CHAPTER 4

"Who ratted us out?" Steven asked, his eyes scanning the different faces of the members of X-habit.

He somehow knew it was useless because anyone who commits an offense or breaks a law was not likely to own up to it. But he still decided to ask anyway. Perhaps, the ferocity his voice carried would make the culprit speak up.

"I'm asking for the last time, who told the unknown gunmen who attacked us where our warehouse was located?" His eyes had narrowed into slits and he was slowly beginning to grit his teeth

When no one answered, he continued.

"You know, it's no other person than one of us because that warehouse was built underground which is difficult for some random gunmen to trace. So definitely, there's a mole amongst us and he should pray so damn hard to the Heavens that I don't get to fish him out because if I do, his death won't be so nice"

"Y'all saw how Thogg died?" He added

"This culprit, whoever you are, your death is gonna be way worse than his. Not Kane, not Iphan nor Baron will be responsible for your death. It will be I, Steven Chase who will send you to your early grave" He paused for a while and looked at their faces, making sure his words sinked in

"I'll have your flesh torn into so many pieces that even the vultures won't find any" An angry Steven said walking out but paused in his tracks and turned to look at their faces one more time

"And if ever you finally reconsider and decide to speak up without me fishing you out myself, I still won't spare you. Remind me to kill you when you do 'cause you shouldn't have snitched in the first place. Snitching is a sin and persons found guilty are sinners who deserve to be punished. I am no Priest whom you'll come to confess your sins to. I'll murder you without thinking twice" That said, Steven stomped out of the room in high dungeon.

"Hopefully, it's not you, you or you" Iphan said, pointing randomly at different men which stood upright, all dressed in black lapel suits with their hands locked behind their backs

He trailed behind Steven, Kane and Baron following behind.

•

Steven swiped the answer icon before placing his phone against his ear.

"Hello there. Steven Chase?" Came the voice from the other end

"Speaking. And you're?"

"This is Vandana Larson"

"Oh! Dana!" Steven exclaimed as her image crept into his head. He suddenly remembered what had happened between them the very first time they met and chuckled to himself.

"You finally called" He continued

"But after a week though" He added

"Yeah, and I'm sorry about that. This last week wasn't easy on me at all. I had pending demands which I had to attend to"

"It's fine. I totally understand"

"So, I called because I'd like us to meet in respect to our former agreement. I'm interested in patronizing your company. You fix a date for the appointment. As for me, Tuesday will be fine. I'll be free from around 10am till 2pm in the afternoon. What do you say?"

"Tuesday is fine, as well as the time frame. I'll just have my secretary include our appointment in my schedule for that day"

"Alright then. See you on Tuesday, Steven"

"Same here, Dana. Do have a nice evening" He hung up

•

"Good morning ma'am" Sabrina, Steven's secretary, a tall blonde with a slim figure stood to her feet, courtesying

"You must be Miss Vandana Larson?" She added

"Yes, that's me" Said a Vandana who was flanked on both sides with her aides, more of bodyguards.

She was dressed in an Yves Saint Laurent suit with a pair of matching pants and a pair of stilettos. Her Dolce and Gabbana designer handbag swung back and forth in her hand as she flipped her hair, answering the questions Sabrina asked.

"Sir Steven is in. You may go in now ma'am" Sabrina said, as she tapped on a button which made the door to Steven's office give way and gestured into the office

"Thank you" Vandana said, as she signaled her aides to wait outside

"Okay then. The documents will be ready as well and the delivery will be done in no time" Steven who was backing Vandana hung up before turning around to meet a Vandana whose eyes were scanning his office

He was confident that her impression of not only his company, but his office was great. With a net worth which was at billions and still counting, he had done nothing but polish his office to the best standard there ever was.

"Good morning Dana. It's nice meeting you again" Steven stretched his hand out for a hand

"Same here, Steven. And I must say, your company is really enigmatic. Magnificent, even. And your office? It's way too beautiful. I'm impressed"

"If I say I'm not flattered, then I'd be lying Dana. I am flattered. And thank you for the compliments"

"They're all statements of fact, Steven and you're welcome"

"So, let's get down to business, shall we?"

