Never Better

Chapter Two

After two long hours of driving, we finally arrive at the warehouse. I pull the car into the garage and wait for the door to close before shutting it off and getting out. I pull Kathleen out and smile at her. 

"Welcome to your worst nightmare." I let out a small laugh before pushing her into the center of the warehouse. 

In a split second, he walks out. He begins with a laugh, and I take that as my cue to stand still, like a statue. He walks around the edges of the room, creeping behind the mask the darkness allows him to hold.  After a few minutes, he steps out with one slur of a word, "Kathleen." 

She continues standing still, just as I am, before breaking down in tears. "What do you want from me?!" she shouts at the top of her lungs. 

He stands ever so quietly letting the light reflect off his pale skin, bringing his chiseled features out of the shadows. In a split second, I witness four men emerge from the shadows and carry Kathleen off like she is as light as a feather. She doesn't even whimper. 

He comes towards me. "Arabella." my name rolls off his tongue ever so softly. 

"Yes, sir?" I reply just the way he specified for me too. 

"This is your third mission with me this month. I'm proud of your work. You are definitely the most cooperative of my employees." he takes another step closer.

"Yes, sir. I do my best to make you happy."  

"Now Arabella, this job takes a lot out of you, so I need to ask, how are you?" He said with a small smile.

The first thing he told me was, There's no way out after you commit, so for the fear of losing my life, I replied to him with, "Never better, Sir"

"Good," he says, "that's what I like to hear. You are dismissed."

I slowly begin to walk away and get into my car. I know he's watching me. It makes me uncomfortable. I stare at him carefully and he walks over. 

"Are we still on for coffee tomorrow morning?" he shouts with a small smile.

I smirk back. "Yes, sir," I say and then I drive away. 

----

I arrive home after the two-hour drive and I smile knowing I'm home in time for dinner. I walk in the door and I am greeted by my dog. I continue walking into the living room and I get a call. 

"Yes?" I answer blindly. 

"We need you. I'll send a car for you wear your uniform." and then he hangs up. 

I look around my house and see nobody around and then I bolt up the stairs into my room. I slip on black skinny jeans and a black button up. I leave on my black heels and then I leave the house once again. 

I walk outside and see a black Cadillac in the street. I walk up to it and hop in the back seat. I make sure not to make eye contact with the driver and I stay silent through the short ride across town, just as I was instructed to do from day one.  

As the ride goes on I realize that we are headed in the direction of where I dropped off Kathleen. I tense up and begin shaking. What did I do wrong? I think to myself. Nothing. It could be nothing. Maybe. 

"Calm down Arabella." and I notice, the voice came from him. He's driving calmly. One hand on the steering wheel, the other just sitting in his lap. 

I swear this man is everywhere. "Yes, sir," I mumble. I drag my attention to his shadowed eyes in his rearview mirror. 

"That was weak Arabella. Don't let it happen again." 

"Of course, sir," I say, this time more clearly. 

We continue driving and when we are almost to the spot he starts to talk again. 

"Arabella..... So you've done this once before, and I was impressed. I came to get you myself since this is a big deal." He looks at me using his rearview mirror and he sighs. "I need you to kill Kathleen."

I hold my breath for a minute and start shaking. I breathe in and out trying to calm down and stop thinking.

"Can you do that Arabella?" He asks me, as if he is giving me a choice. 

"Yes, Sir." I say. And I prepare for the worst as he drives me to the inevitability of me losing my job working under him.