Fallen 1: Berlin

Chapter IV: The New P.A.

 Berlin could not sleep that night. Saturday morning was busy with the conference but at night he was exhausted, yet he could not sleep. All he could think about was Sage Hillary. She was able to tap into his Guardian side. Guardians were created by the Power to stand for justice and to let goodness prevail across the galaxies. Berlin saw the desperation in Sage’s eyes although she tried to stand tall and give him a smile that would have comforted someone else that everything was alright. Sage was not okay. She couldn’t lie to him and it was the reason why he wasn’t sleeping that night.

Berlin sat up from his bed and sighed before pushing the sheets from his body and got up. He stretched him large lithe body, fiery veins glowing in the darkened room like neon lights sizzling and snapping on his skin before they submerged back into his flesh and out of sight.

Right after the perimeter check that Saturday morning at the hotel, Berlin called Lucian and asked him to do a background check on Sage. It turned out everything was falling apart for her. Her father died and left her nose-deep in debt. Her mother fell into depression and she was barely making ends meet in the place that she was working. Robert was exploiting her talents, abusing her and she had nowhere to run to for help. But underneath all that misery, she had determination that sang to Berlin’s will to fight for her.

Berlin padded quietly into the corridor and could hear music filtering from downstairs. Lucian was up and he bet the boy was in the kitchen, drinking wine while he hummed softly to the jazzy melody that he was listening to. Lucian found it better to work late at night because it was still and quiet. Berlin made his way to the large modern kitchen they barely used and made his way to the double door fridge that was full of water and beer. He heard Lucian choke in his wine as he got a glimpse of him.

“For f**k’s sake, can’t you put on a pair of sweats at least?” Lucian snapped as he covered his eyes. “Sometimes I wonder how Elise puts up with you."

Berlin smirked as he took a beer and twisted the top before gulping it down in one go. He threw the bottle into the recycle bin and took another beer before making his way to where Lucian was. “Elise knows the good stuff when she sees it. It’s the reason why you are still single.”

“Hey! I am single because I choose to.” Lucian exclaimed then cleared his throat and took a swig of his wine.

“Says the boy that is on his laptop in the middle of the night instead of someone’s bed. I should get you a hobby.” Berlin said pensively as he gulped down his second beer.

Lucian eyed him flatly then rolled his eyes and went back to work. “I don’t have time for such. Why are you awake at this time anyways? Is it the nightmares again?”

Berlin shook his head pensively. “Nah, it’s not the nightmares this time. It’s Sage Hillary.”

Lucian stopped what he was doing and turned his entire attention to Berlin. “What about Miss Hillary?”

Berlin took a swig of his beer again and shrugged his large shoulders. “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Lucian frowned at him. “I mean you know the secrets of the universe, how can you not know about one helpless human female?”

Again, Berlin shrugged his shoulders saying, “There is just something about her that connects to my Guardian.”

“Don’t tell me it is the vigilante thing again. I thought we talked about this?” Lucian rolled his eyes. “No more vigilante stunts.”

“It’s not that either—did you find her address?” Berlin asked Lucian.

Lucian gave him a cautious nod. “Yes but I don’t know how she remained unharmed all this time in the neighborhood she stays in.” He typed something in his laptop and turned it to Berlin.

Berlin scanned the contents; the photos of the building in which she was living and the state of her surroundings. It wasn’t a good place for her.

“She needs to get out of the neighborhood.” He suddenly stated.

Sage was full of goodness. She was a giver and Berlin felt this side of her. She was just a victim of circumstance. With the right guidance, she could turn her life around and be at a better place to help her mother recover.

“Of course she does!” Lucian agreed.

“And I need a new person assistant.” Berlin smirked as he mused over the thought.

“Of course—wait a minute.” Lucian turned to Berlin. “What? You want to hire her in your company?”

“Yes.” Berlin said conclusively.

“But what about her debt?” He asked him.

Berlin finished off his second beer. “I will inherit it from Robert and she will work for me to pay it back.”

