Chapter 9
There was a visitor at her door and gazing at the person, her breath clogged in her throat. 'How could he be here? Did he already come to know she was the one who….'
Sapphire concealed her face with her long chestnut hair and a mask for an excuse of corona so that he couldn't see her properly.
A tall handsome man with perfect tanned skin and exquisite features was standing before her at the entrance. His broad shoulders went down to a small waist, creating the perfect V shape. His hair was almost black, and he had a deep cleft chin. His lips were sinful looking, full and heart shaped. Not the sort of lips a man should have. A Greek God encased in formal wear was a single sentence to describe him.
Unfortunately for Sapphire it doesn’t get any better. Her mother was absolutely right. He wreaked dominance, which just screamed for her attention. His large masculine frame….oh lord! Her mom would have described him as built like a brick outhouse, and she stifled a giggle. She has to keep her heart under a lock, if she wants another medal on her coat for this assignment.
"Excuse me Ms? I'm Carl Campbell, the CEO of Johnson group of Industries." He had a sly grin crafted on his features and eyes gazing down at her naughtily, already knowing quite well what was going on in her mind.
Sapphire understood he was way more supercilious than required. She nodded coming out of her trance as he waved his hand in front of her.
"I'm sorry. Actually I'm not feeling well." She lied through her teeth.
"I once again apologize. Because of heavy rain and traffic I got stuck here. There is no signal too and I need to make an urgent call. Can I use your landline?" Sapphire could only nod, overwhelmed by his imperiousness.
She moved aside from the door and showed him the landline phone situated in the corner of the sitting room. Was the pensiveness because she was standing under the same roof the mafia leader was?
Giving him privacy she walked to the bedroom and sat looking down at her royal blue track pants, hands tucked underneath her thighs, crossing and uncrossing her feet, encased in matching blue sneakers that she had worn for a brief time at the gymnasium earlier.
Her heartbeat was inexplicably high. She did not have these sort of feelings towards any man, not even towards her ex-boyfriend Carl with whom she broke up two years ago because he was too possessive and suffocating.
Sapphire curled her toes in anxiousness and bit her lip. She was breathing the same air he released. She closed her eyes, his presence wrapped around her like a blanket, the smell of his expensive cologne, fresh and clean, like the ocean. In an inhalation, she closed her eyes.This was very much unlike her.
Sapphire was always a confident, intelligent and adept woman. In the past she had made the most dangerous people surrender to the NIA and pee in their pants. CarlCampbell was intimidating her in ways she hadn't tasted so far. The aura he carried around him was powerful, dominant and with might. Was it her uncontrollable attraction or it was an undeniable fear of risking falling in a trap for him, she did not know.
Chapter 10
The dinner in Sapphire's house went very well. Her mother had made all her favorite dishes. She chatted with her mother for a while in the kitchen and then went to meet her dad in the study to discuss work.
She had taken care of minutest details of her field work and trained her employees in such a way that they are living their characters not just from past three months but past three years. She told her dad that the handsome hunk had unexpectedly crossed her path. He was knocking at her door to use the phone. However she had concealed her identity from him in the pretext of Corona.
Stanley was worried about his daughter. He knew he was risking Sapphire to mafia's most dangerous man. Though he had not informed anyone in the world, he had confirmed measures to rescue his daughter in case of an emergency.
The only difference between him and his wife is, he wouldn't burst like her. The spark she always saw in her dad's eyes was missing tonight and Sapphire knew the reason quite well. "Dad don't worry, I can take care of myself."
Stanley only nodded, blinking his eyes continuously to restrict the wetness pooling in his eyes which did not go unnoticed by her.
"Dad.." Sapphire shook her head, went and hugged him. "You know what, mom is better than you in things like this. She shouts and empties her sorrows."
"I'm not a baby daddy. I can look after myself. Now cheer up and wish me luck. Tomorrow I am going to give my first appearance to trap the cunning antelope in the name of love and you see he is surely going to get trapped by the role I am going to play for him.." Sapphirepatted the cheeks of her dad and kissed him.
