CHAPTER SEVEN : HIRED
1923 Words
"You're going to be her live-in housekeeper for three months."
"Three months? That's too...I can't live with that chic for three whole months!" Red protested.
"It's not necessary you accomplish your mission after three months. You can kill her before then."
"I wonder what's taking you so long to do your job. I thought you were the best around here."
"Killian!" Desmond fired a warning.
"No, I mean, it's true. Why hasn't he killed her? She can't be that much of a tough nut to crack."
"On your knees!"
"Boss...
"I said, on your f*****g knees!"
Killian folded his legs and got on his knees. He dares not defy Desmond's order.
"If you are that good why did you fail your mission last month? An two months before that? He's better than you and you know it. Don't rub his failure in his face as if it'll make you any better. After this meeting, tie two tires to your waist and run a hundred laps around the building."
"f*****g apologize!" Fred whispered, kicking Killian softly by his side.
"I'm sorry, boss."
"He said he's sorry, boss. It won't happen again." Joaquin begged on his behalf. Fred wiggled his brows at Red. Red knew what that meant and it made him chuckle.
"He's not worth wasting your tires, dad. Just let him be. Please?" Venessa pleaded. Desmond heaved a sigh and turned to Killian.
"You better not do that again. If you wanna bicker with him, do that when I'm not present. Get your ass up."
"Thanks, boss."
Killian rose up.
"So, Red, you in?"
Red groaned. He nodded reluctantly.
"Yeah, whatever. If I don't, I fear nightmare coming our way."
"Agent Yvonne is very much capable of hunting us and she might succeed in it. The only way we can stop her is to get her killed. We've been trying that but to no avail and yet I proffered a solution and you dare talk s**t?" Desmond said to Killian, who had his head bowed.
Desmond doesn't tolerate that!
Killian should have known better, he isn't new here.
"I'm sorry, boss." Killian pleaded again.
"Get out of my sight now." Desmond thundered. Killian sighed and walked out of the room.
Red kept thinking ; "will I really go live with that woman for three whole months?"
Crap!
Though he can defy Desmond, this order isn't possible to defy. Desmond sat on a chair and breathed in, trying to calm his nerves before speaking up again.
"Are you really going to stay with that witch for three months?" Daniel whispered to Red, who replied with a shrug.
"But...can't someone else go instead? I can go. I...I can assassinate her." Venessa suggested.
"My dear, you are Desmond Hemsworth's daughter. Everyone knows you. How would it seem? Hemsworth's daughter working as a maid? Come on, sweetheart."
"But..
"Look, I understand you're scared for Red. We all are but what can we do? Red is capable of executing this mission within two months so just bear with him until then, hmm?"
"Red." Desmond turned to Red. "You're going for the interview tomorrow."
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
"But what if she's already hired one?" Joaquin queried.
"She hasn't. Red, firstly, I want to know everything about her the moment you get in. The type of abilities she possesses and secondly, I know you're itching to kill her but you have to stay with her for long so no one will suspect a thing when she dies and by then, you'll have known her weakness and that's exactly what will be used against her." Desmond explained.
"Okay. Anything else?"
"Joaquin has already helped with every ID you would need. He's gonna give you everything when the meeting ends. And mind you, you'll still be doing your job. Though it won't be occasionally."
"Okay."
"You have to change everything about yourself. From the way you walk, to your scent. Don't go walking like the assassin you are at her place and you voice too..."
"It's fine, Venessa. You know I deepen my voice whenever I'm on a mission."
"Our Red is smart, Venessa. Don't underestimate him." Fred said smugly.
"Your day missions would be Killian's job now. Don't worry, he won't fail. He's better now." Desmond assured.
"From your reports, she's tricky and highly intelligent so you have to be ready for any tricky questions during the interview."
"I'll get him ready on that." Daniel volunteered.
"So I guess everything is in place. You guys can leave. I have things to do."
***
"I'm gonna miss you." Daniel whined as they walked out of the door.
"Quit whining. We are not even sure if he'll be employed yet." Fred said.
"Of course he will. Who won't employ him? I mean, have you seen his face? He's a beauty!" Joaquin said and Red chuckled.
"A beauty indeed." Daniel winked flirtatiously at Red.
"You're a psycho." Fred laughed.
Red was about turning to the direction of his room when Daniel stopped him.
"I told you I would prepare you! Come on." Daniel pulled Red by the arm to his room.
THE NEXT DAY
"Dress formally." Daniel said to Red. Redmond groaned and took off the t-shirt he had already worn. He picked up the suit on his bed.
"I can't wear this."
"Put in on, my friend!" Fred snapped. He sighed in defeat and put the suit on. Daniel helped him with his hair.
The whole team had to supervise Red as he prepared to make sure he's presentable. It took them almost an hour to dress Red up.
"Oh my gawd. You look...
