Everything went smoothly that day at Falcon Cafe. Elena got a decent job, met Charles and Phantom who disguised himself as Tom, Charles's father.
Elena was able to blend so well with them. Phantom and Charles did not make things difficult for Elena, instead, they treated her like she belonged with them. She never felt that she was an outsider.
Charles also mentioned to her that they could look and rent a house or apartment near the Cafe but in the meantime, Elena went back to April's apartment. April allowed Elena to stay with her until she found a place.
After Elena left the Cafe, Phantom and Charles went to the secret base as they discussed their plan, targeting those three men whom Elle wanted to collect some debts.
"I heard the news that Carlo Vello is still at large. The cops arrived at his villa but unfortunately, they were not able to catch him there, only his men were captured. Do you think he escapes, Master? I wonder where he runs off to." Charles said, feeling dejected.
Phantom burst into peals of laughter after hearing his remarks. He tapped Charles's shoulder as he grinned widely at him. Charles gave him a confused look.
"Don't worry about him. He is on our hands now." Phantom said to him.
"Huh? What do you mean he is on our hands now, Master? I thought we would let the cops handle this case." Charles asked him quizzically.
"Yeah, we agreed on that. We will let the police attack their businesses and handle their illegal activities but it doesn't mean that we will surrender those three to them without confronting them first. Elle had another plan for those three sc.u.ms." Phantom explained to him.
"Oh… so what did you do this time Master?"
Phantom smiled at him as he gave him a meaningful glance.
"I caught the mouse and put him in the cage while waiting for the final verdict of our head Cat. We still need to catch the other two. Elle informed me that she will not be able to join our next operation. The detective is very protective of her right now. Not allowing her to leave his eyes."
Charles nodded at him as he understood the situation. Elle should need to cool down the situation first. They wondered if the detective already confronted her of how she ended up in that place.
They knew that it would not be good if that detective decided to investigate further. It was up to Elle on how she would convince him to forget what happened to her. So as of now, Elle entrusted all the groundwork with Phantom and Charles.
But she would make sure to come and confront those three persons at the right time as they would be slowly destroying them one by one. She would take away the important things to them right now which were money and power. Phantom and Charles were there to back her up and support her.
Phantom already made all the necessary preparations. Yesterday, before the cops arrived at Carlo Vello's Villa, he already succeeded sneaking in. He even saw how mad Carlo Vello was when he saw the news regarding the raid that happened to all five branches of his spa.
Phantom was laughing inwardly just listening to Vello's ranting. He was blaming his police protectors and he thought there were traitors. Unknown to him, everything that happened was done by Elle.
After Carlo Vello dispatched his men to investigate, he was left alone in his study. Phantom found the opportunity to strike. He disguised himself as one of his guards. Phantom entered his study.
"Why are you still here? Did you not hear my order?" Carlo's angry voice greeted Phantom.
"Boss, come with me. I already prepared the car. The cops are on their way here, you should leave and escape." Phantom replied to him.
Carlo Vello was stunned in a moment after hearing his subordinate. It was impossible for the cops to find his villa because it was his secret headquarter. Unless there was someone who knew about his villa and gave the tips to the cops.
"D*mn traitors!" He cursed again as he immediately stood up and grabbed a bag. He opened his safe and put all his money inside, along with his passports.
Phantom hid his grin as he watched Carlo Vello panicking inside the room. Carlo's mind was very occupied that he did not even suspect the person in front of him. He forgot to ask himself how this subordinate of him knew that the cops were coming.
The mouse fell on the mousetrap that easily. He rushed out of his villa together with Phantom. The moment he went inside the car, Phantom knocked him down and he fell unconscious right away. And just like that, Carlo Vello was kidnapped in his own villa.
Charles could not stop himself but laughed out loud after hearing the story from Phantom. Carlo Vello was a fool. The money he brought was also a bonus treat for them.
A light flashed in his eyes as Elena's lovely face wearing her pure and innocent smile popped up in his mind. 'Great! I could ask Master Phantom for that money. Elena can use it for her studies.' He smiled from that thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*** At Erick's Place ***
Elle had stayed at the house for the whole day with Erick. She had slept for half day. Maybe it was the aftereffects of the medicines in her system.
She only realized last night how Erick succeeded in feeding her the medicine she refused to take. Erick had outsmarted her. Elle could not believe it Erick had already tricked her without her knowing.
She admitted to herself Erick was her weakness. She could not think right every time she was near him. That moment she was immersed in his kiss and all her mind was only focused on him and to what he was doing to her body.
She felt annoyed every time she would remember it. She was still upset at him. She was also so grumpy today. She decided to ignore him.
Erick knew that she was intentionally doing it. He just let her continue with her act, pretending he was not affected by it. Because he wanted to tease her more. Erick's action made Elle become more annoyed and pissed off.
Unknown to her, Erick was enjoying her childish behavior. He was just controlling himself not to wrap her into his arms again. She was too cute even if she was frowning and glaring at him.
In the end, Erick was still the first one to give in. He walked towards the living room to see his upset woman. Elle was silently watching a movie. The moment she saw him approaching, she shot him a cold glare.
Erick was not intimidated by her sharp gaze instead he found it cute and amusing. He let out a soft chuckle that made Elle's already ugly expression worsened.
Erick sat down beside her. Elle raised her eyebrow and looked daggers at him. She moved one foot away from him.
"Why are you here? Leave me alone. I don't want you here!" Elle said with her stern voice.
Erick looked at her helplessly as he grabbed her elbow. Elle shrugged his hand off her.
"Don't touch me!" She warned him. Erick just laughed at her remarks.
"Why are you laughing? Do you think it is funny?" Elle scoffed at him.
"Yeah, I find it funny. Yesterday, you want to stick with me and now you don't want me to be near you. I wonder why you are acting like this." Erick softly said as a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Well, let me tell you so that you will know." Elle faced him with a serious expression on her face.
"This is the effect of the medicine you forcefully fed me yesterday. It makes me want to stay away from a trickster like you. So don't come near me! Shoo… shoo!" Elle waved her hands in a manner signaling Erick to leave.
Erick was laughing inwardly. His woman was really stubborn sometimes. This was the first time she acted like this. Elle averted her gaze back at the television. Her arms were folded across her chest.
"Hey, are you doing this so that you can avoid my questions? Hmm… If I could remember, I need to interrogate someone why she ended up in that kind of place." Erick said to her as he copied her action, folding his arms across his chest and raising his brows.
Elle was taken aback by that statement. She moved her eyes back to him.
'Crap. I couldn't believe this man. He is supposed to console me because I am upset at him, not to interrogate me.' Elle looked at him with disbelief.
Seeing Elle's face, Erick's lips curved up into a mischievous smile.
Elle was annoyed seeing his cheeky smile. "You… You…" Elle pointed him using her index finger, she was trying hard to control her rage and annoyance towards the handsome man before her. Her cheeks were already burning in anger.
"What about me?" Erick said as he continued to challenge Elle.
Elle stood up and clenched her teeth before shouting "I hate you! YOU CHEATER IGNORANT HANDSOME TRICKSTER!"
That's it, Erick lost his remaining self-control. He grabbed her and pulled her causing her to fall toward his body. He made her climb on his lap, straddling him in a kneeling position.
Elle's eyes widened, she was surprised by his sudden action. Erick's right hand was on her back, supporting her while his left hand was on her nape.
He looked into her dark alluring eyes as he flashed his sweetest charming smile and whispered to her "I love you, Elle." The next thing she knew Erick's warm lips already pressed to hers.