INSANELY FALLEN

SORRY

Miller’s PoV

I awaited her call like a husband waiting outside the surgery theater during his wife’s delivery. I do not understand her need to go to that place, specifically when it’s the sanctuary of Lucas’ henchmen. I have sent John to track one among them in that goddamn place and it was a success, but the words after he informed me caught me more. He said Isabelle was there with her brother and that the mission was exposed. John was remorseful about that and claimed it was not on purpose, but I couldn’t take notice to him as my mind was crowded with things they could do to her. I know she and her brother are fighters, but how long could they last? Before thinking too much, my phone buzzed, and I sprang to attend it, not even troubling to glance at the caller id.

“Hello” I breathed out.

“Oh, someone’s in a rush” Came out Nathan’s amused voice. I suddenly had the push to end the call, but breathed out the pressure building inside me and concentrated on the call.

“What is it, Nathan?” I demanded, sounding off.

“Buddy, you okay?” he inquired with concern. I exhaled, seeing that I am overreacting for no reason and acknowledged his question with a lie,

“Yeah. Just work pressure.”

“Oh. Let’s do one thing. I am coming back right away and tomorrow take the day off, we are heading to my place.” I was about to answer no when he intruded,

“And you can ask your girl to join us.” I know he meant Isabelle, but unlike before, something held me from correcting him.

“You have not even allowed your girlfriends to visit that place. Then why change now?” Nathan is so close to his mansion and doesn’t prefer any outsiders seeing his paradise. At least that’s what he calls it.

“Because your girlfriend means my sister and my sister is always welcome to that place.” I smiled, hearing his reasoning.

“You realize she is not my girlfriend, don’t you?” I asked while lightly tapping the pen on the desk. As usual, I was spending the lingering hours in sketching Lucas. I am always the last person to leave the building and occasionally I doze off while working and only realize that when Nathan calls me in the wee hours.

“But the chances are high and I can feel it.”

Before I could respond, my phone vibrated, indicating another call. Seeing the image of the person calling, I jolted up from the recliner. It was the same picture I captured on that day at the beach where her hair was all around her face and neck.

“I will call you back, Nathan.” I said smiling again.

“It’s her. Isn’t it?” I could practically hear him smirking on the other side.

“Shut up and bye” I was about to end the call when he shouted,

“Don’t forget to ask her about tomorrow.” I did not respond, but pressed the red sign and slid across the green one.

“You reached?”

ISABELLE’S POV

The phone rang eight times before he finally picked up.

“You reached?” Was his first question.

“Yeah. Just entered.” I said as I plopped on my bed and hugged a pillow. The talk with Char earlier has released part of my pressure.  At least there will be someone in my family who will not eat my head after knowing I have a tinniest crush on Shawn. Anyway, it’s not like as if I am going to reveal it to him or anything. If I am in one piece after the deal is done, I am sure we are going to part our ways with a firm handshake and a grief less good bye, continuing our life pretending not to have met the other. Besides, our worlds are so different. He is a successful business owner while I come from a mafia family. We practically live by killing others, though we usually help the police in encountering criminals or take deals from only the good people. Those are not enough reasons to have a relationship with him. Shawn is someone who takes help from us if he wants to settle some scores, he may not have even hurt someone for all I know.

“Good. Is it okay for me to ask the reason you were seen in that place?” he asked in a single breath. Sometimes I really feel like he cares for me. Maybe as a friend he does.

“Its pure business” I stated, not wanting to elaborate on the topic. But he wasn’t buying that.

“What kind of business?”

“Why are you suddenly interested in my business, Miller?” I was irritated now. Not because he is a stranger to me, but because I do not want him to think ill of me, though the damage was already done. There was silence on the other end for few seconds before he spoke in a formal tone.

“I am sorry, Isabelle. I shouldn’t have asked.” And just like that, he ended the call.

I was glued to my position, not knowing what to do.

“What have I done?” I asked to myself and jumped up from my bed. Sitting on the edge and cursing out loud, I took my mobile and called the first number on the log. He did not pick up for two times, but that didn’t stop me from calling, even after telling myself that he may feel like I am desperate.

