03. Meet The First Client

"Well, here's the document. It's only a code green since you will be accompanying Soren to show him the ropes," Henry informed, dropping a thin brown file at the edge of the table.

Reya leaned in, reaching out for the file and immediately realized he was a bit too close to Soren who was sitting in front of him. He cleared his throat and quickly retracted back, his eyes darting around as he opened the file. It was a code green but strangely, there was no picture or any name entailing as to who their client is. Usually, code greens are usually relaxed and you learn a fair amount about the client on the assignment as well. Reya looked up at his boss inquisitively, as there were only the job requirements listed on the document and a bunch of rules regarding a non-disclosure agreement.

"It is a code green but with special requirements." Henry explained, gesturing towards Soren. Reya immediately passed the file along to the new recruit as Henry continued, "The client wants to remain anonymous but I'm sure that you understand what this means. Whatever happens during the assignment will be immediately forgotten after its completion. Of course, Reya, you are already familiar with this but I hope you will get Soren to understand what it means."

"Understood, sir."

"Here is your pager." Henry threw a thin capacitive glass screen object on the table. It was an interactive screen that can only communicate limited messages with other similar devices. It was handed to the client as a means of communication and would be collected back when the assignment was over. All messages sent through the pager were encrypted and the messages would be self-destructed within five seconds of their opening.

"Good, now any questions?"

Soren looked up, and shook his head, "None."

"Well, even if you have one, I suggest you take it to Reya. He's your supervisor now. I'll make sure he will be available to be consigned with you for this month."

"Excuse me?" Reya blurted out, his eyes wide with surprise and his brows lifted. He wasn't expecting to babysit a new kid, not especially one who made him feel uneasy. Actually, he wasn't planning on babysitting anyone or having any sort of responsibility for that matter. The night life was already hard enough on him and he had a sensitive deposition regarding his senses. Sure, all Lycans had enhanced senses but his was particularly susceptible to the point that it drove him to have migraines. He was planning to take it slow, maybe even take a week off when full moon approaches. Now how was supposed to hang about the office showing this newbie around? On the bright side, it meant that he was getting a more relaxed schedule as he won't have to take on wild code red assignments. He could even ditch work and let the newbie do his own thing. He took a look at Soren, and thought to himself that he didn't particularly look inexperienced. Look at that body, he has obviously trained somewhere else before.

Soren, feeling the back of his neck prickle, turned to look at Reya who was staring right at him. Reya frowned and looked away awkwardly when Soren stared back at him blankly. This new fella seemed peculiar and strange. He wasn't friendly nor was he appearing anywhere near hostile. He had an aura of a statue that could just stand in the corner without any interaction. He was lifeless.

"Okay, dismissed! Send Levi and Jamie in on your way out." Henry turned his chair around, staring out of the window as he drew the air of finality over the room.

Soren quietly followed Reya as they headed out of the two-storeyed building and towards the parking spot. The ground was dipped in darkness as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon and there was complete silence prevailing across the parking lot as the other members had not come out yet. Reya sighed as he approached his company car, relishing the complete silence and neutral smell meeting his senses as he took in a deep breath. The assignment was right in the middle of the city and he knew that his senses would soon be occupied with the constant chaos reigning in a cityscape alone with the rancid smell of something unidentified that always seemed to hang around. Reya hated the city but he couldn't always avoid it. He had to make a living.

"You don't have to do this." Soren spoke up as soon as Reya beeped his car unlocked.

Reya came to a halt, holding the car door open with one hand as he held Soren critically.

"And I am supposed to listen to you, why?"

"I know you don't want to do this as well."

"Well, I don't. But we don't always get away with whatever we want, do we?"

"I don't need someone supervising me. If anything, I don't see the reason as well. You can go off somewhere and I will inform the boss that you were on duty."

"What?" Reya knitted his brows, shifting his weight over to his other feet, "Are you really telling me to fuck off somewhere else?"

"I wouldn't put it that way but the general idea conveyed is the same."

