Eitan sat at a table with a cup of coffee in his hand at an open balcony of a luxury apartment overlooking the brightly lit city, his face expressionless.
'It's been noisy ever since the party…' He thought as he took a sip of his beverage.
Since the night of the assassination attempt, the whole of society had been buzzing about the supposed business deal between him and the Alrosa's. Not only the elite of San francisco but New York as well.
How that very confidential information slipped to the public's ears, he had no idea. But Eitan was sure to believe that there were people sent to spy on him and they were within his own circle.
He dropped his mug on the table and sighed, rubbing his forehead with his thumb and index finger. He knew it was going to be difficult to fish them out.
A phone lying on the coffee table vibrated after a few minutes of silence and Eitan's brows furrowed when he saw the caller.
It was an unknown number, but it was one he knew. After all, it had made quite an impression on him just a few days ago.
Eitan picked up the phone and answered the call. He waited in silence until the person on the other side spoke first.
"Café on harlway street, seven tonight." A hoarse male voice sounded before the call suddenly ended.
Eitan frowned as he stared at his phone screen. This so-called informant was the most suspicious person he'd ever heard from and that was the exact same thought he had when he got a call from the same number just a few days ago.
He didn't want to give into this stranger a second time but the man had been right about the information of Evie's attempted assassination and there could be something important he wanted to tell him this time.
'For what reason is he doing all this?' Eitan wondered with a frown. 'It's suspicious… he hasn't asked me for a single reward… and now it's not just a phone call, he wants to meet me personally… it's too inconvenient… I don't want to go.'
Eitan became consumed in his thoughts for a long time, before he finally let out another tired sigh.
He suddenly got up from his chair at the side of the table. Fine, he decided he was going to go, but before he did, he was going to prepare accordingly.
Nothing good came out of trusting people too lightly.
...
"Where are you going by this time, Ava?" Kiera asked, a mug in her hand as she leaned on the dirty frame of the kitchen door.
Ava paused, her palm on the handle of the door leading outside. She smiled at her sheepishly.
They lived in a small studio apartment, which had only a single bedspace, one bathroom and one kitchen.
Everything in it was old and in need of repair, the walls were damp and some kind of moss grew in a few corners but it wasn't like they had a choice. It was all they could afford.
"I recently got a part-time job…" Ava trailed off, trying her best not to meet Kiera's eyes.
"Another one?" Kiera frowned. "Ava, you're going to work yourself to death!"
"Well, you know the reason why I left all the other ones and I can't just sit on my hands doing nothing… we need to pay the rent and feed." Ava paused. "I can't let you do all the work."
Kiera scoffed, her lips curving up to a deprecating smile. "We wouldn't be in this situation if we only took the money given to us after every mission."
Ava laughed, shrugging as she pulled open the door. "Well, we don't take it, so here we are. I'll be back soon."
"Sure." Kiera sighed. "Don't get into any trouble on the way!" She called out after Ava had left the house.
'Hopefully, it takes him longer to find her this time.' She let out a breath before silently retreating back into the kitchen.
Ava stood by the roadside, her mind completely blank as she watched cars pass by. She took out an old, damp purse from the bag she was carrying and took a peek inside.
She pursed her lips. 'I don't have enough money for a cab…' She sighed as she stared up at the darkening sky. 'Looks like I'll have to walk today…'
...
The door to a local café swung open, ringing the bell attached to the top of it. Ava walked in and made her way to the back of the counter looking like she could pass out at any moment.
"Oh, you're here early." Someone asked from beside her. It was a guy that looked to be in his early twenties, tall and good looking. His brown eyes stared at the strained look on Ava's face and he smiled.
"Did you walk all the way?" He chuckled.
Ava managed a smile. "You have no idea." She answered with a sigh. "So, where do I start…?"
The guy paused. "You've... forgotten my name already? I can't believe it."
Ava flinched a little. "S–sorry... there's usually a lot on my mind..."
The guy sighed. "It's fine. My name is Shawn... don't forget this time, okay?"
Ava nodded. "I won't... Shawn."
Shawn smiled and pointed at a wooden door just a few meters from where they stood. "In there you'll find your uniform and a locker where you can keep your stuff. Put your hair up and wear the cap before you come back out and I'll tell you what to do."
Ava nodded again. "Alright."
It didn't take her up to ten minutes to do as he asked. Soon enough, Ava was already with him at the counter waiting for instructions.
"Do you know how to take orders?" Shawn asked.
"Yes."
"Alright." He continued. "For today, you'll take orders and deliver them while I prepare the drinks and stuff. We can keep switching like that if you like."
Ava blinked. 'He's giving me the easier task… probably because he thinks it's my first time…'
"Okay." She responded and took her place behind the counter.
"...one iced latte and a burger, please." The third customer inquired without even looking up. The girl simply chewed on gum and tapped on her phone like it was the only thing that mattered.
"Al–alright." Ava answered inputting the order. "Anything else?"
"Nope, nothing." The girl said before she turned around and left.
"You're pretty good." Shawn complimented after a while.
Ava laughed nervously. 'That's because this is the only normal thing I'm good at…'
"Thank you."
Just then, the bell at the cafe door rang and someone walked in. He was wearing a pair of average jean trousers and a dark hoodie. On his head was a black face cap.
No one in the cafe seemed to know who he was but Ava could instantly recognise that face.
Those indifferent looking green eyes were almost impossible not to remember. Her eyes widened.
'M–Mr. Berger?!'