The Choice

"You better have something for me, you disgusting fool!" David was piqued by the slight hint of cheerfulness in Ivan's eyes.

"I...I...I... I'm working on it, Mr. Kingston." Ivan stuttered as he hid his trembling hands behind his back. "These people are good at covering their tracks. They are uncommonly skilled. But since they are not aliens, I promise you, we will find them and I will personally hand them over to you."

"Isn't that the same line you have been quoting to me for months now, you pathetic loser?" David snarled.

"You have thirty minutes to come up with useful information. Otherwise, I'll castrate you and feed your balls to my hounds. And when I'm done with you, I'll pay a nice visit to your family. Even your pet animal would not be spared."

Ivan's heart began slamming against his chest as he watched David leave. His mouth turned dry and his chest tightened at the thought of David's threat. His face was beaded with cold perspiration as he dished out frantic orders to his team of investigators.

"Listen up!" He boomed. "Give me names! Give me samples! Give me motives! if there is any little thread, pull it, until you get something. I want the list of every guest that attended the party, like yesterday! Secure every evidence obtained. Give me something people.

David walked close to the badly destroyed Artlyn Palace and scrutinized the level of damage in agony. This was one of his most prized structures and now those soon-to-be slaughtered miscreants dared to lay their filthy fingers on it. He breathed down his volcanic fury.

"Whoever these people are, I'm going to make them pay dearly for this," he vowed out loud. "I'm going to enjoy killing them." He turned around and walked towards his nearby underground structure.

"Mr. Kings, the red diamond was stolen." One of David's secret investigators informed him as he stepped into his underground heavily fortified office close to the Artlyn Palace.

"What!" David's eyes flashed in fury.

"Where is the general?" He inquired in a deep and terrifying tone. "I don't care if he is severely injured or on his way to the hospital. Get him here!" He said between gritted teeth.

"T...t...the general died in the blast, Sir. Bits and pieces of his body were littered everywhere in his office. I think the bomb was planted there." The investigator's mouth twitched in horror as he watched David pull out a golden pistol and cork it.

BANG!

The investigator's lifeless body dropped on the floor with a heavy thud. His forehead oozed with fresh blood that flowed gradually on the tiled floor.

There was complete silence as everyone in the room feared that they may be next to suffer a cruel fate from their piqued boss.

"That would teach you a lesson for giving so much bad news at a stretch." David hissed and spat at the dead man's corpse. "Take that fool out of my sight and clean up the mess!"

"Yes, boss!" Two security details quickly jumped to the task.

"Also, send a message to the general's family for messing up my evening party. Take pictures after giving them a beautiful death and send it around, as a warning to anyone that fails on their task." He ordered and went into his inner office to calm his demons.

-----

Phoenix stepped out of Dex's car and smiled mischievously. "Hmm... So my lovesick puppy is a wealthy young man? Nice! These three days are going to be fun!" She mused incoherently.

"You have a nice mansion, pretty boy." she genuinely complimented Dex, who smiled and said a simple,

"thank you".

Dex's luxurious and elegant mansion was located on the outskirts of Duras city. It was the only house in a serene, peaceful, and lonely area. It was perfect for a quiet and discreet life. The mansion was equipped with captivating water fountains at the entrance, swimming pools, an enchanting garden, and a helipad. It also had a wide expanse of land for various outdoor games and stables for horses.

Phoenix walked towards the water fountain by the entrance to the mansion as though she owned it. With each step she took, she purposely flaunted her hourglass figure. When she got to the fountain, she slowly turned around and placed one hand on the fountain's concrete water basin. Striking a lustful pose, like a superstar model about to be captured for a Playboy magazine, she signaled a totally mesmerized Dex with her forefinger.

Like a hypnotized zombie, Dex came forward and stopped in front of her. His heart was thumping loudly as though it would jump out of his chest in the next second. His whole body ached to see the beauty under the mask. He felt like wrapping his hands around her waist and professing sweet love to her.

Phoenix smirked devilishly at Dex's longing look. "Some men are so fragile in the presence of a beautiful lady". She gently stroked his chin. "You are lusting over me even when you have no idea of my true identity. I could be a serial killer, yet you brought me down to your home, without questions. Don't you think you're been a fool?"

Dex was unperturbed by her words. He gently took her hand, igniting fireworks on his face and planted a soft kiss on it. "Please, may I see your face?" He gazed lovingly into her sparkling eyes.

"I rarely like men, and anyone who sees beneath this mask dies without knowing what killed them. However, I'll make an exception for you. Do you know why?"

Phoenix's deep hatred for her uncle and the male assassin who assaulted her when she was just seven years old, transcended to the male folk. Over time, she mastered the art of craftiness by using lust and seduction as a potent weapon for assassination.

Dex looked at her with a burning curiosity. "You are joking when you say you kill men, right?"

"You will find out soon enough if you decide to hang around me," she chuckled softly. "So do you want to know why I will make an exception for you?"

Dex, unsure of what to say simply nodded his head in response.

"Good boy!" She pulled her hand free from his hold and released him from her seductive charms.

"Because I'm beginning to like you. You seem like one of the good ones. So..." She slowly walked towards the mansion gate and stopped a few inches away from him. She turned around, revealing an icy cold stare. "I'll give you a choice: Number one, I take off my mask and you get to see my face and suffer the consequences. Number two, I walk away now and you never get to see me again. What number will it be pretty boy?"

"Number one." Dex didn't think about the threatening clause behind the first option as he quickly made his choice.

"Hmm... Is that your final answer?" Phoenix walked back to him and stared directly into his eyes. "Because, once I take off my mask, there's no going back. You will be in for a long and bumpy ride."

"Take it off..." Dex reiterates, sounding like he was referring to something else than the mask. His eyes glinted with deep longing as he gazed into her glimmering eyes.

"As you wish, pretty boy," she slowly took off her mask revealing the face of an angelic beauty. As if that was not enough to mesmerized the shamelessly gawking Dex, she carefully removed the hairpin holding her updo butter blonde highlighted brown hair.

Temporarily shutting her eyes, she shook her head from side to side, causing the wavy hair to flutter freely before cascading down her shoulders. She batted her long beautiful lashes severally as she opened her sensational hazel eyes. She gently licked her full and sumptuous lips. Then she softly bit down her bottom lips causing Dex to drool over her like a dog in heat. Her Olive skin tone complimented the golden highlight of her natural brunette wavy hair.

"Close your mouth, pretty boy," she smirked devilishly as she lifted a finger and shut Dex's open mouth. "You don't want the night flies to camp in them, do you?" She giggled and walked away from him.

Dex stood transfixed on a spot for ten seconds before he got back his senses. He shook his head to cast out the hypnotic spell that Phoenix placed on him before turning around to face her.

She turned her head slightly backward and gave him a lopsided grin. "You're making this too easy for me, please lead the way."

Dex's eyes sparkled as he smiled and walked up to her. "Did you just say, please? I think I must be dreaming!" He teased. "This is the first kind word you've said to me all night. And I pray you use more of such words."

"In your dreams!" Phoenix scoffed and nudged him to lead the way. "Do you live alone or is there someone I should be worried about," she quizzed as she quickly scanned her environment.

"I'm live alone for now except for the mansion staff. I'm also single and available if you'll have me." He winked at her.

"Keep dreaming!" She sneered.