FALSE COLLATERAL

Chapter 2: Childhood dream childhood team

“Jab~” I can hear Dristan’s voice; I need to hide “Jabezzz~” he shouted.

“You can’t find me~” I said while hiding at the back of this stranger’s car.

“Hey! Don’t hide for too long or I’ll be alone!” he shouted back. I laughed while watching him trying to find me. I hid at the back of the car for 20 minutes and I didn’t hear Dristan’s voice anymore. I took a peek to see if he’s still looking for me and to my surprise, he’s sitting at the pavement with tears on his eyes. I’m so surprise that I immediately run towards him.

“Hey, what’s wrong” I asked while looking at his face.

“I-I thought you-you le-left me alone” he said while sobbing.

“I can’t find you anywhere and I’m scared!” he cried.

I sat down beside him “I was hiding at that car over there.” I said while pointing at the car. “Shhh, stop crying now. I’m here already.” I said as I tap his back he finally stopped crying but his eyes are all red.

“You know what, if you want to be a hero someday like Mr. Manson then you should learn how to be strong. You shouldn’t cry!” I said while looking at him. “Hero’s doesn’t cry?” he asked.

I nodded “Heroes are strong and brave! They don’t cry! They save people and fight evil without shedding any tears even if they got hurt” I said with a smile on my face, he smiled back.

“Okay! I will never cry again! I promise dad that I will be a hero someday, like him!” he said while trying to mimic the pose of a famous hero in a comic.

“And I will be there to support you! Always, until the end”

~

Those were the dreams that we failed to achieve. Those were the past that we wanted to come back. Everything would have been better if that tragic event didn’t happen before. That stupid bastard would have change everything if only he knows how to listen.

“Good evening, I’m here to see Mr. Manson. I have an appointment.” A man in a suit said.

“What’s your name sir?” I asked.

“Louis Castellano” he said as he shows his I.D.

Ah, son of a politician. Is he here for a security service?

“What can we do for you sir?” I asked with a smile.

“I need to talk to Mr. Manson”

“I’m sorry sir, Mr. Manson is busy with a business meeting” I explained. Mr. Castellano frown while looking at me.

“So what you are saying is that I wasted my time coming here?” he shouted.

“No sir, calm down please. You can talk to him after the meeting.” I explained as I dial Dristan’s number at my phone.

“I can’t wait for too long! I have a f*****g appointment!” he exclaimed. I took a deep breath.

“Hello, Mr. Manson” I said while holding the phone “Mr. Castellano is here, I asked him to wait for you but he refuse to waste any more time.”

“Okay, tell him I’m coming” Dristan said before hanging up.

“Mr. Castellano, Mr. Manson is on his way already. Would you please wait for him over there?” I asked politely.

“Tss. Stupid” he said before walking towards the sofa.

I sighed while looking at Castellano’s background, we need information about our clients in case something bad happen also to avoid any encounters with a police.

~

“Poor Jabez, he always encounters these kinds of clients. I feel bad for him.” I said while looking at the screen. I have a security camera with a mic at every corner of the building. We are strict with our privacy for we are running some illicit business. I guess I should head back there before he started to make a scene.

“Good morning Mr. Castellano. I’m Dristan Manson what can I help you?” I asked as I enter the main office.

Castellano gave me an envelope; I immediately open it. “Who is this?” I asked.

“A presidential candidate, Chris Liam” Castellano said.

“Chris Liam. I see; he comes from a very wealthy family. His father’s great grandparents were involved in a political scandal. He aims to be the next president to continue their corruption.” I said while looking at the screen.

“How did you know?” Castellano asked.

I smiled at him and said “We know everything about our client”

“but he’s not a client”

“Ah, did I got it wrong?” I asked while looking at the paper in the envelope.

“No, you are right about the details but I didn’t come here for a security service” Castellano explained. I immediate stood up while holding the envelope.

“In that case, we must come to my office to discuss this matter” I said while walking. We enter the office and I offered him some coffee.

“So, what do you want us to do?” I asked

“I want you to execute that man before he became the next president.” Castellano said with a straight face.

“The reason?” I asked

“Just like what you have said earlier, his family is involved with different kinds of political issues. Police nor government has no balls to arrest him because of his over whelming wealth and power. He has a huge grudge against my brother, and threaten him that he’ll kill all of his family if he became the president.” Castellano exclaimed.

“I understand Mr. Castellano. So you wanted to stop him before he started to kill your family one by one. In that case we accept the job, we’ll have you to sign here and the payment methods are also written over here.” I explained.

“Thank you, I hope none of this conversation will be out in public. I trust your professionalism” Castellano said before heading out.

“Body guards, huh?” I said while looking at the photos of Chris Liam. “This bastard is cautious; he knows that someday he’ll get killed.” After the contract signing, Jabez immediately came to my office to discuss the current job.

“What should we do now, Mr. Dristan?” he said in a sarcastic tone.

“Relax, you’re too pressured. I know this one’s not an easy target but we already said yes and we never refuse to anyone, especially the ones with a good reason. That’s why we are growing strong” I said with a smile on my face.

“So who’s going to do it?” he asked.

“I don’t know, maybe someone professional?” I sighed

“All of our men are professionals, they are well trained!” Jabez exclaimed.

I laughed “Then maybe we should send the one who teaches them, shall we?”

He frowns at me “You bastard!” he said in an angry tone.

“Show them what you got, Mentor Jabez Wilkes” I said in a sarcastic tone. He rolled his eyes before walking away, I laughed as I see how he is so against it. “That’s the cons of being too good at almost everything.”