It is still hours before the sun to rise but for some reason he woke up catching for his breath. As he opened his eyes, they landed on the door.
Lux cool down himself and shook his head, trying to remember what was his nightmare, but he failed. Just then, his phone beeped and vibrated.
“This is I. Where are you?” the man on the other line greeted as soon as he answered the call.
Judging by how he started their conversation, he had already guessed that he has something urgent to report to him.
“On my way out of my room now. Where are you?” he asked back and swiftly change his clothes, almost had no time to fix himself.
He attentively turned around when he felt someone’s presence. Sure, none of his facility is not secured. But he is not that free to live so luxurious in his resort like the way he does on his island.
He then roamed his eyes. No one will understand why he preferred white in everything he owns, though, no one will know too how much he loves to keep it all in black.
“Meet me in my main office,” he ordered before ending the call.
His feet are like racing the way they take him. For the oddest chance, he felt like he has to be more cautious that day.
The guards get flustered upon seeing him awake unusually early in the morning.
“Is there a problem, Sir? Are you leaving now? Should I notice—”
“Have you seen Rum?” He cut him off by raising his hand and inquired instead.
“Not yet, Sir.”
He went to his office, not allowing any of his guards to accompany him as he thinks it is already too much to ask them to do so. He was about to open the door when he smelled danger, making him hurriedly get inside as he knows it is the safest thing to do.
The door locked automatically as soon as he stepped in. Even inside, he can still feel the murderous presence of someone.
“Is everything okay here, Program?” he queried, looking directly to the wall; observing.
‘Everything is normal and under control, Sir.’
He almost uttered a prayer after hearing the program’s report when he gets stopped. His lips smirked and a taste of disgust lingered in his system.
He has already given up believing in such a long time ago, he thought.
He sat down and tried to focus on the matter he has woken up early for, but familiar warmth of the past keeps on bugging him—making him feel like he has never been Lux for decades.
Just when memories started to consume his sanity, someone at the door declared his presence; stopping him to reminisce, reminding him to once again remember that goodness should never have a place in him.
“Let him in,” he commanded to the Program.
His eyes furtively wandered on his creation—almost perfect. He remained seriously observing him as he approached his table. Nothing changed about the man, except for the fact that he is already living a life he wanted him to live.
“Here.” He placed an envelope on top of the table.
“How’s the situation outside?”
The man shrugged his shoulders and tiredly sat down on the couch across the table, meters away from him.
“Everything is pretty normal, Sir. Have you already told her about the matter?”
“Drop the formalities. About that—yes, she already knew. Has she already received the mail?”
“I believe she already has it now. Expect her presence on the set date. Are you going to meet her personally, or you want me to do it?”
“No, Rum. I will be the one to settle it.”
“She is no less hard to handle than her. But, as I have observed, she might be a bit harder to persuade.”
He heaved a sigh and think of a plan for that. “That doesn’t matter. I’ll just do the same trick again—”
“Like the one you did before to persuade the real one? That will surely work. However, I must acknowledge her will. I hate to say this, but I think she even way more capable than her—” Rum was cut off when he noticed that Lux is just literally looking at him, yet obviously not listening to what he says.
“If you have forgotten, today is the day you’ll be meeting her. But of course, you have to pay a visit to Mr. Delavin first. As always, he’s just safely mingling with everyone else—having his borrowed identity and profession.” He switched to the topic.
Hearing the name, Lux alertly get back to his senses. “How’s his daughter?”
“Well, he is a man of—you know, fling after another; if he has one here, there is no way that he has no other woman there. About his relationship with his daughter, that is still as bad as ever. He’s terrible in handling his manly habits. And she could not just tolerate that nature of his.”
“But is she still with her?”
“Yes, of course. He might be naturally unreliable to such kind of faithfulness, but we have his loyalty and words.”
“Good to know. Is she doing her job effectively?”
Rum smirked, giving him disgusting chills. “You know how obedient she is, Lux. She is still as perfect as ever.”
“I want you to meet her, too.”
“Which her?”
Lux’s temper kicked in, made him raised his voice a little. “Miss Delavin,” he replied seriously.
“Oh, I see. Why do I have to?”
“I trust the father, but I prefer knowing the reports from the woman herself.” He stood up and picked up his things.
“Uh-hmm? Well, technically, they aren’t—”
“In my opinion and technology, they are. That is what keeping them to do their tasks without turning their backs on me, Rum. They are each other’s weaknesses. As long as they are under that idea, they belong to my rules and orders. They are one of my precious eyes and ears.” He stopped and glanced at the man. “As long as she’s with them, I know she’ll be in an utmost care.”
Rum didn’t reply. Instead, he stood up to follow Lux’s, who went straight to the door after getting his things.
“Did you sense that?” He then turned to his man.
“Sense what?” Rum pretended not to feel it. Confirming it will surely gaslight his boss’ hunch that danger is just lurking inside the building.
“Nothing, it might be just in my head. Give me a moment. I’ll just do something before we leave.”
He watched the man’s back as he walked away, making sure he didn’t blink his eyes even once to ensure that the man will safely get to his room.
He cautiously walked silently, not even a tap of his shoe can be heard; neither his breathing nor his strides echoed in the passage. He has completely blended in to the silence of the night.
“Sir!” A guard welcomed him the moment he stepped out of the mazy corridor.
He stared at him before glancing at everyone else inside the receiving hall. “Do you mind accompanying me outside?” he offered, letting the others know that he needs no other guard than the man he has asked to escort him.
“Sure, Sir.” Eyeing to his mates, he led him to the shore. He walked in front of Rum as he made sure that there is no shadow hiding in the vast area.
The footsteps stopped, but not the rustling of the pebbles caused by the breeze. Rum sighed and turn around to look at the rest house.
“Ears are everywhere, and wind can either be an ally or foe. In this case, with this distance, I am afraid that it is the latter one tonight.” He walked farther as the guard followed him.
“Is everything okay, Sir?” The guard looked around.
“No, something is wrong.”
The man curiously glanced at him, about to pull his gun.
“Don’t. Stay calm. The boss is still here. We can’t let the intruder notice that he has already been caught. We don’t know how many accomplices he has,” Rum whispered, enough for the guard to hear.
“What’s the plan then, Sir?” the man uttered, all alert as he scanned the place.
“He’ll come with me to attend a meeting. Make sure the Captain is safe while we’re away.”
Even in the faint light, he saw how the man turned pale. He gulped as he shifted his gaze from him to the building.
“Are you saying, Sir, that the intruder have already—”
“It is more of ‘he had always been with us’,” he corrected, that made the man even more white.
“I don’t understand—”
“Look, you are one of those that I have been trusted with the boss’ safety when I am not around, ever since. Tell your fellows to be on guard. Keep the Captain guarded.”
“But if I were to announced it, Sir, with the number of guards we have, I can no longer tell who is who.”
“Just inform those I trust.” He then handed him his badge. “In case something happens, take the Captain to my room. She’ll be safe there.”
“Why do we have to be this cautious if we can take him down—with his allies, if he has some?”
He glared at the man, but remained calm. “He will not be this complacent to infiltrate us if he can’t handle his task.”