Lucian’s mouth went thin. “I think you forget the fact that as a Guardian, you are forbidden to influence the course of someone’s life. You are forbidden to interfere with what is happening to Sage. Do not tempt fate, Berlin. She will be done with Robert in three months.”

Berlin turned to Lucian in irritation. “Didn’t I say that I am inheriting her debt? She will pay it back in the first three months that she works for me and once she is cleared of it, she will decide on what she wants to do with the rest of her life.”

Lucian calculated the math in his mind, tossing the possibilities around before a huge grin appeared on his face. “So, that means she can get away from Robert without getting killed by the Power along the way for being an uncalculated variable.”

“Sometimes I wish the Power killed you for knowing too much.” Berlin muttered to himself but Lucian heard the statement and held his arms up crossed against his chest.

“Shhh!” He shushed Berlin. “They can hear you.”

“Get the paperwork ready for Monday. I want you to take a photo of Robert’s face when you serve them to him.” Berlin smiled as he reached for yet another beer and started making his way out. “Don’t stay too late. We have so much to do tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is a Sunday, Berlin.” Lucian turned his laptop back to him and sighed.

“Exactly.” Berlin said and walked out.

He went back to his room and opened the sliding door that lead to the balcony welcoming the cold night air into his toasty warm room. The night was still and grey clouds hovered above the city. From where he stood, Berlin could see cars lazily making their way across the city in the veins-like road system. The city was still awake because it was the weekend. He would have loved to go out there, see what the city would have offered that night, but he was just too exhausted, and one woman made him feel that way.

Down there somewhere, Cairo was working. He was always secretive with his operations, but Berlin was sure the male was a hired gun. What Berlin liked about his team was that they discriminated against killing innocents. When Cairo killed someone, it was because they deserved it and him justice was served. Berlin did not want to get in the way of his work and needed to respect that just like the way they all had silent but mutual agreements to stay out of each other’s way.

Berlin still was not sure exactly where War was. He did not communicate to the others what the situation was, but he knew Cairo must have looked for Bucharest, Nebraska and Ottawa and told them about it.

As the Guardians were bioweapons created by the Power to serve as intergalactical law-enforcers, when the need arose, the four Horsemen were unleashed for the final extinction of a species. The Guardians staged the perfect conditions for the four horsemen to plan and implement an apocalyptic event. Guardians knew their place in the plan and so did the four horsemen. Protocol was supposed to bring War to them, let him tell them what he needed in order to start turning the wheels of mankind’s extinction. The fact that War eluded them meant that the Power was going to bring to new platoon of Guardians to guide War…if they had not done so already.

Berlin was frustrated because he was going about the whole thing blind. It was days like those that he regretted his sacrifice. They were completely cut off from the Skies, left to fend for themselves in strange lands that could go up in smoke at any time. Time was ticking and they were still not close to achieving their goal. It felt like everything they left behind was in vain because at the end of the day, the Power was going to destroy mankind whether Berlin like it or not.

He turned his face up into the skies and could almost see the Power snicker down at him for his disobedience. He bet they wanted them to fail so that they could serve as a lesson to any other guardian who would ever think to do such a thing in the future.

Berlin finished off his third beer and went back into the cool sheets. He had a long day tomorrow that he needed to rest for. At least his mind was a little at ease and he was able to call on sleep.

                                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You what?” Sage was just arriving to work that Monday morning when she heard Robert bark out loudly, enough to unsettle the other workers.

Sage slowly sank into her chair but could not help but wonder who dared mess with Robert in the morning before he had his coffee? That meant the rest of them were going to suffer for it. Everyone was muttering behind their hands, giving Sage an eye that she was not used to.

Sage’s frown deepened as Robert’s voice bellowed across the office space.

“No one is leaving this company until they have fully paid their dues! You do know that right? Do you think I enjoy having her here? She is inexperienced, she is lazy and a cry baby but she has to pay for her father’s debt.” Robert explained and Sage’s heart drowned in its liquids.

Her body went limp on her chair. So, this was all about her. She didn’t know any other female co-worker that was in that office with the same description as hers.

