Vixen - a dark romance story

Chapter 17

Christopher Bang/ Bang Chan

Christopher could hear Ray behind him, her steady breathing a strange contrast to the chaos unfolding.

She stepped forward, taking out the badge of the tech engineer, which she had probably stolen from his room earlier after knocking the bastard out.

"Layla Ricci here, on behalf of James Kent."

The head of the group, a muscular man with a stern face, eyed them skeptically. However, when he heard the name "James Kent", his attitude slightly shifted and a hint of recognition appeared in his eyes.

"You're one of Mr. Kent's people ?" He asked, less hostile.

"Yes. We were sent here to check on the new data prototype since he's still at the party."

The guard grunted, his eyes flickering between him and Ray. He seemed to consider the situation for a moment, weighing the options in his head. Eventually, he lowered his gun, and the others followed suit.

"Alright, miss. I'm not sure why Mr. Kent didn't inform us of your arrival, but we'll need verification that you're indeed one of his people."

The man stepped closer, holding out his hand for the badge. Ray handed it to him, her eyes never leaving his face. Christopher always admired her ability to stay calm under pressure and quick thinking, as he was more impulsive and action-oriented.

He observed the exchange, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. He could see the guards behind still eyeing them warily, their fingers lingering on their weapons, trained to draw them at the slightest provocation.

After what seemed like a lifetime, Ray received the badge back from the guard, with a begrudging nod of recognition on his face.

"Everything seems to check out. But, just to be sure, I need to ask you a question."

Their leader was a tough man, a veteran in the security field, someone Christopher had never crossed paths with before during his 'work' at the Syndicate. But even he looked somewhat taken aback by her calmness.

"What is the code name of Mr. Kent's current project? "

"Phantom."

The guard nodded again, a flicker of respect in his eyes. He seemed satisfied with the answer since her knowledge proved her ties to their tech engineer.

"Alright, I've confirmed your identity and authorization to be here. You're good to go." He gestured for the other guards to lower their weapons completely.

"But, just out of curiosity, what exactly are you checking on this late at night? Isn't the party still going on ?"

"Duty calls. This prototype needs to be on constant watch." Ray shrugged.

Christopher had a hard time hiding his admiration for her. She was such a natural at smooth talk that he started questioning whether she was the same quiet woman he had always known.

The other men behind also seemed to accept Ray's story and relax now that the immediate threat was over. Christopher watched as she turned away, her back to them. In that brief moment, silence enveloped the room, broken only by the gentle hum of the machines.

A flicker of realization crossed Christopher's eyes as he understood the gesture. She was providing him with the opportunity to take the hard drive discreetly, her stance calculated to block the men's view.

Glancing at the guards once more, Christopher noticed that they were still fixated on the server, focused on checking for anything unusual. With caution, he extended his hand and unplugged the hard drive, slipping it into his pocket.

Ray nodded, satisfied. She turned her attention back to the guards and announced. "Alright. Everything seems to be working just fine."

"Well, then we won't keep you. You should probably head back to the party before Mr. Kent starts wondering where you are."

"Will do. Keep up the good work."

The guards grunted in acknowledgment. They kept their eyes on her as she walked, while Christopher followed closely behind with unhurried steps and the hard drive safely tucked away in his pocket. He stayed alert, observing the guards for any signs of suspicion or hostility, but they appeared more interested in Ray. The fuckers.

When the duo reached the door, the hallway was empty, with only the faint hum of the AC and the distant noise of the party still going on in the adjacent hall.