A GAME OF CHASE

Care to help me plan a heist?

For some hours, Jacob and Ava went through some details on what to expect during the operation.

"So, this blueprint is basically the blueprint for the company's vault we're going to break into?"

"Yeah, It is," she said to him, not minding his reactions.

"And you managed to get this, how?"

She smirked at him. "I have my ways."

"And I assume you already have a blueprint about my own company, right?" he asked, expecting the worst from her. She was capable of getting her hands on it and he knew it. That wasn't like her.

"No, I don't, but I do know someone who does."

"Who's that? You know you can tell me anything."

Ava sighed heavily, "This is going to sound weird. Okay, so... I may or may not have hacked into your office computer."

He blinked twice. "You hacked my computer? What's wrong with you?!"

"Don't worry, I got it back!" she assured him quickly.

He could tell by her smile that she didn't really feel bad about it. "But I didn't do it on purpose, okay? Your password is 'nakedasshole' anyway."

"It is not! That's the worst thing you've ever said about me. “Is it?"

"Yes!" he shouted, before turning to Ava and lowering his voice, "Okay, look, you don't want me angry at you, okay? But please, for God's sake, don't hack into my computers without permission. If something happens to my files..."

Ava just smiled smugly at him. "Oh come on, it's nothing major! Just... uh..." She paused, searching for the right words to say.

He scoffed at her, "Nothing major?! You called hacking into my computer and security systems, nothing major?! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Oh come on! I didn't know you then!" she said, defensively but it wasn't helping. Getting Jacob angry was the last thing she wanted to do but she unintentionally did it anyway.

Then like a light bulb, his eyes bulged out as a thought flashed through his mind. He looked at her intently, while taking small strides towards her but she stood her ground.

"Ava, you're about to run an operation on a very reputable jewelry company and I own a highly reputable company too. Does that mean you've been casing my company too?"

She chuckled nervously, "No. Why would I do that?"

"Because it makes sense to start from a base, which is my company and it only makes sense when I say it does." He reached out and touched her shoulder, making sure she looked up at him. "What are you planning to do here?"

She gulped, "Well I'm just going to steal their diamond necklace in a few minutes."

"Right. And where are you planning to put it?"

She rolled her eyes, "If you'd let me finish my explanation first-"

"There will be no explaining anything to anyone if you don't answer me."

"Alright, alright! Here's my plan…" She paused dramatically, as if trying to decide whether or not she should continue.

"...And what is it?" Jacob prompted her impatiently, raising one eyebrow.

She smirked again. "First, the necklace will go directly into the vault, but after it gets there, they'll bring it to you so you can inspect it."

"Wait. Wait. Wait!" He stopped her before she had the chance to finish up.

She heaved another sigh," What now?"

"I'm not talking about the jewelry you're about to have me steal. I'm talking about my own company here. You've been casing me and I know it," he said, with an air of finality in his tone. He didn't give her any chance to say anything but she wasn't about to back down either.

"Because I'm a con artist doesn't mean that I go about robbing every jewelry company that has exquisite stones in them!" she yelled at him, somehow disappointed in him for still judging her based on the nature of her job.

"Well, aren't all con artists the same? Lying, thieving bastards, so, why are you any different?" he c****d his left eyebrows at her and monitored her every reaction like a hawk. He wanted to make her his prey by all means.

She looked at him for a brief moment before taking her eyes away from him. Her emotions were about to betray her and she wasn't about to let him have that satisfaction. Never did she think that someone's words could affect her so much like it did now.

She blinked her eyes multiple times to keep the tears at bay while she focused on what brought them together. She coughed and took a seat on one of the empty chairs.

"Look, what I did and what I know is none of your business. Whether or not I cased your company doesn't concern you. You're only here at this point to help me out here because I need your keen eyes and after that, we're done."

He sighed. He was feeling conflicted about everything. Never had his world rocked so much that it was almost capsizing.

He felt as if his whole world had been turned upside down and he couldn't quite figure it out.

He sat across from her. "You're lying, you know that, right? You're lying because you're scared."

"Of course I am. Scared shitless. I'm a criminal for f**k's sake! But, I also have a vested interest here, okay? This is the third time that I got involved in illegal businesses, so I know what I'm capable of and that scares me a little bit, okay?" she replied, looking at him directly. "But, hey, at least I'll survive this. I always have, right?"

He nodded. Of course she would. She wasn't even close to breaking point yet. "Okay, I'll give you that much."

He watched as she took a breath and tried to compose herself before continuing. "...And, honestly, even if things did go wrong on the day of the operation, I'm pretty sure I could get us out of it just fine."

Jacob shook his head. "I wouldn't trust yourself if I were you. I've seen what goes on inside these places. They don't care about anybody outside their walls, they're ruthless. They'd shoot us on sight and that's a huge risk."

She shrugged, "I guess. Anyway, back to the subject, this is supposed to go perfectly according to the plans I have here."

"You still don't understand the importance of these plans. We cannot afford to screw this up-"

"You're right. We can't afford to," she stood up and leaned on the table. "And that's why I'll be teaching you how to pick locks."

Jacob looked at her as though she had suddenly developed two heads, "Locks?"

"Yeah, locks. I know that you're a muscular guy and can throw a few punches but I don't think you know how to pick locks. You look too sophisticated for that," a grin appeared on her face.

"You got that right! Picking locks is a thing only thieves would know how to do and I'm not a thief, " he shrugged and he eyed her, wondering what other mischievous plans she had up her sleeves.

"Hey, don't rub it in, " she retorted, picking up a satchel from underneath the table and spreading its contents on the table.

He directed his gaze at the contents from the satchel and back at her, "And these are?"

"Learning tools, Jacob. Learning tools."