Distant memories

Her heart instantly chilled with a glint of anger flashing in her eyes. She had thought Alison was that one true friend who stood by her and didn't toss her aside like the rest of them but who was she kidding?

Alison deliberately picked her despite knowing that she lost everything and was living an honest life. She no longer had a powerful backing to protect her if she pulled off shit like this again but Alison purposefully approached her and tricked her into breaking the law.

There was no wealthy dad nor posh mother to protect her like Alison did. She must have been so stupid to have agreed to this. Alison played with her emotions and here she was dealing with the consequences thereafter.

"I am truly sorry. How about we work some sort of compensation," she said scratching the back of her head unable to look straight into those peach blossom eyes (a.k.a bedroom eyes).

"Sorry won't cut it," said the deep charming voice sending shivers down her spine. The man pulled down his tie as he leaned forward staring at her. He took out a golden case and a lighter from the side pocket of his waistcoat.

Quinn averted her gaze while biting her lip. She also knew sorry wouldn't cut it. This man was the ghost of the underworld so of course, saying sorry meant nothing especially to this man in front of her.

With a click, the lighter produced a small golden flame and the man lit the cigarette from the golden case. As soon as he lit it the strong fragrance of Suvariq cigarettes wafted into her nose. This was the brand she always smoked ever since she started smoking in high school but ever since things went south she never smoked it again.

When she raised her head she was met by the handsome face staring straight at her. The curtain of smoke wafting in the air blurred his bewitching eyes. Quinn's muscles tensed up as the man blew a puff of smoke in her face.

"Do you want to try it," he said with his head slightly tilted to the side. His words coupled with the sweet aroma of the cigarette drew her into a distant memory.

She had yet again slipped class at that time trying to save her lackey who had been cornered while he had gone to buy her the fries from the corner store outside school.

When she found him he was surrounded by three hooligans getting kicked on the ground. At that time she had rushed over like a righteous knight and beat the heck out of those hooligans.

Yes, they were tall guys almost twice her size but after enduring the harsh training from home she easily defeated them and send them running to their boss with a couple of bruises.

She suffered her own fair share of injuries and recalling how her grandfather would be angry if he saw her bruises she was fearful of the incoming punishment.

Thus she took out a Suvariq cigarette to calm her nerves. Wearing the exact same expression as the man in front of her she puffed a cloud of smoke in front of the skinny boy making him cough fervently.

In a low hoarse voice, she had asked, "Do you want to try it?" The boy had grasped his injured abdomen and shook his head in refusal. She didn't force him. She just got up and walked away and no matter how loud he called her name she ignored him.

As the distant memory faded away she showed a subtle smile as she stretched out her hand accepting the offer. The man's eyes flashed as he stared at her hand pinching the cigarette in between her slender fingers as she took a long drag. His heart felt a slight pang when he saw her trimmed nails with old nail polish.

The Quinn he remembered was always prim and proper whether it be her hair or nails. Quinn always looked on point but now… now things were different. Recalling that smile from earlier he asked, "What did you just think of?"

Quinn raised her head seeming a little confused. Leif took away the cigarette from her and asked again, "Just now you smiled. What did you think of."

"Uh…," she exclaimed while parting her lips and a stream of smoke escaped through her pink moist lips. She released a puff of smoke and shook her head saying, "It's nothing."

Leif's eyes darkened as he leaned back into his seat. He honestly thought she remembered him but it was only his wishful thinking. He took another long drag of the cigarette his chilly gaze transfixed on her making her feel ill at ease. She wanted to apologize again but to a man like Leif an apology was absolutely nothing but empty words.

She could only think of compensating him but what could she have to offer a man who held the entire world in the palm of his hands? Quinn bit her lip with the word compensation stuck in her throat but before she could say it the man stood up and grabbed his suit jacket before walking towards the door.

Quinn suddenly panicked and thoughtlessly said, "I can compensate you." The man's steps paused his back straight before glancing back at her.

"Miss Quinn what could I possibly want from you that I lack?" he asked his cold eyes piercing right through her revealing her vulnerability.

After saying such words the man turned away and left his steps powerful and overbearing. Quinn's heart clenched. Just now she saw a shadow of someone on his cold face but that familiar feeling was fleeting. She lowered her head pushing her hair back in frustration. This time she had messed up badly offending someone who shouldn't be offended.

Leif stepped out of the room and his two subordinates looked at each other feeling a little confused. They honestly thought he would ask more questions or something but the conversation was relatively short.

"Um… boss. What do we do with her?" asked Freya taking a casual glance at the figure sitting alone with a dejected appearance.

"Keep her overnight. I need to think," he said his expression cold with a layer of frost in his obsidian eyes. Despite this Freya could feel the rage laced within the man's voice which came to her as a surprise.

For all the years she had known Leif he was never an emotional person. No matter what it was he would never show any of his emotions. He was like a wandering soul with no care for the affairs of the world.

He had a good grip on his emotions and never showcased them to the world making it difficult for people to discern his mind. But now he was so mad that he let some of it slip out. Was it because of Alison? When you have been stalked so many times by an obsessed person even a rock would show some kind of emotion, right?

"Send Miss Bach back to her family immediately. Let them know that the next time she shows up in front of me she will be returned to them in pieces," he said before walking away.

Lars placed his hand on his chest and rubbed it while saying, "I most definitely felt that. It seems cousin is really angry this time."

Freya didn't know what to say. She simply watched his figure disappear her expression complicated.