“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 4B7 with service from Tokyo to New York. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes.” The captain's voice echoed in the first-class wing.
I sat down, fastened my seatbelt, and opened my laptop.
A few seconds later, another announcement was made, “We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments.”
Sighing, I took a moment to gaze out the window before clicking on the file Linda sent me, concerning the new mission.
Another announcement came through a second later, “We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones.”
“Seriously,” I mumbled, switching off my laptop before safely stowing it.
The last announcement came a second later, “Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing ROB Airlines. Enjoy your flight.”
“And thank you for ruining my mood,” I whispered, leaning back in my seat.
After take-off was over and the plane was in the sky, I took out my laptop and opened the file.
“Atlas Sharpe, a multibillion-dollar heir, and the only child of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sharpe, a wealthy couple who died in a tragic accident when Altas was eight,” I mumbled, focusing on the words on the screen.
“Excuse me, miss. Would you prefer a signature fruit and cheese platter or ham and egg breakfast?” A soft lady's voice flowed into my ears.
So I stared away from the laptop, and my gaze rested on the air hostess and the trolley.
“I will have the fruit and cheese platter,” I said, smiling brightly at the food.
I had to hop on a plane early this morning because of my new mission and I'm starving.
The moment she set the bowl on the table, I opened the lid and munched on the grapes.
“Soda, juice, freshly brewed Starbucks Coffee, or Teavana Tea?” The flight attendant asked, chuckling softly.
“Teavana Tea,” I replied, biting into the cheese.
After placing the cup on the table, she rolled the trolley away, and I focused back on the laptop screen.
“Atlas Sharpe’s bodyguard recently died in a tragic accident. He is in search of a new guard, and your task is to get the position.” I said out loud, feeling annoyed.
'I'm not a babysitter, I'm an assassin, why would the organization want me to protect some rich jerk.' I thought, pressing my fingers against my lips.
My anger went on for a while before I realized that there were two files. I took a deep breath to get my emotions under control before clicking on the second file.
“Death list,” I mumbled, staring at the long list of names, and all of them had Sharpe as their last name, but Atlas Sharpe wasn't among them.
After sitting in my seat for hours, I heard, “On behalf of ROB airlines and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us o this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you onboard again shortly. Have a nice stay!”
The moment I arrived outside of the airport a few minutes later, a black SUV was waiting on me.
I got into the backseat of the vehicle, relaxed, and closed my eyes when I felt the car moving.
“Lilith, we are here.”
I slowly raised my eyelids and stared at the driver, gazing at me.
He knew my name, but I didn't know him, yet that didn't bother me, since only top personnel had access to our identity, which meant he was sent to protect me, not only drive me to my destination.
I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and stared out the open window, at a blue skyscraper.
“Why are we here. Shouldn't I be at my hotel, waiting on Linda's order?” I mumbled, yawning the last bit of sleep out of my system.
“She told me that this mission was too important, so she would be briefing you on it herself.” The driver replied.
“Linda is in there?”
“Yes. Everyone is already expecting you, so all you have to do is walk in.”
“This is one of the headquarters, right?”
“Yes.”
After staring at the building for a moment, I got out of the car and headed in.
The organization had hundreds of headquarters and I haven't been to most of them since I'm a field agent.
“Lilith,” A lady called out while approaching me.
I stopped and waited for her to come closer. Then I stared into her eyes and asked, “You are?”
“Linda.” She replied with a straight face.
“It's nice meeting you in person.”
“Likewise. Now follow me.”
As Linda began walking, I stayed close by her, and she led me into an office and locked the door.
“I guess you read the basics about the mission,” Linda said, sitting on the edge of the desk.
“Yes, I did. So the organization wants me to kill almost all of this guy's relatives?” I asked, feeling a bit nervous just thinking about it.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Why?”
Silence fell between us, and it dragged on for a while then Linda crossed her arms and let out a sigh.
“Atlas Sharpe's parents knew that their lives were in danger and who all were going to be involved in their death because of an information that got linked to them by an unknown person.” She said, waking up from the desk.
Then she turned on the projector, and a list of names appeared on the whiteboard.
“These are the people who plotted against the couple and had them killed,” Linda uttered, staring away from the board and focusing on me.
“That's a lot,” I mumbled.
