"You there! Bring me another glass," ordered Mr. Silvers, a Hollywood bigwig, who had came to the party with the latest starlet he sponsored in tow. He had an half empty glass in his hand and looked blearily at the maid that had just walked by him without another glance when he had hollered at her.
"HELLO," he said irritably as he squinted at her, "I'm talking to you in the glasses."
The mousy brunette waitress finally seemed to realize that he had been talking to her this entire time. She paused and slowly turned around. "I'm sorry, are you speaking to me sir?" She asked. Her voice was polite but her gaze was chilling.
Mr. Silvers cleared his throat, remembering he had the upper hand, and sarcastically retorted, "Do you see any other hired helps around here? Yes I'm talking to you." He then muttered under his breath, "What a halfwit."
Right. Emily was annoyed at how entitled this man was but she couldn't risk wasting time arguing with this drunkard. She had to get to Kyle's room quickly, but if she just ignored this drunk man, or worse told him off, then he might make a bigger scene which would waste even more time. She knew what choice she had to make.
Emily slapped on a smile and quickly apologized, "how can I help you sir?"
He sighed, "I asked for another glass, didn't I?"
"Right away, sir," said Emily.
"Marlee," He said to the starlet next to him. "If I hadn't scouted you on the streets, that could've been your life. You're lucky to have me. You know that right?"
Marlee smiled sunnily, "of course, Mr. Silvers."
He grinned pleased at her compliance. Emily rolled her eyes. She quickly walked over to the bar and grabbed a flute of champagne. When she got back to where she last saw Mr. Silvers, she felt her skin crawl at what she saw. Mr. Silvers had his hairy paws all over the starlet he had brought as his date and it was clear as day the starlet was not at all interested. She kept trying to push him off of her while protesting as politely as possible but he wouldn't budge, pressing her closer to the wall and groping her rear end. Emily stomped over and without thinking, poured the champagne over his ass.
"Here's the champagne you asked for," she said scathingly sweetly. "Oops, looks like my hands slipped."
"You stupid cow," he roared.
"Oh, I wouldn't yell like that if I were you. If people saw the state you're in right now, they would probably think you peed yourself. Let's get you to the washroom right away." She attempted to usher him away from the poor girl who was scrambling to get away. She mouthed a thank you before dipping into the crowd.
"How dare you?" He raised his hand ready to hit her when someone grabbed his wrist firmly.
"What's the matter here, Charles?" Said a smooth, deep voice. Emily turned around to face familiar cobalt blue eyes and a glittering smile. Right behind her stood Brandon Duncan, the host of the evening.
"Brandon," blustered Mr. Silvers. "This wench in your staff needs to be fired immediately. Look at the mess she made," he said pointing to his pants.
Mr. Duncan nodded, "I see. Let me ensure that you're changed out of those pants immediately. Please follow my butler and he will take you to my closet. I just had a couple boxes delivered from Dior." Mr. Duncan handed Mr. Silvers a cloth napkin. "You can use that to cover the wet spot."
Mr. Silvers huffed but took the napkin as he trailed along Butler Lafayette. Then Brandon Duncan turned to Emily. His dark blue eyes seemed to glower when he suddenly broke out into a wide smile.
"Thank goodness you did that. You did do that on purpose, right?" Said Mr. Duncan conspiringly. "No matter, at least that buffoon is gone."
Emily raised a brow.
"Lord knows how handsy he gets when he's drunk," sighed Mr. Duncan. Emily couldn't help but notice how his brows furrowed the exact same way Kyle's did when he was irritated. "I can't afford a scandal between him and some movie star the same day my son's engagement is being announced."
Emily frowned at his mentioning of the engagement.
"It's a big deal for you, isn't it?" Said Emily coldly.
"Of course it is," said Mr. Duncan. "It's not everyday your son turns 19. He's a man now, and he will inherit all this and more once he's married to Davina. This is all for him."
"Are you sure this is what he wants?" Asked Emily, getting more and more irked by the second at his complete cluelessness.
Mr. Duncan laughed. "Why of course he does! This is all he has and all he's ever known!"
Mr. Duncan smiles widely. "And when he does take his rightful place, you can sure bet you will get a raise." He said with a wink.
Emily stifled a snort. "Right, thanks. I need to get back to work."
"Of course, keep working sweetheart. I promise you a vacation after this party is over," said Mr. Duncan as he fixed his hair using the reflection on the vase next to him.
"Can't wait," said Emily with a forced grin.