"My bad, Dana. Do have a seat" He gestured to the seat in front of him before plonking into his executive chair

"So, to start with, I'll be showing you some samples I've produced" Steven began switching on a tabloid and passing it to Vandana

Seconds ticked into minutes and minutes into hours as both parties shared a rapport as they went through the samples the tabloid displayed.

"So, Steven I just dropped by to-" A voice came through the door of Steven's office but suddenly paused

Steven and Vandana raised their heads to the direction of the door to check who the voice belonged to. It was Alexandra.

"Oh! Lexa! You're here!" Steven exclaimed as he adjusted in his seat, his attention now on Alexandra. But Alexandra paid no attention to him as all her attention was focused on Vandana.

"Seriously? Her again?" Alexandra blurted out before she could even stop herself

"Lexa?" Steven's brows creased in confusion

"Ohm, I'm really sorry. Sorry about that. I didn't mean for it to come out that way. Anyways, I'll get going now"

"Let me just drop this before I leave" She added as she advanced towards Steven's office desk and dropped a stack of folders

"I just thought I should help Sabrina out. She was about bringing those to you"

"Thank you. But Lexa-" Steven was saying before Alexandra cut him short

"You seemed to be busy. We'll just talk later" She said and quickly hurried out of Steven's office before the latter could even say further.

A Vandana who had been quiet all along chuckled on the inside of her after seeing the little drama that had just happened. Steven let out a low sigh before sinking back into his chair, for he had stood up.

"I'm sorry about that, Dana. I hope you're not upset in any manner?" Steven asked as he turned to face Vandana

"Of course not. I'm only scared that if she ever comes again to see us both, she might rip out my hair from its follicles" Vandana said and afterwards laughed at her own joke. Steven only chuckled.

"Of course she wouldn't do that. Lexa isn't like that"

"Mhm-hmm" Vandana hummed

"This Lexa lady, is she your girlfriend?"

"I hope you don't mind me asking" Vandana added

"Of course I don't mind. And no, she's not my girlfriend. Just a highschool friend"

"Oh! You know, a few minutes back there, she looked more like a mother hen protecting her chicks from any wild hawk. You're sure she doesn't have a crush on you? Because most ladies who act that way, tend to have a hidden crush on the male factor in the picture. She could be hiding hers for all you know"

"Well, I don't think Lexa has a crush on me, let alone hiding it. Besides, I'm no chick"

"If you say so. And yeah, you are a chick. To Lexa"

"Then you're the hawk" Steven said and both burst into gales of laughter

"So, can we continue from here?" Steven asked after their laughter had died down

"Yeah, sure. So that we can wrap things up quickly. Lunch time will soon be over. At least, we could get lunch when we're done"

•

"And finally you picked up" Steven said, adjusting his phone from his left ear to his right ear

"After two days" He added

"Well, I've been busy," Alexandra who was the recipient, replied, rolling her eyes.

She hissed afterwards when she realized that Steven didn't and wouldn't be able to see the eye roll.

"Busy? Or you've been avoiding me on purpose? Lexa, you didn't pick up my calls for two days straight"

"And I just told you why, didn't I Steven?"

"Seriously now?"

"I was just busy Steven, that's all"

"Anyways" Steven began ignoring her lies which were obvious

"You came to my office on Tuesday for something, right?"

"Never mind. That's now in the past. Today's Thursday"

"Lexa, I know you. You didn't just come to drop those folders. You came for something else"

"And what could that be?"

"It's either you brought me lunch or wanted to take me out for one"

Alexandra let out a short laughter before replying.

"Oh my! Why would I ever want to take you out for lunch, Steven?"

"That's simple! It's because you have a huge CRUSH on me" Steven laid emphasis on Crush

"Steven!" Alexandra yelled, laughing heartily at the same time

"See? I finally made you laugh"

"Oh please!"

"There's no need denying it. I do know what buttons to tap when it comes to you and you know it"

"Whatever, Steven" Alexandra said, still laughing

"So, how about we go out on Sunday evening?"

"Are you asking me out on a date or trying to make it up to me?" Alexandra asked, expectations dancing in her voice

"Both, perhaps"

"Alright then. So, where will we be going?"

"I'm still thinking though. I'll drop some pictures of the places I have in mind in your inbox on Instagram and you'll do a pick of where we should go"

"Alright then, I'll be waiting"

"See you on Sunday"

"Same here, Lexa" Steven said before hanging up