Chapter 3
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Next day she woke up on a comfortable mattress. It had been so long since she slept on a bed that she almost forgot that how good it felt. Then the torrent of recollections came to her. She quickly got up but couldn't leave her place.
Damn it, she was tied to bed.
"Its about time you should be awake", a resonate voice filled her ears.
She followed the direction to find a young man standing in front of a huge window staring outside. Though only his back was visible but a man having such an imperious atmosphere around him could be none other than Arsenio Ishiko.
Last night, they knocked her out because they thought she was too dangerous to be taken back while conscious. After all she had a dagger at the big boss throat. On that scale she was second only to Big Boss because no one had been able to accomplish what she did.
"So let's start with your name", his voice was cold, "What's your name?", Arsenio Ishiko was looking out of window unperturbed.
She was surprised to find herself alive because after what she did the Big Boss wouldn't just let go of her. Perhaps he was intending to torcher her before killing her or just wanted to interrogate her before killing her. But why was he himself present there to attend to a trivial matter like her? According to her knowledge, Arsenio Ishiko was a important busy man-an unapproachable.
The girl thought it was better to go with flow for now simply because her hands were tied to the headpost of bed and she couldn't do anything.
"Maria", she said quietly. Her soft voice, just like her, was shadowed with innocence.
He paused to throw a glance at her.
With blood removed of her and fresh clothing, the girl looked so pure and innocuous that he wouldn't believe that she killed two men not just yesterday if he hadn't seen that with his own eyes. After the maids at the Crystal Palace cleaned her and wiped off blood from her face, while she was still tied as a precaution, they were simply awestruck to find what a beauty she was.
If she was to be numbered from 1 to 10 in beauty, they would number her 1000!
Such a fragile little thing she was. They couldn't get what possible damage she could cause so that she had to be tied up.
Only if they knew the true colors of the girl...
"Age?"
"15"
"How long have you been living in streets?"
"About two months"
"Why did you leave your home?"
"My mother was a single parent. I became homeless after she passed away"
Arsenio Ishiko frowned as he contemplated. She said all so fluently that anyone would buy into it. After a long pause he turned and directly faced her.
Wearing anything but black he looked excessively handsome. His perfectly styled hair was reflecting the sun. His chiselled face was expressionless yet so appealing. His refined disposition was so calm yet disconcerting. He simply exuded an aura of nobility. A pair of brown mesmerizing eyes was trying to penetrate the girl in front of him.
"Now tell me Angelize why did you lie about everything", he asked in the same cold voice.
Angelize, her real name, its been long since she heard it. But hearing it again from Big Boss pulled at some strings in her heart. She bit her lip.
"Your name is Angelize Smith. Your age is 17. You've been living in streets for two years and your parents are alive", he asserted, "You left your home on your own accord"
On her own accord? If you put it in that way.
Her lips curled up slightly in a sneer. She was quiet for a while subduing her lingering feelings from her past life then she finally blurted in an emotionless voice:
"Why did Big Boss ask me if he already had a background check on me?"
Was he testing her? Then she had successfully failed in his test.
"You don't seem to trust easily", he said with a frosty tone.
"How can I trust someone if he has tied me to a bed.", she said and flashed him her brilliant smile.
She was acting smart even after accurately assessing her position.
Side of his lip curled up as he stared at the girl with a new-found interest.
The girl didn't show any hint of fear nor did she broke into begging for her life like any normal girl would do.
"That was for precaution"
If she had regained consciousness while being bathed, it might have costed the Crystal palace a couple of maids.
"Why? The famous almighty invincible Big Boss is so scared of a single helpless girl that he had to have her tied?", she smirked, "That would sure make headlines"
It could be said she was the first who has dared to talk to him in this manner. She was tricking him into freeing her. But if she was clever then he wasn't called Big Boss for no reason.
"Hmm, I see. A helpless girl who killed two sturdy men without any help.", he commented calmly.
Alright, they have already discovered? How could they possibly accuse a little fragile girl like me?, Angelize silently thought. Last night he did ask her if she killed those man. But it was only suspicion at that point.
"I had a dagger that time", she pointed openly acknowledging her misdeed.
There was no point in hiding the truth from that devil anyway. After all he found out everything about her background in just one night.
"How about we have a proper conversation without any lies this time?", his voice had a tinge of impatience. He wanted to get to the point.
Angellize was curious. What could this Big Boss possibly be wanting to talk to her? And what had caused him to give her a personal visit? It would have been more credible if she had been left to his subordinated to deal with.
Why even talk to her? Just kill her and dump her at the road side and no one would even probe.
Not that she minded being alive...
It was just not conceivable.
And something more terrifying than the worst thing is the fear of unknown.
"How about Big Boss untie me first then we have a talk?", Angelize put forth her condition in a cool manner. She was not going to co-operate other way.
After giving it a thought he said:"Alright.", his impish eyes sparking with ploy.
"Huh?"
Did he really agree to free her? That was easy.
She could only carry out her next move once she was free.
He climbed into bed, untied her one hand then went for the other. He lazily rested his hand on her thigh. He was too close as he untied her other hand in a sluggish manner. His hot breath tickled her neck. Her face flushed. The close proximity of that nobility gave her fidgets. His intoxicating cologne numbed her wit.