"No matter how old you are, you will always be my little princess to whom I read bedtime stories at night." Stanley forced a smile and kissed the forehead of Sapphire.
"What are the secrets you both are talking here keeping me away?" Zelda raised her eyebrows in curiosity looking between both of them.
A few more minutes of hearty talk with her parents accompanied with dinner Sapphire drove back to her home ready to give her best in drama and action.
****
Carl was running late to work. The previous night he had so much to drink and he couldn't wake up in time though the alarm was blaring right beside his head for an hour.
He got up with a pounding headache which could better be described as a hangover. He groaned with pain holding his head which has now become a routine for him after Stephanie passed away.
He couldn't get over her though it has been more than three months. He would spray her scent all over his bed and only then could he collect some sleep.
The employees in his office were afraid to even look at him because he was always grumpy and blew the fuse. Their once understanding and patient boss was now a devil incarnate.
Carl hated him to be the way he is today. But he couldn't control himself. He tried everything under the sky to forget his pain…. girls, booze, drugs and smoke. But nothing helped him.
Dragging his feet to the first aid kit in the washroom he fussed with the lid in his half sleepy state and finally could get it to open for him.
He popped two tablets of Advils and put his head under the cold shower to rid off the enervation.
Within an hour he was ready to go to the office and ordered the driver to speed up since he was already late to work. But half way to his destination the car abruptly stopped.
Carl was sending urgent emails in his laptop. When he found no movement of the vehicle even after five minutes, he looked around and bit a curse. It was a traffic jam. Such logjams are very common in New York during the busy hours because of the increasing population in the city.
But as strange as it was, this gridlock wasn't for the customary reason. A confused puppy ran in between the traffic and injured its leg.
Seeing the affliction of the innocent animal, a girl ran to its rescue. Carl opened his lips and was almost about to teach the girl a lesson but words clogged in his throat as if he met with an electric shock no sooner his eyes met hers.
They were the most beautiful crystal blues he had ever seen on earth as pure and pristine as a flower. Her chestnut hair went loose to her waist in curls as she took the crying puppy in her arms.
Something inside him triggered the kind of feeling he should not have especially towards such a young girl. She appeared not more than sixteen years.
His cock was suddenly erect and making him uncomfortable. Was it the result of lack of proper sleep for days together or it was because of unfulfilling sex?
Why was he seeing this girl so much attractive? His throat became dry in an unfathomable feeling and he looked at her once again.
There was a familiar intuition striking inside him. Had he known the girl? She was too young to work in his office and he was sure he did not sleep with her. Because no matter how much he was drunk, he had certain rules. He wouldn't sleep with a juvenile and this girl in front of him looked not more than sixteen.
Then it struck him like lightning. She was the same girl, he rescued in the mid night from sex addicts nearly four months ago. He did not remember her name but now he could easily recognize her.
His eyes crawled to her hands as she began to nurse the puppy and saw the small plaster attached to the back of her palm which is used to attach a drip.
What happened to her? An immediate concern hit in his heart and his chest tightened. What are these unforeseen strange feelings suddenly developing in him? Why was he having such unanticipated emotions, especially only for this girl?
To resist the dangerous sensation growing inside, he walked out of the car furiously. Holding her arm he pulled the girl to one side. "Do you think people in this world have no work like you. And to rescue this fucking puppy you have to be obstructing the traffic since past ten minutes?"
Carl released her arm with a jerk and the girl hissed in pain for the tightness with which he held her. He very well knew his fingers would have reduced a mark on her arm and the understanding bothered him because her pulchritudinous crystal blues were now glistening tears.
She was as pretty as an angel with a cream colored complexion and freckles on her face."I am sorry sir." She muttered and ran away into a less populated small lane which had only a few small wooden houses.
It intrigued Carl to find out if it was the place she was living. But he controlled his unbridled emotions and walked the opposite way towards his car.
Chapter 11
Driving to the office Carl's mind was struck with the girl he met in the middle of the road. His heart kept wandering around her and this was the first time he was having such uncontrollable feelings towards a woman.