This party is about to shut down, thought Emily drily as she rushed away. Her heart hammered at the thought that she nearly got caught by his father. But that was no matter. She hoped Kyle was doing what she had asked earlier in the VIP room. She flushed at the mere thought of what she did in the room. It had been a while since she danced like that, they were moves she had to master when she was seducing gang lords and extracting information. Moves she thought she had forgotten; but guess her instructor was right, stripping is a lot like riding a bike. You learn it once and you will remember it for the rest of your life.
She couldn't help but cringe at Kyle's reaction though. She was honestly half grateful that he was drugged so that he wouldn't have to remember her dancing half naked on his lap. And some little part of her wished he saw this side of her and liked what he saw, which embarrassed her even more. Why was she like this? She wanted to smack herself on the head. Mostly she felt terrible for lying to him but she also knew that if she told him the truth in his drugged state, he might've reacted in a way that gave her disguise away. "I wanna go see her." The memory of Kyle saying that made her smile. Then she remembered where he touched before he said that and she felt her breath hitch. When she caught a glimpse of herself in the halfway mirror, she noticed how red her face was and quickly buried her head down and walked hastily, attempting to focus on the mission at hand. I'll find my way back to you soon.
xx
David sighed irritably as he waited for Kyle to come out of the bathroom. He knew for certain that there was no way that he could escape in there. Did he fall in the toilet? Thought David angrily. There wasn't a second to waste. For the last half hour, he had convinced his men and the other gang leaders to swear allegiance to both the Flaming Dragons and now the Duncan Corporation. In 20 minutes, Brandon Duncan was going to announce the engagement to the public and that meant their deal would be sealed. The Flaming Dragons would have access to some of the highest tech weapons in the world as well as incredible influence politically and economically. The contract was so close to being complete that he could taste it and yet here he was waiting on this brat to finish taking a dump.
David jolted when he heard a muffled yell.
He opened the door, "what?" He asked curtly.
"I threw up," mumbled Kyle loudly. "I TREW UPF."
David scowled even more. "I got it." Damn it. He knew giving that drug was a bad idea but Davina had insisted that Kyle be doped up just in case he tried to escape.
"I need to go change," moaned Kyle.
Fuckkkkk. David was incensed. His eyes met Brent's who was talking to another gang leader and he motioned him over, "Brent, I need you to get Kyle back to his room to change. It needs to be quick."
Brent nodded, "right away, sir."
David sighed in relief. At least Brent was reliable. He felt like he could relax a little. David fixed his jacket and tie and headed back to the club where the other gang leaders were relaxing. He sat down on a velvet chair. Immediately, one of the girls that worked his clubs approached him with a glass of whiskey on the rocks on a golden tray, his favorite. He grinned at her and she smiled seductively as she placed it down, making sure she brushed his leg "coincidentally" as she stood back up. He handed her a crisp bill which she tucked into her bra with a wink before gracefully walking away. Brent did a great job choosing the girls to work the event. Girls from different clubs he owned and operated sauntered around the room in skimpy clothes, dancing and serving drinks and snacks. Blondes, brunettes, redheads, Asians, Blacks, Whites, Latinas, it was a cornucopia of hotties hand picked by his right hand man. This night couldn't get better.
"What're you still doing down here," asked Morro, the leader of the Vixen gang. He specialized primarily in narcotics, which wasn't David's area of interest, and constantly tried to get David to invest in his drug dealing business. "Shouldn't you be up there with the other bougie assholes?" He said as he lit up a cigarette.
David laughed, "no, that's not my scene. Let him take care of what's up there. I'm here to rule over the underworld."
Morro grinned, flashing gold grills. "I gotta say. This is quite a surprise. I see a lot of syndicates I didn't expect to see turn up."
David agreed. Yakuza members he never thought he would be swearing allegiance with hung around in the room. While all were equally disinterested in joining the no-face crew, they were all certainly interested in gaining all that the Duncan Corporation would offer.
"They all know that the Flaming Dragon is rising again," said David casually as he accepted Morro's cigarette.
"I'm here for it," said Morro, tapping his glass to David's. David noticed the red thumbprint on the glass. The same thumbprints were currently on a contract on his way to the lawyer. The blood serving evidence that Morro and his gang were now tied with the Flaming Dragons. He noticed the thumbprints in other places. Other glasses. On the ass cheeks of his girls. On cash. All proving to him that the Flaming Dragons was going to be great again.
