1 Golden pheasant

Life is bullshit.

Sometimes it's nice, like... winning the lottery, marrying the love of your life, a new life joining the family, and so on and so forth.

But sometimes, it can be a son of a bitch, in so, so many ways.

Well, life was a huge stick up the ass to Everleigh, Eve, Lee, whatever nick-names she had ever received and the story behind them, they belong in the past and will stay there, for now, so and we won't be revisiting that just yet.

Anyways, allow me to start from the beginning. Where It all started when she began having those dreams of hers, as she would call it "it was a childhood that would take a decade off your life—ah! my heart pressure!" On that one shitty Monday morning.

A youthful 16 year old girl stood there. With her dark cocoa locks, cutting off above her shoulders in waves. Her iris' were a similar colour to her hair, but darker, deeper, so much darker that they could enrapture your soul and reel it in without your resistance of any kind. Her skin was milky, and almost fresh. She wore a delicate light, pale yellow summery dress that reached her knees, it indicated her youthfulness.

Yet contrasting her appearance her face was full of rancour watery droplets threatened to spill once again from her already tear stained face, drowning her delicate makeup with its streams.. "Are you bring genuine... A-Are you being serious?" She blubbered in incredulity at her mother's words.

"You heard me." The woman nearing her early forties spoke. "Dear, this is the fourth time this month. We have spent ages trying to arrange them for you! Yet your own immaturity can't let you see that it is for your own good!"

"My... immaturity? Are you joking? All of these events is just your pathetic attempt at trying to pimp me off for your god be damned connections." Everleigh bit out, exasperated that the people who barely even raised her could suggest anything at all about her 'immaturity'. Arranging countless blind dates and social events, yet cannot even raise her properly without the 24/7 assistance from many, and let me tell you, very many nannies.

"Oh suck it up! Its for the good of the family can't you see that through the blimdfold of your naivety?!" Everleigh's mother roared at her once again.

"...."

"...Wait. No- Everleigh that's not what I-"

"Suck it up?" Everleigh repeated back at her. "You've been slapping me around as many events as possible, forcing me to clasp myself to as many people of power as possible. And I ask– no, I beg you to just let me breathe, just for a moment. And- And you can't even grant me that kind of mercy? You tell me to- to suck it up?" She paused to allow her words to sink in, as she pinched the bridge of her nose, another way to conceal her expressions, her tears. "Do you even know what they're calling me?..." Hot tears started to stream down her face once more, as she looked up at those workaholics she had to call 'mother and father'.

The man standing beside the woman spoke up (for once) "Evie you know that's not what your mother meant."

"Then what the fuck did she mean?!" She glared at him astonished that he could take her side right now despite the circumstances. Her father's eyes widened at the use of her language. "Right, no I'm sorry I forgot. You don't give a shit. You never did. All you care about are my brothers, men who can carry on the company in your place. Tell me is that internalised misogyny or is it just me who thinks so? I'm talking about both of you here." Retorted back Everleigh, chuckling dryly at the looks on their faces;

absolutely nonplussed at her sudden outburst, no clue on how to react (how to make her calm down), they believed that usually she is quiet and introverted, though that may be due to the fact they don't (and never tried to) spend any genuine time with her.

"Why the hell have me around. if you don't even care for me." Everleigh looked up into the eyes of her parents, her heart almost completely heartbroken.

A now young woman's eyes snapped open as she folded upright, coughing and gasping from that nightmare. "Jesus. I thought that fuckin' nightmare stopped coming 'round ages ago." muttered our 26 year old Everleigh under her breath as she sat up from her bed. Stroking through her hair that reached her lower back; as she slowly lifted herself up from her bed. Her aching muscles screeching at her from the movement.

This Everleigh contrasted significantly from the one in the dream, her hair had reached near her lower half, her eyes were soulless and cold, fully heartbroken. Her body was littered with scars you would only notice if you knew what you were looking for. She had grown in height also, she was now 5'9.

She wore tight black shorts that almost entirely revealed her long slightly lean legs, and a tight light grey tank top that only buttoned down at the chest area, it partially revealed an intricate tattoo of flowers from her left shoulder to all the way down her spine, the tattoo was the weaving of flowers and thin vines, ranging from peonies, african lilies, cherry blossoms, forget-me-nots, crocus' and almond blossoms. In the middle is a bundle of amaryllis'. But if you looked close enough you would recognise that the tattoo is coating a jagged, healed blade gash that also scales her back with the tattoo. In the middle a gunshot wound slightly off from her spine, concealed by a broad leaf.

