We were Born to Die

Chapter 14

"Make way. Make way." I muttered under my breath, the clattering of the card sanitation trailing behind me as I navigated through the bustling corridors of the building. The employees glanced up from their tasks, granting me a clear path as I maneuvered through the maze of desks and cubicles. "I knew this would work," I whispered triumphantly into my earpiece, a small grin tugging at the corners of my lips.

"Yeah, like we care." Zane's dry response crackled through the earpiece, his indifference evident in his voice. I rolled my eyes, accustomed to his nonchalant attitude. "You do know this is your mission as much as it is mine." I retorted, my tone laced with playful exasperation. "And you haven't got the guts to do the job. That's why I'm saving your ass." I retorted playfully, maintaining a friendly façade as I passed two women in their mid-thirties in chic midi skirts and nerdy glasses, a pang of longing tugged at my heart. I had always admired the office fashion. I'd always wanted to try those outfit, but duty called, and I pressed on with determination.

"Quit fighting, you two. I can't concentrate on the work at hand." Ryder's voice interrupted. I couldn't help but wonder where he was, and Min-Woo too. The three of us had been separated, each tasked with a crucial role in our mission. Ryder had been the first to face the scrutiny of the security while Min-Woo had vanished away without my knowing. I halted in front of the elevator, the anticipation coursing through my veins as I waited for the metallic doors to slide open.

A tall man sidled up beside me, his presence commanding attention. My gaze flicked downward, catching sight of his polished shoes, a stark contrast to the worn sneakers I wore as part of my disguise. I sighed inwardly. As the elevator door slid open with a soft 'ding', I hesitated before stepping inside. The confined space felt smaller with him there, and I couldn't shake the unease creeping up my spine. Glancing sidelong at him, I quickly averted my gaze, focusing straight ahead.

He moved closer, and I instinctively backed away, avoiding his touch as if it were a dangerous flame. It was a dance we seemed to know well, him inching closer and me retreating. I prayed silently, hoping I wouldn't accidently slam him into the unforgiving metal doors in my evasion. Again, he moved towards me, and I couldn't help but reach out, grabbing his arm in a futile attempt to halt his advance. But instead of complying, he turned the tables, pinning me effortlessly against the elevator wall. My heart raced as I looked up, meeting those familiar brown eyes, framed by perfectly styled hair and a suit that accentuated every line of his body. Min-Woo look impeccable, and it was maddening.

"How did you...?" I stammered, caught off guard by his sudden appearance.

"I have my ways." Min-Woo signed.

I couldn't believe it. This was all Zane's doing, I was sure of it. He had orchestrated this entire situation, assigning Min-Woo the role of an office employee while leaving me to deal with... this. Frustration bubbled up inside me, threatening to boil over. I keyed my earpiece, my voice low but filled with simmering anger. "What the heck, Zane? This was your idea?" I hissed unable to contain my indignation. "Better stay away from me for a week after this mission or I'll kick your ass." I threatened my tone leaving no room for argument.

But Ryder couldn't resist chiming in, his voice dripping with amusement, "Bet that would be interesting to watch."

"We'll see about that." Zane replied, his voice tinged with amusement.

I gritted my teeth, shooting a glare at the ceiling as if they could see me through the tiny microphone.

The door of the elevator chimed open, and my heart quickened its pace. I had to get back to my role, back to the mission. I gave a slight nod to Min-Woo who reciprocated the gesture before we parted ways. Making my way with purpose, I strode towards the room where tools and sanitation carts are stored. With a deft hand, I locked the door behind me, ensuring no unwanted eyes could pry into our operation. My gaze lifted to the vent pipe entrance, a sigh escaping my lips. I reached into my bag, fingers wrapping around a trusty screwdriver. Opening the vent, I peered inside, but it was clear – I wasn't fitting through that small space. "Code red," I spoke softly to my earpiece, knowing my team was listening. "The vent is too small. I can't get inside."