He sighed in content. As the music switched up to something with a higher BPM, more girls climbed up on to the various stages and started dancing. Cash was streaming in the air as gang members tossed it on the girls. David found his mind drifting to the purple haired girl in the room. She seemed so goddamn familiar. He closed his amber eyes and replayed her voice. It was high and reedy, not very distinct. Her face was mostly turned away but he remembered how she had high cheek bones and thick lashes. He pictured her body, firm and lithe. He doesn't think he slept with her. What was it that he found so familiar? The tattoo... he opened in his eyes, shocked at his lack of recognition of it earlier. It couldn't be... he thought to himself. That tattoo with it's intricate dragon with shining scales, red and gold flames, glaring eyes, and the lotus flowers... the only person he knew who had that design was Ice. He leapt out of his seat and hurried towards the VIP room he saw her at. He swung open the door and noticed the broken glass all over the floor and couch. The cameras that were installed in every corner of the room were smashed and wires poked out of the cracks. He stuck his head under the table. The microphone he had installed to record conversations was shattered as well. He clenched his fists in fury realizing what was happening. She's here.There was no doubt in his mind that Ice was behind all of this. The only question that he needed an answer for was, why?
xx
"I'm here to assist Ky-young master in changing his attire," said Emily to the bodyguard who was guarding the door to Kyle's room.
The bodyguard gave her a once over scan before using the walky talky to contact someone, "a maid is by the young master's room who's here to help him change by the name of," he glanced at her name tag, "Sarah".
Emily waited patiently, trying not to sweat under his scrutiny. She made it too far to mess it up now. She glanced at the gun that was currently sitting in it's holster. She noticed the two men patrolling around the halls. The same clockwork motion, completing a rotation every 2 minutes - checking the plants, the curtains, the doors.
"Let her in," buzzed a voice in response.
The bodyguard pressed his thumb print to the metal security box on the door handle and the light turned green. Emily couldn't help but feel angry at how they were treating him like an object, a treasure stored in a safe, and not like a person. She was ushered in and the doors shut again, the mechanical lock whirring shut. It was a lock that only worked from outside.
"Took you long enough," said a rich voice.
Emily whirled around to see Brent step out of the shadows.
"What the heck are you wearing?" They simultaneously asked each other.
Brent started snickering at her frilly maid costume and Emily couldn't get over the fact that Brent was in an all white suit.
"Brent, you're so clumsy. What made you think wearing white was a good idea?" Said Emily ruefully.
"What about you? I didn't know you got that kinda fetish, Emily. Or should I call you Emilié," he said in a faux French accent.
"Whatever, it got the job done," said Emily jutting her chin out in defiance. "Where's Kyle?" She asked scoping around the room.
"He's knocked out. I had him drink orange juice mixed with milk and he vomited. Most of the drug should be out of his system, he might still be in a daze."
Emily crinkled her nose, "poor guy. That's a terrible combination."
"It works," shrugged Brent. "We don't have a lot of time to lose. We need to haul ass."
"You got it," she said. "What should I do?"
"Nothing," he sighed. "I gotta think of a plan. I didn't think they'd tag 4 bodyguards on him even with me around. That was shortsighted on my part."
"Well you're their boss so can't you say go away?" Asked Emily, feeling agitated.
"No, because they were hired separately by Kyle's dad," said Brent with a scowl. "All we can do now is wait."
Brent's walky talky suddenly buzzed. Emily's eyes flickered wide when she heard David's voice, "all Flaming Dragons, Ice is here. I repeat Ice is here. Find her and bring her to me. She's armed and dangerous. You will be rewarded greatly if you can catch her, alive."
"You sure don't look armed and dangerous to me looking like that," said Brent drily.
Emily smacked his chest as she hurried over to Kyle. "We gotta go now."
David's walky talky buzzed again. "Brent is also suspected of being her accomplice. His capture will also be greatly rewarded. Bring him to me, dead or alive."
Brent gulped, "shit. Let's go, let's go, let's go."
Immediately the guards outside had kicked through the doors and surrounded them.
"I thought you said they were Kyle's dad's men," hissed Emily.
"I guess they're keeping in touch," whispered Brent.
Damn. Emily looked at the guys in the room. 5 in total. All armed and fully loaded. It wasn't as though Emily didn't expect this. She came fully prepared. She let out a sigh and gently placed her glasses on the fire place.
"You get the right. I get the left," said Emily.
"What about the middle guy?" Asked Brent.
"Whoever gets to him first," grinned Emily.
Brent snickered, "man, this is just like the old days."
"Stop talking and put your hands up," ordered the guard in the center. It was the same guy who let her in earlier.
"Help, I'm captured as a hostage," squealed Emily. "I'm just a maid."
"Stop playing games," said the guard angrily. "We know who you are."
"Man I hoped that would work. Then I wouldn't have to resort to this," Emily sighed as she whipped out a gun from under her skirt and pulled the trigger. They immediately started shooting back but Emily was quicker. Bang! Bang! Bang! Shots fired. By the time the opposite side came to their senses, they realized that Emily had directly shot the barrels of their gun. One man laid wincing on the ground.