But he let his guard down. All his pressure points were accessible to her. She was ready to attack with her free hand when her eye caught something - a camera.
They was being monitored!
Damn it! No wonder he let his guard down.
She had a chance to silently sneak out after knocking out the Big Boss. But if hundreds of his men were to know of it, she would have little chance. Not to mention that knocking him out would be a difficult thing judging the way he blocked her attacks earlier. So she chose to stay safe.
After untying her, he retreated. An enigmatic smile covered his face as if he knew what turmoil of thoughts just circulated Angelize mind. Even so the smile looked so enticing on him that the sight was simply aesthetic.
Getting free, she rubbed her sore wrists into comfort.
He was such a schemer!
She silently put him in her dangerous people list.
"Follow me", the icy authority of his command could coerce anyone into task.
He guided her to a place outside the room to couches in a big Hall. The whole mansion was glamorous and glittering with luxury and affluence. It was full of servants and bodyguards armed with most advanced guns at every ten steps.
To see that level of security, she mentally sighed in relief that she didn't try to act recklessly.
There was no way she could break out through this level of security.
It seemed like everything was made up of gold and diamonds. It wasn't a place where a street-girl like her should be. She was vigilant all the time. Her eagle-like eyes capturing minute detail and her sharp mind encapsulating every tiny bit of information.
What gave her the honor to be invited to the Big Boss general residence? It would've been more reasonable if it were a dungeon where she would've waken up. In the end it only further added to her unease.
She sat opposite to Big Boss. A maid in uniform presented them refreshing. She scrutinized it with suspicion once she brought the glass to her lips and sniffed slightly.
Orange juice.
"It is not poisoned", Arsenio said witnessing her unease and chuckled lightly as he placed his glass against his lips and took a sip.
She thought if he wanted to drug her, he could easily inject it into her.
There was no need to go through the trouble of putting it in her drink.
As she took a sip, sweat sour taste dominated her mouth and it felt quite refreshing. So she ended up finishing her glass in one go.
"What does the Almighty Big Boss wanted to talk with me.", Angelize said starting the conversation, "I assume that Big Boss already knows everything about me", Angelize got to the point without beating about the bush.
Arsenio liked that thing about her.
"I got rid of those dead bodies for you. You won't be interrogated by police", a deep voice told her as he looked at his glass and swirled its contents.
Angelize couldn't get what did he mean by saying 'for you'
"I didn't leave behind a trace and cops wouldn't interrogate for homeless anyway", she quietly said out of fact, belittling his favor.
"It wasn't the first time you killed someone?", Arsenio carefully looked up at her and probed her for information.
"If Big Boss knows then it is how everything goes in streets. Its killed or be killed. Any homeless you would spot must have already killed at least three to be alive to the point"
Arsenio tilted his head to a side. His face gleamed with coolness. "I'm aware of the rules of street. What I'm interested is knowing how many you have killed? Like you said you never left behind a trace."
Oh!, so you couldn't dig out that about me. But there was no point in hiding that tiny bit of detail when he already knew everything.
Well, not perhaps everything.
There were still things about Angelize he didn't know.
"What does Big Boss guess?", she challenged.
In other words 'How close you got and how good is your network?'
"Seven?", the closest estimate from the information they gathered.
"Eight"
Pretty close. Arsenio Ishiko is the Almighty Big Boss indeed.
He was quiet for a long pause as he placed his elbow on the hand of couch and lazily rested his head on his hand. No one could guess what he was thinking under those deep brown crafty orbs as he looked at the girl in deep thoughts.
"I've an offer for you", he said suddenly,"I learned you were a top student in school and had an interest in computer programming", he said steadily, keenly studying her face expression.
"Yes I was", Angelize frowned as she said hesitantly. Mention of her school days yanked out some sweet painful memories from her past. But she maintained her poise. Where did he want to go by mentioning it?
"I'm intending to send you to college.", Arsenio dropped the bomb.
Angelize stared at him astounded. She couldn't believe her ears. Was he serious? Going to college had been her dream but she knew she wouldn't ever be able to realize that dream in her life-time. It was bygone and what remained now was living in streets where surviving to fight another day was the only dream. What remained of her life was hiding and running. Was he deliberately playing with her emotions? In the end she didn't let her hopes go high.
"What are you tricking me into?", Angelize wa skeptical as she had a serious face. Her voice was sharper than a blade. She didn't believe that he had no ulterior motives.
Arsenio Ishiko smiled subtly.
"I do not need to trick you into something", his voice held obvious supremacy as he straightened and looked deeply at the girl in front of him, "If I had wanted anything from you, little fox, I would have already gotten it at the tip of my gunpoint".
His hoarse voice and cruel words landed in Angelize ears and made her shudder.
She saw the gleam in his eyes as if he tempted her to challenge him so he would show her how profound he was. The roguish glimmer of his eyes indicated his statement held perverted motives.
Little fox? Couldn't he come up with something better? She was in denial of how perfectly that name suited her.
But every inch of statement was true.
Angelize was in difficult position.
