Falling for the Ace Assassin

Connie huddled in the corner of her living room. Her ears trained to the soft padding steps up the stairs leading to the porch. She prayed that it was all just her imagination until the familiar awful squeak of the loose porch floorboard dashed her hopes. He was here. Ace, the notorious assassin she ran into just two nights ago. Connie gulped and peered over the sofa at the front door. The one thing that was bad about open-concept houses was that everything was laid bare. The only things to hide behind were the old furniture she bought from a thrift shop. Connie breathed shakily, she didn’t want to die like this, house-poor and a virgin. In her culture, there was a special hell for virgins, or so she was told. She heard a click and saw the lock to her door turn slowly, like a useless dial serving as a decoration piece instead of its purpose for peace of mind. Her mind raced. What could she do to delay the inevitable? Think! She commanded herself, struggling to come up with anything but a blank slate. Screaming for help wouldn’t do anything. By the time the neighbors woke up if at all, she would be dead. The door opened and a tall dark figure stood at the doorway illuminated by the full moon. She popped back under the side of the sofa and considered if she could make a mad dash to the front door when he was busy searching the house for her. She heard his footsteps walk straight into the living room, he must have seen her head earlier. Oh s**t! “Wa…WAIT! Please stop!” The footsteps stopped. Shit s**t s**t. What to say? She mentioned the first thing that was bugging her, “Uh, Uhm… can you please take off your shoes? I don’t like shoes in the house…” Idiot. i***t! Who cares if you like shoes in the house? You’re going to be dead! Since he paused anyway, she better say something more useful. “So, uh… I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t even see your face. Can you, maybe… not kill me?” She heard a clunk of shoes followed by another. Either he took off his shoes in consideration of her earlier request or he was doing it so she couldn't hear his footsteps as he crept up to kill her. Panic gripped her, she needed something to make him stop. She said whatever came to mind, “WAIT! Please! Before you kill me! Uh… at least. Uhm.. can you at least sleep with me?” For the first time, she heard his melodic baritone voice, “What did you say?” Despite her embarrassment, she continued. Maybe she could get out of this? “I don’t want to die a virgin…” Silence. Connie was shaking, sweat rolling down her back and soaking her pajamas. “Fine.” With just one word she got a promise to prolong her life for a few more minutes. Perhaps she could find another way to survive. How did it come to this? Her mind raced to the events a few days ago that led to this mess. *** “Connie Tran!” A young woman with large almond eyes and straight hair tied into a neat ponytail looked up from her desk. “Yes, chief?” “Come into my office.” Connie stood up and walked after her superior. Her co-workers looked at her curiously and whispered amongst themselves. Connie was younger than them and never entered their clique focusing on work instead. Connie later realized she missed the opportunity and regretted being less personable. She knocked on the side of the open door. “Sir, you asked for me?” He looked up from his desk, “Yes. Come in and close the door.” Connie felt a sense of dread with every step she took into the spartan-looking office. Her superior smiled, “Congratulations. You have been promoted to a secretarial role in the CEO’s office. You will be getting a $20,000 bonus this pay period and a 10% pay bump. Pack up your things and report to HR.” He stood up and extended a hand. Connie quickly ran up to shake it. “You have done great work here. Good luck with your new post,” he said, adding emphasis to the last sentence. Connie smiled broadly, “Yes, sir!! Thank you, sir!!” She practically skipped out of the office. This pay increase couldn’t have come at a better time. Her old boss sighed and muttered under his breath, “You’re going to need it…” *** Connie hurried to HR with her small box of personal items. Her mind raced as she thought of how to tell the news to her mother back home in the suburbs. Connie, the only daughter in her generation, practically swam in testosterone growing up. She didn’t have any siblings but had five older male cousins and every single one of them had the same hobby: bully her. She fought tooth and nail to grow up. Every time they got together she had to inhale the food as fast as they did or she would go hungry and hide in her room so she didn’t have to be thrown into the pool. The day she went off to college was when she ascended to heaven. Free at last! Free from the bondage of family. When she graduated she quickly found a job in the city and rented a while until a small fixer-upper went up for sale. She had to borrow from her parents but was able to put down a sizable down payment and lived paycheck by paycheck to pay off the mortgage. Despite the financial burden, she felt liberated. At least she wouldn’t have to put up with her cousins every weekend. Now, with the bonus that should hit her bank account on Friday, she could pay off another good chunk of the principal. She squeezed her eyes shut and squealed quietly. HR scanned her badge and gave her access to the CEO level. The older woman glanced at Connie and gave her an apologetic smile. Connie raised a brow, confused. “Here is your badge back. Keep it safe. You know the rules for the company but there are some additional ones you need to know for the CEO's office.” Connie looked down at the sheet of paper that the lady handed to her. Confidentiality is key. What you see and hear is to be kept within the secretarial office. Mind your own business. Connie flipped the paper over. Then held it up to the light. The HR lady watched her amused, “What’s wrong?” “Are there only two rules?” “Yeah, just the two. You must keep them in mind. If you’re ready to go, I’ll take you up to your new desk.” Connie nodded. She clipped her badge to her pencil skirt and placed the useless piece of paper in her box before picking it up to follow the HR woman. The HR lady had Connie scan her badge in the elevator to test if she had access and they rode the elevator up to the CEO level. The moment the elevator door opened, Connie gaped. It was like walking into a hotel. The floor was no longer the mauve blue carpet she was used to, it was white marble polished to a shine. The windows were floor to ceiling and all the artsy flush-mount ceiling lights were interconnected looking like gold cogs across the ceiling. The HR woman stood quietly giving Connie a chance to take in the sight. “Impressive isn’t it?” Connie nodded, her mouth slightly ajar. The HR woman sighed and spoke quietly, “Between you and me, it’s not all glamor here. Make sure you follow those two rules and you’ll be fine.” Connie smiled, “Yes, ma’am.” The woman looked at Connie and shook her head, “Follow me, then. This is the reception area.” She gestured with her right hand, “To the right is the CEO’s suite, you are NOT permitted to enter there unless the CEO, Mr. Kensington, calls you there himself. Am I clear?” Connie nodded. The woman started walking down the hall to the left, “We’re now going to the secretarial office. Mr. Pierce is your direct report. He is the personal assistant to Mr. Kensington. Mr. Pierce is mostly a patient man but ruthless if you get under his skin, so don’t do that.” Connie nodded again. “With that, here you are. This will be your new home.” The HR woman pushed open one of the double mahogany doors and walked in. Connie peered in eagerly from behind. There were a few rows of desks and a woman sitting behind each desk. The women in front were beautiful, one more so than the other. Connie frowned and was about to mention something about their dress code when the HR lady tapped the piece of paper in Connie’s box. Mind your own business. Connie watched as the ones in front were chatting and polishing their fingernails or fixing their makeup while the ones in the back looked ragged and were typing furiously on their laptops. The HR woman led her to the only desk at the back. “This is your seat. Your new laptop has already been set up. Log in and change your password. Good luck.” The woman patted Connie’s shoulder gently and then turned to walk back out of the room. Connie looked at the other women working next to her and they just nodded tiredly at her. Connie gulped. No wonder she got a hefty bonus and a pay bump. They were going to work her to death.