When the third call was about to end, he answered. Finally.

“Yeah” His voice was cold and arrogant, which reminded me of the day we first met. Lot has changed from then, though it has only been a few days. I thought myself to be a bad and bold girl and that I lacked the feelings to like someone. But Shawn proved me wrong during a short period. Was I really that girly or is it something special?

“I won’t say I am sorry.” I don’t know why I said that. May be my bitchy part has not disappeared yet.

“I did not ask you to.” He said nonchalantly, as if bored.

“Then why did you end the call?” My voice was stern and accusative, although I have no right to be.

“Because the conversation was over, Stapleton”

Blood rushed to my head, and I was angry, so damn angry.

“Don’t you dare use that tone with me, Mr. Shawn Miller.” What came over me? God knows. But I wasn’t being myself, that’s for sure.

“Are you seriously blaming me now? It was you who was being a b***h towards me.” He shouted like a teen-age boy. And man, I was surprised. We both were revealing different sides of us to each other.

“I was not being a b***h. You did not tell me what business John had in there. Then why should I tell you mine?” I shouted back. I would not give up.

“You did not even ask, for heaven’s sake. And you expect me to read your mind and answer just like that?”

Good point. I was speechless. I didn’t know what to say next. I forgot that I haven’t asked him about meeting John at all.

“Hello? You went?”

I remained silent for a few seconds before responding, “No.”

“Hm.” We both did not talk entire half a minute; neither did we end the call. Finally, deciding to melt the ice, I spoke.

“I am sorry. Today was a rough day. We went to that place to finish a d**g dealer, and the job went well. I saw John there, he wouldn’t tell me why he was in that building. I just simply overreacted.”

I ended my apology with a sigh. I was partly saying the truth and exempted the part of him thinking bad about me. Besides, why should I be ashamed of my job?

“I am sorry too. I don’t know what came over me. I rarely interfere in other’s business.” Ouch! That stings. “Anyway, John was there to follow one of Lucas’ henchmen. He is the head of his security force and guess what? We might enter his hell within this week.”

“Wow. That’s splendid news. How did you do it?” That indeed was significant information. I know that street is a usual spotting place of Lucas’ people. But I haven’t seen a single piece of s**t there today. Then whom was John following? I voiced my thoughts and Shawn was proud while answering,

“I have sources, Isabelle. I might not be into mafia or have enough workforce like you do, but I have sources whom I can rely on.”

“I am guessing John is a spy of yours.” I asked, partly knowing the answer. I have noted his physical appearance on the first day we met, and the way he tried not to exhibit his fighting skills today proved my theory right.

“Yup, he is. John is an ex- military and a very good one in it.”

“I see. So what did he find out?” I asked while rubbing my head where it got hurt. Char has done a rough patch up work on it and I was thankful for that. This is usual on our work days hence we give little importance to injuries unless they are life threatening.

“John has been following him from the day you told me about that place. While he was drunk in the bar, that i***t accidentally spilled about the underground passage that leads to Lucas’ house. Once we get access to that building, we can easily reach the basement.”

A jolt of electricity passed through my body. I never knew there was a secret passage and that it would be so easy to find it. A drunken security blabbering in a bar, what a cliché? Not at all like a Lucas thing. Something was definitely off in it.

“We have to take the route map, which is an elementary thing considering I have bought few people from inside that hellhole.”

“You did what?” I asked, astonished. There was definitely something wrong. One can’t buy Lucas’ men. It’s so not possible. But I waited for him to finish before continuing.

“That was easy, actually. We have to dig another passage from the middle and connect it to his route. The security is minimum in that place and we can easily enter the basement, rescue Jane first and then deal with him.” He said in a satisfied tone.

“Shawn?”

“Yeah”

“Who provided you with these details?” I asked, calculating.

“I shouldn’t be revealing this, but since it’s you. Amanda, my receptionist. She knows people who work for Lucas, that’s why I hired her.”

Her smiling face and the way she behaved to me, as if she knows me for a long time, crossed my mind.

“Shawn, Amanda is a traitor.” I stated, now all serious.

