"... How are the inmates?" His authoritative smoky voice filled the entire room as he walked his feet toward his swivel chair. He gently sat on his seat and glanced at the nurses before him. He glimpsed at their figures and she smirked.
"They are doing alright, doctor. The custody officers sent another two new men to prison, and here are their profiles." The lady with blonde hair asserted and handed the folders, she flipped her hair and gazed at the doctor.
"Good, what about our prey? I can't see that the authorities are doing anything, you know that they can be dangerous," he asserted and took the bottle of wine and poured it into his glass. The two nurses lowered their heads and thought of what he said.
"We will update you if Miss Hyra would do something about it, doctor…"
"I can't understand why they are difficult to find, when in fact, they're just weakling sinners compared to us." Doctor Troy Ramirez mumbled to himself yet he soon glimpses at the two ladies and spoke once more, "You can go out now,"
"Thank you, and have a good night, doctor." The two nurses got out of the office and they left the man alone as he took a glance at his wristwatch.
"What a waste of time, when will be the right time to finally capture them?" He whispered and leaned his back on his swivel chair.
He silently gazes at the door and sighs, "I can't wait to see Keegan Colson."
The air conditioner filled the entire room yet the glint of the daylight creates a warmer temperature as it dashes into the clear window glass. The area seems clear and not crowded for people tend to come in and shortly take their orders with them. The woman neatly sits on the soft couch as she crosses her legs and lets the rays hit her covering. She glanced at the man in front of her, with a serious expression she sat still.
"Do you think Hase is doing alright?" She asked for a glimpse of the cup of coffee on the table, the man who was sitting opposite her lightly shrugged his shoulders before he could even speak.
"I guess he is having a bit of fun at the resort, why didn't you go with him? I thought both of you will surely do the task?" The guy retorted and he glanced at his wristwatch. The woman nodded her head and a smile escaped from her lips.
"You know that I am still hurt by what has happened. I am not in the mood to do another task this week," she slightly pouted her lips and took a hold of her cup, she gazed at the man before her and so she smirked.
"How about you, Hugh? I thought you were going to accompany Maxwell on his three days mission at the Holmefrost?" She added without even averting her gaze. He chuckled and mesmerized her beauty for a moment.
"Lucas changes his mind, he doesn't want me to go with Maxwell Ross. Perhaps, he is about to select another guy," Hugh Turner responded.
"... He often changes his mind, seriously. Who could be the unlucky guy?" And she chuckled between her smiles. She places the cup of coffee right after she takes a sip of it.
"I am waiting for Hase's call, he always needs my advice, probably he is having trouble how to not get distracted by the resort's entertainment." Kendall Von simply took her phone out of her purse and checked her emails. She received none for today and so she decided to take a moment to scroll on her Instagram.
"I haven't seen his posts as well," she added.
"If you don't mind, how did the two of you meet?" Kendall halted from browsing on her mobile upon hearing the sudden question of her companion.
She glanced at him, and as their eyes met she bit her lower lip and shifted her gaze. She sighs before letting her mouth utter words, "We are both adopted, Lucas took care of us and treated us as of his own. We grew up together and I can say that we are really close, yet I could still see unfairness inside our home." Kendall paused momentarily as she let her mind recall those memories from behind.
"Lucas often scolds him whenever Hase fails to obey, he dislikes disobedience. But he is gentle when I make mistakes, I can say that he indeed loves us as his children, and I am grateful that we became a family."
Meanwhile, Hugh Turner feels a sudden sting on his chest, he glances at her countenance and she is smiling. "... You never thought of asking him about your real family?"
Upon his question, her world appears to turn upside down considering that she never expected him to ask about it. "I don't know, I could not remember anything…"
"I'm sorry for asking," he could see that she suddenly felt uneasy and so he called the waiter and ordered a meal. "Let us have our lunch here as well, I don't think you are prepared to go home."
"I don't know why I always feel irritated whenever I see the other guys at the mansion," Kendall muttered and leaned on the couch.
Any moment, they heard a phone call. She hastened to get her mobile phone and gaze at the screen, she answered the call upon seeing the name of her Step-Father, Lucas Patterson.
"Yes, Dad?"
"Where are you, Kendall?" She could feel the sudden tension upon hearing his authoritative voice.
