At Rick's Home:

Rick is eating breakfast with his sister and his mom. His father had left early for some urgent work. An unusual smile keeps playing at Rick's lips reminiscing about last night's events.

Taking in his jolly mood Ella strikes.
"I'm opening an art gallery soon. I need some financing."

"Art gallery?" He looks at her with raised eyebrows.

"It's a place where you put your paintings. People come to see it and buy it if they like," Ella explains enthusiastically like a teacher with hand gestures.

He puts the fork on the plate and turns to her. "I know the meaning. You think my vocabulary is that weak?"

Dropping her jaw, she makes her eyes bigger. "Is it not?"

He scowls and turns back concentrating on his food while she chews food chuckling. Leyla shushes her but she only gets louder.

Rick turns back to her. "Have you seen a place for it?"

"Nah. Laura will take care of all that."

Food clogs up in his throat at Laura's name and he starts coughing. Leyla raises a glass of water to his mouth quickly and pats on his back. He calms down after taking a few sips. "I don't think she -"

"Why not?" Ella prompts instantly.

"Cause she is." He bites his lips, stopping his words inside. He reminisces about her bad deeds with him and the latest mocking of his best friend Matt.

Laura is an emotionless mean person who always mocks people and is best at killing. He concludes in his mind and opens up stuttering. "She's not... exactly... a helpful person."

Leyla and Ella stare at him in disbelief. His face squeals wondering what magic she did on them is just one meet-up.

Being completely convinced that she won't be actually helping her. He runs his hand on his forehead for ideas to prove it. "She promised it last night right? ...Maybe just call her now."

Ella takes her phone out of her jeans pocket and calls Laura. Her face starts losing color as she doesn't pick up. Taking the hint of it Rick's face lightens up.

The doorbell rings and Leyla walks towards it. "Looks like your dad is back."

Ella keeps calling her number with a frown face. He says smiling, "Told you so. She's a mean person who enjoys mocking people. Being helpful and nice is way out of her league."

She puts her phone back on the table and takes a sigh. "You shouldn't have said that."

"Why not?"

"Cause she's right behind you."

Rick turns back quickly and his face turns pale at the sight of Laura followed by his mom.

He stands up slowly in silence as if no sound will make him invisible. "Welcome Laura," he says with a slight smile that is met with her hardened gaze and a straight face.

He walks around the table and pads towards the exit. "Let's meet in the evening for that training you asked for, Rick," comes her voice from behind in a sugar-coated tone.

Oh no. She had promised to teach me some shooting skills. I bet she'll replace the shooting targets with my head. Turning back towards her he just nods instead of saying anything as his throat feels blocking his voice inside.

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At Rick's Office:

Rick stares at an empty cabin and walks up to Matt. "Why hasn't Amy come today?"

Matt looks at him with dead silence for a moment. An unusual heat fuming under his throat restricts him from speaking. "You should ask her," saying he turns his head quickly.

What happened to this guy? wonders Rick and pads towards another cabin. "Jared, how's your headache? Do you feel better?"

"I do," Jared replies with a lowered head.

Rick narrows his eyes in suspicion. Doubting the siblings unmatched statements as Amy had left the party saying he was ill. He asks, "What happened to Amy?"

Jared stays silent for a moment thinking of an excuse. "She's having a headache," he finally replies.

Rick raises his eyebrows expecting more explanations from him but Jared breaks eye contact.

Turning to his laptop he continues, "Listen a client is coming to see our product. I & You will present our software to him."

"Okay. I'll be there."

Jared starts typing on his laptop with concentrated eyes to show that he is busy. Rick takes the hint and walks out.

He dials Amy's number but she doesn't pick up. Thinking she might be sick he steps into his cabin and starts working.

A few minutes later. Rick's office landline on the desk rings. "It's time," says Jared over the landline. Rick stands up straightening his back and walks sluggishly to a large conference room beside Amy's cabin.

After checking the projector and his laptop working properly, Rick settles on a seat. The brown wooden door of the room swings open and Jared walks in followed by a familiar man.

As soon as Rick gets a glimpse of Man's face his mouth goes dry.

