Warning: The chapter contains graphic descriptions of violence. Reader's discretion advised.

Darkness. Deep and ominous. That was all I could see around me as I walked through a narrow tunnel.

The smell of rotten rats and filthy plastics made bile rise in my throat as my sleeping flats squelched on the greasy, muddy ground. Rushing black water tickled the ankles of my feet.

I gulped, wiping a thin line of sweat off my oily damp skin.

Suddenly my breath hitched as a low muffle from somewhere echoed around the round tunnel.

My throat went dry, lips trembled.

"H-Hello... Is-Is anyone h-here?"

The muffled groan grew frantic, restless even.

I could sense a direction now.

It was coming from the far right corner of the tunnel.

With a renewed vigor I rushed through the squelching dirty water with one thought in my mind.

I would have to save someone.

Muffling stopped the second my feet reached the possible destination.

A faint, heavy breath rang in my ears as I took a timid step forward.

Sweat drops drained down my face and spine like rain, making my washed-out red t-shirt cling to my sticky skin.

"H-Hello? Is anyone here? P-Please, respond-"

A sharp piercing noise sickened my inside followed by that loud, muffled, and strangled cry of a man.

I froze. Breath hitched. Tongue tasted the foul liquid of my bile before I hurled everything down to the side.

With my weak stomach, sore body, and pounding headache, I clutched the red fabric close to my chest.

A wild tremor passed through my body as I slowly stood straighter and walked with timid steps.

My flats hit someone's sneakers and I stopped. Shaky fingers stretched forward and found wet leather of some jacket-type thing. Damp turtle-neck shirt with small holes. Sweaty, sticky collarbones.

And...

Thick liquid. Scrapped skin. Raw flesh. Sliced neck!

A horrified scream escaped my lips as I stepped a couple of feet back from that-that... Body.

Hot tears streamed down my cold cheeks as I covered my mouth with my hands. My entire body shook with tremors.

This couldn't happen.

It was a lie.

All fucking lie!

"This is what you wanted, right, Mirasol?"

My breath hitched as a familiar deep voice rang from my left.

I flinched as he chuckled softly.

"Now, he's gone. Forever."

Forever.

And, ever.

Gone.

Because of... Me.

I flung myself forward, gasping for breath, as I hunched over my bed.

The cheery chirping of birds outside the window and the warm golden light of morning greeted me in the mortal world.

I closed my eyes and gulped a dry lump, breathing in the cold air of my air-conditioned room. Hands touched my still-thumping chest.

Damn! My heart was still racing from the nightmare.

At least, I was in the land of living now.

"That's good news."

I wiped a sheen of sweat off my forehead, taking in the reality of my room with hungry eyes.

Light purple walls with black butterfly stickers. Cream tiles. Queen-size white bed with navy blue sheets in the middle. A large floor-to-ceiling window on my right. A beige two-seater and a glass table with a cactus plant as a centerpiece. A walk-in closet and bathroom on my left with an entrance door on the adjacent wall. All were made of polished white woods.

My room.

My heaven.

My reality.

Calm air filled my lungs as I took a long, deep breath.

Sharp noise of alarm buzzed at that exact moment, making me frown.

Why the hell was it beeping on a Sunday morning?

Did I not turn it off last night?

With a sharp click of my tongue, I turned around and pulled out my black phone from under my pillow.

I rubbed crusts off my droopy eyes as I turned on the square-shaped object from hell.

With one click, the crazy buzz stopped. But one notification caught my eye.

Devon's message twenty minutes ago.

'Where are you, Mira? I've been waiting in the park for the last half n hour'

My eyes bulged out as I jumped out of the bed and rushed toward the bathroom.

I was going to meet Devon for a morning walk today.

It had been a couple of weeks since I had last seen him. Besides, I had to ask him about Sawyer too.

Sawyer...

A bitter taste filled my mouth, and I spit out the foaming toothpaste with a glare.

That man had made my life a living hell for the past weeks.

Always smirking.

Always biting my ears off with his quirky insults.

Always made me strangle him in sleep.

Moralless.

Cunning.

Woman-hoarder that Sawyer damned Ronnes.

I sighed as I rummaged through my closet full of trackers and t-shirts.

Pulling out white trackers, pale yellow tops, and a sky blue jean jacket, I paired them with white sneakers and a matching silver wristwatch.

But at least he was good at his job as both mentor and sales manager.

Despite throwing many corporate curveballs my way, he enhanced my working skills as a saleswoman significantly.

And, he deserved respect for that.

Only for that. Nothing else.

Especially not for the way he constantly kept me under some kind of sneaky surveillance all this time.

Every time I had tried to contact Devon, he had been there hovering over my shoulder with a knowing smirk on his stupid face.

Even when I had gone to our office building at lunchtime one day, he had been there and caught me red-handed in the elevator on the third floor.

Swear to God, I think he had eyes everywhere. Otherwise, how could he know about my next moves and squash my plans like bugs under his feet?

Other times I had tried to talk to Devon, he had either been busy with the new car publishing deal or something else.

And, finally, I got the luck on my side last night.

After calling him for a casual work check-up, I proposed to him for a meet-up at the park today, and now I was here.

I smirked, looking at the wall-length mirror, and swinging my shoulder-length, wavy, red hightail to the sides.

Casual. Sporty. Fashionable.

Perfect.

With my head held high, I took my phone and purse before walking out of the room.

