A Puppy!

Dahlia jolted awake, the echoes of her scream still lingering in the room. Breathing heavily, she scanned her surroundings, realizing with relief that she was back in her own bedroom. How had she ended up here?

Images of the gruesome scene she had witnessed earlier flashed through her mind, causing her to recoil in horror. The memory of the merciless beheading replayed, making her stomach churn with revulsion. She clamped a hand over her mouth, fighting back the urge to vomit as she grappled with the realization of what she had witnessed.

“Is he even human?” Dahlia’s mind spun with questions, unable to comprehend the brutality she had seen.

The door creaked open, and Adala entered, a tray of food in her hands. The sight of her friend brought a mix of relief and gratitude to Dahlia's face.

“Adala!” Dahlia rushed towards her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. “Thank goodness you’re here. What happened in the torture room? I was so scared when the Boss’s men brought me back unconscious. Did he… hurt me?”

Worry etched Adala’s face as she examined Dahlia, searching for any signs of harm. Dahlia thought for a moment before shaking her head, pushing the memories of the torture room aside.

“I don’t want to remember,” She replied with a determined smile. “Just know that I’m alright. Thank you for being concerned.”

A wave of relief washed over Adala’s face, and she gently set the tray of food down on the nearby table. Dahlia took a seat and slowly began to eat, the flavors of the meal offering some comfort amidst the chaos of her thoughts.

“Right” , Adala said brightly, trying to disperse the gloomy mood, “If you’re feeling better, you should join us in the kitchen by five”.

“Why do I need to be in the kitchen at five?” Dahlia asked, her voice slightly muffled with food filling her cheeks.

Adala’s eyes glimmered mischievously as she leaned closer, ready to share a secret.

“Well,” She began, her voice filled with excitement, “the day after every party here, us maids get to have our own little celebration. It’s our way of compensating ourselves for a job well done.”

“Really?” Dahlia exclaimed, a hint of surprise in her voice. “So ‘they’ don’t mind if we do this? I guess they aren’t hat bad after all”.

Adala chuckled softly in response to Dahlia’s comment. “Well… there’s a difference between being a maid and being a slave. Us maids are hired to work for them, which is why we have these small privileges like our own rooms to sleep in. But trust me, you wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of a slave.”

Dahlia pondered Adala’s words, realizing how fortunate she was to have been assigned the position of a maid rather than being labeled as a slave. The line between the two seemed like a thin veil that separated drastically different realities.

As the conversation came to a natural close, Adala smiled warmly at her before excusing herself. “I’ll leave you to enjoy your meal now. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

With that, She turned and exited the room, leaving Dahlia to finish her meal in peace.

***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***

A truck pulled up in front of the towering H.B Corporation building, and Faye stepped out, dressed in a practical and nondescript outfit. She wore black cargo pants along with a matching top, blending in with the appearance of a plumber or maintenance worker. Her eyes were concealed behind a cap, ensuring her features remained hidden.

She adjusted her tool belt and expertly slung her tools over her shoulder before making her way towards the entrance of the company. However, she was halted by the security personnel guarding the entrance.

“I’m here to repair the WC in the restroom,” She announced confidently, presenting her identification badge to the guard for verification.

The security guard nodded, recognizing Faye’s legitimate reason for being there, and allowed her to enter the premises. A small, satisfied smile curved across her lips as she confidently got into the elevator and pressed on the button that led her to her destination – the CEO’s office.

Upon reaching the office, Faye was met with a frown from the secretary, who seemed perplexed as to why a plumber would be seeking access to the CEO. Putting on a friendly demeanor, Faye spoke up, “Excuse me, miss. I seem to be having trouble finding my way to the restroom. Would you mind helping me out?”

The secretary hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Before she could make a move, Faye grabbed her and pressed a handkerchief to her nose and within seconds, the lady’s struggles ceased and she was deep in slumber. With no witnesses to impede her progress, Faye seized the opportunity and proceeded towards the CEO’s office, opening it effortlessly using the passcode that had been provided to her by Anton.

Upon entering, Faye was greeted by an unexpected sight. The CEO was engaged in an intimate encounter with one of his subordinates, but the moment they laid eyes on Faye, they froze and ceased all activity. An air of shock and anger permeated the room as the CEO began to question Faye’s unauthorized presence.