During lunch he almost got up from his seat to go to the lane where small wooden houses were situated to apologize to her.
His phone suddenly started ringing. There was a call from his mother. "Good morning my son. I am sorry for disturbing you early at work. But do you remember today Sejal is coming back home after completing her graduation from London school of business? Come home for dinner. Your father and I will be waiting to have our babies back at home." Elizabeth cheered on the phone.
Carl rolled his eyes. He could imagine the glitter in his mom's features. No matter how old they grow, he and his sister will always remain babies to their mother. Elizabeth never misses to kiss him like he is still her little boy. Carl only wishes she does not do it before his sister because Sejal will have a lot of things to do with him later.
Carl was very proud of his sister. He loves her and is really excited to see her after a long time. He finished his meetings faster and instructed his secretary not to disturb him before he left the office to his parents' home.
Sejal is hardworking. Getting a seat in London School of business is not an easy job and she did the course with a scholarship.
"Hey brother, I missed you so much." She was the person to attend the door. Her green eyes shone in brightness like the Christmas star as she gazed up at him in affection.
Carl hugged his sister and kissed her hair. "Glad to see you Sejal after a very long time."
The family had the most exuberant get together in a while amidst fun laughter and jokes. "Guys, I have something to tell you."
Everybody was suddenly on alert waiting for Sejal to speak. "Oh no, do not look at me like that…like I have done some crime." She clapped her hands pensively and rushed into her bedroom to come back within a couple of minutes with a photo in her hands.
She placed it on the center table and all of them were staring at the picture of a young handsome man who was playing a guitar.
"He is Philip…Philip Gregorio. Philip is two years senior to me from our business school. His younger sister is my classmate and best friend. Thus I frequented his house which is in the same city. Philip studies in a hostel. But he is at home on weekends where I often used to meet him. Our friendship grew and…and.."
"It turned to courting." Carl completed the sentence for Sejal and held her hand which was about to reach her lips. Sejal always bit her nails whenever she is under tension. He shook his head, certain things do not change.
"So this guy also plays guitar. I want to see him as soon as possible." He told his sister damn serious.
"Of….of course. I will just call him and inform, you are waiting to meet him." She forced a smile when her emotions were down and out seeing the expression on her older brother's face.
*****
Sapphire started living the role of Claire. In case Carldoes a background check upon her in future, she wanted no evidence to be revealed about her true identity. She literally lived the life of rags in a ramshackled house with her colleagues and adopted characters.
The story which she and her teammates would project is that she was struggling to make both ends meet to get her sick father healed. Claire away from the house to her colleague's place who works with her at the coffee shop because her drug addict brother tried to rape her.
"What happened to you Sapphire? You seem to have been flying off the handle since morning." Elena pinned down beside her on the sofa giving her undivided attention.
"He is a jerk….such an egotistical arrogant jerk." Sapphire shook her head in annoyance buckling up her hands below her knees as she leaned forward.
Elena raised her brows in curiosity. "And who is this egotistical arrogant jerk?"
Claire's eyes welled tears. She told Elena everything starting from her attempt to save the puppy till getting scolded by the billionaire. "Oh you had already given him your first appearance and we thought he was good."
Claire twisted her lips in distaste. "Alas! I thought he was sweet, because he not only saved me but also took care to drop me in my house even though he was getting late to reach his place. Nevertheless I was wrong. He is a conceited and hubristic asshole."
Elena spoke, contemplating. "I think he was right, you were jamming the traffic by running into the middle of the road in order to save the puppy. You should understand things from the other person's point of view too, maybe he was running late to work and you were stopping him to do his job."
"You're supporting that idiot instead of me?" Sapphirepointed a finger to Elena in an unsurpassed anger.
Elena immediately shook her head, not ready to bear the brunt of her friend's annoyance. "I am only trying to justify things from various aspects."
The next morning when she arrived at the cafe the place was crowded with customers.
