The Arrangement: It Led Me To Love

Chapter 8 - Unknown POV

The office was painted an uneven grey, as if the painter had been angry and slashed the paint around in a blind rage. It had only one floor-to-ceiling window, which faced the main road, and gave the perfect view of the grey, unhappy sky. On the grey desk sat a laptop and desktop computer, a notebook lying open with Greek words written down, and a stack of papers sitting under a gun-shaped paperweight. In a corner, the air conditioner was blasting at medium, and there was a swivel chair in the middle of the office. A bookshelf, bursting with books was in a corner, with yet another stack of papers under a paperweight that was moulded to look like a skull. A few pens were lying on the papers, but some had fallen onto the top of the bookshelf.

My eyes met his eyes: a well of jet-black ink, which held a gaze more fearsome than a tiger. A thin paper cigarette hung from his bottom lip; a small trail of smoke escaping from the corner of his mouth danced its way to the ceiling above us. In one hand a gun lay loosely, his finger gently pressed against the trigger warning me of any sudden or wrong moves. I swallowed deeply. It would be a miracle if I made it out of this office alive with the news I was about to deliver to him.

"What happened? Is it off?" The boss spoke in a menacingly low, thick Greek accent.

"We have a problem sir. Your plan failed. Nothing has been cancelled."

The boss pursed his lips, and started spinning the gun in his hand, as if he is reminding me that my life is contained in his calloused hands. His brown eyes darkened to black, as pure anger and spite rushed through him.

"What do you mean the plan failed? I specifically gave this task to you with one commandment – do not fail. You have put me in a difficult predicament o fílos mou." (My friend)

Then the boss started to laugh. Not a happy, joyful laugh but a cold, hard sneer chilling me to the core.

"I am sorry sir. It seems as though both parties have a reason to remain in this arrangement. He I am told made a fool out of himself though at their meeting. We just need more time and am sure it will fizzle out."

"Sure? Sure? How then can you be so definite?"

"Well... I do not believe that the arrangement is wanted and maybe we can help drive a spanner in the works?"

"Yes... I do believe that may be a good idea; however, you had the simplest of tasks and you failed. I will be transferring duties to another trusted friend, who will not let me down. I will get what I want." The boss uttered the last words darkly, and for a moment, his eyes looked like portals into hell.

"If you wish sir, but how exactly are you going to get the money?" As soon as the words tumbled out of my mouth, I knew I had just signed my death sentence.

The boss does not like to be questioned. Everyone knows that. I am so senseless.

"Are you questioning me?" The boss narrows his eyes at me and laughs.

"No sir, sorry sir." I quickly choked out; beads of sweat rolling down my forehead. The boss looks as poised and unaffected as ever.

The gunshot crackles in the air as loud as thunder but without the raw power of a storm. A noise heralding death and destruction. Before I could comprehend what had happened I was on my knees, clutching my arm and hollering with pain as the bullet ripped into my flesh. My mind told me to run, but I was caged in, waiting for the boss's decision to free me from this pain.

"Stop screaming and act like a man!" The boss roared.

I tried. I really did, but whimpers of terror and anguish erupted through me.

"Let me promise you this. I will get the Kefalas fortune if it is the last. Thing. I. Do. Ellison is no longer the child you once raised. Do not think that I do not know about your little doubts about me. Every one here is loyal to ME." I howled out in pain as he dug his fingers into the bullet hole burning my skin.

"Antío fíle mou (goodbye my friend)" He whispered.

Then the bullet to end my existence was fired, taking away my pain and misery like someone pulled a blanket over my face, pulling me into the dark. I fell onto my back; eyes glazed over and my last thoughts, apart from my poor, widowed wife, were dedicated to how I had managed to help create such a hideous psychotic monster.

Hi! A shorter chapter today :) who do you think the 'boss' is? A little heads up, you haven't met him yet! Let me know what you think! Love Lilia

Xoxo

Edited