CHAPTER 6

The guardian looked at the picture of the next target. He was close to eliminating all of his competition and expanding his empire. Soon the entire world would praise him for his genetic breakthrough in science. No other scientist had ever come as far as he had. He had spent years working on creating the perfect genetically modified soldiers. He had a few causalities here and there, but it was all for the greater good. A few people have to die to make the world a better place or a more controlled one anyway. When the big change does happen, he was going to make sure that he was the one behind the wheel.

He placed the picture back down on his desk. Sitting back in his chair he folded his hands and marvelled at his creations, his word of art, his babies, his killers. Twelve of the most dangerous men and women in the world stood before him, all awaiting his command. He trained them well, each of them would never dream of betraying him. They were programmed to carry out his orders, to be loyal like a dog is to his master. He made them void of emotions, it would complicate things too much. They dealt in the job of death, you'd have to be heartless to kill the way they do.

"We are close to making this world ours, just a few more kills and I'll finally be able to reveal you to the world. No more hiding your true selves, you'll have a chance to live the life you were created to live. This is your chance to become the superior race amongst the humans. Everything that I'd done, I'd done for you. My family"

His babies just stood there, showing no emotions. A bunch of heartless dolls who would kill in a heartbeat if he commanded it. The idiots didn't know that he hadn't meant a word he said. Everything he was doing was for his own benefit, he was going to be a very powerful and rich man. It was so close in his reach he could almost taste it. He just had to be a little more patient, the world will soon be at his mercy.

+++++++++++++

"Maggie I have a meeting at 11, cancel the rest of my appointment for the day and make sure that I'm not disturb."

Riccardo fired off orders as Maggie's hand worked to write down everything he was saying. Again she was trailing behind, trying her best to keep up with his stride. She checked her appointment book when they got to her desk but couldn't see anything logged for 11am.

She turned a confused look on Riccardo.

"Um, I don't have anything on my calendar for 11, Rick."

"That because I didn't book it in. Just be sure to show Ms Winslow to my office when she arrived."

He grabbed the files that were waiting on Maggie's desk for him and walked off into his office, leaving her standing there staring at him.

Maggie found it strange that he didn't tell her about his meeting, but she didn't let it bother her too much. She reached for her phone and went about cancelling all his meetings.

The task took her about two hours, just ten minutes shy of 11am. Tired of sitting that long, Maggie got up to stretch her legs and maybe get herself and her boss some coffee. She moved out from her desk and the movement caused a few of the files on her desk to go flying.

"Shit!"

Maggie said, bending to retrieve the fallen files. While she was on the ground someone came to stand in front of her. She looked at the person's black stilettoes and her eyes travelled up long well-shaped legs to a smartly dress beautiful brunette who was smiling down at her.

Jumping to her feet very fast, she almost dropped the files again. She placed them on the desk beside her, straightening herself she offered the woman a smile.

"Can I help you?"

The women offer Maggie a pitiful look.

"Oh sweetie, I'm not the one who needs help. That hair colour is just dreadful and don't even get me started on your clothes."

Maggie stared slack-jawed at the woman who just insulted her, as she fished around inside of her bad for something. Seeming to have found what she was looking for, she smiled and handed Maggie a slick white business card with just a name and a number on it. Without thinking her hand came out accepting the card.

"You just give Donna a call, and she'll having looking like a new woman in no time."

What? Who was Donna? Maggie stared at the card, still shock by the rude woman, who was still talking.

"And don't you wait too long now sweetie. You must not subject the world to the disaster you are any longer."

Feeling a bit embarrassed and a lot irritated, Maggie gritted her teeth and forced a smile.

"Was there something else you wanted besides insulting me?"

The woman, whoever she was, she did not look fazed. She shifted her handbag from on hand to the next and smiled sweetly. Really? It was like insulting strangers was her super power and she was delighted to have it.

"Yes, I'm Ricky's 11 O'clock. I think he's expecting me.

Ricky? "Sure right this way."

Maggie led the woman to her boss's office and waited until she entered before closing the door. She wondered as to why the woman addressed her boss so informally and what business she would possibly have with him that he didn't inform her about it. She left the rude woman and her boss to conduct their meeting and went back to her job.

Maggie was about twenty minutes into her work when a voice startled her. Jumping, then closing her eyes with her hand held over her heart, she looked up.

"Sorry, Maggie I didn't mean to startle you."

Maggie smiled and Michelle.

"It's no problem, I should have been paying more attention to my surroundings. Did we have a lunch date today? I thought it was tomorrow?"

"Oh no, I've come to steal your boss away for an early lunch, is he in?"

Michelle asked looking at Riccardo's office door. She was in the neighbour and decided to surprise her husband and take him to lunch. They haven't had lunch together in such a long time, she thought that it would be nice for them to start back on a tradition that they did when they first got married.

Maggie smiled, relief that she didn't get their lunch date mixed up.

"He is in but he's with a client at the moment."

"Oh, is he going to be long? When does he break for lunch?"

Maggie glanced at the office door and frowned remembering the rude woman.

