Gangster's Girl

Small Talks

Maxwell Jean sat at his grand oak desk, the city skyline stretching out behind him through floor-to-ceiling windows. His secretary, Mrs. Collins, stood before him, a file folder in her hands. The tension in the room was palpable.

"What have you got for me, Collins?" Maxwell asked sternly.

Mrs. Collins nervously adjusted her glasses as she handed over the folder. "Sir, as you requested, I've been keeping tabs on your daughter, Miss Ember. These were taken yesterday."

Maxwell opened the folder, revealing a series of photos. His eyes narrowed as he examined each one. The first showed Ember bumping into Lana, the subsequent ones capturing their brief interaction.

"Who is this woman she's with? The one in the simple outfit," Maxwell demanded, his gaze fixed on the pictures.

"That's Lana Foster. She's the soon-to-be director of her family's company. They specialize in environmental technologies," Mrs. Collins replied.

"Environmental technologies, you say? Interesting. And what do we know about her?" Maxwell leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled.

"Lana Foster is known for her dedication and integrity. She's quite the opposite of the usual crowd Miss Ember associates with. It's was said that she was in states right now but she's here now. It seems suspicious that even her family has no knowledge of her presence in the city." Mrs. Collins said, consulting her notes.

"Suspicious, huh? That explains her sudden appearance. And Ember? Has she said anything about this woman?" Maxwell's voice was cold and calculating.

"Not to my knowledge, sir. But it seems they've become friends rather quickly," Mrs. Collins responded.

Maxwell's expression turned sinister. "Keep a closer watch on them. I want to know everything about this Lana Foster. If she's a weakness, I need to exploit it. And if she's a threat, I'll need to neutralize it."

"Yes, Mr. Jean. I'll have a full report by the end of the week," Mrs. Collins nodded.

Maxwell waved her off, his mind already plotting his next move. As Mrs. Collins left the room, Maxwell's gaze returned to the photos, his expression hardening as he observed the two men who seemed suspicious in few of the pictures.

"And get me the information of these two." he ordered showing Collins the pictures to which she replied with a yes.

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Lana sat on the edge of the couch, fidgeting with the hem of her dress, stealing glances at Jax, who stood by the window, his silhouette framed by the moonlight. The tension in the room was almost palpable, a mixture of unspoken words and guarded feelings.

"Do you always stare out the window like that?" Lana asked, breaking the silence, her tone light but tinged with curiosity.

Jax didn't turn around, his voice cool and distant. "Just keeping an eye on things."

Lana nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "You seem to have a lot on your mind."

Jax finally looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting hers for a brief moment before he looked away again. "There's always a lot on my mind."

She bit her lip, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't make him retreat further into his shell. "You know, you could talk to me about it. Sometimes it helps to talk."

Jax let out a bitter laugh. "Talking doesn't change anything."

Lana shifted on the couch, feeling the weight of his words. "Maybe not, but it can make you feel less alone."