Don't be stubborn

He suddenly looked in Kareena's direction. The latter felt her heart skip a bit. Was he about to confirm with her if May was telling the truth? These were her lies, she wanted to have nothing to do with them. And she was not sure if she could lie with those piercing grays practically seeing through her soul.

"Do you have a dog?" His deep cello like voice snapped Kareena out of her thoughts.

She blinked once, twice. "...Yes."

Kareena expected more questions from him but none came. Instead, his impassive expression seemed to relax a bit. May and Kareena exchanged a look, they could not figure him out at all.

"Mr. Walker", Kareena decided to focus on the matter at hand. "When did you arrive in the country?"

"About a month.... and a week ago", he answered, recalling from memory.

"Who knew about that?" 

"My assistant. I had business to take care of."

"Your assistant?" 

"Trust me, Kent is too..." he sighed, unable to find nicest way to say timid. "Anyway, I only told my father I was in the country two weeks ago."

"Hmm", she stood up from the sofa as she fell in thought. 

"Something like this cannot be planned in under two weeks. And for them to get their hands on those guns just when we had them tested out...?" May reasoned, practically voicing Kareena's thoughts.

"Flame, I need intel on the dead culprits, names, background, their friends, family, who they've met and why they've met them.... start from the past six months. I need everything", Kareena barked. 

"Roger!" 

They said dead men tell no tales, that was probably what this Mastermind was hoping for. But Kareena was not going to leave no stone unturned. She was going to get to the bottom of things. 

"And the traffic issue?" 

"Uh....boss. From the looks of things, my guess is they put a tech on this job. But I'm looking, I'll only be sure once I get results."

"Good." She took her phone and dialed for Kendra. "Get forensics to the scene. I need to know what killed those men."

"Already on it. I thought you'd want to know and I conveyed the message as soon as we spoke", Kendra spoke. "Although, they or should I say He, did not fail to express how much he would have liked it if was you directly making the call and not me. K, how long are you going to-"

Kareena cut the call before she could hear the end of that sentence. A chuckle escaped May's lips only to receive a glare from her best friend that forced her to clam her lips shut. Claude's brows furrowed seeing this exchange. Was Hunter telling the truth?

Knock! Knock!

Claude got up from his seat and moved to get the door. An older man in a suit stood before him. 

"Good morning, sir." The man started, earning a nod from Claude. "I have a message from your father. He accepted a dinner appointment with your uncle and his family and would like you to be present."

"Where?"

"In the main dining hall."

"Alright."

"And he has requested for Miss Blackrose's presence in his office. Right now."

Kareena looked to the door upon hearing the message. He must have heard the news and she could already guess how worried he would be. Uneasiness crept up from the pit of her stomach. 

Hours into her taking the case and things were already looking hopeless. She hated the situation as much he probably did. Still, whatever heat she would be facing, she would take it. With her mind made up, she moved to the door.

"Why?" Claude's voice suddenly turned cold, seeming displeased by the request. 

While Kareena and May grew baffled by the question, the older man almost choked at how quickly his demeanor changed. Was he that daring to question the President even if the man was his father? And what answer can he possibly give in this situation?

"I-I-I.... I'm not too sure.... I-I didn't ask", the man fumbled, breaking into cold sweat under the man's intimidating gaze that forced his to the floor.

Claude heard a soft clearing of the throat from behind him. Kareena had stopped right behind him. He stepped aside towards the door, giving her room to pass. 

But somehow, her soft body still brushed against his huge arm. The girl was very conscious of the act that she stole a glance up at the man to see if he noticed only to find him staring. She retracted her gaze and pushed herself out. 

The older man gave a polite bow at Claude before leading Kareena away. They heard the soft thud of a door being closed. As she walked away from the study, a gnawing feeling grew from the back of her head. 

Claude had gone back inside the study, so where was this feeling of being watched coming from? In the most natural way possible, she turned her head to look over her shoulder- 

"Where are you going?" She jumped at the tall figure walking behind her.

"I can easily guess why my father called you. This is my case so it's only right that I'm there", Claude replied, with a tone that left no room for arguments.

But she still pushed. "You don't know why he called me in. Go back. If it has anything to do with the investigation, I'll fill you in."

"Do I seem that gullible to you?" He arched a sexy brow. "I know he's probably going to question you on the matter of the news. But the truth of the matter is, it's not your fault. It was something out of your control."

"I appreciate the thought but, whatever he's called me in for is for me to handle. Mr. Walker, go back", she ordered with a steel gaze.

His lips lifted into a smile and his eyes sparkled with gentleness. "Don't be stubborn."

"I'm being stubborn?" She bit back. But the man simply surpassed her with his long strides. Enraged as she was, she realized there was no way to talk him out of it so she simply followed.