"Then why Big Boss intends to send me, a random street girl, to college who has even offended him", her voice was jittery, different to her tight composure.
There was a crack in her calm and for the first time he saw who she was under her guise. He picked up his glass and took a sip, his eyes fixed at the pretty girl in front of him who was eyeing her coldly.
"I happen to have an eye for talent and have a thing to promote it", he clarified acutely.
His reason seemed perfectly genuine. Angelize concluded that he was good with words.
She examined his face for sincerity but couldn't get past his thick frosty barricade. He was just her reflection-impermeable but on an entirely different level.
There was no way she would trust that crafty devil when she had no idea about his inexplicable reasons but what other choice she had?
"What is the price for this favor?"
Angelize used other approach to dig out his intentions.
"Why do you you think there must be a price?"
He was not willing to reveal his intentions easily so he avoided her question with another question.
"I've lived long enough in streets to know nothing comes free.", her thin lips curled up.
She was not born just yesterday and she was definitely not wet behind her ears. He must have ulterior motives or else...
"If it is because you pity me...", her voice quietened a lot as she looked down. Something Angelize hated the most was looking pitiful and pathetic.
She couldn't accept her image as a helpless week girl who couldn't even lookout for herself. She couldn't stand the idea that of some rich man pitying her and helping her.
Call it her idiocy but she wasn't the one to accept charity.
To her surprise, Big Boss cackled with laughter. His hoarse laughter dominated the hall and all the servants stopped momentarily to look at him. The strong coercion of his laugh gave everyone shudders. Only Angelize was unaffected as she looked at him in confusion.
"Why do you think I would pity a girl who just mercilessly killed two pitiful men"
"Those were not pitiful!", she blurted rashly.
But to see Big Boss eyes rich with mockery, she blushed at her exaggerated response.
Damn! How could she be tricked with something as foolish as this.
Of course he didn't pity her.
"Alright, there might be a price", he admitted once he realized that there was no way to trick the little fox so easily. His eyes held a lot of secrets that Angelize couldn't unfold.
"And what it is?", Angelize couldn't stop herself from asking nervously.
She had a bad feeling about his price.
"You'll only know of it when the time comes. So do you accept my offer?", Arsenio Ishiko asserted sternly giving no space to ask further questions.
Angelize reflected for a while. Her throat was itching to scream 'how can I accept your offer if I have no idea about the price for it'
But she changed her question in other direction.
"And what if I say no?", her voice was so meek that it could only be heard with serious attentiveness but the Alighty Big Boss heard it anyway.
He cocked his head and said with a sly smile:
"Then I'll kill you"
"Cough! Cough!", Angelize stared at him flabbergasted.
That was cruel.
How can someone say something that cruel in such a calm manner?
Oh right, she also killed those scoundrels in that calm manner.
So it was another cool way of stating that you have no other choice and you must play by my rules and agreeing to my terms.
"Just like this? You would send me to a college?", she looked somewhat incredulous,"What about the meeting you had at alley. I heard it all. And you would still let me go?", Angelize was nervous to mention it but she was sure, given his shrewdness, he would have thought through it.
"You wouldn't mention it to anyone"
Why was he so sure?
"Why do you think I wouldn't", her voice was timid.
The death threat was still fresh in her mind so her voice was not as arrogant as before.
"Because if you do", his profound eyes bore holes in her head as he said overtly in a succinct manner "I'll kill you"
He almost gave her a little heart attack. Her heart was not ready for another death threat so soon.
He sure likes to use these four words a lot.
What other choice she had? Its not like he would set her free if she said no. All she could do for now was to get played and later find a glitch in his plan to break through.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Next day she woke up on a comfortable mattress. It had been so long since she slept on a bed that she almost forgot that how good it felt. Then the torrent of recollections came to her. She quickly got up but couldn't leave her place.
Damn it, she was tied to bed.
"Its about time you should be awake", a resonate voice filled her ears.
She followed the direction to find a young man standing in front of a huge window staring outside. Though only his back was visible but a man having such an imperious atmosphere around him could be none other than Arsenio Ishiko.
Last night, they knocked her out because they thought she was too dangerous to be taken back while conscious. After all she had a dagger at the big boss throat. On that scale she was second only to Big Boss because no one had been able to accomplish what she did.
"So let's start with your name", his voice was cold, "What's your name?", Arsenio Ishiko was looking out of window unperturbed.
She was surprised to find herself alive because after what she did the Big Boss wouldn't just let go of her. Perhaps he was intending to torcher her before killing her or just wanted to interrogate her before killing her. But why was he himself present there to attend to a trivial matter like her? According to her knowledge, Arsenio Ishiko was a important busy man-an unapproachable.
The girl thought it was better to go with flow for now simply because her hands were tied to the headpost of bed and she couldn't do anything.
"Maria", she said quietly. Her soft voice, just like her, was shadowed with innocence.
He paused to throw a glance at her.
With blood removed of her and fresh clothing, the girl looked so pure and innocuous that he wouldn't believe that she killed two men not just yesterday if he hadn't seen that with his own eyes. After the maids at the Crystal Palace cleaned her and wiped off blood from her face, while she was still tied as a precaution, they were simply awestruck to find what a beauty she was.
