THE UNDERCOVER STRIKE

c h a p t e r 4

It started pouring outside. Chris called a cab and we ran quickly and he got inside the car.
"Hop in girl!" he said.
I nodded and got inside. We both sat next to each other in the backseat.
"Chris?" i said.
"Yeah?" he responded.
"Where are we going?"
"It's getting quite dark now so i think it might be better for you to go home."
"but what about the-"
"we'll leave that for tomorrow!!" he smiled and I nodded.

The rain started getting intense. Sharp splashing water droplets hit the car windows as we were driving onwards, I watch the raindrops run down the window. The sound of emptiness was disrupted by the loud gregarious boom of thunder.

I was terrified now.

The harsh droplets gathered around the front window and it became almost impossible for the driver to check the road.

Suddenly, I felt a jerk and the three of us bounced up and the driver stumbled slightly. He realized that a huge rock got in our way. But, we were fine.
Except for I realized my hands were tightly gripped to Chris'. I released my fists and we looked at each other in embarrassment.

it felt awkward. But magical.
He settled his hands on his lap and started looking downwards.
"Are you both fine?" the driver said.
"y-yeah thanks for the concern" Chris added.
My home was just a mile away from here so Chris asked me about the directions.

Moments later, the driver stopped the car outside my house and I got up.
"How much is it?" I asked.
"eh that's a 12" he said.
"uh huh that's on me" Chris offered him his money.
"Chris! No!! you don't need to do that okay?" I shouted at him
"Hey why not? look i asked you to stay after work so I definitely owe you this"
"That doesn't make sense. Let me pay for that"
"Come on man it's raining! get inside your home or you'll be sick!"
"Why are you so concerned about me?? I'll take care of myself. Okay?" I blurted out. I realized i was being a little rude to him and changed my tone and mumbled softly to him
"uh look Chris..I didn't mean that..it's just...you're being so nice to me and-"
"oh come on man! you're helping me! who's being nice?? now let's not waste our time arguing over this and um how do i um reach to you?" he asked.
"oh uh..
Here, get my number" I whispered in the offering it to him.

Then we both looked at the driver who was staring at us impatiently.

I  ran towards my home.
The driver started the car and Chris was gazing at me from the back window so i waved him and he waved me back.
I smiled a little and went inside.

I kicked off my boots and stumbled to my bed. I was exhausted after the long day and I couldn't help but smile thinking about today.

I opened my eyes to the luminous sunshine covering all over my face. I got myself up and opened the window. The weather became clear after the storm. It had to.
I rushed downstairs for breakfast. Mashed potatoes with bread was a good start for an another long busy day.
I slung the straps of my bag on my shoulders and started riding towards the work. I checked up my phone if Chris texted me or not and found out he didn't. Not yet.

The moment I entered the building, George came running towards me. For a moment, I was surprised as to how urgent his facial expressions looked but he passed before my eyes and went to the room A13.

The room where no one usually visit. There were rumors about A13 for having ghosts after an agent's dead body was found inside it 25 years ago. But to me, it's just a smelly store room where no one really shows any interest to go inside unless...you're George.

All of the sudden at that exact moment, I heard someone growling at me. I screamed and my heart started pounding at a faster rate and I looked behind to find Chris. laughing.
"you scared the shit outta me oh my god" I shouted
"I was just testing you." he added chuckling.
"I DON'T CARE! STOP!"
"i'm sorry! calm down" he said softly and sighed. "So any updates?"
"Updates for...what?"

He unzipped his bag and took out a huge folder and flipped through the records of the past incidents of poisonous attacks in our country and stopped at one page and pointed out to a picture of the owner of Vercetti grounds.

"There you see? His full name is Markain Vercetti"
He had a pointed nose and a small pointed beard and had scars on his right cheek ending towards the neck. He had a huge tattoo all over his left bicep. Basically, he was the kind of guy that all moms warn their children about. The kind of guy who could rip off your face with his single sharp stare.

"Man I would literally arrest him straight away by looking at his horrible, criminal-like face" I said.
"hey read this thing." he pointed out to a paragraph underneath the picture.
"But Chris I can't read spanish" I muttered.
"The best spy out here. duh?" he smirked.
"Fine then I won't help you 'cause I ain't a good spy and to be a good spy you need to be-"

"I was just kidding girl just calm down and listen to me...It says that Markain took out some tests before for the toxin inside his secret lab. Four people were killed there even though they weren't present in the same room. This is how strong the impact is. Also this record was meant to be burnt but I just got it..just like that" he smiled.
"you're clever" i added
"The point is..." He said flipping through more pages "Look at this..here it says that one of the four people who died was the owner of the RLC company"

"wait no that doesn't make any sense..The boss of a huge company would work under the Vercetti grounds and sue its owner?" I was confused and frustrated at this point.
"Exactly!! That's what I think. And wanna know the funny thing about this? This article was especially sold to the press while the previous article I showed you was meant to be burnt. See the difference?"

"I don't understand"
"When the previous article got leaked..Markain sold this wrong news to the press so he doesn't get accused for murdering the owner of RLC company" he explained.
"This is really...foolish of him to do so I can't believe this"
"I know right?"

"Chris?" I mumbled softly.
"Yes?" He looked straight into my eye
"I want to know something really important. Seriously but who are you? How did you get all these information? these records? pictures? The first time I saw you was literally just...yesterday and you were among officials"

"I can't reveal my identity, Taylor. I am sorry"
"Why not?? Why not Chris?? After all this stuff why really can't you tell me about yourself? Do you not trust me?"
His eyes sparkled up. But it wasn't the same as the last time. His lethal stare felt painful and piercing, as if his glare was tearing my heart apart with a blinding teal light. He had the combination of sadness and fierce flashing out together from his eyes.
"I trust you but I didn't want you to know this" he added softly and came closer to me and whispered
"I was Vercetti's personal assistant"