Inexperienced? Lazy? A cry baby?

Sage swallowed back the painful lump that had developed in her throat. All the hours and all the non-descriptive work that she put up in that office and Robert had the audacity to say she wasn’t working hard enough. Sage was positive that if she added the hours she worked overtime without getting paid and the amount of work she put in every project she was given, no one could amount to it, not even Robert himself.

Sometimes even the other workers would add their load onto hers with the excuse that they were giving her work experience. That much they did because thanks to all that work she did, she was experienced in different fields including project management. Somehow it was the best thing they did for her.

“Robert,” The other man started politely, his smile holding a lot more meaning than just pleasantry. He adjusted his glasses and looked down at his watch. “You are wasting my time. This is not a negotiation. My employer wants her and he is going to get her whether you approve or not—or do you want me to involve workers’ union in the mix? I am sure they would love to look through the contract you made Sage Hillary sign.” Just to emphasize on the point, the man removed a document from his case and slid it across Robert’s table.”

“Hey, how did you get this?” Robert was taken aback when he scanned through the document and Sage saw the way his eyes widened and his mouth thinned.

“Does it matter? Imagine the workers’ union getting a hold of this document and evaluating it according to the work ethics and codes.” He whistled as he shook his head. “The compensation amount will leave you bankrupt. Are you ready to lose your company for one inexperienced, lazy, cry baby?” The man asked.

“Sage?” Charli’s heels knocked on the tiled floor as she approached her with a frown of puzzlement on her face. “What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” Sage blinked blankly up at Charli.

“Why didn’t you tell me you found a knew place to work?” Charli pulled a chair in front of Sage’s desk and settled down. As usual, Charli looked like a supermodel with her hair made, her nails done and her heels six inches. She makeup was at a minimum, but she always looked good.

Sage settled back in confusion. “I found a new workplace?”

Charli pointed towards Robert’s office where he was still talking to the younger man.  “That Lucian O’Connor, the representative of GB Group that deals with Arms and Security. He came here early in the morning with your new employment contract. Apparently, his employer has heard a lot about you and he wants to hire you as his PA.”

Sage had never heard of anyone name Lucian O’Connor nor did she know of anyone who wanted to hire her. She was as surprised as Charli. “What?”

Charli reached forward and pinched Sage’s arm playfully before a grin appeared on her face. “Why didn’t you tell me about it? We would have applied together. Is that why you asked me about leaving Robert on Saturday?”

Everything around Sage was suddenly spinning and she did not understand what was going on. She wished that what she was experiencing at that moment was not a dream. Sage turned back to where Robert seemed a little sober and more tentative to what he was being told. Lucian O’Connor leaned in and started muttering quietly to Robert. The satisfaction of seeing Robert lose color from his face was almost euphoric for Sage.

Lucian O’Connor spent a few more minutes in Robert’s office and everyone was surprised when he finally got up and extended his hand towards Robert, but Robert did not throw anything towards him. In fact, Robert looked as if he had just won the lottery. He quickly grabbed onto Lucian’s hand and escorted him towards the glass door.

Sage’s heart burst in her chest as they made their way towards her. Lucian had a pleasant smile on his face, smartly dressed in his dark blue pin-strip fitted suit and a white shirt. His brown shoes matched his belt and his briefcase. He did not wear a tie, but he looked very professional. He was a representative of this mysterious company that wanted her to work as a PA for their employer.

“Looks like someone is watching out for you, Sage. It seems like you wouldn’t be working for me any longer.” Robert had a fatherly tone as he crossed his arms across his chest. He looked down at her then turned to Lucian. “This is Lucian O’Connor, your new employer’s representative. You will have to clean your desk and report to work tomorrow at their office.”

Lucian moved forward and extended his hand to Sage. “Looking forward to working with you, Miss Hillary. I take it you met one of our employees on Saturday. He was rather impressed by you and he is looking forward to meeting you tomorrow at the office.”

