Masked

CHAPTER 11 DUPE

We spend our afternoon and evening doing nothing but shopping, clicking photos, gossiping about people, people watching, eating random stuff and walking. By the time it was dinner time, we were exhausted as hell. We went to Le Rock, Café Boulud as we were in that area, the same place Joel bought me for lunch.

I was not surprised by the crowd, it was all booked, and we never made any reservations. Well, it was time to flex some money. I don’t usually take advantage of my reputation or my place as a fortune 500 company owner, but guess emergencies brings out the devils.

I was pretty much known as I received an award a month ago only, so my face card and ID did all it took. We just have to wait for fifteen minutes and we got a table set for us. The receptionist pretty sure was thinking I’m on a date in lowkey, but I think a few dollars tip would kill the upcoming rumours. I don’t actually give a f**k about rumours, as only a few months back I was on front page of The New York times that I was dating a famous baseball player. They even had a photo of me with him of a restaurant where we were just f*****g standing! I don’t even recall his name. All I remember is we were crossing paths and crashed into each other by mistake and we were apologizing to each other when they clicked a photo and the next day it was a hot topic to discuss. I think I’ll never get why people are more interested in who the business owners are dating than what profit they could get from investing in their companies.

I ordered the same thing I ordered last time, Cauliflower Veloute and Sea Brass. Addy was confused so he ordered the same.

“So Aly, I think you forgot to tell me about something, or I should say about someone?” Addy asked me, chewing his food.

“What? Who?” all I could think about was a certain someone with broad shoulders and six feet two inches tall.

“That baseball player.” Aly replied with one of this mocking smiles. He pretty well knows it was just a rumour. Only one person that knows about me completely is Adam Casser. And by everything, I literally mean everything.

I rolled my eyes and ordered dessert. Chocolate ice cream for both. Addy and me were sitting on the same side of our table.

“How’s work?” Addy asked taking a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth. Our obsession for chocolate is one of the things we have in common.

“It’s going great. Launched a new product a few months back, and on the way to launch a new one.” I said eating my ice cream.

“Not your company. I meant how’s X going?” he asked with a concerned look. This is what I meant when I said Addy knows everything about me. For everyone I am a fortune 500 company owner and Addy works in an IT company, when in real I’m also the owner of X and Addy is our full time employee that tracks drugs and related people for us. Our company follows strict confidentiality policies. We don’t reveal our faces to each other that’s why we wear white masks. It would not be unfair to say that X is standing on three pillars. Addy, who handles the research team, John, who is an ex-militant handles the recruitment and me, who makes and implements the plans.

I met John in a drug campaign when I was in college. He lost his son because of his addiction and then his wife due to shock of losing her beloved son. He didn’t want anyone to endure the pain he had, so we became a team.

And Addy, well he’s a good man, so he helped. He’s been on vacation because of his wedding and honeymoon, but now he’s back for good.

“Well just like you left it.” I replied with a sad smile.

“Still no trace of D huh? God where the hell is that rat hiding?” Addy said annoyingly.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find him.” I said keeping my hand reassuringly on his hand.

“Aly, are you saying me this or to yourself? I know how much it matters for you.” Addy pulled me in for a hug and patted my head.

“Don’t worry Aly. I promise you I’ll take that rat out of his hole and burn his tale.” I chuckled because Addy is the last person I know who would let alone kill, even think of killing someone.

“Now finish your dessert. We have to leave also. Or your face and money could let us stay here tonight maybe?” Addy said mockingly. He kissed my cheek and hugged me again. We pulled back and I saw….

“Hello Miss Alonso.”