Chapter 373 - 373: Change of Loyalty

When Erick heard that Alfonso was about to leave, he got out of the service van and dashed towards the Sky hotel. He needed to see his face and followed him where he was staying.

It was so hard to know Alfonso's whereabouts. He was always out of Erick's radar. Now that he appeared, Erick would grab this opportunity to gather more information about him.

Officer Kim was talking to Erick through their communication devices.

"They just got out of Samuel Sy's office. They were now walking to the elevator." Officer Kim was feeding Erick information. They could hear and see their current location through the GPS tracker.

Erick ran fast going to the lobby of the hotel. He decided to wait for him.

"Where are they now, Officer Kim?" Erick asked him.

"6th floor going down… now they are on the 4th floor."

Erick became alert. His eyes were fixed on the elevator. "Are the three of them still together?"

"Yes… they are now talking about business." Officer Kim promptly answered him.

"They just reached the ground floor, Chief Lee. Be ready, they are about to go out of the elevator." Officer Kim added.

"Noted," Erick simply stated. He already prepared his phone, ready to take some photos.

After a few seconds, the VIP's elevator in the lobby was opened. Five men emerged from it. Three middle-aged men wearing their three-piece business suit and two men in black who looked like bodyguards.

Snap! Snap!

The faint shutter sound of Erick's phone camera could be heard as he continued clicking his phone. He got it! He got a clear shot of Alfonso Ramirez.

Now, he proceeded to his next move. Edson Tyler and Alfonso Ramirez bade Samuel Sy their goodbye. They were now approaching the main entrance door of the Sky Hotel together with Alfonso's bodyguards.

Erick walked towards their direction with large strides. Then suddenly, he bumped with Alfonso Ramirez.

"Ahh!"

The bodyguards immediately apprehended Erick upon seeing him collide with their Big Boss.

"Are you blind! Can't you see where you are going?" Alfonso ranted at him while fixing his suit.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry… I am in a hurry. I didn't see you. I was so distracted. Please forgive me." Erick immediately apologized to him while bowing his head. Both his arms were restrained by the two bodyguards.

People in the lobby noticed the commotion. They started to look at their direction. 

Edson Tyler leaned closer to Alfonso and whispered, "Hey, just let it go. People are watching. Besides, he already apologized to you."

With his brows drawn together, Alfonso signaled his bodyguards to release Erick.

"Thank you, sir. Again I am really sorry." He apologized again.

Alfonso just gave him a side-glance while sneering at him. After a while, he turned around, ignoring Erick's apology. Edson Tyler just followed him. While the bodyguards opened the glass door for them.

Erick's eyes followed their retreating back until they vanished into his sight. Then a triumphant smirk stretched on his lips.

"How is it, Chief Lee?" Officer Kim's voice was heard on the communication device.

"Mission accomplished. I planted the tracking device on Alfonso's suite. Check you please check it to the GPS monitor." Erick politely requested Officer Kim.

"Yes, Chief Lee! It's working. The tracking device is already on. We can see that they are moving out of the parking lot of the hotel."

Erick smiled after hearing that. "Good, now let's wait. We will find his hideout soon."

"Noted Chief!" Officer Kim said cheerfully.

Erick walked out of the hotel while massaging his hurt wrist. The bodyguards applied to much force on him a while ago. But for him, it was all worth it. Now, Alfonso Ramirez would also be put under their surveillance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, a white minivan was also being parked in a corner near the Sky Hotel. Josh was in the driver's seat while Elle was sitting on the front passenger seat.

Josh was not making any sound. His heart was beating rapidly and loudly inside his chest. The beads of cold sweats were already forming on his forehead. He was very anxious as of this moment.

Just a while ago, he received a call from Elle. He was being summoned by their Queen so he had no choice but to follow.

Elle learned that Erick went to Sky Hotel after dropping by the City Z Detention Facility. She immediately asked Josh to drive her to that location.

But the reason why Josh was being nervous right now was that Elle was holding her a dagger while playing it in her hands. She also mentioned about punishment.

