World War Four

6

I had three hours until it was time to meet Xavier Thompson. I was unable to sleep for the past few days knowing that I had a person among my midst with the same goal in mind as me. I had been spending every waking minute preparing to meet him. I was full of anxiety and the uneasy feeling you get when you know something is about to go wrong yet there is nothing within your power that you can do to prevent it.

I had copied and understood every single plan he had. Every single thing he had noted down. Every single event he had outlined. Every single person he targeted. What baffled me was that it seemed as though he never took any action. He didn't have any records of things he accomplished and whether or not his plans had ever actually been put into place. I couldn't tell his age from the information in the briefcase, and I didn't want to make any assumptions. I would get to know in just a little while.

Two hours to be exact.

I calmed myself down by playing chess on my phone. Just making my first move takes me back to my father. He loved playing chess and had insisted that I learn at the age of five. I quickly got addicted to the game and was soon good enough to play my dad. It wasn't until 4 years of playing against my him for hours on end every day that I finally won one game. I remember the exhilarating rush and amazing feeling I had gotten. I still cherish the look of confusion and excitement plastered on his face as he tried to recall the moves I had made in order to encompass his king in a state of immobility.

I think now that the chess was the beginning of what was soon to become my competition craving-nature. Now that I think about it, I am more excited to meet Xavier than actually scared or nervous. Knowing that there is another tough competitor in this war game only makes me want to win even more and fuels my incitement.

Saying it again just makes it more inevitable, I will win. I will take over the world and restore the peace. There is no other way. I will not back down until I perish or my dreams become reality.

  ��� 

I pack up Xavier's briefcase making sure that I have a copy of everything and that nothing was missed. I had previously made sure to restore the piece of luggage to it's previously perfect condition. Since I hadn't cut the locks all the way off, instead just cutting them where they connected to the base of the lock system, it wasn't hard to just super glue the metal back together. As long as Xavier didn't pull very hard on the connecting lock, he would never know I opened the briefcase. 

Slinging my purse over my shoulder, buttoning up my coat, and grabbing the suede handle, I saunter down the short corridor by my hotel room and open the door. I fish my hand in my coat pocket, ensuring that the room key is tucked safely inside and pull the door shut. I hear the door shut right next to me and I look over to my right. My breath catches in my throat.

I have never been one to judge based solely off of looks, and physical appearance is not that important to me. But this guy in front of me was the epitome of physically stunning. He pulled a hand through his light brown hair before glancing in my direction. His soft hazel eyes sparkled with amusement for some reason and he licked his full lips. But there was something else to his gorgeously sculpted face. Something he was trying hard to hide. Was it pain? Tragedy? Sorrow? I couldn't tell, but he was doing a really good job of covering it up. I could see it in his eyes, he had gone through hard times. The only reason I could tell was because I saw the same expression staring at me every time I looked in a mirror. I saw a reflection of my pain in him. It was unnerving and I decided to let it go. He was still handsome, any normal by passer wouldn't think otherwise.  

But who knows? He could turn out to be a complete jerk and idiot.

I regain my composure and walk past him. I hear his footsteps cascading through the hallway behind me as I make my way to the elevator. Tightening my grip on the briefcase, I patiently stand, waiting for the elevator. I glance down at my watch while walking forward into the elevator, making sure I am right on schedule and look back up straight into the eyes of my pretty hotel neighbor.

"H-hello?" I stutter

"Hello," He says in a deep voice, "What floor?"

"The main floor"

"Perfect," He whispers pressing the button on the panel.

Wow, he was kind enough as well. I twiddle my fingers on the ride down managing to keep my eyes straight ahead. When the elevator stops, I make my way out and onto the Main Street in front of the hotel. The Eiffel Tower, where the confrontation with Xavier was going to be held, was just walking distance away.

I followed the tourists' signs towards the tower. I could see its shimmering tip above the city in the distance. While walking, I had a little thought in the back of my mind wondering where the mysterious guy had gone. I didn't even get a chance to ask his name. Funny how it feels like I will have some rendezvous with him in the near future. I don't why I felt this way. Maybe it was just female intuition.

Turned out that the near future was a little nearer than I had anticipated.

When I got to the base of the tower, I again consulted my watch. 8:58, perfect timing. I look around not really sure who or what to be looking for. Xavier Thompson hadn't really given me any specific clue regarding his appearance or any way to notice him. Fortunately, there weren't many people out today. I looked around and the same guy from the hotel caught my eye. Once again. Did he follow me? Is it coincidental that we both left our consecutive rooms at the same time and were traveling to the same place?

We made eye-contact and he started to make his way towards me. I squirmed slightly under his gaze and immediately start hyperventilating inside but take caution not to show it. The now setting sun lightly bounces off of his hair making it look like gold, causing me to squint against the light. He approaches, towering half a foot over me, and meets my gaze, sending chills down my spine. We stand there for what seems like forever before he decides to actually speak.

"Hello," He says breaking the silence, "Would you happen to be Genevieve Mathews?'

"Ye-yes," I respond hesitantly. How did he know that? Why is he asking me now?

He extends his hand forward, a smile dancing at his lips, "It's nice to meet you. I am Xavier Thompson."

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I stand there gaping at him. This man had the audacity to follow me, somehow find out my name, manage to get the hotel room right next to mine, and while knowing who I am, let me think that he is just some opulent stranger? Oh, and did I mention, have plans to acquire what I have been preparing for forever? I felt deceived. I didn't even know this guy yet officially and I already hated him despite the initial shallow feeling I had when I first saw him. Everything that he had built up before was knocked down and completely masked by absolute and utter hatred. Like a wrecking ball demolishing a newly built, and gorgeous, building.

His previously sparkling hazel eyes now resembled murky sewage water. His lips had an annoying smirk plastered on them. His flowing hair looked like matted soil clumped together with mud and manure.

"Here," I say shoving his briefcase at him. "I am sorry that I even got into this mess."

"Whoa there, what did I do?"

"What didn't you do? And would you like to enlighten me on how you know my name?" Xavier looks down suddenly very interested in the handle of the briefcase. 

"Um... you told me when we talked over the phone," He mumbles. It's easy to tell he is clearly lying.

"No, I astutely remember I didn't. I don't give out my name easily. Especially to strangers who act like those they are not."

He raises his hands in a mocking gesture of defeat. "I have my sources. Let me just tell you, maybe try to be careful what you give away. The internet is a very...handy tool."

"Noted," I said very briskly as I turned on my heels and paced away.

"Have a great day!" He responded, his voice dripping with sarcasm. I didn't spare him a single look back.