Jared walks near to Rick and turning to the man he introduces. "Mr. Andre, this is Rick Saunders our Chief Product Officer."

Andre extends his hand smirking. "I think I've seen him somewhere but with some different name."

Rick puts on a light smile and extends his hand. "They're many faces similar to me I guess."

They get settled on the seat as Rick starts the presentation. Misguided by Andre's smile, Jared's face stays lightened up thinking the client is liking the product. Whereas Rick knows better and keeps his presentation short and professional.

The presentation gets over in a few minutes and Andre claps in the end. "I think your software will streamline my Moving & Packing business. My staff will be here to do the paperwork soon."

Filled with joy Jared shakes hands with him. "I'm glad to hear that."

Andre passes a smile to Jared and walks to Rick. Rick extends his hand and with a smiling face. He moves his head closer to Andre's. "Jared is my boss. If you're planning to hurt him-"

"Me? No way. But my boss certainly is. But not him." Andre smirks.

"Whom? Who's your boss?" Rick asks in an enraged tone but with a smiling face.

"I'm only the messenger." Andre pulls his hand out of the handshake. "It's a pleasure doing business with you." Passing an ear-to-ear smile he turns towards Jared and walks out with him.

Dreaded thoughts cloud Rick's mind. He rubs his forehead hard trying to guess but he comes up with nothing. Taking his phone out he dials. "Laura. We've got a problem."

"I'm listening."

"That Andre guy has reached my office. His boss is planning something. We gotta find who's the boss asap."

"Okay. We'll see about that tonight."

"Tonight? Are you even listening to me?"

"I am, Rick. But I can't do anything now. I've got a day job too."

Rick takes a long sigh. "So you're back at your Egoistic attitude. Great."

"Shut up. I said I'll help you but not now." Laura says in a stern tone. "Ah, why don't you ask Darren for help?"

"Darren?" Rick asks in a confused tone.

"Yeah. Darren works in the CIA too. He's a hacker and tech expert," she explains.

Rick recalls how Darren got the software workaround in just one time and it clicks him instantly. He hangs up the phone and runs to Darrens's cubicle.

After explaining the case in short to Darren he waits impatiently tapping on his wristwatch every second. "How much more time?"

"Chill up dude. It's not like I'm browsing Pirate Bay for torrents, I'm hacking the FBI's database," Darren replies, adjusting the blue square glass on his nose's bridge.

After a while, he pulls up the profile of a man and turns the laptop screen to Rick.

Rick's eyes get bigger in shock as he reads Adrian Smith in big bold letters. He hits his own forehead by fist cursing he should have guessed it.

In a split second, he turns towards the exit and runs. "You could say thanks," the voice of Darren fades in his background.

Jumping into his car, Rick ignites the engine. Putting the phone on speaker he moves the car at blazing speed. "Where are you, Jasmine?"

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At the Frost Bar:

Someone seems to be explaining about recent sales at the bar to Adrian. But he is so lost in thoughts that he doesn't even recognize the voice. Few papers are placed on a table which are blurred in his vision.

He sees only one thing clearly: a silver ring with a shiny diamond.

The ring rises up in the air with the light brown fingers wearing it. A hand lands on his shoulder and jerks him out of his thoughts. "Adrian," says the voice out loud.

He shakes his head to the sides quickly. "Sorry about that. I feel so sleepy today." He adjusts his aviator sunglasses on the bridge of his nose and stands up from the chair.

Stepping in the washroom he showers his face with water repeatedly. But it doesn't help the deep red and tired eyes.

His phone rings, flashing Adriana as the caller. A light smile turns up at his lips that widens to form an ear-to-ear smile as he hears, "It's done." His eyelids start feeling lighter as he straightens his back.

"Now can I see my dad?" asks Adriana sobbing.

"Sure. Talk to Edward." He says smiling and hangs up.

He steps out of the washroom and walks towards the bar counter. As his eyes trail towards a familiar man walking towards him.

But before he could greet him with a smile. The girl with the shining engagement ring steps in front of him and asks furiously. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Adrian steps back and hides behind the big wooden shelf beside the bar counter. He takes a peep at them and hides again. "How does Jasmine know Andre?" he whispers to himself.

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