She picked up her phone with her calloused and scarred hands scrolling through her messages from her drunk boss from last night's trip to the bar.

Boss: [Heyyyy Amesss pick up the phoneeee. Cmonnnnnnn]

Boss: [?]

Boss: [I thonk I gor stuck in thr sewers]

Boss: [HELp I nEed to take a pisssz]

Boss:[I couldn't hold it...]

Everleigh's eyebrow twitched recalling the events from last night's visit to the bar. The first thing she thought she must do is to screenshot the messages before her boss deletes them. Everleigh cackled as she did exactly that, not for blackmailing purposes in any way.

Everleigh her phone down, as she got dressed, brushed her teeth and sorted out her diabolical bed head into a long braid with wisps of hair poking out around the back of her neck, forehead and ears.

She exited her bedroom and then shut her door behind her and then looked over her penthouse. On one wall, the windows stretched across the entirety of it, from the ceiling and all. Behind the windows was a large balcony tiled in white marble. With pool and a section in the corner for a hottub fitting around a 6 people, with 2 brach chairs and large potted plants in two of the corners (near the windows). The grand total of the balcony was encircled by a firm glass barrier that reached slightly below her elbow.

Inside the penthouse there was a sleek ivory white grand piano tucked in the corner, behind it was the ending of the windows, and a section covered in hanging plants in hanging pots. And a trellis with wisteria vines entertaining and twisting within it, scaling the wall from half of the wall (to the inside balcony) to the floor clearly cared for frequently.

She headed to the kitchen which resided next to the plant submerged wall and underneath the large 'inside balcony', it pushed outwards from it, creating extra space. The kitchen had a medium sized kitchen island, the while kitchen was glazed in grey and white, with black floor tiles.

Above the kitchen and garden-wall section. Was a large balcony-like setting. It overlooked the entirety of the penthouse from up high with a simple wooden stepped staircase on the left, leading up to access it, a long metal bar to hold each step, the platform was a small library area, holding 3 bookcases and a cushioned rocking chair, next to it a small lamp-lit desk. The staircase left much room beneath it for the bathroom.

In the middle of the penthouse was two dark grey sofas that face eachother, one with a corner and the other with a pouffe. Inbetween them was a light grey rectangle-shaped rug with a dark brown coffee table that sat upon it On the left wall was a streamlined 55 inch flat screen tv, securely attached to the wall. On the tv's left stood the black door exiting her penthouse apartment, which would lead to a lengthy , red carpeted hallway, leading to only two doors, the elevator and staircase.

As she prepared her breakfast (avocado and eggs on toast with passionfruit juice) she got another message on her phone.

[You have 1 new message from: Unk^£&#*,,÷*nown]

Everleigh clicked on the notification with a dark smirk knowing exactly what she was about to recieve.

Unk^£&#*,,÷*nown: [Name: Dante Clyborne.

Info: 27 years old.

Male.

Black hair, dark-orangeish light brown eyes, bronze tanned skin, 6'3 in height.

Described to be 'devastatingly handsome' by many people, including men.

Personality: Eccentric. known to switch up his own personality when dealing with certain people.

Time limit: 366 days

Reward: 1,20,000

(Contacter has requested the first month to prepare the money)]

Everleigh's face darkened significantly when she read the first line. 'Boss knows I don't like getting work on the weekend dammit, makes my blood pressure get worked up. Must be a real golden pheasant.'

She spoke her thoughts aloud. "Clyborne. hm? Where have I heard that name?" She then discarded the thought right after, uncaring of it. What's the point when they're going to be hunted? They'll be gone eventually so there's no use to keep them in the back of you're brain.

That's the best mentality in her line if work.

Glimpsing at the time limit Everleigh got a bit pissed off 'A year? Is the contractor fucking with me?' Everleigh's eye twitched but she got over it quickly. She counted her pros and cons and then decided that she'll not so subtly request a bonus if she completes her hunt sooner that later. She grinned at that thought.

She finally saw her reward and gasped.

"Holy fuck...-ing yes!!" She cheered enthusiastically. Already thinking up her prices for her bonus. A mini auction going off in her brain topping eachother based off the length of time.

"Yeah. Two weeks will be plenty." She chuckled.