If she was to be numbered from 1 to 10 in beauty, they would number her 1000!
Such a fragile little thing she was. They couldn't get what possible damage she could cause so that she had to be tied up.
Only if they knew the true colors of the girl...
"Age?"
"15"
"How long have you been living in streets?"
"About two months"
"Why did you leave your home?"
"My mother was a single parent. I became homeless after she passed away"
Arsenio Ishiko frowned as he contemplated. She said all so fluently that anyone would buy into it. After a long pause he turned and directly faced her.
Wearing anything but black he looked excessively handsome. His perfectly styled hair was reflecting the sun. His chiselled face was expressionless yet so appealing. His refined disposition was so calm yet disconcerting. He simply exuded an aura of nobility. A pair of brown mesmerizing eyes was trying to penetrate the girl in front of him.
"Now tell me Angelize why did you lie about everything", he asked in the same cold voice.
Angelize, her real name, its been long since she heard it. But hearing it again from Big Boss pulled at some strings in her heart. She bit her lip.
"Your name is Angelize Smith. Your age is 17. You've been living in streets for two years and your parents are alive", he asserted, "You left your home on your own accord"
On her own accord? If you put it in that way.
Her lips curled up slightly in a sneer. She was quiet for a while subduing her lingering feelings from her past life then she finally blurted in an emotionless voice:
"Why did Big Boss ask me if he already had a background check on me?"
Was he testing her? Then she had successfully failed in his test.
"You don't seem to trust easily", he said with a frosty tone.
"How can I trust someone if he has tied me to a bed.", she said and flashed him her brilliant smile.
She was acting smart even after accurately assessing her position.
Side of his lip curled up as he stared at the girl with a new-found interest.
The girl didn't show any hint of fear nor did she broke into begging for her life like any normal girl would do.
"That was for precaution"
If she had regained consciousness while being bathed, it might have costed the Crystal palace a couple of maids.
"Why? The famous almighty invincible Big Boss is so scared of a single helpless girl that he had to have her tied?", she smirked, "That would sure make headlines"
It could be said she was the first who has dared to talk to him in this manner. She was tricking him into freeing her. But if she was clever then he wasn't called Big Boss for no reason.
"Hmm, I see. A helpless girl who killed two sturdy men without any help.", he commented calmly.
Alright, they have already discovered? How could they possibly accuse a little fragile girl like me?, Angelize silently thought. Last night he did ask her if she killed those man. But it was only suspicion at that point.
"I had a dagger that time", she pointed openly acknowledging her misdeed.
There was no point in hiding the truth from that devil anyway. After all he found out everything about her background in just one night.
"How about we have a proper conversation without any lies this time?", his voice had a tinge of impatience. He wanted to get to the point.
Angellize was curious. What could this Big Boss possibly be wanting to talk to her? And what had caused him to give her a personal visit? It would have been more credible if she had been left to his subordinated to deal with.
Why even talk to her? Just kill her and dump her at the road side and no one would even probe.
Not that she minded being alive...
It was just not conceivable.
And something more terrifying than the worst thing is the fear of unknown.
"How about Big Boss untie me first then we have a talk?", Angelize put forth her condition in a cool manner. She was not going to co-operate other way.
After giving it a thought he said:"Alright.", his impish eyes sparking with ploy.
"Huh?"
Did he really agree to free her? That was easy.
She could only carry out her next move once she was free.
He climbed into bed, untied her one hand then went for the other. He lazily rested his hand on her thigh. He was too close as he untied her other hand in a sluggish manner. His hot breath tickled her neck. Her face flushed. The close proximity of that nobility gave her fidgets. His intoxicating cologne numbed her wit.
But he let his guard down. All his pressure points were accessible to her. She was ready to attack with her free hand when her eye caught something - a camera.
They was being monitored!
Damn it! No wonder he let his guard down.
She had a chance to silently sneak out after knocking out the Big Boss. But if hundreds of his men were to know of it, she would have little chance. Not to mention that knocking him out would be a difficult thing judging the way he blocked her attacks earlier. So she chose to stay safe.
After untying her, he retreated. An enigmatic smile covered his face as if he knew what turmoil of thoughts just circulated Angelize mind. Even so the smile looked so enticing on him that the sight was simply aesthetic.
Getting free, she rubbed her sore wrists into comfort.
He was such a schemer!
She silently put him in her dangerous people list.
"Follow me", the icy authority of his command could coerce anyone into task.
He guided her to a place outside the room to couches in a big Hall. The whole mansion was glamorous and glittering with luxury and affluence. It was full of servants and bodyguards armed with most advanced guns at every ten steps.
To see that level of security, she mentally sighed in relief that she didn't try to act recklessly.
There was no way she could break out through this level of security.
It seemed like everything was made up of gold and diamonds. It wasn't a place where a street-girl like her should be. She was vigilant all the time. Her eagle-like eyes capturing minute detail and her sharp mind encapsulating every tiny bit of information.
What gave her the honor to be invited to the Big Boss general residence? It would've been more reasonable if it were a dungeon where she would've waken up. In the end it only further added to her unease.