Sapphire had a taste in craft. She could paint and make beautiful drawings when she was small. Jeff, a cook and an old-timer, worked previously in the same restaurant. He noticed Claire's talent and taught her to make attractive shapes on the coffee. Her unique art was liked by many of the customers for which they preferred to choose the place though it was not some fancy restaurant opened for the cash rich people. Little did the people know she was just playing a role. A real time roleplay of Claire to catch a dangerous delinquent.
The manager gestured her to make a cup of coffee to the smartly dressed man sitting at the corner table.
His head was ducked into the newspaper and his posture screamed power. He was dressed in a slick black suit and hair neatly gelled, combed to the back with not a hair out of place. In every aspect he looked like a model just walking out of the front cover of Forbes. One of his polished black shoes was tapping on the mosaic floor. Though a simple action, it wreaked dominance and authority.
Claire gulped to clear the dryness in her throat. He was intimidating her without even knowing her presence. Her breath hitched when she assimilated she might be inhaling the same air he released because he was sitting just a few steps away from her.
Claire made a design of two hearts with an arrow and placed it on the table of the handsome hunk along with two cookies.
When he could smell the freshly brewed coffee on his table, Carl brought down the newspaper resting in his hands and stared at the beautiful art on the cup like a little boy.
He had a subtle smile. Before taking a sip, somehow he felt the day was going to be good for him. His eyes automatically went closed, drowning himself in the heavenliness of the taste.
Carl finished the coffee and went to the manage
r to pay. He added a good tip as a mark of appreciation when something walloped in his mind and a cocky grin featured on his features.
Chapter 12
Carlos decided he was going to meet the person that made the coffee and employ her in his home to relish the taste everyday.
"Hello, can I meet the woman who made the coffee?" Carl asked tapping his fingers on the reception desk.
The manager had a pleasant smile on her face. "Sure sir, I will come back with her in a minute." She nodded and went inside to call Claire.
As soon as the manager gave her the money and informed about the matter, Claire tipped her head out and her face contorted to unlimited emotions most prominent of all was hatred and displeasure. He was the mighty conceited billionaire who took a class for her in the middle of the road but she had invited herself into this. She featured the coffee girl in a trap. Now even if she hates him she has to continue with her role.
The tip of 200$ he gave for a cup of coffee was too high. She could simply not accept such a huge tip. She sent away the manager with a lame excuse of 'already left the workplace' and asked her to return the money.
Carl's eyes widened in astonishment when the manager returned back the tip.
He for sure did not buy the information from her and refused to take back the money. Added to it, he assimilated, he had to frequent this small cafe at the end of the street to relish that heavenly taste of coffee everyday.
It has been a month and Carl was stamped as a regular customer of the cafe. He was delighted by the unique welcoming designs made for him everyday on the coffee. Today when he arrived at the place it had only few customers unlike the busy atmosphere.
He got his usual coffee but there was no shape on it. Putting on a grumpy face like a kid Carl took a sip of the warm brown liquid but it did not have the usual taste.
He walked to the manager with the dangerous scorn and the old lady was already intimidated by his looks. "Sir the coffee was made by me and I do not know how to make drawings on it." She stuttered.
"The waitress who usually makes you coffee has just arrived. She missed the regular bus which brings her here and came late to work today. She will soon be making the coffee for you." Mrs Jennifer, the manager of the cafe couldn't dare to look at the fire in Carl's eyes while saying the words.
Claire immediately made the coffee with a butterfly design and placed the cup on the table before Carl.
The fragrance of freshly ground coffee beans wafted in the air reaching his nostrils. Carl inhaled deeply and a smile automatically adorned his brims. His mood instantly lifted off from glominess to delight.
Carl brought down the newspaper in his hands and looked stunned at the girl standing before him. "Were you the person who was making coffee for me everyday?"
Claire only nodded, fiddling with her fingers. Guessing by his looks she could clearly note he remembers her. A narcissistic smirk crossed his lips. "Work for me. You do not have to go through the everyday hurdle of taking the bus. You can stay in my company's employee quarters and I will only want you to make a cup of coffee for me everyday in the morning and evening. The salary will be double of what you get here."