“What? No. she has been with me for almost two years and has provided me with lots of useful information about Lucas. Why would she do that if she was a traitor? And she had several chances in the past to betray me, which she took advantage of none.”

Shawn sounded adamant and so sure of himself. Was he that naïve? I decided not to say anything further but show him her actual character.

“You free today?”  I asked cautiously.

“Yeah but its late.” I looked out of my window only to see the sunset.

“Is it a problem?”  I was already getting up from my position and took out my car keys. I rarely use my car as I stopped going out alone ever since that cursed day.

“No, not at all. Where do you want to meet?” Was he enthusiastic or was it just my imagination?]

“At your place in ten. Send me the location.”

“At my place? You mean my home?” He asked as if not believing his own words.

“Yup. See you soon.” And I disconnected our line.

“Dad, I am heading out.” I called out while covering my injury with a cap.

“Where to?” he asked, coming out of the kitchen.

“Miller’s place. Urgent job.” I was already heading towards the front door when Neb followed me,

“I will drop you.” He said searching for his t-shirt.

“No, its fine. I am taking my car.”

“You are?” Dad was holding a spatula and had apron covering his chest.

“Yeah. I think I can manage myself for today.”

“That’s unnecessary. I will come with you.” Neb stated with scrunched up brows.

“Let her go alone, Ben.” Dad said with a smile on his face. “She can take care of herself.”

Ben being daddy’s obedient child nodded unwillingly.  I returned his smile and said byes to them before heading to the garage. The last time I drove my BMW was with mom and it was the day we got kidn*pped. Jaco cleans it and turns on the engine often, just to maintain its condition, which came in handy right now.

I switched on my mobile to see a message from Miller. He has sent the location. Reviving the car, I adjusted my seat and the rear-view mirror, and connected the GPS.  Tuning in on the FM, I started driving. Memories after memories flashed in my mind and sweat trickled down from my forehead. My body was shaking visibly, so I trashed all the thoughts to the back of my mind and tried concentrating on the road. After about several minutes, I reached the front gate of a large mansion. The security let me in after taking down my name, and Shawn himself was waiting for me outside the entrance.

I got out of the car, and we shook our hands.

“I thought you would bring a brother along with you. Never mind, please come in.”

I entered the front hall and took in the surrounding luxury. Everything was meticulously maintained and nothing was out of order.

“You like the place?” He asked, unsure.

“Love it.” I said before heading towards the couch.

Just as I took my seat, someone emerged from the left door with an enormous smile plastered on his face.

“Hey Isabelle.” I remembered him as the person who assisted Miller that day. He was a genuine guy.

“Hello.” I said getting up.

“Couldn’t properly meet you that day. I am Nathan, his buddy.”

“Nice to meet you, Nathan.” I said nervously. I was not good with people, and Shawn seems to sense it.

“Nathan, could you please give us some privacy?”

Nathan smirked typically, “Of course, bro. After all, she is here to see you.”

I thought I saw Shawn glaring at his friend, but his expression was changed in an instant as the other guy winked at me and headed back to the room he came from. I would have kicked if it was some other guy, but he seems to be a really nice one.

“Why don’t we head upstairs?” Shawn asked me uncertainly, and I nodded.

I followed him to the staircase, which led us to another grand hall. There were more doors here, and Shawn opened one on the far end. The door gave way to a large balcony with a garden on the right side and a round table and three chairs on the left. There was a wooden swing that could seat five people at a time. Altogether the place and the view from there were beautiful.

“What happened to your head?” I turned to look at him, only to see him staring back at me.

“Oh. It’s just a part of my job.” I said dismissively.

“Did you go to the doctor? Does it hurt? Maybe you need stitches.” He was moving closer to me with each sentence, and I was feeling uncomfortable from the proximity.

I smiled nervously and moved a little to maintain some space between us.

“It’s not much and no, it doesn’t hurt.” He did not believe my words as usual, but closed the chapter. Since he saw my wound, I took off my cap and strapped it on my jeans.

“Why did you want to meet me?” He asked, walking towards the swing and sitting on the left. I followed him wholeheartedly.

“It’s about Amanda.” I said, taking a seat on the other end of the swing.

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