She sat opposite to Big Boss. A maid in uniform presented them refreshing. She scrutinized it with suspicion once she brought the glass to her lips and sniffed slightly.
Orange juice.
"It is not poisoned", Arsenio said witnessing her unease and chuckled lightly as he placed his glass against his lips and took a sip.
She thought if he wanted to drug her, he could easily inject it into her.
There was no need to go through the trouble of putting it in her drink.
As she took a sip, sweat sour taste dominated her mouth and it felt quite refreshing. So she ended up finishing her glass in one go.
"What does the Almighty Big Boss wanted to talk with me.", Angelize said starting the conversation, "I assume that Big Boss already knows everything about me", Angelize got to the point without beating about the bush.
Arsenio liked that thing about her.
"I got rid of those dead bodies for you. You won't be interrogated by police", a deep voice told her as he looked at his glass and swirled its contents.
Angelize couldn't get what did he mean by saying 'for you'
"I didn't leave behind a trace and cops wouldn't interrogate for homeless anyway", she quietly said out of fact, belittling his favor.
"It wasn't the first time you killed someone?", Arsenio carefully looked up at her and probed her for information.
"If Big Boss knows then it is how everything goes in streets. Its killed or be killed. Any homeless you would spot must have already killed at least three to be alive to the point"
Arsenio tilted his head to a side. His face gleamed with coolness. "I'm aware of the rules of street. What I'm interested is knowing how many you have killed? Like you said you never left behind a trace."
Oh!, so you couldn't dig out that about me. But there was no point in hiding that tiny bit of detail when he already knew everything.
Well, not perhaps everything.
There were still things about Angelize he didn't know.
"What does Big Boss guess?", she challenged.
In other words 'How close you got and how good is your network?'
"Seven?", the closest estimate from the information they gathered.
"Eight"
Pretty close. Arsenio Ishiko is the Almighty Big Boss indeed.
He was quiet for a long pause as he placed his elbow on the hand of couch and lazily rested his head on his hand. No one could guess what he was thinking under those deep brown crafty orbs as he looked at the girl in deep thoughts.
"I've an offer for you", he said suddenly,"I learned you were a top student in school and had an interest in computer programming", he said steadily, keenly studying her face expression.
"Yes I was", Angelize frowned as she said hesitantly. Mention of her school days yanked out some sweet painful memories from her past. But she maintained her poise. Where did he want to go by mentioning it?
"I'm intending to send you to college.", Arsenio dropped the bomb.
Angelize stared at him astounded. She couldn't believe her ears. Was he serious? Going to college had been her dream but she knew she wouldn't ever be able to realize that dream in her life-time. It was bygone and what remained now was living in streets where surviving to fight another day was the only dream. What remained of her life was hiding and running. Was he deliberately playing with her emotions? In the end she didn't let her hopes go high.
"What are you tricking me into?", Angelize wa skeptical as she had a serious face. Her voice was sharper than a blade. She didn't believe that he had no ulterior motives.
Arsenio Ishiko smiled subtly.
"I do not need to trick you into something", his voice held obvious supremacy as he straightened and looked deeply at the girl in front of him, "If I had wanted anything from you, little fox, I would have already gotten it at the tip of my gunpoint".
His hoarse voice and cruel words landed in Angelize ears and made her shudder.
She saw the gleam in his eyes as if he tempted her to challenge him so he would show her how profound he was. The roguish glimmer of his eyes indicated his statement held perverted motives.
Little fox? Couldn't he come up with something better? She was in denial of how perfectly that name suited her.
But every inch of statement was true.
Angelize was in difficult position.
"Then why Big Boss intends to send me, a random street girl, to college who has even offended him", her voice was jittery, different to her tight composure.
There was a crack in her calm and for the first time he saw who she was under her guise. He picked up his glass and took a sip, his eyes fixed at the pretty girl in front of him who was eyeing her coldly.
"I happen to have an eye for talent and have a thing to promote it", he clarified acutely.
His reason seemed perfectly genuine. Angelize concluded that he was good with words.
She examined his face for sincerity but couldn't get past his thick frosty barricade. He was just her reflection-impermeable but on an entirely different level.
There was no way she would trust that crafty devil when she had no idea about his inexplicable reasons but what other choice she had?
"What is the price for this favor?"
Angelize used other approach to dig out his intentions.
"Why do you you think there must be a price?"
He was not willing to reveal his intentions easily so he avoided her question with another question.
"I've lived long enough in streets to know nothing comes free.", her thin lips curled up.
She was not born just yesterday and she was definitely not wet behind her ears. He must have ulterior motives or else...
"If it is because you pity me...", her voice quietened a lot as she looked down. Something Angelize hated the most was looking pitiful and pathetic.
She couldn't accept her image as a helpless week girl who couldn't even lookout for herself. She couldn't stand the idea that of some rich man pitying her and helping her.
Call it her idiocy but she wasn't the one to accept charity.
To her surprise, Big Boss cackled with laughter. His hoarse laughter dominated the hall and all the servants stopped momentarily to look at him. The strong coercion of his laugh gave everyone shudders. Only Angelize was unaffected as she looked at him in confusion.