Reya scoffed, what? General Idea? What general idea? This kid was just straight up telling him to get lost on the first day of the job

"I am the superior here, I have a good ten years before you so watch your mouth. Get in the car, I am showing you what you're supposed to do and how you're supposed to do it. And you're not talking to me in such a manner ever again. Do you get away with that attitude among your pack? If it was me, I'd have you straightened immediately and that is exactly what I will do if I hear that tone again."

Soren followed Reya with his eyes as the older man entered the car. Even now, there was no distinct emotion exposed on his face and he appeared as stoic as ever. The car revved its engine as Reya turned the electric engine on and he peeked his head out of the window.

"You coming or are you going to start whining?"

Soren stared silently at Reya.

The car drove off the parking lot with a dash, quickly leaving tire marks on the concrete as it skidded off into the highway.

"Read the document," Reya said, glancing briefly at Soren who sat on the passenger seat, "Tell me the fulfilments.

The rustle of paper filled the car as it drove into the avenue street, whizzing past the trees in a speed that Soren was sure that it wasn't acceptable and they were surely breaking road rules. But again, he didn't exactly care.

"The client wants us to accompany him to dinner. It's a private meeting and we are to stand by outside the room with no questions asked for as long as the meeting goes on."

"Hmm, that's all?"

"Yes."

"Damn, Levi must have it easy with his code greens and yellows." Reya muttered under his breath, pressing on the accelerator as he glanced at his watch. The assignment started at 6:30. They had 20 minutes to reach there, "Hold tight, we are going full speed."

Soren felt himself pushed back against his seat and his eyes narrowed at the winds slashing at his face as the car zoomed past the scenery at 120mph. Within minutes, they could see the bright billboard that read "Welcome to Glyswing City" and Reya showed no signs of slowing down as he sped through.

***

Reya clicked his tongue and rubbed a finger in his ear as the ruckus of the city market thundered against his ears. Vampires had heightened senses too but of course, they could control it, they were higher beings. Of course, not to add, the stench of Vampires that violated his olfactory glands so nauseatingly that he wished he was hanging off a cliff instead. He rocked his leg as the two of them stood at the designated meeting spot—right opposite at the entrance of a high-end Michelin star restaurant, Savour. The street was a hotspot for rich Vampires, lined with tantalizing restaurants with lavish decor and strict policies, luxurious clubs and designer spots for shopping. The place was brimming with spoiled entitled vampires clawing to find a way to break the law in the most expensive way possible.

Reya took a sneaky look at the man beside him, he'd have to say that he was surprised when Soren didn't even break through his taciturn facade when the car was going 120mph. This was the first that Reya had ever encountered. This man was cold and crass with his tone, and he didn't seem to have any tact at all. But yet despite it all, Reya found himself getting more curious about this Lycan. He wondered what would make Soren lose his cool since he appeared so unaffected by anything.

Their respective pagers both buzzed in their pockets, signaling that the corresponding pager was within vicinity. Reya straightened up, going through a check with all his equipment, his earpiece, his gun and whether all the GPS trackers placed on his body were still intact.

"Check your gear." Reya instructed silently, making a lookout for their client.

"Done." Soren swiftly replied, not looking at Reya as he kept his head straight on.

Something about his stance and the way he held himself bled discipline. Was he in the military? Reya wondered, looking around, he wouldn't exactly be surprised. Lycans were largely exploited for their physique with manual work. Anything that sort of required the need of manual labor would immediately reach out to Lycans and they were barely paid for it. The economy was basically only favorable to vampires and humans.

The scent of a pureblood vampire wafted under his nose and Reya zeroed in on a fair man who had just stepped up in front of them. He immediately recognized the knowing signs of a client and turned to inform Soren.

"Two o'clock, white hair in a black coat."

Soren laid his eyes on the man Reya pointed out and suddenly, his entire body went through a reset. He stiffened up, familiarity striking him like a club and his hand swiftly slid next to his holster, gripping his gun as he snarled, baring his teeth.

The man stopped in front of them. His face was hidden under a mask and sunglasses but Soren knew too well.

He knew too well and he sure wished that he didn't.