I stepped into the kitchen and grabbed a cold, red apple and water bottle from the freezer.

While crossing the open dining area, I saw my brother, Yuvan, walking out of his room.

I smiled at his creased, bottle-green Ben Ten t-shirt and white shorts as he dragged his thirteen-year-old tall and lean self out into the world.

"Morning, Yuvan! Miss Jensen will be late this morning. Will you manage for breakfast?"

"Yeah..." He yawned, rubbing his still droopy gray eyes.

"Good. I'm going somewhere. Will be back before noon. Bye!"

He let out a lazy hum in response and strolled toward the kitchen. His silky, short, messy brown strands were shaking as he moved.

I threw one last smile at Yuvan before rushing out the door.

Taking a bite out of the apple, I typed fast on the phone.

'Sorry, Sir. I'm on my way. Can we meet at Café Bellé beside the park?'

My phone beeped in the next second.

'Alright. Come fast. Don't have all day'

A slight pang shot at my heart at his blunt dismissal tone.

But I brushed it off with a smile and fastened my pace.

✯✯✯

"So, you want to tell me something."

Devon spoke after taking a bite out of his pancake drizzled in maple syrup.

Morning hassles of the cafe buzzed around us as we sat near the window in a secluded corner.

"Yes." I took a sip of my espresso.

"Go on then."

He dug into his pancake, leaving me to explain things.

I took in a shaky breath, glancing around the cafe and looking out for familiar smirking honey-gold eyes.

Please, God. Not him today. Please...

"Mirasol?"

I flinched and looked ahead to see Devon raising his brows.

"Oh, um... Actually, it's about an employee of Trexon Empire. Sawyer Ronnes."

"What about him?"

"Well. I know who he is and what threat he could be to you."

"So?"

I was taken aback by his damn caring attitude, staring at him with wide eyes.

Did he not just hear what I said?

"So! Sir, this is a serious matter. That man is dangerous and he could harm our company!"

He could harm my Devon...

Devon merely sighed in response.

"Look, Mirasol, I see you're worried about our company. But Sawyer is all barks."

"But, Sir-"

"He's a snake with his poison teeth long pulled out. He can't do anything now. I've made sure of that."

"Sawyer is still a part of the company, Sir, even if as an employee. It won't take long for him to strike out."

"And, he had past five years for that. Why did he not do something then?"

"He might be waiting for our weak moment, Sir. Think about it."

"Two years under strict surveillance, Mirasol. Another two years on loose watchout. And, a full year and ongoing months. Sawyer Ronnes hasn't done anything. What can he do now, tell me?"

I remained silent as thoughts swirled in my mind.

It was true that Sawyer Ronnes was a deadly threat to Devon and Trexon Empire. And, he remained silent till now.

But what about that hint of revenge he had given me that night?

I frowned hard.

What game was Sawyer playing?

"One thing is for sure, Sir," I looked at Devon. "Sawyer Ronnes can not be trusted. Not now. Not ever!"

Devon offered a slow smirk in response, taking a long sip of his latte.

"Why do you think I kept him in the company?"

My eyes widened at those words.

"What do you mean?"

His copper brown eyes glinted brightly as the warm ray of sun cast upon his face.

"Ever heard of this thing called keeping enemies closer, Mirasol?"

My jaw dropped as the ultimate realization dawned upon me.

If I had thought Sawyer was dangerous, Devon proved to be the master of devilry.

And, no matter how much I wanted to feel the relief, that last thought didn't bode well with me.

I didn't know why.

✯✯✯

I was walking on the sidewalk.

People rushed and cars whooshed past me as I kept my eyes on my feet.

My stomach twisted as the morning with Devon replayed in my mind over and over.

He was quite overconfident in his assumption about Sawyer. One could say reckless even.

But how?

If I had an enemy as dangerous as Sawyer, I'd have taken extra measures to ensure my and my company's safety.

Devon wasn't a fool as far as I know. He had surely thought something out. Otherwise, one would never dare to keep his enemy in the same company.

I wonder what he did to Sawyer though?

Blackmailed him?

Used something of his as leverage?

He did say Sawyer had his poison teeth pulled out.

What did he mean by th-

With a sharp yelp, I slipped on a banana and was about to lung forward to the ground.

To save myself from the fall, I flailed my arms around and grasped the first thing that caught my hands.

My fingers were clasped around someone's leather-clad shoulder and arm as I remained bent forward.

"Hey, watch- Hayes!"

I opened my closed eyes and snapped my head up to see a frowning Sawyer beside me.

Much to my horror, I was still holding onto his dark brown leather jacket, revealing some of the white v-neck of his t-shirt.

My breath hitched the moment I saw his frown smoothened into a familiar twinkle of eyes.

Flung myself away from him and looked away, clearing my throat.

"S-Sorry, Sir."

I could see him smirk from the corner of my eyes.

Sawyer buried his hands in his dark blue, muscle-hugging jeans and turned to me. His ankle-length black boots scrapped the concrete of the gray sidewalk.

People passed around us, shoving our shoulders in the process.

"Come, Doll. Let's get out of the busy street. Park's close from here."

I opened my mouth to protest but Sawyer already turned around in the direction of the park.

Great! The day just got even better.

Sawyer walked a couple of steps and turned around to holler at me, seeing me stuck on my spot.

"Get on your feet, Hayes! I'm not gonna wait for you like Devon."