"Perfect." Venessa completed Daniel's statement. "Does he have to look this perfect?" Venessa asked worriedly.
"What are you worried about? That the detective would fall for him?" Daniel teased.
"Who can blame her if she does?"
"Shut up, Fred! She's not gonna fall for him."
"Time is going. The interview begins at 2.30 and this is 1.45."
"All that remains is a pair of shoes."
"You guys are doing too much. A tuxedo? A Versace shoe? I'm going there for a housekeeping job. Would she think I need that little pay when I show up with almost ten thousand dollars worn on my body?"
They all turned to Red in realization. Yup, they messed up. They didn't even think of that.
"Okay, take them off. Put on a plain white shirt and a pair of jeans. Not too much but not too cheap either. A simple average dressing will do."
Red finally got the right outfit and he was set to go. He took a cab from the base to Yvonne's house. He payed the cab man and alighted in front of Yvonne's gate. Red, do what you're here for. He hesitated a bit before ringing the bell. He just hopes she won't suspect anything.
The gate opened on Red's third ring and the gate keeper stood there. Red has seen him twice when he came to attempt Yvonne's murder. He only decided to spare the gatekeeper's life then.
He should have been long gone by now .
Red cleared his throat. "Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, sir. How can I be of help to you?" He smiled brightly.
"I'm here for the job? The housekeeping job." Red replied, giving his best fake smile.
"Ohh...come in." Alex said as he paved way for Red. Red went in and Alex locked the gate behind them.
Beautiful building!
Red doesn't usually come in through the gate so he never knew the building was this beautiful.
"Hold on, I'll go get Agent Yvonne."
Red's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Yvonne's name. He couldn't believe it. That agent is making him jittery.
"Okay." Red faked a smile.
Alex walked briskly to the front door , opened it and disappeared into the house. Red's gaze was all around the house.
He felt like climbing the walls... perfect building! Alex appeared with Yvonne, who was looking smoking hot in her flair armless floral gown. Her hair wasn't in a ponytail this time. It fell over her shoulders. Her beautiful hazel eyes peered into Red's for a while.
Red released the breath he didn't know he was holding when Yvonne looked away. She stood by the door while the gate keeper walked back to Red.
Did she ask him to discard him?
Oh..no.
Red was beginning to get worried.
"You can go join her by the door." Alex said to him.
Red thanked Alex and began walking to Yvonne. Her gaze was on Red all the while that he nearly tripped.
Damn!
Redmond!
Why's she staring at him? He felt like knocking off her head already.
"Hello." Red greeted when he got to Yvonne.
"Hi." Yvonne returned his greeting, her gaze not leaving his eyes.
She looked different, though Red has seen her severally but he didn't see her clearly because of the mask he was always putting on. Red hates to admit it but Yvonne is looking more hot! And of course, cute.
"What can I do for you?" Yvonne asked.
"I'm here to apply for the job."
"Can I see your ID card?"
"Yeah." Red dipped his hand into his pocket and stretched it to her. Their hands brushed when Yvonne collected it.
She was studying the ID card when her phone beeped. She brought it out.
Red guessed it was a message. Yvonne handed the ID card back to Red with her gaze still glued on her phone. If she had studied the ID card thoroughly, she might have found out it was fabricated because of how smart she is. Red dipped the ID back in his back pocket.
Yvonne glanced back at Red. He almost turned to walk away when her eyes peered deeply into his.
"You look familiar, have I seen you before?" She inquired.
Damn!
"I can't say." Red faked a smile.
"Okay."
"So...how did you find out I'm in need of a live-in housekeeper?" She asked.
Looking into her eyes almost made Red forget everything Daniel taught him.
He braced up. "I saw it online."
"Okay, so I wasn't the one that posted it online. You should have called the number instead of coming here. I'm not the one to hire you."
It is taking a lot of self control for Red not to punch Yvonne right across the face.
"I actually called the number but it wasn't going through." He lied.
"How did you get the home address?"
"It was uploaded online alongside the qualifications for the job." Red replied as professionally as i could.
"Ohh... I wonder why Albert didn't delete the post yet because I've found a housekeeper already and he'll be resuming tomorrow."
Red needs this job. He was almost tempted to say he can do the job more than anyone but he stopped himself. He doesn't want to appear desperate.
"Okay." Red accepted.
"Thanks for coming. I hope you see better job opportunities. Bye." Yvonne said and his phone beeped again.
"Thanks." Red said and started walking away disappointedly. Desmond really thought he would get the job! What a joke! Why does he always fail in everything regarding this woman. Is she cursed? And why the hell did she ask those questions when she already found someone else?
Witch!
Red already got to the gate and the gatekeeper was starting to open the gate for him.
"Hey...wait" Red heard her call and then turned.
What again?
Damn! Has she suspected something?
"You're hired." Yvonne said to his surprise.
- Writer
