Art

The steam coming from a cup of black coffee is enough to tell you how it tastes the moment it is captured for a magazine page. A hundred-year-old mansion is preserved for the sake of history. The pattern of glass windows on a skyscraper. Messy lines assemble a figure. Art is due to those who appreciate it. It is a special way of giving life to things such as passion for something. The same way I kill for a living. You just can’t do a thing without reason. Although some do it out of insanity. Some just to feel alive again. But I’m different, I do this job to earn the  trust of my clients. I might need the connection in case I do something  irredeemable.

She was busy tapping her blood red heels on a black finished marbled floor, getting dang bored of this office crap. Being idle doesn’t suit her. She’d rather pile dead bodies than file papers. She doesn’t have much patience when it comes to paperworks.

Father  told me a cover is an art of concealing true purpose and identity. Besides, a chick like me is a waste to die out on bullets and ragged clothes. But I beg to disagree.

Her being an assassin is just the tip of the iceberg. During lazy days---times where she doesn't get to kill somebody. Ace is a normal receptionist to their so called 'legal-business'. She works in a law firm from one of her father's colleagues. When talking about 'business' it means running it under the table. If you want to break the law you should know how they work. It's just so ironic that she gets to have a decent job as a cover.

"Good morning Scar, how about a cup of coffee for a stunning beauty?"  

She's wearing that black v-neck spaghetti strap lace tank top today. Flicking her auburn hair and leaned forward on the front desk giving him a slight glimpse of what heaven looked like. Probably a fun thing to watch her cleavage sprawl themselves to him.She took the paper cup and gently blew some of the steam away.

"Thanks Matt, that's what I like about you...just in time to save another nerve wracking day ahead. " She gave him a peck on the lips. He attempted to deepen the kiss but Scar or Ace rather; seductively moved away and bit her lower lip.

"Sorry for that dear, I can't let you ruin my lipstick today. I have more clients coming to me like pests. Once they get a hold of you there's no stopping them, " Scar uttered while cupping his face to look at her.

"Scarlett Evans, it can't be you if you aren't too busy handling raging beasts over such deity." 

"Well aren’t you an incurable romantic Matt? Though I don't mind, it suits you well." He gave her a sly smile and smelled the tip of her hair. "Oh I almost forgot why I came here; Mr. Simons wanted this in his office."

He showed her a painting. A girl inside a room full of colorful jewels and gold bars. What caught Scarlett's attention was her eyes were weary and empty. The girl on the painting was staring at her own reflection in the mirror while hugging an ash colored bear. She felt a pang in her chest. It just crept into her without her knowing it. Like a ghost that came to haunt her. Such a deep meaning. 

I guess it's really true that happiness can't be sold but it's a choice though. She chose the life where she thought would give her that but she ended up miserable. Am I really telling this to her or to myself? 

"Scar what's wrong you're teary." Matt tapped her shoulder and that brought her back to reality.

It consumed me, that girl inside that boxed paradise. what’s wrong with me today?

Ace can’t stand the fact that no matter how tough she wants to be, some occasions just happen to sell her out. She hates it. She doesn’t want to be stuck in the rabbit hole of her bitter memories.

"No..nothing I just thought that, it takes time to hone a beautiful work of art and so is it  to plot a perfect crime." The mischievous smile that curved into his lips lightened into a thin line. His brows started to furrow in curiosity, as if she just won the magic numbers in a lottery. She snapped her fingers in front of him. "Matt, darling what seems to be the problem?"  

He just rubbed the back of his head, gawking. "Well you sounded like my lethal ex, more like a serial killer you know. She even tailed me inside my pad while holding a kitchen knife. Isn't that insane?" Then he just laughed it off.  Matt didn't know she was a real deal. That Scarlett has killed and will kill as her job calls for it. 

I guess old habits die hard. To him I'm just the flirty and hot Scarlett Evans, a spineless bitch but not a murderer.

"Well if that's what it takes to get your hands on something or someone you badly want, it's nothing, " she bits her lower lip in the trail of her gory thoughts. 

"Whoa..whoa easy on the collars darling. I get the point you could let go now, I'm almost choking," he teased as he held her hands gripping his white collared polo shirt tightly. 

"It can't be helped, your looks could kill. I would do the same just to have you for myself." Scarlett awkwardly flaunted a sensible grin to make up and straightened out his crumpled shirt.

"Well if it was you then, I'll become a defenseless prey." By that he left, while Scarlett was lecturing herself. 

"Unbelievable Ace, how could you lose a grip of yourself? You're plain stupid bitch!" 

"We commit mistakes once in a while but it doesn't define what we are made of SCAR." Mr. Simons, who also  happens to be Ed, picked up the broken pencil on the floor.  Unlock her palm and place it on top of it. She must have  broken it while venting her anger a while ago.

"Thanks SIR A," she smirked. Putting exact emphasis on Sir and A.

He looked back at her with a troubled look, "and what's that supposed to mean Ms. Evans? I am still your boss mind you?"

She stuck her tongue out as she rested her hands at the back of her head, then crossed her legs on top of the desk. Showing off a scarlet pencil skirt with a high slit.  "Mr. Asshole Simons is your name right? Oh I mean Albert ' DORK'  Simons sir." 

He tossed his hands in the air in surrender as he slammed his door.

Since she had a crappy day ahead Scarlett can't allow herself to savor this alone. She's too kind, is she not? She can't help herself from grinning as she dialed  his direct line. "Hello, yes sir...Don't take this personally. I was just teaching you the basics," she clicks her tongue to tease him even more.

"What basics?"

"The art of sarcasm...get lost, nut-head!" she yelled as she smacked the phone too.

Good luck to his poor elephant ears. Alas revenge is sweet isn't it? It's not bad to hold a little grudge. I can't stand him bossing me around. Well he should have gotten friends with me and my hostility for a long time now. What can I do? Father favors him so much that I hate it. Pure sibling rivalry, no scratch that. Any form of competition is a battleground for me and I can't get used to losing.  Who would? I just hate every bit of the idea.

She was busy savoring her victory when her landline rang. She presses the loudspeaker button. Who knows if he’ll shout at her to get even. 

“Congratulations Ms. Evans!”

“For what?”

“You just earned a cut from your pay for this month.” Then Ed ends the call. He must be on loudspeaker too.

Ace was so mad she carried her swivel chair and threw it against the window of Ed’s office. The glass shatters while Ed scurries to the side covering his face. 

She scoffs with her arms crossed, “make it a double at least I got even. You’re paying for the damages anyway. I forgot to get it covered in insurance.”  displaying her oh so satisfied grin as well. “Thus makes this a win for me too.”

Ed’s jaw literally dropped. Shelling off money is one of his pet peeves. Especially if he didn’t cause the trouble himself. Though this time he is partly responsible for Ace’s rage. Since  he’s fully aware that her temper is not her strongest suit ever since they were kids. Now he will pay the price of his arrogance. He just massages his temples while counting his losses.

Ace came over and massaged his stiff shoulders. Then whispered, “that’s why I keep telling you not to get on my bad side.” Pulling both of his arms backward this time as she knees it. 

His forehead creases, “you’re making it painful on purpose. Do the lower back next,” he orders.

She complies. They are siblings after all.  At the end of the day, they still got each other's back...no matter how bad their previous  fight is.