The Contract Of Revenge

Chapter 1

Olivia Moore's point of view

I checked my watch and cursed under my breath. I was late for work, again. I grabbed my laptop bag and ran out of the door, hoping to catch the bus before it left. I didn't have time to say goodbye to my mother, who was still asleep in her bedroom. I felt a pang of guilt, but I knew she would understand. I had been working hard to support us both, ever since my father left us when I was a child.

I made it to the bus stop just in time, and squeezed into the crowded vehicle. I found a seat near the window and opened my laptop, hoping to finish my article before I reached the office. I worked as a journalist for a small online magazine called The Scoop, which specialised in exposing scandals and corruption in the city. I loved my job, but it didn't pay well. I barely made enough to cover the rent and the bills, let alone my mother's medical expenses.

My mother, Margaret Moore, had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer two years ago. She had been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but they were not enough to stop the disease from spreading. She needed a surgery to remove the tumor, but it was too expensive for us to afford. I had tried to apply for loans and grants, but I was rejected by every bank and institution. I had also tried to find my father, Richard Moore, who had abandoned us when I was six years old. He had been a wealthy businessman, but he had lost his fortune and his wife in a scandal involving fraud and embezzlement. He had disappeared without a trace, leaving us with nothing but debts and resentment.

I had not given up hope, though. I believed that there was a way out of our situation, that there was a miracle waiting for us somewhere. I had been working on a big story that could change our lives, if I could pull it off. It involved an undercover investigation of a notorious crime boss named Tony Russo, who was suspected of running a drug trafficking ring in the city. I had managed to infiltrate his organization as a waitress at his nightclub, using a fake identity and a hidden camera. I had gathered enough evidence to expose his crimes and bring him down, but I needed one more piece of information: the location of his warehouse, where he stored his drugs and weapons.

I had been trying to get close to one of his henchmen, who seemed to know more than he let on. His name was Jake Carter, and he was handsome and charming. He had flirted with me several times, and I had played along, hoping to gain his trust and get him to spill his secrets. I had agreed to go on a date with him tonight, after my shift at the nightclub. I hoped that he would take me to his place or somewhere else where I could find out more about Russo's operation.

I checked my email and saw that I had received a message from my editor, Sam Jerkins. He was a grumpy old man who always demanded more from his writers. He wrote:

Olivia,

I need your article on Russo this morning. No excuses. This is your chance to prove yourself as a journalist and make a name for yourself in this industry. Don't screw it up.

Sam

I sighed and closed my laptop. I knew that Sam was right. This was my chance to make a difference in the world and save my mother's life. I just hoped that everything would go according to plan.

I looked out of the window and saw the skyline of the city. It was a beautiful sight, full of skyscrapers and lights. It was also full of secrets and dangers, waiting to be uncovered by someone brave enough to look for them.

I wondered if I was that someone.

I wondered if I would ever find out.

The bus stopped at my destination, and I got off quickly. I walked briskly towards the office building where The Scoop was located. It was a modest structure, nothing compared to the towering edifices of the rival media companies nearby. The Scoop was an independent magazine that relied on donations and subscriptions from its loyal readers. It prided itself on being fearless and truthful in its reporting, exposing the dark side of the city that others ignored or covered up.

I entered the building and took the elevator to the fifth floor, where The Scoop's office was located. I greeted some of my colleagues as I walked past their desks, heading towards Sam's office at the end of the hall. I knocked on his door and heard him grumble.

"Come in."

I opened the door and saw him sitting behind his desk, surrounded by papers and files. He looked up at me and frowned.

"You're late, Moore. Again."

"I'm sorry, Sam. I had some trouble with the bus."

"Save your excuses. I don't care about your personal problems. I care about your work. Where's your article on Russo?"

"I'm working on it, Sam. I have most of it done, but I need one more piece of information to complete it."

"What information?"

"The location of his warehouse. I have a lead, but I need to confirm it."

"How are you going to do that?"

"I have a date with one of his henchmen tonight. He might know something."

"A date? Are you kidding me? You're risking your life for a story, Moore. Do you have any idea how dangerous Russo is? He's killed people for less than what you're doing."

"I know, Sam. But this is important. This is the biggest story of my career. This could expose Russo's crimes and put him behind bars. This could also help me pay for my mother's surgery."

"Your mother's surgery? What are you talking about?"

I hesitated. I didn't want to tell Sam about my mother's condition, but I felt like I had no choice.

"My mother has cancer, Sam. She needs a surgery to survive, but it's too expensive for us to afford. I've tried everything, but nothing worked. This is my last hope, Sam. Please, let me do this."

Sam looked at me with a mix of pity and disbelief.

"Moore, I'm sorry about your mother, but this is not the way to help her. You're playing with fire, Moore. You're putting yourself in danger for nothing. Russo is too powerful and too smart to be caught by a rookie like you. He'll find out what you're doing and he'll kill you before you can write a word."

"No, he won't, Sam. I'm careful and smart too. I have a plan, Sam. Trust me."

Sam shook his head.

"I don't trust you, Moore. I trust my instincts, and they tell me that you're making a big mistake. A fatal mistake."

He reached for his phone and pressed a button.

"Jenny, get in here."

A few seconds later, a young woman entered the office. She was my co-worker and friend, Jenny Lee. She was a cheerful and bubbly person who always had a smile on her face. She looked at me and Sam with curiosity.

"Yes, boss?"

"Jenny, I want you to take over Moore's assignment on Russo. She's off the case."

"What? Why?"

"Because I said so. That's why."

He turned to me.

"Moore, you're fired."

I gasped.

"Fired? But why? What did I do wrong?"

"You did everything wrong, Moore. You disobeyed my orders, you jeopardized your safety and the reputation of this magazine, and you wasted my time and resources on a hopeless case. You're a liability, Moore. You're out of here."

He threw a folder at me.

"Here's your severance pay and your termination letter. Now get out of my office and don't come back."

I felt like I had been slapped in the face. I couldn't believe what was happening.

"Sam, please, don't do this. Please, give me another chance."

"No more chances, Moore. You blew it. Now go."

He pointed at the door.

I looked at Jenny, who looked shocked and sorry.

"Jenny, please, help me."

Jenny shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Olivia. I can't go against Sam's decision. He's the boss."

She lowered her eyes.

I felt tears sting my eyes.

I grabbed my laptop bag and the folder that Sam had thrown at me.

I walked out of the office in silence.

I felt like my world had collapsed.

I felt like I had lost everything.

I tried to calm myself down, to think rationally, to plan my next move. I knew I had to find a new job as soon as possible, as I had bills to pay and a mortgage to cover. I knew I had to update my resume and portfolio, and start networking and applying for positions. I knew I had to be strong and optimistic, and not let this setback ruin my life.

But as I looked out of the window, watching the city pass by, I felt a sudden jolt of fear and pain. I heard a loud screech of tires, a deafening crash of metal, a shattering of glass. I felt the cab spin out of control, hit another car, flip over several times.

I felt blood gush from my wounds, bones break from the impact, air escape from my lungs.

I felt like I was dying.

I realized that I was in an accident, that someone had hit my cab.

I realized that this was not a coincidence, but a deliberate act.

I realized that this was not just a random firing, but part of a bigger plot.

I realized that I was in danger.

And I was right.