The smile on Carl's features was unsurpassed. He already knew he offered her something which can never be turned down by her.
But Claire was not ready for the offer much against his prediction. The smirk on Carl's features dropped. "Okay, I will give you three times the amount you earn here. Is that a deal?" He asked her with expectancy.
Claire shook her head. "Sir, I have been working in this restaurant for the last three years. Though my salary is not great, my employer, the manager of this restaurant, is understanding and helpful. She loans me money when I require to take care of my father's sickness and also is not strict regarding the timings when I arrive here late because of my domestic responsibilities. I cannot leave her all of a sudden just because I got a fancy offer today when she supported me in my thick and thin times."
Carl was unhappy with the response of Claire but he couldn't help appreciate her sincerity and ethical values though he wouldn't say the words to her.
Just then the manager came to her with solid news, her eyes shining with the lumination of a sun.
Chapter 13
Claire was about to leave her home when the manager came to her with solid news, her eyes shining with the lumination of a sun. "Claire you do not know how happy I am after receiving the news I just heard on my phone."
Claire had not seen Mrs Jennifer so happy in the last two years. After her husband died due to cancer a couple of years ago, she was like a walking corpse merely running the restaurant on a survival basis.
But the benevolence of Mrs Jennifer was unparalleled and praiseworthy. No matter whether the restaurant earned for her or not, she would pay her employees even if it meant taking a loan from the bank.
With the slumping business Claire alias Sapphire was very disappointed along with Jennifer. She researched and tried ways and means to attract customers.
During one such attempt, one of her friends suggested making designs on coffee. Luckily the impulsive action changed their stars. The crazy high schoolers, college goers began to pour out like rain at the restaurant to sip on those designs. Call it teenage daftness or young adult fatuity, it worked like a miracle for The Ramones - just not a coffee bar.
Mrs Jennifer was very happy with the way her restaurant prospered. She doubled the salary of Claire and also gave her a leverage with flexible timings. The innocent woman did not know she was not a simple college girl.
However Sapphire decided to keep her identity a secret from her. The fewer people knew about the truth, the greater are her chances to complete this assignment with full success. She decided to compensate the old woman later.
Jennifer clapped her hands and beamed with delight. "Guess what Claire, I just received a call from the personal assistant of Johnson group of Industries CEO Mr Carl Campbell. They are organizing a working lunch in one of their newly opened branches in South Square and we are asked to take care of catering services."
Claire hugged Jennifer feeling the exuberance. Maybe this was an indication from God that her challenges are soon going to end. Maybe Jennifer was the quick solution to finish her project. "That's great. I'm very happy for you."
Jennifer nodded "I want you and Elena to take care of the food and I will call Jeff who will look after the bar. We have just weekdays time to cater for everything"
"That is actually good, Jennifer. Relax. Everything will go well." Claire held her hand and assured.
****
"Sir, we will be receiving the shipment of arms and ammunition by tomorrow. Victor will do the deal." Zion, the right hand of Carl in all his mafia deals, responded.
"Victor? Do you remember the last time he almost got us to the cops?" Carl replied not in the least happiness with Zion's decision.
"Sir, Victor is the most efficient of all our mafia men. It was the mistake of Caden that we almost got caught. However, Victor was on time to take the necessary preventive measures and we were saved."
Carl nodded thoughtfully. "Okay let him carry out the deal. Did you take care of the cops? Their pockets need to be filled before hand so that they do not interfere."
Zion nodded. "Sir, I have already sent one of our men and he will do the needful."
"Great, you may leave now." Zion wished Carl and left the room.
*****
Sapphire walked to the chief's room in strict and dominant strides before she gave him a firm salute.
"So, how is your work progressing Sapphire?" The chief retreated back on his chair and gave Sapphire his undivided attention.
"Sir, I am closely following Carl Campbell. I have tracked his phone calls and came to know there is going to be a weapons deal in the Miami harbor on the coming Thursday."
