Self-Seeker

7

Saturday

For Genesis, the next few days were beyond stressful. She had to hire services to amend the damage done to her apartment – wasting two whole days. It was quite the setback seeing as her plans were locked in a filing cabinet in her CDC, which she was unable to access with workers constantly roaming into her home. She stayed in the boutique's loft during that time, using the staircase behind her bookshelf to get to her office and finish any paperwork in need of completion.

Today was her first day back at the apartment. It was a Saturday, so she could do whatever she pleased, meaning she would go to her CDC and see what events were coming up that required preparation for.

"Just leave that by the window, thanks." Genesis told the worker who had brought her final box of household items into the living room. He nodded in reply; the two went their separate ways after she bid him farewell.

She walked into her closet with hands on hips, admiring the newly installed camera angled at the door of it. She would be able to see everywhere in the room from her computers except where the hidden passage was. Proceeding to flick the switch behind one of her many shoe racks, it scanned her print and the wall slid open, closing back after she had entered.

As Genesis continued down the hallway, she appreciated the interior. It had a burgundy carpet and walls with an antique golden pattern through the middle; there were lanterns lighting either side. It was the closest thing to a castle she could achieve now.

When she reached the end of the passage, she turned to her left, leaning in so the retinal scanner could confirm her identification. She then typed in the pin and the distinct sound of a mechanical lock turning was heard before the door buzzed, signalling that she could enter.

Genesis looked around the room, content that she was back after so long. On the right she had her computer system set up, there were nine large screens displaying above her computer minions and tablet.

In the centre of the CDC was her most prized toy, the adjustable view multi-touch table. A completely interactive digital table that was essentially a giant iPad. It had built-in hardware that government agencies used daily. After coming across one in the lair of someone she had taken down several years ago, she knew that she had to invest in one of the beauties.

The left side of the room was full of anything she'd need out in the field. Weaponry, disguises, as well as filing cabinets with all the information she considered vital. Paying for all of it was not easy, it was the reason she decided to set up her own business and sell her dresses at such high prices - if Genesis wanted the best, she had to produce the best.

She sat at the computer chair in front of the screens, locking into the location of her sister's cell phone. Three yellow lines searched the area before they pinpointed one spot and a red circle appeared. Jazmine was home. Genesis pulled up the live feed from her house and saw that she was in the back garden with Tyler, the two were arguing once again.

Since she currently had plenty of her own problems to worry about, Genesis dismissed their lovers quarrel. Whilst on the topic of Jazmine, however, she remembered that she needed to place an order at the florist nearby her apartment for a 'Get Well Soon' gift basket.

She walked over to her chest of drawers and found the leaflet for the shop, dialling the number she read on the front and waited for someone to answer.

"Stacy's Florist. How may I help you?" A voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Hi. I'd like to order a 'Get Well Soon' basket. I would like the card to say, 'with love, your dearest sis'. See if you can find any rich dark chocolate to add to it - that's her favourite. Oh, and let's not forget the Jasmine bouquet, the most important part of all." Genesis gave her the order; every detail was key.

"Of course. When should this be ready by?"

"I will have someone come for collection a week today." She answered.

A sly smile crept upon her face, deceiving people was a guilty pleasure of hers. Genesis hung up the phone before asking for a price, it was nothing she couldn't handle anyway.

After the closing of that task, she decided to get out of the apartment for a while. She left the room, ensuring the doors locked behind her and exited the closet. Genesis changed into some fitted jeans and a cropped hoodie, putting her favourite Nike's on to match. Picking up her phone, she walked out of the room, leaving some food and water out for her cat Felicity before locking up the apartment.

Genesis took her BMW X5 for a spin instead today - which she typically used for leisure. With the decision that some retail therapy would ease her mind, she pulled into the Manhattan Plaza about thirty minutes later.

***

It turned out that she could get a lot of shopping done in just a couple of hours. By three o'clock she had managed to get around to half of the shops in the mall and had over a dozen bags stacked in her car. After stuffing the last few items into the boot, she went back inside to get some food at a fast-food place. Everyone has their cheat days.

She was next in line when Genesis heard a voice she certainly wasn't expecting to hear in a place like this; soon felt the presence of that person approaching from behind.

"Well if it isn't the kid sis." Damon Soldati said as he strode up beside her. Genesis decided to have a little fun with him, after all, it wasn't often that she gave herself a day off.

"I'm anything but a kid, Mr Soldati." She turned to look at him, biting softly on her lip. "Trust me."

A look of what could only be described as pure lust grew in those clear blue eyes that she found so mesmerising. "I wouldn't think someone as refined as you would choose somewhere so...cheap, to dine." He let out.

"I could say the same thing about you, Mr Soldati." Genesis tilted her head and smirked, it was a simple gesture that for some reason drove men insane.

"Oh. Sexy, smart and feisty. There's a lot more to you than people think 'Miss Casanova'." Damon mimicked the fact that she referred to him in such a formal manner.

"And what is it that people think about me?" Genesis stepped closer - pressing to get an answer out of him.

Damon took a step closer to her, they would've been nose to nose if it weren't for the significant height difference. "Well for one, Ty believes you're nothing but trouble."

"What makes you think his opinion is so far-fetched, Mr Soldati?" She said smoothly, her bright green eyes at war with his silvery blues.

"Next!" The worker at the till called out, breaking the intimate moment between the two. They hadn't even realised there was such a long queue of impatient and hungry people that they'd been holding up. It was very much unlike Genesis to get so distracted.

Damon took her hand in his and leaned in closer. "Let's get out of here. I'll show you some real food." He all but whispered. As he said this, the worker called out 'Next!' again, but was ignored as Genesis replied to Damon.

"Lead the way."