"... I'm with Turner, at the nearby restaurant exactly at the Castrill Bridge, why? Do you need something?" She responded.
"Not as much, sweetie. I just want you to be prepared for next week's task," the tone of his voice gives chills down her spine.
"Oh, another task for next week? Can I know more details about it when I get home? Who will be my partner, Dad?"
"I already decided about it, you shall go with Ross." Upon hearing his words, she could barely proceed to breathe.
"... Why me?"
"Because you can be trusted," he responded and ended the call. A disappointed look showed up on her face as she glanced at her companion.
"What's with that reaction, Von?" Hugh Turner uttered upon seeing the frowning face of the woman.
"I don't think I'd be happy to be Ross' partner for next week," she replied, yet he did not understand.
"What do you mean?"
"He wants me to assist Maxwell with his task," she explained and threw a confusing look at her assistant. "You know that I dislike his presence."
He chuckled and shrugged, "Just focus on the assignment, you can beat him anytime if he's going to do something wrong."
"You're right," and they altogether laugh.
Both of them soon returned to the mansion and as they arrived, Kendall Von glimpsed Maxwell Ross' location. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fist, "I'll be heading to my room, call me if someone's looking for me, Hugh." She let her feet lead the way upstairs and when she reached the door of her room, she took a grip of the doorknob and swung it open.
A dark room greeted her sight and she breathed heavily. She took a step and finally entered. Kendall let her body fall off the bed and she sensed the comfort and softness of the mattress.
"What a very tiring day," she frowned and reached out for a pillow and tightly gripped it.
"Damn, what must I do? I can't just team up with Ross, I despise him." She retorted and sulked on her bed.
On the other side of the world, two ladies remained silent as they waited for somebody to speak first. Iris Del Costa shrugged off and took a peek at her visitor's location. "... Do you like chocolates?" She asked, attempting to break the silence.
Astrid gazed at her, "I don't know, but perhaps I can deal with the sweet taste."
Iris chuckled and stood up to head her feet to the kitchen, she took a bundle of chocolates and went right after to the living room. "Here, I have plenty of it since it is really my favorite. It gives me relaxation since I, too, am a gloomy person."
The lady nodded her head and roamed her eyes to the entire room, "I saw your books on the table, and there are scratches of papers on the floor… I perceive that you are a writer?" Her words made Iris gaze at her face, she could not believe that she could effortlessly identify her.
"You are right, I am a writer… but not as professional as what anybody guesses, I am a mess, my ink messed up." The lady muttered as she bitterly smiled at her, she sigh once more and sat down on the stool.
"It's pretty hard to live when you don't know why and for whom you are living for, it is quite meaningless if you will say you wanna live your life for yourself…" she paused momentarily and let out a chuckle, "You are still not satisfied even if you gain the entire world, there is still something lacking, and that's what I've been feeling ever since…"
"Are you alright?" Astrid questioned and worry can be seen in her expression. She wants to tap her shoulder to show comfort or to simply hug her yet she cannot move. She is astounded by what Iris told her.
"... I always wanted to be alright, just like how everybody is. Yet, the achievements I once gained were like a nightmare to me, it never made me sleep," She retorted.
Meanwhile, she took four books from the table located on her side. They were hardcovers, she gently placed them on the wooden furniture before them and she forced a smile. "These are my achievements, they are not as much but they caused me to feel the popularity, the wealth, and it somewhat satisfies me but guesses what? All of it was just temporary…" she sighs and closes her stares, recalling all those memories from behind.
"It caused the ruin, I honestly wish to burn these but it's too late. In every book store in our place, they are displayed," Iris continued.
"... You wrote the Taste Series?" Astrid asked with her eyes widened out of surprise. She could not believe it, she finally met the one who wrote such pieces.
"Unfortunately, I did."
"Oh come on! Don't be so sorry for writing them, they're actually good."
Iris momentarily stared at her, 'is she giving me compliments? I like her personality.' she thought and it is too late for her to realize that she is about to smile at her.
"Please don't do this," she suddenly uttered which made Astrid gaze at her. "Don't act as if you care, you're building a hope within my heart."
The young lady smiled, "You never heard of your readers giving compliments on your works, huh? They can be your encouragement, I know it because I already heard of them…"
"Just don't give up on yourself, we're in the same boat but attacked with the different storms in life." Astrid added and finally got the courage to give her a tight embrace.