"That's what happens when you move when I'm shooting," sighed Emily as she tossed her gun to the back of the room. She didn't need that hunk of metal anymore.
"Now none of you can use your guns. So please, for your sake, let us pass," said Emily.
With a roar, they charged forward with their hands curled up into a fist. Brent leaped forward eager to meet them.
"Change of plans, Emily," said Brent, it was as though a lightbulb had turned on. "I'll take care of these guys. Contact our ride. Tell her to meet us by Kyle's window."
"Got it," said Emily as she dug through her apron for her phone.
Emily ran into the bathroom where the heaves and groans of bodies being busted was muffled a little.
"Hey it's me. Change of plans. Could you meet us by Kyle's window? He's on the 4th floor. I'll send you our location. Thanks."
She quickly hung up and ran back outside. By the time she had finished the phone call, the bodyguards laid splayed on the floor. Brent stood above them triumphantly.
"Too easy," said Brent with a wild smile.
"We got more company," said Emily, hearing the footsteps coming down the corridor.
"When's our ride coming?" Asked Brent, spitting out some blood.
"Four minutes."
"Perfect. I can get another little work out in," Said Brent eagerly. "I'll hold them back. You get Kyle ready."
"You sure you're good?" Asked Emily in concern. It wasn't like her to leave her partner to do all the dirty work.
"Better than ever," said Brent. He cracked his knuckles. "I've always wanted to show them how a real gangster fights."
"Go get em, tiger," said Emily drily. He peeled off his jacket and ran down the corridor full of adrenaline and bloodlust. Emily went directly to where Kyle still laid - completely unconscious.
"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty," murmured Emily as she tried to shake him awake.
After a few more attempts, he blearily opened his eyes and seemed to take in his surroundings.
"Where am I?" Asked Kyle in a husky voice.
"In your room," said Emily, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
"Who are you," He asked furrowing his brows. "Are you a new maid?" He asked taking in her clothes.
"Uh, that's a long story. I need you to trust me, okay?" She gently touched his wrist to check his pulse. The drug must be wearing off because his heart rate seemed to have gotten better.
She could see his face scrunch up in defiance. But maybe it was the drugs talking but he said okay. She grabbed his hand and held it tight. She was never letting go of this hand again. She gently lead him towards the balcony.
"Why are we going towards the balcony?" Frowned Kyle. "The door is that way." He pointed the opposite direction.
"Just trust me, please," said Emily. "We don't have a lot of time." She glanced at her watch. 1 minute. She hoped Brent would come back soon.
Emily unlocked the patio door and stood on Kyle's balcony. The wind caught in the bow in her hair, unraveling the lacy cap on top of her head. Kyle who stood at the threshold between the room and the balcony took a step forward. He looked at her face dreamily. He reached out to touch her cheek.
"Emily?" He asked in awe. He cringed as his head started to ache again. He vision began to blur.
"Emily, RUN," roared Brent as he charged through the room. Behind him stormed in David and a fleet of Flaming Dragon members. Gun fire was blazing and things were shattering behind him.
Emily hoisted herself onto the railing. Standing up there, drenched in moonlight and shadow, Emily looked like an angel of death. She reached out her hand, "Do you trust me?" She asked desperately.
"Yes," Said Kyle breathlessly. He placed his hand in her's and hoisted himself onto the ledge as well.
"Then jump," she said. Kyle's blue eyes widened as he experienced the surrealist thing. She wrapped her arm around him and leaped off the balcony ledge and he followed, tumbling down. The sky seemed like it was moving further and further away. Suddenly, he wasn't falling anymore. He was pulled back up and he felt his feet standing upon something. Emily and Kyle were standing on a rope ladder. Brent jumped on as well, barely grabbing the end of the ladder. Kyle looked up, wondering what it was connected to. Was he finally getting abducted by that alien?
No, rather than the cute purple haired alien. Above him stood a striking blonde girl with a pink helmet with a Chanel label.
"You guys are so lucky I own a fucking helicopter," yelled Naomi from the deck of her helicopter. Her blonde hair was being whipped around due to the wind pressure.
"Let's GOOOOOO!" She screeched when she noticed the yakuza members running toward the balcony. "We have to dip NOW!!!!!" She yelled to the pilot.
He nodded in agreement and Kyle watched in shock as he felt his body get lifted upward.
"Cmon," yelled Emily. "We gotta climb up."
Kyle did as he was told. When they got to the deck of the helicopter, he felt his legs turn to jelly. Emily held him, panting - the adrenaline finally losing it's edge. Last was Brent. His white suit was completely torn. But he was alive and he laughed breathily. Another crazy night he survived.
He glanced at Emily and Kyle. "Yo, Operation Rescue Kyle was a success."