Chapter 9

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As far as headaches went, her head felt like it was being beaten by a hammer as soon as she woke up that morning, and it didn't go away even as she headed downstairs.

She had expected this. Still, it didn't lessen the pain that ensued.

Across from her sat Cassian, Chase and Cain. The contractor guys and one engineer specialist were seated beside her in the long table in which the meeting was being administered.

Lyari was thankful about the fact that her presentation was over before it got worse and she had to massage her forehead every so often. Right now, the engineer specialist was doing all the talking, seemingly proud of himself.

Even if this wasn't a very big project, a full working modern lab office was still quite a daunting project that they'd need a lot of consultation before bringing the plans to life.

"Are you done?" Cassian finally spoke, glancing at his wristwatch on the table, "I get this is all fascinating to you, but I still have business to deal with today."

The engineer visibly flinched. "Well, yes, technically we're almost done with the most part, sir. Your approval is, uh, all that we're waiting for."

"Then what the fuck are you still going on about instead of asking for my approval?" Cassian hissed, his body taking on a more threatening stance.

"I-I well, sir. I'm just reading through the protocol-"

"Cass, it's alright. I'll deal with the rest from here," with a hand to his shoulder, Chase assured him.

"Alright, I think we're done with technical talks here," Cassian stated, standing up.

Cain smirked.

"Yes, we are," Mr Gomez agreed hastily, motioning for the engineer to sit down. "Certainly, sir."

Cassian placed both his hands on the table, practically looming over them. If this is how he threatens people to do his bidding, it was certainly working. Ever since he sat down, he seemed to be on edge at his seat, Rico's droning on about the current status of the destroyed game room must have snapped his patience.

"My office is in your hands now. And while we're at it, I expect you to do your best job."

All three of the men nodded mutely, too scared to mutter another word for fear of getting kicked out before their contract even started. Lyari felt Cassian's dark gaze then sweep over to her, his one eyebrow raised at her in a silent challenge.

She looked down, ill at ease under his scrutiny.

Mr Gomez nodded.

"Sure, ah, it is a pleasure working for you, Mr Sandejas," he said just as Cassian and Cain were heading out the door of the room.

"So now you got his approval," Chase began, closing his folder and opening another one. "Everything is on your hands from this day on, and we know that you know what you're doing. So, why don't we just skip to the matter of budget costs and your compensations, hm?"

• • •

"What's gotten into your mind then? Drinking like that before a presentation?" Mr Gomez chastised her once they were outside at the patio overlooking a small plantation below, getting some air.

"I just had one drink," Lyari retorted. It wasn't even much, and she never gets a hangover. Whatever poison they were serving at the club yesterday mixed with her fatigue must have messed with her head more than she thought.

"Are you feeling okay now, kid? Want us to get something for you in the kitchen?" Mr Madrigal, who was much older in his forties asked her in concern.

She shook her head. "I'm good."

"Come on, Marco, her hangover is nothing. It definitely doesn't excuse how she was acting earlier."

"How she was acting? She was acting perfectly fine, if not a bit out of it. Don't take out your problems on her."

"Thanks, Mr Madrigal," she muttered with sarcasm.

Mr Gomez scowled at Lyari before facing his counterpart. "These are dangerous people we are working for here, did you see what happened back there? I suggest you be careful in dealing with them if you don't want to jeopardize this project."

Lyari's ears twitched in irritation at that. If there was one person to blame more about the bad start, it was definitely that smart-talking engineer.

"Where's Rico anyway?"

"He must be in the bathrooms," Mr Madrigal answered.

"Is there any chance he might lose his way around? I swear it is such a warren inside."

She glanced at the doors leading inside.

"I'll go check on him," she finally replied, thinking to get some aspirin on her way.

Halfway through the main hall that leads to the kitchen, she heard distinct voices ahead, but didn't think much of it.

Some people were arguing in the other room.

From a corner, a spooked Rico almost came colliding with her. Lyari backed away instantly, unsure of the engineer's evidently rattled state.

"A-are you okay?"

Rico ran his hand through his lank hair, then nodded, regaining his composure. "Yeah, I'm okay. Uh, have you seen Mr Gomez?"

"They're outside, by the patio."

He muttered a simple "thanks" before walking away, leaving her rather confused.

The man was evidently more nervous in the house than she was, making her wonder if he saw something he wasn't meant to see. Frankly, she'd seen enough of the house and met the men to know that whatever was going on inside was a matter she'd rather not get involved in. She'll just get through her job, and hopefully finish this by the end of the year with a clean slate.

Luckily, the bathroom cupboards were fully stocked with medication when she went looking for the stuff.

She filled a glass with water from the faucet, then downed it with the pill, hoping to extinguish the residual ache in her head before they set out to get the supplies downtown. Since she has enough experience in the field, Chase unofficially assigned her the position of being the superintendent whom all the crew supervisors of the project will report to during construction.