“Atlas was under maximum security after his parent's death, but now that he's about to turn twenty-five years old, he wants to take over his parents' companies.”
“They are going to chew him alive.”
“You are right. The accident his bodyguard died in was meant for him. That wasn't the first attempt on his life and it certainly wouldn't be the last. That's why we need you to protect him.”
The organization doesn't care about someone's warfare except there was something in it for them, so I knew there was more to this mission than Linda was letting out.
“What's in it for us?” I asked, gazing directly into her eyes.
“2.5 billion. His parents made this deposit to us when they were still alive with an order, and one billion for you after accomplishing the kill list.” Linda said, staring back at the whiteboard.
“What's the order?”
“If Atlas ever takes over the companies, we should make sure there are no obstacles in his way, meaning wiped out half of the entire Sharpe family except Atlas Sharpe.”
I have accomplished a lot of missions, but this one sent chills through my bones.
“Does he knows that almost half of his family members want him dead?” I asked, feeling a tightness in my chest.
“No, and his parents want it to stay that way. They don't wish for him to spill blood or live with hate in his heart. That's why he can never know your real identity or find out about your mission.” Linda replied.
“Okay. I understand.”
“On this mission, your uncovered identity is Aria, you serve in the military for two years, and are left to take care of your sick mother. After she died, you joined a protective service agency and became a bodyguard.”
This was nothing strange to me since every mission I went on, I had to use a fake identity and personality.
“Clear,” I mumbled.
When Linda gazed back at me, she's had a deadpan expression, and as she walked towards me, I feel tension building up in my body.
“Tonight is his twenty-five birthday party and everyone on this list is going to be there, so you have to attend,” Linda said without losing her expression.
“I understand,” I replied, focusing on the space between us since her stare had become too cold for my comfort.
“One last thing. Why you are protecting Atlas, there can not be any sexual or emotional relationship between you guys. Break this rule and we will swipe you for another agent and you lose a billion dollars. Understand?”
“Yes. I do.”
*****Atlas POV*****I gazed at my reflection in the mirror and felt a dull throb in my chest.It's been fifteen years since my parents passed and it hurts growing up without them, and now about to celebrate a party in their absence.It didn't feel right to me, but uncle Lex said that if I wanted to take over the company, I have to socialize with top business associates. That's the reason I hosted this fancy party, but it still didn't feel right.I heard my room door open, so I gazed away from the mirror and stared at my butler, Victor.He served my parents and demanded to serve me even though I have tried to retire him several times.“What is it, Vic?” I mumbled, taking my tie from my drawer.“The guests are arriving,” Victor said.I watched from the mirror as he shut the door and approached me.“Let me help you to
I have never seen a woman drink alcohol as though it was water like the way Aria does.Honestly, I don't have much knowledge about women and experience with them. But Aria was on her fifth glass of wine, and she seemed totally fine.“Miss Aria, it seems like you don't want my nephew to have a glass with his uncle,” Lex said, glaring at me.Feeling guilty that I was letting a lady drink on my behalf, I opened my mouth to speak, but she rested her finger on my lips, staring deep into my eyes.“I hate liars. You are not a liar, right, Atlas? If you even sip a glass of alcohol, then that means you lied to me, and I won't like that.” Aria said, pouting at me as her finger slid down my lip.The innocent look on her face made my heart flip-flopped, and I felt like I was under some kind of spell that I didn't want to break.“I really don't drink alcohol,” I mumbled, gazing away from Lex’s angry eyes.