"Why do you think I would pity a girl who just mercilessly killed two pitiful men"
"Those were not pitiful!", she blurted rashly.
But to see Big Boss eyes rich with mockery, she blushed at her exaggerated response.
Damn! How could she be tricked with something as foolish as this.
Of course he didn't pity her.
"Alright, there might be a price", he admitted once he realized that there was no way to trick the little fox so easily. His eyes held a lot of secrets that Angelize couldn't unfold.
"And what it is?", Angelize couldn't stop herself from asking nervously.
She had a bad feeling about his price.
"You'll only know of it when the time comes. So do you accept my offer?", Arsenio Ishiko asserted sternly giving no space to ask further questions.
Angelize reflected for a while. Her throat was itching to scream 'how can I accept your offer if I have no idea about the price for it'
But she changed her question in other direction.
"And what if I say no?", her voice was so meek that it could only be heard with serious attentiveness but the Alighty Big Boss heard it anyway.
He cocked his head and said with a sly smile:
"Then I'll kill you"
"Cough! Cough!", Angelize stared at him flabbergasted.
That was cruel.
How can someone say something that cruel in such a calm manner?
Oh right, she also killed those scoundrels in that calm manner.
So it was another cool way of stating that you have no other choice and you must play by my rules and agreeing to my terms.
"Just like this? You would send me to a college?", she looked somewhat incredulous,"What about the meeting you had at alley. I heard it all. And you would still let me go?", Angelize was nervous to mention it but she was sure, given his shrewdness, he would have thought through it.
"You wouldn't mention it to anyone"
Why was he so sure?
"Why do you think I wouldn't", her voice was timid.
The death threat was still fresh in her mind so her voice was not as arrogant as before.
"Because if you do", his profound eyes bore holes in her head as he said overtly in a succinct manner "I'll kill you"
He almost gave her a little heart attack. Her heart was not ready for another death threat so soon.
He sure likes to use these four words a lot.
What other choice she had? Its not like he would set her free if she said no. All she could do for now was to get played and later find a glitch in his plan to break through.
Next day she woke up on a comfortable mattress. It had been so long since she slept on a bed that she almost forgot that how good it felt. Then the torrent of recollections came to her. She quickly got up but couldn't leave her place.Damn it, she was tied to bed."Its about time you should be awake", a resonate voice filled her ears.She followed the direction to find a young man standing in front of a huge window staring outside. Though only his back was visible but a man having such an imperious atmosphere around him could be none other than Arsenio Ishiko.Last night, they knocked her out because they thought she was too dangerous to be taken back while conscious. After all she had a dagger at the big boss throat. On that scale she was second only to Big Boss because no one had been able to accomplish what she did."So let's start with your name", his voice was cold, "What's your name?", Arsenio Ishiko was looking out of window unperturbed.She was surprised to find herself alive because after what she did the Big Boss wouldn't just let go of her. Perhaps he was intending to torcher her before killing her or just wanted to interrogate her before killing her. But why was he himself present there to attend to a trivial matter like her? According to her knowledge, Arsenio Ishiko was a important busy man-an unapproachable.The girl thought it was better to go with flow for now simply because her hands were tied to the headpost of bed and she couldn't do anything."Maria", she said quietly. Her soft voice, just like her, was shadowed with innocence.He paused to throw a glance at her.With blood removed of her and fresh clothing, the girl looked so pure and innocuous that he wouldn't believe that she killed two men not just yesterday if he hadn't seen that with his own eyes. After the maids at the Crystal Palace cleaned her and wiped off blood from her face, while she was still tied as a precaution, they were simply awestruck to find what a beauty she was.If she was to be numbered from 1 to 10 in beauty, they would number her 1000!Such a fragile little thing she was. They couldn't get what possible damage she could cause so that she had to be tied up.Only if they knew the true colors of the girl..."Age?""15""How long have you been living in streets?""About two months""Why did you leave your home?""My mother was a single parent. I became homeless after she passed away"Arsenio Ishiko frowned as he contemplated. She said all so fluently that anyone would buy into it. After a long pause he turned and directly faced her.Wearing anything but black he looked excessively handsome. His perfectly styled hair was reflecting the sun. His chiselled face was expressionless yet so appealing. His refined disposition was so calm yet disconcerting. He simply exuded an aura of nobility. A pair of brown mesmerizing eyes was trying to penetrate the girl in front of him."Now tell me Angelize why did you lie about everything", he asked in the same cold voice.Angelize, her real name, its been long since she heard it. But hearing it again from Big Boss pulled at some strings in her heart. She bit her lip."Your name is Angelize Smith. Your age is 17. You've been living in streets for two years and your parents are alive", he asserted, "You left your home on your own accord"On her own accord? If you put it in that way.Her lips curled up slightly in a sneer. She was quiet for a while subduing her lingering feelings from her past life then she finally blurted in an emotionless voice:"Why did Big Boss ask me if he already had a background check on me?"Was he testing her? Then she had successfully failed in his test."You don't seem to trust easily", he said with a frosty tone."How can I trust someone if he has tied me to a bed.", she said and flashed him her brilliant smile.She was acting smart even after accurately assessing her position.Side of his lip curled up as he stared at the girl with a