As soon as she got out of the restroom, she was headed to the main door, onto the driveway where Rico and the two contractors were probably waiting.

They were just about to get in their car.

It was unfortunate that Chase couldn't come along with them to meet with the suppliers, there was apparently something he had to deal with in his business. He'd also made quite a list before he went.

Someone grabbed her shoulder just as she was short of stepping on the gravel driveway, making her stop in her tracks.

The foreign touch was enough to make her flinch. Thankfully she wasn't jumpy.

"There you are," Cassian spoke, "I've been looking for you."

"Hello, Cass." Lyari acknowledged his presence with a nod, then resumed walking so as not to stay in his attention too long.

He still makes her nervous after all.

"Where are we going?"

"We are, uh, off to town."

They neared her car. Cassian made a point to lean on the side, looking around at the same time. Mr Madrigal who had been watching them for sometime soon got into the car he was sharing with the two.

"So, what's on the agenda?"

She glanced at him warily, fiddling with her keys in hand. "We're rallying the crews and suppliers. Did Chase tell you to replace him, by any chance?"

He paused and glanced at her intently. "No," he began thoughtfully, "he'd never let me go to town, you see. But now I see you're the perfect opportunity for escape."

A bemused smile formed on her face. "Wh-what?"

"We're getting into your car, Sage. Open it up," he said, knocking on her car in the process that she was tempted to swat his hand. She opened the car instead.

"You have your own car, Cass. Why don't you use it?"

Cassian rounded the car then proceeded to sit shotgun just as she was getting into the driver's seat.

"You're not listening, Sage. I said they'd never let me go to town on my own."

"But why not? You just went out yesterday," she pointed out, while bringing life to the car's ignition.

He checked the house to see if Pueblo or one of the guys had noticed him getting into the car. Lyari only thought he was acting suspicious again.

"Yes, but the club is not exactly downtown, is it?"

She bit the inside of her cheeks, already anxious with Cassian at her side and wondering why he was even bothering her.

"You've got a good choice of car, now pull your windows up," he instructed her, "I don't want the men at the gate to report I went out again."

They managed to pass through the gates without incident, driving at the rear of her co-workers.

It might be a good thing he's coming, she conceded. Maybe he could help them somewhat, he's the client after all.

"So, Sage. What made you take on this job in the first place?"

She glanced at him, her anxiousness rising. His gaze was trained outside. "What do you mean?"

"Where did you first meet Chase?"

"Um, our firm knew him, and he knows my boss well. I was chosen to take on this project because I'm the only one who's not in any contracts this season... Then I met Chase at a hotel."

"I see. What else is there you could fill me in on?" His mien was strangely conversational for a change, casually throwing in anything which he deemed interesting enough for mundane discussion.

Lyari thought for a moment, deciding to go along with his choice of conversation. This, she could handle, instead of his personal advances. "I basically took this job for the money, right off the bat I thought Chase was that type of client who's promising with his words," she said, plucking the courage to be clear with her intentions. After all, aren't all women fairly ambitious these days?

"I hope he bribed you, because then I'd sack him if he's not giving anything to amp our business."

That gave her a pause, but she let his seemingly unpleasant joke slide after a moment. She shouldn't have admitted about the money in the first place, having Chase fired would be like taking away her safety in the villa. Chase made her feel safe in a way.

They were nearing Ternate highway now, and Mr Gomez already sent her a text message asking what she was doing with the client. She couldn't reply back, considering the town is just up ahead. The small cluttered buildings coming into view in the horizon.

"Downtown doesn't have much of a big supply store, if I remember," Cassian noted.

"There is now," she insisted, "it's one of those makeshift ones though and the suppliers are from the metro, with all these uh, resort constructions coming up."

He finally looked at her for a moment, an hour into the ride and he avoided sparing the woman a glance as much as possible. "A development, huh. I must admit it's been a long time since I got to visit this place."

"You mean, you're not from around here?" uncertain, she asked.

He stopped tapping on the screen of his cellphone. "Not exactly. Didn't Chase tell you anything?"

"He may have said something about Brazil..." She glanced at him again.

"I've lived in Brazil, but I grew up in this place," he said dismissively.

So, that's why he speaks with that accent.

Was there some sort bitterness in there?

"Okay..."

They've finally reached the small one-story building or warehouse, where the crew supervisors and Union members brought by Mr Gomez earlier were waiting for them.

Just as Cassian was getting out of the car, an anxious Mr Gomez came up on him, asking him if he's there to help make suggestions for them but he waved away the question, saying it was Chase's job and he was just there to see how it goes. They didn't understand what he meant by that, but soon found out as they headed inside and he was left outside at the premises.

He was checking the place out, about minutes later, Lyari glanced in time to see him smoking a cigarette while walking aimlessly along the perimeters outside of the warehouse.

If there's one thing she's certain about the man based on their encounters so far, he was definitely something else.

Lyari didn't know why that thought bothered her more than she wanted.

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