Josh was aware that their Queen had never forgotten about his punishment. It looked like today would be his judgment day.

After her long silence, Elle started to speak up.

"My dear, Josh, or rather Sherlock. Did you hear how I punish people who wronged me?" Elle's voice was cold, her dark eyes filled with threat and danger.

"Y-Yes...m-my Queen." Josh stuttered from too much nervousness.

'Lord, please save me.' Josh was silently praying on his seat. 

Josh didn't want to imagine how his fate would end today. After all, their Queen was still the true Catseye, the devilish assassin. She's known for her viciousness and ruthlessness, no mercy.

"I told Supremo that I would still punish you. And do you know what he said?" Elle turned to him with her signature evil smile.

'[email protected] I have a bad feeling about this. Supremo dotes on our Queen so much. He can even sell me just to satisfy her.'

Josh was too frightened to speak. He was tongue-tied.

"He said you are mine now. I can do anything I want and he will not stop me since he is also planning to give you punishment. But since I asked him to let me handle it, he immediately agreed."

After saying that, Elle let out a sinister laugh.

"Please, my Queen. Forgive this poor subordinate of yours. I will not do it again. I am just following Supremo's order. Please spare my life!" Josh mumbled his desperate plea, putting his palms together while facing Elle with his pitiful look.

"Okay. I will forgive you and forget about your punishment. But in one condition, you will now obey all my orders. Is that clear?" Elle said to him using her authoritative voice.

Josh's face brightened up after hearing Elle's statements. He somehow felt relieved now.

"I understand, my Queen! I will do anything for you! I will now become your loyal dog. Use me all you want! My loyalty is now yours since Supremo abandons me." Josh lamented to her.

Elle tried her best to suppress her laughter. Indeed, it felt like Supremo abandoned him since he didn't even try to negotiate with Elle after she told him that she would still punish Sherlock for spying on her.

Supremo used him as a scapegoat. In the first place, Supremo should be the one to blame since he was the one who gave Sherlock the task. 

But in order to appease Elle, James sacrificed his loyal subordinate for her to punish. And now, Elle changed her mind about punishing him because she found him very useful.

"Good. Now, for my first order…. I want you to guard Chief Detective Lee 24/7. Follow him secretly. You have to protect him at all costs. If you fail then I will not hesitate to kill you. Your life also depends on what will happen to him. If he gets hurt, then you will get the same fate as him."

Josh: "..."

'[email protected] Why do I feel like I am about to die soon? If not in the hands of our Queen then it will be in the hands of our mighty Supremo.' Josh thought to himself.

He was worried that once Supremo learned that he abandoned his post just to guard and monitor Chief Detective Lee then he would surely receive Supremo's wrath.

Supremo gave him the task to protect their Queen but now their Queen asked him to protect someone instead. He wished he could divide himself or he had a clone so that he could monitor and protect both Elle and Erick.

However, he was no superhuman. He could only protect one.

Seeing the hesitation in Josh's face, Elle spoke again with her serious tone.

"I thought you were willing to do anything for me. Why are you giving me that kind of look now? Did you just lie again to me?"

Josh felt alarmed. He didn't want his Queen to misunderstand.

"No, I did not lie, my Queen! But honestly, I am worried about Supremo. He asked me to protect you. If something bad will happen to you because of my negligence then he will surely kill me too." Josh spoke to her truthfully.

"You don't have to worry. You have me. I will not let him touch you, just follow my order. You have my words. Besides, I can protect myself. My life is not in danger, unlike Erick. He was the one who received a death threat. Please, Josh, I am asking you this, not just an order, but as a favor. Please do it for me. Protecting Erick is like you are protecting my life too." This time Elle's voice was soft and pleading.

Josh had no heart to refuse his Queen, especially now that she was humbly asking him. He finally gave in.

"Okay, my Queen. I will do as you say. I will protect the detective." Josh said to her with so much conviction.

Elle gave him a faint smile. "Thank you, Josh."