Devin was close to knowing about the person today, and again a force intervened. Is it a mere coincidence that Enzo Brown died today, or is someone watching him closely. The conversation happened between him and Nick alone via call. What about his shy princess girlfriend? Did he tell her?
''We will talk later about this. Let's go back,'' Devin said suddenly. ''Drive to the airport.'' He addressed the driver.
After they both boarded the plane, Devin brought up a light topic with Nick. ''How is your relationship going with your shy girlfriend?''
Nick blushed, looking at his mobile where he set Merl's picture as wallpaper. ''We are pretty close now. Merl is a very caring and understanding girl.''
''I can see that.'' Nick was too involved in the picture to catch Devin's sarcastic remark. Devin sipped the wine in silent thoughts, and then he spoke. ''So, didn't you tell her about coming to Mexico?''
''I had to tell her.'' Nick sighed. ''She was getting worried. But rest assured, I haven't revealed our actual intention.'' Nick didnot expect Merl to be s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e, but he liked it. He now has a family to think of.
Hearing Nick's response, Devin smirked a bit. He can't trust Leena's safety with Nick anymore. He will have to take the matter into his hands. For some reason, Devin didnot like the shy girl. Her painted black nails, the barn owl pendant she was wearing, everything about her screamed negativity. Did Leena do an out-and-out background check before hiring her?
Devin reached home by afternoon, but Leena was on the bed, sleeping, and she did sleep until he woke her up for dinner.
''Leena, are you not well?'' Devin asked, tending her head into his l.a.p. She didnot spoke much during dinner as well.
''My head is aching.'' She said, embracing her hands around his waist.
''We will go to the hospital?'' He shifted her head into a comfortable position and massaged her forehead, inching along the scalp.
''I will be fine. I had a check-up today. Mom told me it must be the post effects of food poisoning.'' Tiredly Leena replied. The CT scan results indicated she has no problem with her head. Her body check results showed she is very healthy. But this sudden one-sided headache is torturing her.
''Does it feel good?'' He made small circles with his thumb on her forehead repeatedly.
She faintly hummed before drifting to Lala land. Devin's hands worked like magic. A while later, he gingerly put her head on the bed and tucked her with the blanket. Soon, he joined Leena into a deep slumber.
.....
The following morning, the hungry she was, Mandy raced into her favorite pastry shop and ordered a miniature cheesecake, a chocolate strawberry, peanut butter cookies, and a regular coffee. Before she was about to pay, the cashier informed her her order was already delivered. ''W_hoo paid?'' She was barely able to stammer.
''The man, sitting at table nine.'' The cashier replied, busily attending to the next customer.
Mandy sharply turned around and noticed a man diligently working at table nine. The laptop's back screen covered his face, but she could feel he spoke to power and wealth.
Why did he pay for my food? Is he in love with me? Illusory wings appeared at the back of Mandy's shoulders, and she imagined herself as a Female lead of a Korean Drama. Proud and haughty, she trotted towards the table like a queen, but her footsteps halted, a few steps away from her. Her confidence crumbled to dust. Her heart pounded at an alarming rate. Why is he here!
''Come, and sit.'' Mandy heard his authoritative voice. She stumbled over the chair before settling like an obedient kid.
''Eat.'' She followed his eyes, glancing at the paper bag on the table. ''You need lots of energy to bad mouth on my wife.''
Mandy tapped her legs on the floor impatiently. Did that witch complain, and he is here to take revenge on me? ''I_I will never bitch on Leena. Please don't kill..''
''What happened after Leena felt unconscious.'' Devin cut her off.
''What?''
''You know what I am talking about.''
Mandy felt like a prisoner dragged for investigation. ''M_erl was the first to notice Leena unconscious.'' Mandy started. She explained Merl refused to call the ambulance because she was worried about Leena's reputation and how she denied going to the nearby hospital although she insisted.
Devin pulled her mobile from her hands and gave a quick ring to his number.
Mandy: '' ''
''That's all?'' Devin probed.
''Y_es.''
''You can go now.'' He passed the mobile back to her. Mandy rushed out of the pastry shop the second Devin released her from the prison. Her face scrunched as if she tasted the first drop of lemon in the morning.
''He is a terror. Why did I have to cross paths with him in the morning?'' Reaching the office, Mandy tiredly collapsed on the chair. No sooner, she received a text message from an unknown number. [A task for you. Carry out secretly.]
''Is it him?'' Mandy cried in horror. ''Why is he targetting me?''
.....
In the afternoon, Leena was about to knock on Merl's office door to ask for a client's review report; she heard Devin's name. Curiosity killed the cat. She waited at the door, listening to them.
''...He hates me, Nick.'' Merl cried in Nick's arms. ''for some reason.''
''No, Merl. You are misunderstanding Devin.''
''So you are thinking Mandy is lying? He went to the pastry shop to talk with her. He knows what happened after Leena fainted. Yet, he confronted Mandy, and surprisingly, he investigated about me.''
''Don't stress yourself.'' Nick coaxed her. ''I will talk with Leena.''
''No.'' She sobbed again. ''Please don't. She will misunderstand her husband. I don't want to create a rift between the couple.'' She knows this dog will talk with Leena, and she wanted it to happen. A rift between all these three people.
''You are so considerate, Merl,'' Nick said. Although Merl didnot want to, Nick decided to talk with Leena. He can't accept Devin's indifferent behavior towards Merl.
What the hell! Leena mouthed in horror. Devin went to the pastry shop to talk with Mandy? She wanted to ask Mandy, but hell no. She will exaggerate as if she doesn't like the originality.
Since the first encounter at the hospital, Devin doesn't seem to like Merl. She very well knows he doesn't make judgments on impulse. But why is he so biased over that girl?
She made her way back to the office and texted Devin. [My Deep-V-Diver: Did you talk badly...]
She erased the message and retyped it again. [I heard you spoke to Mandy. Is it true?]
[Orthodox Saint: How did you know, Sweetheart?]
[Deep-V-Diver: I heard from Merl. Mandy told her that you went to the pastry shop. Why do you doubt her?]
[Orthodox Saint: Let's talk at home]
At the same time, Devin received a reply from Mandy. [I did everything according to your plan. I told my best friends Naomi and Megan about our conversation in the pastry shop. I swear on River Styx, I didnot talk with Merl. Honestly, I didnot see Merl since morning.]
Then how did the shy girl know that I visited? Did she plant a bug in the office? Nick was in the office when he called to inform about Enzo Brown. Now, this happened.
At midnight the dark office suddenly flickered with lights. A group of men entered the office carrying a bug detector in their hands. ''Sir, your order?''
''Turn of all the routers and check every corner.''
''Roger that, sir!''
Crossing his arms, Devin stood there watching the men move the bug detectors around every corner of Leena's office.
Note: Updates will be a little slow for a while because I am preparing, and writing second book..I will soon get back to the regular updates...