The past

Seeing Sara with an evil grin, her secretary couldn't help but shudder at the thought of her boss planning something evil. It gives her a nightmare to even think that her boss's family is related to the underworld. 

"Mia? Mia? MIA" Sara's loud voice brought Mia back to reality. Mia looked up at her with a quiver. 

"Y-yes, ma'am?" She stumbled upon her words while trying to reply. Sara sighed and shook, handing her file back to Mia and walking into the building. Sara already knew Mia was like a lamb, timid and easily scared. 

And stuttering while talking was not rare for her but as timid as she looks, she was well accomplished in her work never giving Sara a chance to complain. 

"Where is Anna?" Sara questioned as they walked towards the elevator. Before Mia could answer, a young lady shouted from afar, "I'm here!" 

Her noisy entrance made a few heads turn towards her including Sara and Mia. Anna was already huffing, with her hands on her knees. But she didn't waste a moment and rushed in the direction where Sara was waiting. 

In her long knee-high black boots, she tried to rush over the marble flooring only to lose balance and fall to the ground. Anna tried to scratch her head and act like nothing serious happened. She looked toward Sara, who shook her head at her and went inside the elevator. 

"Ma'am, shouldn't we wait for Anna?" Mia asked once they entered the elevator. Her head was still trying to peek through and see whether Anna was fine or not. 

"She is an adult. She can figure it out herself." Sara pressed the button and arched a brow towards her. Mia had no choice but to nod to her. 

After ten minutes, Anna finally showed up at Sara's office. Sara was sipping on her coffee while doing her paperwork and then looked at Anna. Sara completely ignored her presence and focused on the work. But when she didn't hitch from her place, Sara gave up and looked up at her

"What is it?" She asked putting down her pen and get up from her seat. Anna finally sighed and sat down on the sofa. 

"Mom called in the morning."  Anna crossed her arm and looked at her with a pout. 

Sara raised a brow at her answers waiting for her to continue. 

"She told me about your dilly dally with that guy." Anna looked sideways while talking to Sara. Her face was sullen like a small kid. Sara didn't answer. She took the coffee cup and walked towards the giant french window, facing the end of the bustling city. 

"Were you ok after kissing him?" Anna cut the chase and asked directly. Her eyes filled with worry. Sara sighed on hearing the question. Was she okay? If she was truthful, she has no idea. 

After all these years she got numb to anything. If they asked, yeah it was harassment but that small kiss was nothing for her. With what she had gone through, it must be the least bad. Maybe that's the reason she doesn't feel anything, furious that someone ruined her infamous reputation.  Yes, she was but him crossing the boundary, probably not. She was numb to that.

"I don't know. He was the first guy who could touch me after everything." She tried to explain. Even taking the word of what happened that year scares her to death, it was like a loophole of nightmares and as if never goes away. Sara tries to control herself and not think about it but it does, the reek of blood every time she thinks about her past suffocates her. 

Anna saw Sara, trying to gasp for air. Even if Sara tried to hide it, and act fine. Anna still notices her hands trembling and gasping for air. She rushed up to her and hugged her tight. Anna knows Sara hates being like this, especially in front of her. Being vulnerable means you are useless according to Sara. 

Sara rugged her nails onto her palm, and calmed herself or at least acted like she was fine in front of her. 

"Go back to work," Sara ordered, looking away. She was trying hard to not make any eye contact with Anna. Anna saw it and sighed before nodding to her command. Even though she was worried about her, she knew it was best for her to leave Sara alone. 

After that incident, Sara changed. She acted like nothing happened, keeping herself busy with work and nothing else. She shut herself from the world, torturing herself. No matter how hard the people around her tried, they could do nothing about it. 

If Anna was not close to her, she would never even know about the incident, not even the torture she goes through every day. 

***

In a sombre and dank place, with a strong stink of blood in the air. The fetor was worse enough to make any sane person puke out, the horrified cries and screams made it worse. It was a den of horror with blood spats covering the desolate walls. 

In one of the rooms, a dim light hangs over the ceiling, lighting the room just enough. On the hardened floor, a man was kneeling, covered in blood and bruises. He was barely managing to keep his body straight. 

On the contrary, a man sat on a lavish sofa, with his feet crossed and his arm on his lap. He played with his finger, pondering about something in his mind. He looked at the man, smacking his lips together. 

"Do I look like a hooligan?" He asked, knitting his brow. 

His sudden question caused uproar in the serene room. Michael's subordinates looked at each other puzzled by it. None of them was expecting him to say that to the person who tried to assassinate him a few hours ago. 

The man who was kneeling looked up at Michael. In no way he looks like a hooligan, with his majestic looks any girl would swoop up to his feet. If a person like that was asking him that was definitely a trap. The man trembled in fear, thinking of his destiny. 

"I…" he tried his best to come up with something. 

"Never mind." Michael brushed him off, without even noticing how much the man feared for his life at that moment. He got up and looked at the guy. Fixing his suit, he let out a cold smile, "Since I believe in being emancipated. Therefore, an eye for an eye and murder for a murder." 

Bang!