"Go for plan B." came Enrico's voice, his tone calm and collected. I hadn't realized he had been listening in the entire time. A small smile tugged at my lips as I acknowledged his presence.

"And what is plan B." I inquired, curiosity lacing voice.

"Look inside the cart, and you'll find out." Enrico replied, his amusement evident in his tone. I approached the cart, anticipation bubbling within me. As I peered inside, my heart skipped a beat. There it was-a midi skirt, a blouse, a blazer, and even glasses. It was a dream come true, the perfect disguise. A grin spread across my face as I quickly donned the office attire, feeling the transformation take hold.

Gathering the necessary items into an office bag, I stepped out of the room with newfound confidence. "On my way," I informed my teammates through the earpiece. The plan was simple now: infiltrate the most guarded area of the building by posing as a new employee on her first day.

As I made my way towards section C of the building, my mind raced with possibilities. I could feign confusion and pretend to be lost, or I could claim to have been sent by Mr. Palo to retrieve some files. The options seemed endless, and I couldn't help but pat myself on the back for my ingenuity. After all, how genius was I?

However, just as I was about to put my plan into action, a sharp voice cut through the air, halting me in my tracks. "You," the woman exclaimed, her gaze locking onto mine. Startled, I turned to face her, my heart pounding in my chest.

I stood there, trying to blend into the background, but her piercing gaze found me without hesitation, "Yes, you." she said, her voice cutting through the crowd like a knife. I felt a shiver run down my spine as her finger pointed directly at me. I nodded; my throat suddenly dry, unable to form any words. "Good," she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Now go and get four coffees for the meeting. And I need them perfect." With that, she slammed the door shut behind her, leaving me standing there, stunned and slightly relieved that I hadn't been caught in my secret mission.

As I glanced around the room, my eyes fell on Min-Woo, he was seated at a desk, engrossed in what appeared to be mundane office work. It was strange seeing him in such a normal setting, but he still managed to exude an air of confidence and charm.

Our eyes briefly met, and he gestured towards a nearby room where some of the other employees were gathered, engaged in casual conversation. I mouthed a silent, "Thank you," to him, grateful for his subtle guidance, before making my way towards the door.

As I handed over the cups of coffee to the most insanely picky coffee person I've ever met, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Seriously, who even knew there were so many intricate details to getting a simple cup of joe just right? But hey, it was all part of the mission. With the task completed, I slipped past the guards, moving with the ease of someone who'd done this a hundred times before. It was all about blending in, becoming invisible in plain sight. As I made my way towards the record room of the building, my heart raced with anticipation. This was the moment I'd been waiting for, the culmination of weeks and preparation.

Plugging in my earpiece, ready to check in with the team. "I'm back." I announced, my voice filled with readiness.

Zion's sarcastic voice crackled through the earpiece, dripping with the humour that bordered on my annoyance, "We've were dying to hear from you, Regina Phalange." He quipped, his tone practically oozing with sarcasm.

I couldn't help but respond in kind, a dry retort slipping from my lips. "Ha ha ha, funny princess." I shot back, knowing well that calling him 'princess' was like poking a sleeping dragon.

Zion's irritation was palpable as he snapped back, vehemently denying the title I bestowed upon him. "I'M. NOT. f*****g. PRINCESS." He growled, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. Thankfully, Enrico jumped in to defuse the tension, his voice calm and steady. "He's sending in the code, just wait, Cara Mia." He reassured me.

I stood there for a few tense moments, anticipation coursing through my veins as I waited for Zion to relay the crucial passcode. Finally, his voice came through the earpiece, the tension in his tone dissipating as he spoke, "It's unlocked, you may pass, Your Highness." He declared, granting me access to the next phase of our mission.

With a quick glance around to ensure we were still undetected, I seized the opportunity and darted into the room with the agility of a lightning bolt. The thrill of the mission pulsed through my veins as I prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that my team had my back every step of the way.