

It was an ordinary Tuesday night. I just closed a major business deal and was driving to the edge of town to bury one of my employees.

A month ago, the engineer that worked on one of the company's projects had a brain tumor from the exposure during the beta testing. I didn't have to bury his body, but bury everything that could be traced back to the company, either by paying them or by threatening them. Whichever got the job done.

The Chairman relied on me for that. He had relied on me for a lot of things. Keeping Futuretech at the number one position was my top priority.

Futuretech, as a major company, was not impervious to scandals. Soon, it became clear we had a spy in the workplace, and thanks to me, he was lying still in the backseat.

No. I didn't kill him; I may have knocked him out with a blow. Okay, several blows, but he brought it upon himself by being so difficult. I rolled my eyes at the bloodstains on my shirt from the tussle we had earlier.

I have been driving for hours already and no sign of movement from the backseat. Which was why It was unexpected when clicking noises reached my ears.

Seconds later, the back door swung open.

He tumbled onto the concrete and disappeared through the trees.

I swerved the car to a screeching halt.

Maybe I should have let Savio deal with it like the Chairman had suggested. He was the trash man after all, especially when I didn't want to get my hands dirty.

The night had descended, and it concealed everything in this forest. Sticks broke and leaves crushed under my feet. Even the stars and moon hid beneath a thick layer of cloud.

He was injured, he could not have gone far.

I caught sight of traces of bloodstains on the bark of a tree. I knew I was on the right track.

I listened in. He was close. Heavy breathing filled my ears. I made a turn and there he was, seated on the damp ground, probably feeling the frigid water seep into his jeans. His expression resembled that of someone who had given up.

I don't see the need to pull out my gun that had been safely strapped to my waist. He was not a threat. He was someone whose usefulness had run out, and who knew far too much.

A small relief clear in his beaten-up face and that caught me off guard.

Did he think I would spare his life? Perhaps grow a conscience?

My conscience had always been in a battle with loyalty, and every single time loyalty won. As it would again and right now.

My loyalty would always remain to the Chairman and the company.

"Remember when I started work at Futuretech? I believe you even interviewed me." He stared up at the huey sky. "God I was so naïve then."

I pulled out my gun, not bothering to point it up to him.

"Is that why you've been stealing information from the company? Don't act smart with me and tell me the truth."

"Do you have to do this?" he asked between pants of breath.

"We live in an age of smart tech, but the gun is essentially still a mini-cannon that blasts holes in people. Why is that?" He closed his eyes, waiting for his fate.

Then later I added, "Because no other weapon will be as lethal as this."

The gun shot rang in the air.

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