Lilith POV The few hours I have spent with Atlas, I finally realized why he needs so much protection. Although he's a rich and handsome gentleman, he's a bit wet behind the ears and a poor, innocent creature that is going to get murder for his ignorance. There was a second knock on the door, and I glanced down at Atlas before swaying my attention toward it. “You are being pretty dramatic. Just go open the door or I will.” He mumbled with a hint of impatience in his tone. Ignoring his remark, I walked over to the door and shouted, “Who is it?” But no one spoke, and it grew my suspicion even further. “Is there someone at the door?” I asked, drawing my hatpin to my side as I listened attentively. Suddenly, there was a third knock, but without a response to my question and no other sound coming from outside the room. “Are you going to answer the door or not?” Atlas asked. Swaying my gaze toward him for a second, I frowned before putting my focus back on the door. For a while, my
I laid awake with my eyes shut, listening for the slightest bit of movement or noise from outside my bedroom. After lying still for a while, I heard the knob turn, and I immediately reached under my pillow for my hairpin, grabbing onto it tightly as I slowly raised my eyelids. Suddenly, the door opened, and my gaze rested on Atlas walking into the room with an older man beside him. Letting out a soft breath, I let go of the hatpin and forced a half-smile on my lips. As an assassin, my entire life has been going to bed lonely and waking up alone because I trusted no one. But today I wasn't alone, and it felt a bit weird and comforting to have people in my room at seven o'clock. “Good morning,” I mumbled as Atlas came closer towards me. He then smiled as he sat on the edge of the bed, fixing his eyes on mine. “Morning, how was your first night?” Atlas asked, looking very concerned. No one in their right mind would sleep peacefully in a man's house that has so many powerful enem
I had just walked out of the bathroom with a fluffy white towel wrapped around me when I heard a knock echoed into the room. Taking a deep breath to calm my instincts, I walked to the door, opened it, and stared at the cute girl, gazing at me hatefully. For a moment I maintained eye contact with her. Then my gaze swayed towards the shopping bags in her hands, and it clicked to me that she was Maria, the maid Atlas was talking about earlier. “My boss said that I should give these to you.” She said, hitting the bags on my chest. At this point, I already knew from her attitude and tone that she had some stupid crush on Atlas which didn't bother me. But that still did not excuse her attitude towards me. However, I maintained my silence, gave her a smug smile, and accepted the bags from her. Then as she opened her mouth to speak, I slammed the door in her face. “How rude!” Maria's angry voice echoed into my ears, but I played deaf to it and proceeded to the bed. Then I dumped the ite
Against my better judgment, I smiled at Atlas and said, “Okay, I will be driving.” There was a flicker of hesitation in his expression. Then he sighed and intoned, “Okay.” For a while, I felt nervous as he and I approached the car. But the moment I got behind the steering wheel and started the engine, my anxiety turned into pure excitement. “I have never seen you radiate with joy like you are now. Do you like him that much?” Atlas said, and his words drew my attention towards him. “I have a taste for cars, and Wreck is one dope automobile!” I mumbled, tightening my grip on the wheel. Then I gazed down at my shoes, drew my foot on the seat, and took off the heel before taking out the other one and tossing them in the backseat. “You are a wide one, ain't you?” Atlas mumbled as he looked at me with a half-smile on his lips. “Yeah, thanks for the compliment,” I said, stepping on the accelerator. At first, I drove at a slow speed, but once we got on the main road, I hit my feet hard
******************Atlas POV****************** My conscience kept bugging me after making Aria, my bodyguard. All I want to do is protect her and make her happy, but I have given her a job that many have died on, and I felt like a jerk for being weak and giving in to her wish. “Do you plan on arriving late to your meeting?” Aria asked, and I stared at her. Then my gaze fell on her barefoot, and without hesitating, I picked her off the ground, even though she was screaming for me to let her down, I kept walking until we got to the Jeep. “Stop struggling. You are making it hard for me to open the door.” I mumbled as I was striving to get a hold of the handle. Finally, Aria stopped throwing her legs, and I was able to open the door. Then I let her down on the seat and took a moment to catch my breath. “Pick me up again, and you will end up with a broken nose,” Aria shouted. “Why are your ear tips pink?” I asked, trying not to chuckle. But I couldn't hold it in, and I burst into a
After uncle Kerri’s remark, no one spoke and the room grew quiet for a while.Since my parents passed, I have long dreamt about managing their companies and expanding them into a business empire, so hearing my uncle tell me that I couldn't take control of the companies made me annoyed.But since I'm a patient-minded guy, I took a moment to calm down. Then I stared at my uncles and asked, “Why is that?”Without speaking, he stared at my other uncles and they all nodded slightly.Their behavior bothered me. But I kept silent and waited on uncle Kerri to say something.After a while, he finally looked me in the eyes and said, “Your other uncles and I don't think that you are capable of taking over.”Silence followed his remark. Then uncle Miles sighed and said, “You are still a kid when it comes to business.”“I have been studying for years just for this moment. I may be young, but I