A Gangster's Pure Love

CHAPTER 3

'The National Voice, Wyestone'

Lexi smiles as she stands right outside the building that inspired her to tell stories a long time ago. Back then she stood right here holding on to her father's hand and felt so intimidated by how big the building looked. She was just a little girl then and her father was meeting up with one of the reporters that was doing a piece on their antique business. She remembers her father squatting in front of her and telling her not to be afraid.

If only he could see her now. The building still intimidates her but she has come a long way to this moment. 

The orphan that they left behind is now a woman and she is ready to take on her world. She finally has her chance to tell stories. A chance to tell her parent's story, the one thing that kept her going even when she was too tired.

Back then their murder was covered in the local paper, it was talked about all over her hometown. It however remained just a story someone read when they were having breakfast. In no time everyone forgot and moved on but she didn't. Its kept her up every night eating at her. All the nights she woke up sweating calling for her parents kept her desire to get revenge burning till this moment. The Petersons story will not just be a forgotten piece in a 10 year old paper stored in the library archives. What she really wants is to see their killers destroyed. She wants them to pay with their lives a thousand times over. She knows it's a dangerous affair because she would be going head to head with one of the most dangerous and cruel gangs but she is willing to do what it takes. Anything for her parent's justice.

With a spring in her step and a smile plastered on her face she trots up the steps going into the building. When she gets in she is surprised at what she sees. The place is crawling with employees moving about like busy bees. All her enthusiasm she had a moment ago waivers a bit when she sees just how many people are in this place. She feels like one single tiny ant in an entire colony.

She wonders where to start to get acquainted in this place. Everyone seems to know where they are going and she has never felt more lost. She however feels better when she sees most faces smiling at her and appearing friendly with others greeting her cheerfully while those at a distance do little waves or just send a smile her way. She too eagerly returns each greeting with enthusiasm. At least that's one thing she can be grateful for. Its a wonder they are able to tell that she is new around here. With such a crowd maybe she will be able to find a friend too.

Among the friendly smiling faces though she comes across one that sends a cold chill down her spine. There is nothing friendly about the sinister grin plastered on his face and it sucks out all her warm feelings she had earlier. He is standing right there at the reception desk and looking straight at her. No, staring is more like it. She sees recognition flash in his eyes and her heart becomes uneasy instantly. Everything seems to fade into the background and it's just the two of them here.

She can't say his face is familiar because she doesn't know him at all.

For a moment she fails to move forward and stays rooted on her spot. But when she remembers what time she is expected in her office she puts one foot in front of the other and approaches the reception. This is the only place that she can get her directions from after all. She tries as much as possible to mask the fear she is feeling right now by trying to dismiss it as nothing but her mind being too cautious. But when the person also leaves the reception and starts moving in her direction panic seizes her and for a moment she almost loses her balance. The man seems to be headed straight for her and she finds herself looking for a way of escape. But everywhere she looks she is met with no place to escape to without seeming obvious to the approaching mysterious person.

"Am a Peterson and we are strong people."

Her chest is heaving as she

starts chanting her famous line that she has used through out her entire life without her parents. Any time she was faced with something that threatened to bring her down that one single line gave her more confidence than a whole stadium cheering her on. She feels her confidence trickling in and she dares to look up with her head held high.

"Happy thoughts Lexi, you are a Peterson and they are strong people."

She is almost a few steps away from the stranger when he seems like he is holding out his hand ready to greet her. That action unsettles her and she holds on to her bag's strap when she feels her confidence wavering a bit.

"Keep going Lexi." She cheers herself on as she puts one foot in front of the other. They are now a step away from each other and she gets ready to deny his handshake when she sees him reach for his top hat and lifts it while noding in her direction. The man smiles at her but she is too shaken to return it because now she realises that he really was aiming for her. The man however doesn't seem bothered as he just passes by her heading for the entrance. She can't help but look at his retreating back. Before she can wrap her head around what just happened she finds his eyes on her again while he stands by the entrance door. He repeats the gesture with his hat and her heart starts racing. She wonders what he really means by that. She decides to take a note of his face but she is too late as he has already walked out. She takes this moment to take a deep breath. She didn't even realise that she was holding it. Beads of sweat are covering her face and her palms are wet too.

This is the strangest thing to happen in the middle of so many people. Just then she realizes that her legs feel like jelly too. She drags herself to the reception before she hits the floor.

Her heart is still pounding and it shows no signs of slowing down. Luckily she gets to the reception just fine and she takes a moment to try to calm down.

"Oh dear, are you alright? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

Lexi turns to the person on the desk and tries to smile hoping to wipe that look of worry on their face.

"Am alright thank you. I just did a bit of a run here, afraid I might be late." She tries to sound convincing.

The person's eyes travel to her I.D card and smiles.

"Nice to meet you Miss. Peterson and am afraid even with all your running you are still late."

Lexi frowns because her watch shows that she still has about 15 minutes to spare.

"Am afraid with your boss that doesn't count." The guy looks at her apologetically. He points to the elevator.

"5th floor, ask for Martha. And all the best."

"Thanks and please call me Lexi."

"Sure, they call me John."

She chuckles at the way he introduces himself and waves at him as she hurries to the elevator. Once in there she presses the button for the fifth floor and leans back on the wall. That whole ordeal back there has left her tired too.

The ding of the elevator makes her get a move on. She walks into what looks like a pool office and she is met with someone talking on top of their voice. Everyone turns to look at her and for a moment she wants to disappear. The tension in this place makes the atmosphere where she just came from seem like heaven.

"Take this as your final warning. Next time you are late don't even bother coming up here."

Lexi is stunned as the woman who she assumes is her boss walks by her.

"Hi, am Martha." A girl in nerdy glasses greets her.

"Lexi." She offers her hand still surprised that she got a final warning on her first day.

"Don't mind her, today's one of her bad days." Martha gives her arm a rub.

Lexi just nods, her eyes fixed on the door that her model that she had wanted to meet for so long just walked through. She never thought she would turn out to be her mean boss.

This turned out to be quite an eventful day already.