new-found interest.The girl didn't show any hint of fear nor did she broke into begging for her life like any normal girl would do."That was for precaution"If she had regained consciousness while being bathed, it might have costed the Crystal palace a couple of maids."Why? The famous almighty invincible Big Boss is so scared of a single helpless girl that he had to have her tied?", she smirked, "That would sure make headlines"It could be said she was the first who has dared to talk to him in this manner. She was tricking him into freeing her. But if she was clever then he wasn't called Big Boss for no reason."Hmm, I see. A helpless girl who killed two sturdy men without any help.", he commented calmly.Alright, they have already discovered? How could they possibly accuse a little fragile girl like me?, Angelize silently thought. Last night he did ask her if she killed those man. But it was only suspicion at that point."I had a dagger that time", she pointed openly acknowledging her misdeed.There was no point in hiding the truth from that devil anyway. After all he found out everything about her background in just one night."How about we have a proper conversation without any lies this time?", his voice had a tinge of impatience. He wanted to get to the point.Angellize was curious. What could this Big Boss possibly be wanting to talk to her? And what had caused him to give her a personal visit? It would have been more credible if she had been left to his subordinated to deal with.Why even talk to her? Just kill her and dump her at the road side and no one would even probe.Not that she minded being alive...It was just not conceivable.And something more terrifying than the worst thing is the fear of unknown."How about Big Boss untie me first then we have a talk?", Angelize put forth her condition in a cool manner. She was not going to co-operate other way.After giving it a thought he said:"Alright.", his impish eyes sparking with ploy."Huh?"Did he really agree to free her? That was easy.She could only carry out her next move once she was free.He climbed into bed, untied her one hand then went for the other. He lazily rested his hand on her thigh. He was too close as he untied her other hand in a sluggish manner. His hot breath tickled her neck. Her face flushed. The close proximity of that nobility gave her fidgets. His intoxicating cologne numbed her wit.But he let his guard down. All his pressure points were accessible to her. She was ready to attack with her free hand when her eye caught something - a camera.They was being monitored!Damn it! No wonder he let his guard down.She had a chance to silently sneak out after knocking out the Big Boss. But if hundreds of his men were to know of it, she would have little chance. Not to mention that knocking him out would be a difficult thing judging the way he blocked her attacks earlier. So she chose to stay safe.After untying her, he retreated. An enigmatic smile covered his face as if he knew what turmoil of thoughts just circulated Angelize mind. Even so the smile looked so enticing on him that the sight was simply aesthetic.Getting free, she rubbed her sore wrists into comfort.He was such a schemer!She silently put him in her dangerous people list."Follow me", the icy authority of his command could coerce anyone into task.He guided her to a place outside the room to couches in a big Hall. The whole mansion was glamorous and glittering with luxury and affluence. It was full of servants and bodyguards armed with most advanced guns at every ten steps.To see that level of security, she mentally sighed in relief that she didn't try to act recklessly.There was no way she could break out through this level of security.It seemed like everything was made up of gold and diamonds. It wasn't a place where a street-girl like her should be. She was vigilant all the time. Her eagle-like eyes capturing minute detail and her sharp mind encapsulating every tiny bit of information.What gave her the honor to be invited to the Big Boss general residence? It would've been more reasonable if it were a dungeon where she would've waken up. In the end it only further added to her unease.She sat opposite to Big Boss. A maid in uniform presented them refreshing. She scrutinized it with suspicion once she brought the glass to her lips and sniffed slightly.Orange juice."It is not poisoned", Arsenio said witnessing her unease and chuckled lightly as he placed his glass against his lips and took a sip.She thought if he wanted to drug her, he could easily inject it into her.There was no need to go through the trouble of putting it in her drink.As she took a sip, sweat sour taste dominated her mouth and it felt quite refreshing. So she ended up finishing her glass in one go."What does the Almighty Big Boss wanted to talk with me.", Angelize said starting the conversation, "I assume that Big Boss already knows everything about me", Angelize got to the point without beating about the bush.Arsenio liked that thing about her."I got rid of those dead bodies for you. You won't be interrogated by police", a deep voice told her as he looked at his glass and swirled its contents.Angelize couldn't get what did he mean by saying 'for you'"I didn't leave behind a trace and cops wouldn't interrogate for homeless anyway", she quietly said out of fact, belittling his favor."It wasn't the first time you killed someone?", Arsenio carefully looked up at her and probed her for information."If Big Boss knows then it is how everything goes in streets. Its killed or be killed. Any homeless you would spot must have already killed at least three to be alive to the point"Arsenio tilted his head to a side. His face gleamed with coolness. "I'm aware of the rules of street. What I'm interested is knowing how many you have killed? Like you said you never left behind a trace."Oh!, so you couldn't dig out that about me. But there was no point in hiding that tiny bit of detail when he already knew everything.Well, not perhaps everything.There were still things about Angelize he didn't know."What does Big Boss guess?", she challenged.In other words 'How close you got and how good is your network?'"Seven?", the closest estimate from the information they gathered."Eight"Pretty close. Arsenio Ishiko is the Almighty Big Boss