Processed by ghosts

Please cooperate with me

Derrick Drew .xxxxxx@DHE.com.

Dear Ameya,

How have you been?

It’s been a while since our not so pleasant last meeting; I’ve been terribly upset on your resignation. We’ve made some wonderful films together; your set designs are an added asset to our production house.

I heard that though our boss is upset with you, he gave you a month to reconsider your hasty decision. Our boss is not the revenge type, but you would not be given a second chance to join in the DHE; my sincere advice for you is ‘do not go against him for some unnamed director.’

That being said, the choice is up to you. I don’t want to be branded as a nagging friend. No matter what you choose, I wish you success.

But I would be delighted if you would be reconsidering your decision. I don’t want to lose a talented artist like you.

Yours truly,

Director Drew.

Ameya stared at the email absent-mindedly. She was a film set designer, a successful one at that. She enjoyed working with Director Drew, but lately, she did not find the scripts challenging enough. It was the same glass buildings, evening bar, training institute or some university; she found her job repetitive and boring. Anyone can design a few buildings, but that was not what she wanted. She wanted to take risks, and something to experiment with.

It was at that time her friend Troy approached her for help. After completing the course in film direction, he made some successful short films and decided to take the next big step: Directing TV-series and Films. She found the thrill she was seeking. On top of that, Troy is the only person she considered a family. It was then she made a life-changing decision: Resign her current job and help Troy in his career.

She knew that working under Troy would not earn her much.

But she never regretted her decision.

Grabbing her work bag onto her shoulder, Ameya typed a reply to Director Drew; a disappointing one.

"Ethan, Ember..." Ameya called out as she dropped her tab into her handbag.

"Mom, we are ready!" Both the kids chirped at the same time.

As she lifted her head, Ameya's gaze fell on her two adorable twins who were dressed in their school uniform.

"Have a good time at school..." Ameya kissed their cheeks and walked them to the bus stop. Only after seeing them getting in their school bus, did she get into her plain sedan.

...

"Gangster and a blind girl..." Ameya paused, "I guess that it's a tragedy?"

"Yes, it is."—Troy placed his hands on his chest in a dramatic fashion—"Tragedies are beautiful..."

"Now tell me how you want the scenes to look like; I will design according to your requirements." Ameya sighed at his antics and went down straight to business.

"Ahem..." Troy cleared his throat, and time passed by as they fell into a discussion.

"That's it, at least for the scenes before the interval."

Ameya nodded as she jotted down in her notebook. Without lifting her head, she said: "I'm leaving then, I'll come to the office as soon as I complete the drawings."

"Why leave so soon?" It had been many years since they met; Troy looked forward to spending some notorious time with her.

A timely, loud growl from Ameya's stomach answered his question.

...

In the Downtown Cafe, Troy put down the mobile after taking a call while Ameya gobbled down her food.

As she stuffed in the last morsel of her food, Ameya spoke, her voice muffled due to her full mouth "Y-you can leave now. As a director, I'm sure that you have a hell lot of work. We can always catch up later, I'm not going anywhere..."

"Let me drop you off then," Troy spoke, while his mobile started ringing again.

"No need, I'm planning to work here."

Knowing that Ameya indeed loved cafes, Troy nodded "Be careful then, and call me after you finish your work. I'll drop you off."

Ameya nodded. Dropping a kiss on her cheek, Troy hurried out to take the incoming call.

As Troy left the cafe, Ameya took out her sketch pad, pencils, and an eraser. She then went through her notes; her mind formed various images of the possible scenario. After pondering for a while, Ameya kept the notebook aside, opening the sketchbook she started to project her thoughts onto the paper.

Ameya had a bad habit: Whenever she starts working, she falls into a trance; so deep that she ignores even her immediate surroundings.

So, Ameya did not notice someone occupying the empty seat across her....

"What did you say?" Declan Jay hissed into the phone.

"The Black Claws gang are trailing you!" Declan heard Romano's flustered voice through the phone, "Either hide somewhere or make them believe that you are some normal guy wandering around..."

"Fine!" Pressing on the end button, Declan cut off the call. All the earlier panic in his voice vanished as he observed his surroundings casually. After a few minutes of walk, Declan spotted The Downtown Cafe, and without any second thoughts, he entered the artistic, wooden themed cafe.

His sharp blue eyes scanned over the crowded seating space, he then strode towards the only empty seat in the cafe. As he neared the table, he scrutinized the woman who was busy scribbling something on the paper. With her head lowered down and her hair acting as a veil over her cheeks, he didn't get to study her features, but he realized that the woman was not scribbling but sketching. He felt amused when the woman was completely drowned in her own little world and did not sense his presence even when he sat across her.

Ordering a hot chocolate, Declan leaned against the cushioned chair as he curiously observed her drawing. Declan did not have a keen eye for art and so he naturally did not understand anything from her rough sketches. Soon, he shifted his attention to the problem on his hand.

Declan casually looked outside the window, and sure enough, he spotted a car across the cafe.

S*it! It's really the Black Claw gang! Declan cursed inwardly.

Though he maintained a poker face, his brain quickly started to form a plan. As his brain zeroed in an idea, Declan sub-consciously looked at the woman in front of him.

Why not pretend that I'm out on a date?

If I can make them believe that I'm on a date, then all's well.

The longer he thought, the more satisfied he felt. Declan felt that he was truly brilliant.

Just when he was pondering over how to communicate with the lady, he saw her elbow hit the eraser. The lady did not know that the eraser fell down from the table, taking that as a cue, Declan picked up the eraser and brought his hand into her line of vision.

He felt truly stunned when the lady just grabbed the eraser while tossing him a perfunctory word of thanks, without looking at him.

Knowing that he would not garner the lady's attention like this, Declan simply tapped the table loudly. His efforts finally bore fruit as the lady finally raised her head.

Metallic grey eyes, pointy nose, plump lips crafted for a man's kiss, long silky black hair that can make one want to run fingers through it — she had everything that could make a man crazy.

No, she had everything that's making me crazy...

Declan felt his breathing stop for a moment as she stared right into his eyes.

"Hmm, excuse me?" She tilted her head cutely, a confused expression marring her beautiful face.

Caught staring, Declan coughed to hide his embarrassment.

"Can you listen to me for a moment?"

She nodded, a little unsure.

"I'm a police officer, I can show you my badge but I can't as the mafia are trailing me. Even now, they are observing me from their car; parked across the cafe. Don't turn around; I need to convince them that I'm not a threat, and for that, I need your help."

A pregnant pause followed.

Having no choice, Declan broke the ice, "Will you cooperate with me?"

On seeing her blank face, Declan hurried "Please cooperate with me..."