Not a Betrayal

Don't Make Me Wait

Chester hurried into the room after Mason left. He saw Russell seated at his desk now, writing something in a blue notebook. It was a long time since he saw the blue notebook again. It was a gift from their dad, for the three of them, that they got one month before he was killed by his only enemy. He shook his head to throw out the thoughts seeping in, walking towards the table and asked,

"What personal thing did you have to discuss with him?"

Russell looked up, with a confused expression.

"What?", Chester asked, unable to understand.

"Wait a minute, what was the hacker's name?", Russell asked, rubbing his chin, pretending to remember, to make sure if Chester really did not recognise Mason.

"BK said names were confidential...but they had codes for reference when they talk with clients. The boy seemed young.", Chester said innocently.

Russell started laughing, putting the pen down and closing the notebook. "So he did not recognise Mason, thank God. Makes things easier.", he thought to himself.

"What's wrong? Why are you laughing?", Chester seemed annoyed.

"Nothing. I am sorry, your face was funny. It's okay. I don't need to know his name.", Russell said, still smiling.

"Jokes apart, we need to get down to it now.", Chester said.

"Oh, I am on it. You don't have to worry.", he said, getting up.

"Dude, you cannot do anything alone.", Chester said and caught Russell's arm who was leaving to the next room.

"Brother, chill. We are three for a reason. I cannot afford to put us in danger all at once. You need to be here and look after Bill too. You are more capable, we all know.", Russell said.

"But-"

"You are supposed to listen to me. Till I am alive and well. So please.", he said and left the room.

---

"I think there's more to it.", Brian said.

"What do you mean? Like Joseph Price isn't the only one involved in this?", Mason asked.

They were talking on the untraceable phone they were told to use for work-related conversations.

"Yeah.", Brian replied, "I searched up George Bardin and there are so many interesting things I found. You should look into it."

"Well he was a criminal, it's bound to be interesting. I hope his kids are not criminals.", Mason said, fiddling with his pen, in his study room.

"Well you saw him, right? How does he look? The CEO?", Brian asked, his voice indicating that he was curious.

"Handsome. He is almost perfect. Considering the way he is operating the company even, he has guts.", Mason said, nodding to himself.

"Dude! That was so detailed. You did not even describe that senior like this who proposed you at our graduation.", Brian said, with genuine confusion.

"Damian was handsome too...but his only good quality was his face. Also he was not at all my type. But something about this Bardin junior was different. I mean his father was a killer, and he was like completely different.", Mason said, remembering Russell's face when he was sleeping that morning.

"So you are saying the CEO of Excela 56 is your type?", Brian asked.

"Ye—the hell, Brian? I did not mean that!", Mason almost started coughing.