Before Sapphire could speak further, the chief intervened. "You would need security as back up in case of emergency. I will send you two police officers along with a government vehicle who can help you with aid in case of a requirement."
"Sure sir, thank you." Sapphire saluted and walked out of the room.
100 feet away from the Miami harbor, Sapphire crawled under the barbed wire and climbed the 150 feet wall with a rope and was shooting the video of the arms exchange. Her eyes were sharp like the eyes of a tigress before it hunted its prey and face held with the confidence and bravery of a soldier to do or die for the nation. So far Sapphire Taylor has not tasted a single failure in her service. Will Carl Campbell stand a tough fight for her or mix in the pages of history as one of her targets going surrendered to the NIA?
When she was shooting a young guy around thirteen who supplies cigarettes and coffee to the mafia men, had caught her taking the video.
The boy was smart. He knew where to keep silent and where to open his lips. He rushed to the consignment owner instead of shouting and causing chaos. Victor spontaneously aimed a bullet at Sapphire which she narrowly missed but injured herself in the escape.
She ran to the truck waiting outside while the cops who accompanied her took care of the shooters.
During the process of running someone hit her arm and the handicam fell from her hands. Sapphire picked it up from the ground and ran like a missile to the truck waiting for her.
****
"Sir, we narrowly missed it. A girl, an NIA officer was shooting a video of the deal." Within a blink of the eye Carl got up from his seat and his hand came in contact with the cheek of Zion.
"I warned you many times, to be careful, to not send that good for nothing idiot Victor to do the deal. But you won't listen." Carl's temper was out of control.
Victor rubbed his cheek to reduce the sting and answered meekly. "Sir, the mistake was not of Zion but the over smart NIA officer. She entered the area under our radar like a little mouse. Sapphire Taylor, bribed the security at the entrance and surveillance team so that she is not caught under the camera."
"Smart girl. I need complete details of the girl. Torture all the money hungry vultures to death, burn their bodies in such a way, no evidence is found and throw them in the trash can at the outskirts of the city." Carl lit a cigarette after barking orders and walked out of his room.
******
Zelda dressed the bruises of Sapphire while Stanley assisted her by supplying gauze, antiseptic lotion and ointments.
She was silently sobbing and wiping away her tears. "I told you not to take over this project. But you will not listen to me." Zelda's sobs turned to loud cries.
"Mama please do not cry. I did not take any bullets. The cops looked after those mafia men so that they would not come after me while I was running." Sapphire hissed at her mother.
"And I got this, the most powerful weapon which will put the mighty mafia don Carl Campbell behind the bars." Sapphire took the handicam seated beside her in her hand and showed it to her father in a victorious grin.
"Daddy be ready to see another medal on my uniform. I did it!" She pumped her fist in the air with happiness.
"I thought getting to the root of catching this traitor would take me months. But it was so easy." She told her father with a wink and unlimited jubilation.
Sapphire took out the reel and gave it to her father who was smiling proudly at her unlike the expressions of her mother. "Play it daddy and see how I have captured the most wanted criminal for NIA."
But, no sooner had the video played, Stanley and Sapphire sat there flabbergasted, not able to believe their own eyes.
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Table of Contents
×1
Chapter 1
2_3
Chapter 2–3
4_8
Chapter 4_8
9_13
Chapter 9_13
14_18
Chapter 14_18
19_23
Chapter 19_23
24_28
Chapter 24_28
29_33
Chapter 29_33
34_38
Chapter 34_38
39_43
Chapter 39_43
44_48
Chapter 44_48
49_53
Chapter 49_53
54_58
Chapter 54_58
59_63
Chapter 59_63
64_68
Chapter 64_68
69_73
Chapter 69_73
74_78
Chapter 74_78
79_83
Chapter 79_83
84_88
Chapter 84_88
89_93
Chapter 89_93
94_98
Chapter 94_98
99_103
Chapter 99_103
104_108
Chapter 104_108
109_113
Chapter 109_113
114_118
Chapter 114_118