She grabbed her plate and drink and sat at her sofa, grabbing the tv remote that sat upon the coffee table. Replacing it with her breakfast at the side.

She removed the back of the remote to find the batteries and a small black switch hidden in the corner of it. She clicked it and a key pad flipped open suddenly from the coffee table, she put in her code. And a lengthy section of the coffee table slid open, three thin computer screens rising from it. A wireless keyboard and mouse flipped open, replacing another section of the table.

She leaned back on her sofa, a sigh escaping her mouth. She reached her tall glass of passionfruit juice, took a sip and had a bit from her toast. She put them back in their place, and then cracked her knuckles.

Feeling the air in the joints of her hands pop, she spread her hands over the keyboard, she then got to work. "This golden pheasant better be worth my time." She smirked.

*****

"Mr. Clyborne?"

"Hm?" Questioned the man, phasing out of his endless thoughts.

"I asked for conclusion...? Whether you would... buy... the shares..." Said unintelligently by the frustrated 'slightly' obese man nearly reaching the peak of his patience. He stood there with a projected (finished) presentation behind him.

'Your just handsome. don't get ahead of yourself brat. A boy wet behind the ears will make this company crash sooner than later.' The obese man's eye twitched following from his thoughts.

"Ah. yes...."

"...."

Silence filled the meeting room as their CEO thought over the advantages and disadvantages of this project as his hand brushed against his nose as the woman and even a few men swooned over him. Imprinting this innocently sexy image in their minds. In an overbearing tone, the exquisitely shaped man spoke "Hm. Me and my board have decided-"

Just as the obese man started to get his hopes up "-To not sponsor this project. Apologies Mr. Takerman, but I have rejected this project is because I cannot see much flouration from the results. For one, the the material's expenses are not exactly in demand or easy to access... and just much more unfavourable circumstances. If you would like to review the rest of my reasons for my decision, than please, have the pleasure of knowing that my assistant is not available. " -and were inevitably crushed, smeared all over, got hit by a truck, recarinated, once again died, started to rotting under the scorching sunlight and then on its deathbed, got the reaper to give it a reproduction-threatening wedgie, and then thrown to suffer in the 7th circle of hell.

This was not exaggerated at all.

The Apollo-like man stood and shook Tackerman's hand within his stupor "Thank you for your time. But I dont see any further business between us. Truly a pleasure to meet you Mr. Takerman." His last sentence was subtlety laced I'm sarcasm, but it was all forgotten by the blinding cheery grin he gave. It only his assistant knew his hidden disdain, but the so-called 'white Knight' act must go on.

Reason being? Because this man was the CEO of Clyborne industries. Skipping all the stuff about his overwhelming, overbearing, little brother-lifting handsomeness let's just cut to the chase and say he's an extremely important man who has nation leaders kissing his ass.

As he draped his coat over his shoulders he strided out of the conference office with a pressuring gaze that makes you have he urge of that you would do anything to impress this unrealistic entity.

As his assistant caught up with his long strides he informed "Sir. Today you have no more work to finish as of currently. My suggestion is that you head back to your hotel and take a rest. You've been working all week."

"Yeah. Thanks Callum I'll head there now. And stop calling me 'sir' it's freaking me out." Replied Dante with a disapproving glare jokingly.

"Apologies SIR but your my BOSS it's inappropriate." Callum answered back but with an amused smirk but displeased squinted eyes.

"Are you still pouting over the fact that your girlfriend only dated you to get close to me? I told you that it's not my fault that the flesh on my face is pleasing to the eyes." Snapped back Dante boasting about his handsomeness once again.

"Asshole. I actually liked her you know."

"Yeah, Yeah. She was a bitch anyway her aim was me the whole time, you dodged a blazing scarlet flag from the battlefield, let's go back to our hotel suites and take a rest. You surely need it." Dante said this as he said into his car and Callum into the driver's seat.

"I suppose."

*****

As Everleigh finished researching Dante Clyborne she now knew what she needed to efficiently get the job done. Its been 6 days since she began and her coffee table was littered with take-out packets and boxes, beside them were stapled sheets flying across the sitting area, all over the coffee table, even both of the sofas and a few on the floor, all full of information Dante Clyborne. 'Controlled chaos' as she called it.

She stretched and stood, popping a coca-cola lollipop into her mouth.

"Nice to meet you, my golden pheasant."