Sage frowned. She could not recall meeting anyone at the conference apart from the security guys—

Her eyes widened in surprise. “You were the company that was responsible for security at the conference on Saturday.”

Lucian grinned and nodded. “Yeah. My employer got a good recommendation from him. You must have made quite the impression on him.”

Sage bit her lower lip as she recalled her whipped cream covering his windshield and turned to Charli who simply chuckled softly.

Yep, she made an impression alright!

Robert cleared his throat and added. “Use today to handover your work to the next person. Charli will help you through.”

Sage did not have words to say to Robert because he had never spoken to her like that before. She did not want to ruin the fragile situation, so she simply nodded.

Lucian removed his business card from his pocket and handed it to Sage. “This is my private number. It also has the address to our office.” He also handed her a brown A4 envelope and added. “This is the contract with all the information you need to know about the work description. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me.”

Sage accepted the envelope and card and gave Lucian a nod. “Thank you.”

Lucian sighed and turned to Robert. “Our business will be concluded this evening, Robert. Miss Hillary,” he turned to her again. “I will see you tomorrow morning at eight thirty. Excuse me.” He moved past Robert and acknowledged Sage once more before he made his way out, leaving everyone buzzing with questions as to whom the mysterious handsome guy was.

“I don’t know how you did it but I hope you don’t regret your decision to work for this Berlin guy.” Robert said as he turned around and walked back to his office.

At that moment, Sage thought cleaning the streets in the middle of the night or early morning was way better than working for Robert. She was not going to chance this. She was going to leave, and she wasn’t going to look back.

“But what about my father’s debt?” Sage followed him behind.

Robert stopped and turned to her, his smile dark and calculating. “No longer my problem.”

Sage swallowed hard. What did that mean?

Robert slammed the door on her face and Sage turned back to where Charli stood. Charli quickly reached for Sage’s hands and squeezed them encouragingly.

“I hope you are not reconsidering anything. This is the best thing for you right now. I can feel it all the way to my bones that something miraculous is about to happen to you. Do not spoil it because of Robert’s words. It will work out for the better.” She touched Sage’s chin and raised it up. “Keep your head up, Sage.”

Charli was exactly what Sage needed at the moment. She smiled and gave Charli a nod. “Please help me with the handing over process.”

“With pleasure.” Charli grinned at Sage and the two of them walked towards Charli’s office to start the process.

Sage and Charli spent the remainder of the morning and afternoon preparing the handing over document as well as Sage finishing off all of her remaining work.

“I wonder if they have better employee benefits.” Charli said wistfully as she worked on her computer.

Sage, who had her nose buried deep in one of the files, smiled. “Anything is better than this.” Then quickly removed the document Lucian gave her and looked through. “They have staff housing for easy movement across the city. That’s a plus. Just yesterday, my kitchen sink clogged again. I talked to the plumber and he said he only has next weekend available. I wash my dishes in the bathroom for the time being.”

Charli cringed visibly. “Sorry.”

Sage wiggled her eyebrows at Charli. “But I get to choose my own apartment building.” She turned the paper to Charli and pointed the line. “Imagine that!”

“Well at least you have survival skills right now. I mean with all the file, mobile phone and keyboard dodging you have been doing with Robert, you will fit right in with the security guys.” Charli teased.

Sage rolled her eyes but stopped half-way and frowned. “It feels too good to be true. I feel as if there is a catch somewhere. I don’t know what will happen once they find out I owe Robert a lot of money.”

“You will cross that river when you get there. In the meantime, concentrate on getting well trained in the PA position. For one, be prepared to travel with your employer in different places. You basically become his appendage…” Charli sighed dreamily. “Won’t it be nice to have that scrumptious Ferrari guy recommend me to his employer too?”

“I will make a recommendation for you. No one beats you in managing an office, Charli.” Sage assured her and Charli chuckled.

“Look at you, already getting ahead of yourself. First things, first. Get away from Robert alive.” Charli winked at her as they chuckled and worked together for the rest of the day.

Sage couldn’t wait to start work at her new office come that Monday…but she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than just a simple PA position.