"He actually cleared all his appointment today for this one client, so I couldn't say how long he would be."

Michelle's eyes lit up with interest.

"Must be a really important client then."

"I wouldn't know. He didn't inform me of who she was." Maggie replied.

That peeked Michelle's curiosity. Who could this woman be that her husband would keep his dealings with her a secret from Maggie?

"Do you know her name, maybe I've met her before?"

Maggie was unsure about giving out that information even if it was to her boss's wife. She nibbled at her bottom lips as she thought about it and after a few more seconds she decided that there wasn't no harm in it.

"All Rick told me was that her name is Ms Winslow."

Michelle's shoulders went stiff upon hearing that name. Her eyes narrowed and she clenched her fist. She smiled at Maggie not wanting the other woman to feel uneasy.

"Gemma Winslow, tally curvy brunette in her early thirties? He cleared his entire day to be with her? Are you sure?"

Maggie got the feeling that she made a mistake by disclosing the woman's name.

"Yes."

She squeaked, wondering if her boss was going to fire her for not being a good secretary. After all her job was to keep secrets, hence the job title, secret-ary.

Seeing the worried look in her eyes Michelle gently placed her hand on Maggie's shoulder giving it a slight squeeze.

"Don't look so worried Maggie, Gemma is just an old friend I haven't seen in a very long time."

She removed her hand and smiled cheerfully at Maggie.

"Let you what, why don't you take an early lunch and I'll let myself into Rick's office. I'm just dying to see the look on Gemma's face when she sees me, it going to be fun catching up."

Maggie wasn't sure it was a good idea but Michelle looked genuinely happy to reunite with an old friend, so she accepted the early lunch. It didn't come from her boss, but it came from his wife so it counted, didn't it?

"Okay sure, let me just get my purse."

She gathered up her things and wave goodbye to Michelle and left, hoping she didn't just make a mistake.

+++++++++

Riccardo stood when Gemma Winslow entered in office. She looked as pristine as always. The suit she was wearing was hugging her body in places he knew too well. Places he's spent hours worshiping. She walked further into the room, her beautifully shaped hips swaying from side to side almost hypnotising him like it used to.

She came closer to him and he embraced her, breathing in her flowering scent. As the aroma filled his nostril it invoked memories he had long forgotten. She pulled back from their embrace and placed a kiss on his lips, lingering just a little too long.

"You are still the most handsome man I've ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes and hands on."

Her voice was silky soft and would probably send men mad with wanting. A very long time ago he was one of those men. Her body was like a calling card and he kept answering. However, that was before he met his innocent wife and was captivated by her beauty, her wide eye innocence and her intelligence.

He fell hard for Michelle, something Gemma couldn't understand. She had thought that she was going to be his wife and if Michelle hadn't come along and stole his heart the way she did, she probably would have been right.

"And you are still exceptional beautiful." He countered.

She sighed giving him a regretful look.

"I wish this was a social call Ricky but I'm afraid I have some troubling news."

He gestured to the chair opposite him and she took it. Returning to his own seat behind his desk he waited for her to continue.

"I would get into a lot of trouble if my supervisors ever found out that I was disclosing this information to you. I could lose my job and even get thrown in jail, I hope you understand this?"

Riccardo nodded his head. He knew all too well the seriousness of what she was doing for him and he was more than grateful for it. He would do everything in his power to make sure that her name never got mention as his source within the FBI.

"What have you found out Gemma?"

She reached into the bag she was carrying and retrieved a file. She placed it on the desk and he picked it up.

"I did a little digging like you asked me to, so far we don't have anything on the ghost killer. You're more informed on the matter than we are. What I did find during my digging was something I couldn't believe I've missed before. According the records I just handed you, a mole was placed in your company a few years back to observe you and report back to the bureau."

Riccardo flipped through the file, feeling his anger raise. When he find out who the traitor is he's going to make them pay dearly. He closed the file and slammed his hand down on his desk. Gemma didn't even so much as twitched.

"There's more."

Riccardo grunted. Great, he couldn't wait.

Gemma handed him another file. He waited for her to tell him what was in it but she just pointed to the file. He picked it up and started to go through it. What he felt before couldn't compare to the boiling rage he felt at that moment.

Pictures after pictures of his beautiful wife stared back at him. There were some written notes but his eyes couldn't focus to read them.

"They are following my wife? I don't want her involve in any of this. If they want to come after me then let them, but to involve my innocent wife is asking for war."

Gemma was still unfazed. Riccardo thought his wife was innocent but she thought different. The way Michelle just breezed into his life was not a coincidence, they bureau wouldn't be looking into her if they didn't thought as much.

Gemma took the file and pointed at a picture with Michelle having lunch with a good looking guy.

"You see this guy that your innocent wife is having lunch with? He is the lead detective in organised crime. Now tell me why your wife would be dining with him if she's so innocent?"

Riccardo refused to believe that his Michelle could be working with organised crime. There had to be a reasonable explanation why she had lunch with him and he was going to find.

Just as he was about to defend his wife, the door to his office opened and the woman in question walked in.