THE UNDERCOVER STRIKE

c h a p t e r 3

Everyone rushed outside the office and scattered around the hall. I looked around to find Evans. I wanted to ask a thousands of questions from him.
But i was scared to do so.

what will i say to him? What if he hates me? What if i embarrass myself?

"H-hey" a deep voice whispered from behind. a familiar deep voice. Evans.
He was right behind me.
"Um hi?" i responded and almost ran out of breath.
"Do you mind if we talk?"
"u-um yeah sure." i stuttered. "but um where?"
"well i know several nice places around here" he smirked.

My cheeks flushed. I didn't know how to react. My mind stopped processing. My heart was pounding steadily.
"oh i'm sorry i forgot." he muttered "Chris. Chris Evans." he reached out his hand to me.
"Taylor Swift" I shook hands with him.

We exited the building and begun walking around the streets, it felt awkward. The sky got overhung with a blanket of gray clouds, it felt as if the storm was going to approach soon . I still wondered if it's a dream, strolling through the pavement with a man, mysterious yet attractive. I clenched my fists steadily because I was blushing hard.
"So um what's it that you wanted to talk about?" I broke the silence and murmured impetuously.
"oh it's...you know i've heard a lot about you. You're a really good detective and I wanted you to help me in certain important stuff." he said.

that's it? I was such a fool to assume he liked me.

"oh um what kind of stuff?" I asked gently.
"well um look that café looks nice. Let's talk there?"

The tiny café huddled despondent among the huge city buildings. Washed out under the overcast sky, it hunched in itself, fighting against the drizzle. Hundreds of people rushed by it, outside on the crowded street.

I nodded.
Chris held out the door for me.
What a gentleman.
The half a dozen customers glanced up as the door swung open, heralded by a blast of cold wind. Unlike the outside, the interior of the café was warm and cheery, with bright lights and colourful walls. The customers returned to their conversations as the door swung closed behind the new entrant and the cold breeze was forgotten.

Pulling out the chair for me, he went casually to sit in front of me.
"um thank you!" i murmured and he smiled.
"so uh Taylor" he began "there's this guy who's one of my friend and i mentioned him at that meeting. remember?"
"oh um yeah i do..you mean that map guy right?" i asked interestingly.
"Yes that guy. His name is Ethan. He knows the code." He whispered softly that i had to lean towards the table to listen to him clearly.

"Cappuccino or espresso?" he asked randomly.

"uh what?" i laughed in confusion. "i'll have cappuccino. Thanks but the code-"

"2 Cappuccinos please!" he ordered the waiter.

"Chris that code. Do you know about it? And how exactly does it help us?"

"Look, Ethan wouldn't really tell me the code straight away and it would help us to enter the..'red cross'..you remember? The main room!..but..there's just something that's holding me back..we had a deal."

"Here" he offered me the coffee.

"Thanks. What kind of deal?"
" uh taylor it's complicated. Ethan and I..we didn't really have a good history so he doesn't really trust me with stuff you know so he would agree to give me the solved code only if i find the guy who killed their company's boss..The RLC company. Do you get it now?"

"Okay give me a second. So this Ethan guy gave you the map but not the solved code unless you find a mysterious murderer man?" I blurted out mindlessly.

"Exactly ma'am" he smirked.

"But why do we need to find that murderer when there are police in the city plus why does he really care about his boss...i mean-"

"Taylor taylor" he laughed softly while sipping on his coffee "The entire company has collapsed and the finest investigators of our country were appointed to find the culprit. And you know what happened? They were working for Vercetti. So they robbed all the money instead. Unfortunately, Ethan and other employees lost several trials. And I am probably the last person he is counting on...he needs to find the murderer in order to get him arrested and get some money and rebuild his company."

"I get all this now Chris. I will help you. So when do we start?"
His ocean eyes sparkled with joy that they looked like blue crystals glistening in light. He smiled in relief and excitement.
"Right now!!"