indeed.He was quiet for a long pause as he placed his elbow on the hand of couch and lazily rested his head on his hand. No one could guess what he was thinking under those deep brown crafty orbs as he looked at the girl in deep thoughts."I've an offer for you", he said suddenly,"I learned you were a top student in school and had an interest in computer programming", he said steadily, keenly studying her face expression."Yes I was", Angelize frowned as she said hesitantly. Mention of her school days yanked out some sweet painful memories from her past. But she maintained her poise. Where did he want to go by mentioning it?"I'm intending to send you to college.", Arsenio dropped the bomb.Angelize stared at him astounded. She couldn't believe her ears. Was he serious? Going to college had been her dream but she knew she wouldn't ever be able to realize that dream in her life-time. It was bygone and what remained now was living in streets where surviving to fight another day was the only dream. What remained of her life was hiding and running. Was he deliberately playing with her emotions? In the end she didn't let her hopes go high."What are you tricking me into?", Angelize wa skeptical as she had a serious face. Her voice was sharper than a blade. She didn't believe that he had no ulterior motives.Arsenio Ishiko smiled subtly."I do not need to trick you into something", his voice held obvious supremacy as he straightened and looked deeply at the girl in front of him, "If I had wanted anything from you, little fox, I would have already gotten it at the tip of my gunpoint".His hoarse voice and cruel words landed in Angelize ears and made her shudder.She saw the gleam in his eyes as if he tempted her to challenge him so he would show her how profound he was. The roguish glimmer of his eyes indicated his statement held perverted motives.Little fox? Couldn't he come up with something better? She was in denial of how perfectly that name suited her.But every inch of statement was true.Angelize was in difficult position."Then why Big Boss intends to send me, a random street girl, to college who has even offended him", her voice was jittery, different to her tight composure.There was a crack in her calm and for the first time he saw who she was under her guise. He picked up his glass and took a sip, his eyes fixed at the pretty girl in front of him who was eyeing her coldly."I happen to have an eye for talent and have a thing to promote it", he clarified acutely.His reason seemed perfectly genuine. Angelize concluded that he was good with words.She examined his face for sincerity but couldn't get past his thick frosty barricade. He was just her reflection-impermeable but on an entirely different level.There was no way she would trust that crafty devil when she had no idea about his inexplicable reasons but what other choice she had?"What is the price for this favor?"Angelize used other approach to dig out his intentions."Why do you you think there must be a price?"He was not willing to reveal his intentions easily so he avoided her question with another question."I've lived long enough in streets to know nothing comes free.", her thin lips curled up.She was not born just yesterday and she was definitely not wet behind her ears. He must have ulterior motives or else..."If it is because you pity me...", her voice quietened a lot as she looked down. Something Angelize hated the most was looking pitiful and pathetic.She couldn't accept her image as a helpless week girl who couldn't even lookout for herself. She couldn't stand the idea that of some rich man pitying her and helping her.Call it her idiocy but she wasn't the one to accept charity.To her surprise, Big Boss cackled with laughter. His hoarse laughter dominated the hall and all the servants stopped momentarily to look at him. The strong coercion of his laugh gave everyone shudders. Only Angelize was unaffected as she looked at him in confusion."Why do you think I would pity a girl who just mercilessly killed two pitiful men""Those were not pitiful!", she blurted rashly.But to see Big Boss eyes rich with mockery, she blushed at her exaggerated response.Damn! How could she be tricked with something as foolish as this.Of course he didn't pity her."Alright, there might be a price", he admitted once he realized that there was no way to trick the little fox so easily. His eyes held a lot of secrets that Angelize couldn't unfold."And what it is?", Angelize couldn't stop herself from asking nervously.She had a bad feeling about his price."You'll only know of it when the time comes. So do you accept my offer?", Arsenio Ishiko asserted sternly giving no space to ask further questions.Angelize reflected for a while. Her throat was itching to scream 'how can I accept your offer if I have no idea about the price for it'But she changed her question in other direction."And what if I say no?", her voice was so meek that it could only be heard with serious attentiveness but the Alighty Big Boss heard it anyway.He cocked his head and said with a sly smile:"Then I'll kill you""Cough! Cough!", Angelize stared at him flabbergasted.That was cruel.How can someone say something that cruel in such a calm manner?Oh right, she also killed those scoundrels in that calm manner.So it was another cool way of stating that you have no other choice and you must play by my rules and agreeing to my terms."Just like this? You would send me to a college?", she looked somewhat incredulous,"What about the meeting you had at alley. I heard it all. And you would still let me go?", Angelize was nervous to mention it but she was sure, given his shrewdness, he would have thought through it."You wouldn't mention it to anyone"Why was he so sure?"Why do you think I wouldn't", her voice was timid.The death threat was still fresh in her mind so her voice was not as arrogant as before."Because if you do", his profound eyes bore holes in her head as he said overtly in a succinct manner "I'll kill you"He almost gave her a little heart attack. Her heart was not ready for another death threat so soon.He sure likes to use these four words a lot.What other choice she had? Its not like he would set her free if she said no. All she could do for now was to get played and later find a glitch in his plan to break through.