Without hesitation, Faye swiftly drew a weapon from her holster and fired three bullets into both the CEO and his subordinate, silencing them permanently. As their lifeless bodies fell to the floor, she snapped a photograph as evidence and promptly sent it to Godfather, ensuring that the message was received loud and clear.

Adjusting her cap and maintaining her composed demeanor, Faye calmly exited the office, leaving no trace of her actions behind. Making her way out of the company, she located her car and slipped back into the driver’s seat.

“So, how did it go?” Clarice queried, a casual tone in his voice as he absentmindedly chewed on his bubblegum, lightly tapping his fingers against the steering wheel.

Faye removed her cap, allowing her hair to cascade over her shoulder. “It went exactly as expected. I eliminated the target without any witnesses. It was smooth and clean, just as Godfather desired,” she responded, her voice laced with confidence and satisfaction.

Clarice grinned in approval, acknowledging Faye’s success. “That’s my girl. This will teach him a lesson not to meddle with us”, He said, turning on the engine.

Faye frowned as Clarice veered away from their intended destination, going in the opposite direction. “That’s not the way to the clan,” She stated, her tone laced with frustration and confusion.

“I know, but I want to take you somewhere. I’m aware that you’re still angry with me for kissing you forcefully, so I want to make it up to you,” Clarice explained, flashing a playful wink in her direction.

“If you don’t stop this car right now, I will jump out,” Faye threatened, her voice seething with determination.

“Come on, just give me a chance to make it right. Loosen up around me, just this once,” Clarice pleaded, his voice tinged with sincerity.

Faye glanced at him, rolling her eyes before turning her gaze out of the window, crossing her arms tightly across her chest in defiance.

Clarice looked at her and couldn’t help but smile, hoping to win her over with his charm and persistence.

***~~~***~~~***~~~***

Dahlia entered the rooftop, her eyes scanning the area as she searched for the person who had requested her presence. A maid had informed her that someone was waiting for her up here, piquing her curiosity.

“Adala?” Amour called out, her voice echoing against the open space.

“Hey,” a voice replied from behind her.

Dahlia jolted, startled by the unexpected presence. She quickly turned around to see Merino standing there, a warm smile gracing his face. In his hand, he held a covered box, his intentions shrouded in mystery.

She let out a breath, her heart still racing from the surprise encounter. “You scared me,” she admitted, her voice slightly trembling.

“I was the one who called for you,” He clarified, a twinkle in his eyes.

“Huh? Me?” She blinked, her confusion evident on her face.

Merino nodded, offering her a small smile. “Here… I was on a mission with Callixta and on our way back, I came across this. I thought you might like it,” he explained, extending a small, covered box toward her.

Curiosity piqued, Dahlia muttered to herself, “What’s inside?” With a mix of anticipation and excitement, she eagerly opened the box, revealing its contents.

“Oh My Gosh! A puppy!” She squealed in delight, her eyes sparkling as she gently lifted the adorable canine out of the box.

The puppy’s fur was a pristine white, adorned with dark spots around its ears and eyes. Dahlia’s heart melted at the sight, and a wide smile graced her face. “He’s so cute,” she gushed, overcome with joy as the puppy affectionately licked her face.

Merino couldn’t help but smile at her reaction. “I’m glad you like him,” he replied, his voice filled with genuine happiness.

“I love it! Thank you so much…” Dahlia trailed off, realizing she hadn’t caught his name.

“Merino,” he introduced himself, his name hanging in the air for a moment.

Amidst her excitement, a faint memory flickered in Dahlia’s mind. “Merino… Why does it feel like I’ve heard that name before?” she wondered, her eyebrows furrowing momentarily. Quickly shaking it off, she redirected her attention back to the puppy, resuming the gushing session.

“Thanks once more, Merino,” she expressed her gratitude, her smile genuine and appreciative.

“It’s nothing. You can always count on me if you need anything,” Merino assured her, his smile warm and reassuring. Dahlia found his words slightly peculiar, but she nodded politely, accepting his kindness.

Realizing the time, she cheerful demeanor dampened. “It’s almost noon. I should head back. Thank you so much”, She said as she waved and rushed off.