If Looks Could Kill

Chapter 9

"So what, I am the bad guy now? Let me remind you that we all are in this place."

"I am not saying YOU are! I am merely stating that YOU, happened to make the first move, and may I remind YOU I will need this face to do part of my job?"

Cassandra smirked, "Flattery will get you nowhere Jack, besides, there is a thing called plastic surgery. You can get it anytime."

He gasped and Jane burst into laughter, carefully balancing a cup of coffee in one hand and a magazine in the other. Cassandra and Jane sat in comfortable chairs in the waiting room, their luggage lounging by their feet lazily. The turbine fan attached to the ceiling was running at a such a slow pace, it was not helping the girls cool off in the late night heat. A receptionist at the front desk informed them that General Wayne was in a meeting so they will have to wait until then. Glancing around the room, Cassandra peeked in through the window blinds from where they sat, seeing men and women sitting in their auburn desks working their minds. An older man had his hands typing furiously on the keyboard like a pianist playing a very hostile chorus song for the audience. A woman wearing a dark navy pinstripe suit, heels, and hair tied up in a bun, was carefully putting on makeup ever so often pouting her lips. Just outside the window from one of the top floors, Cassandra can hear the faint throbs of rush hour on the streets, cars honking, the chatter of the people and the mechanical bulls riding the tracks over the bridges. New York was always a busy city, its kind always awake twenty-four seven, one would think how they were the same species as the rest of the people around the world. A young woman wearing a grey suit walked over to them, refilling Jane's cup with a nod and a smile, before handing a spare cup to Cassandra. She thanked her, blowing lightly over the lip of the mug and slowly taking a drink. After the little fiasco back at the airport, the girls contacted Mary's family and Cassandra's uncle on moving her to a safe house until she is cleared of any charges the young woman was framed. Before parting ways, the girls advised Mary to steer clear of companies that can be a scam. Not everyone is a happy face in front of their mask, there are dark secrets and evil desires that are not to be tempted with.

Cassandra sighed, resting her mug beside her. She needed a good night sleep from the event at the airport and away from HIM. She glanced at the young man sitting casually across from them. Jack Daniels, a young savvy, curious, charming and perhaps a little too rash man in his late twenties had once again, appeared in her life. The last time she saw him was when they parted ways during a crossfire at a hotel, leaving her to clean up the mess while he takes the reward.

She scoffed, even though I always happen to finish the job first. I should at least get all of the credit.

Jack caught her eye, making her heart stop. His blue eyes holding a dangerous mischief. He winked, wincing a little as he held the cool ice pack to his cheek, "My charms did get through you dear."

She stared at him for a minute and jumped at him from her seat. If there is anything that she hates more than stir-fried mushrooms grilling on a pan, it's this egotistical self-absorbed English man. Cassandra met many people across her travels, some who were kind-hearted and naive, others full of greed and pride and the rest, just happened to be self-centered. She grabbed his shirt collar, yanking him up from his seat. He yelped, dropping his ice pack on the brown wooden floor.

"Christ! It's a joke, my dear, you don't need to go all violent now. We already know how you greeted me in our first meeting.

She scowled, "How about I add another mark on your face? I have all day today."

Jane chuckled nervously and abruptly stood, nudging herself in between the two like entering a small narrow hallway.