74

TO say she was shocked was an understatement, Jasira was more than shocked at the moment, had Lucario heard everything? Why had he barged in that way?
“Ugh” she uttered and looked away from him, deliberately avoiding his piercing eyes, “baby girl, let me call you back please, I got on something now”, and immediately she hung up.
Tarmah knowing the situation bought the idea, she suspected someone must have bumped in on her to make her end the call abruptly.
“Good morning Lucario,” she greeted, now looking at him.
“You didn’t return last night,” his authority filled voice spoke and she wondered if it was a question or a statement.
“Well, yes,” she replied anyways.
“Hmmm”, he uttered, “get ready you have a mission to accomplish by noon.”
She frowned.
“Oh my!” She lamented.
Lord Lucario watched her display all these and he became curious.
“Is anything wrong with that now?” He asked, “why the frown?”
“Nothing!” She replied.
“Hmmm,” he uttered again and then turned to leave, “I hope to see you at breakfast”, and with that, he walked away.
She wanted to reply him that she had had breakfast already, but refrained from doing so. The thing is, she just wasn’t gonna show up, he would ask again, she knew, she was ready to give him replies.
Immediately he left, she rang Tarmah who picked up immediately.
“Sorry about that”, she said.
“Oh it is fine, I understand. So what were you saying? That you want to quit?”
“Yeah. I don’t derive passion doing it anymore, I just want to live a regular and normal life.”
“Hmm. So how do you intend to start?”
“Well I have been able to save a lot of money through out the years, so firstly, I want to get a house in a far and different location, then after that, I think other things going to fall in place”, she explained.
“Woah! That is brilliant sis, whatever decision you make, you would always have my support.”
Jasira smiled.
“Thank you dear, I know I would.”
And with that, they hung up. Now, her mind was made up, she knew what she wanted.
***
Jeremy arrived at work and still, there was no call or text from Jasira yet, he became perturbed. For hours on end, since she left his mansion, he had been calling to know if she had safely gotten home, but she hasn’t been picking up.
He really wanted to know if she was alright, the way she had been freaking out on seeing that portrait in his room had gotten him worried.
He rang again and she picked up this time, he heaved a sigh of relief.
“Oh my! I have been calling,” he said.
She rolled her eyes.
“I’m sorry, my phone has been in my bag since I returned, I was busy with some stuffs,” she replied.
“Oh! So you got home safe?”
“Yeah, why not? I’m not a baby,” she said laughing.
“You are my baby, come on”.
She chuckled.
“I’m fine Jeremy.”
“Alright then, I’m already at work, now that I have heard your voice, I’m okay,” he said.
She swallowed hard.
“Same here.”
He chuckled.
“Catch you later.”
“Alright babe, you too.”
And with that, they hung up.
***A Few Hours Later***
Jasira glanced at the wall clock and a little frown appeared on her face, it was almost time for the mission, breakfast in the mansion had already been held several hours ago, but she didn’t show up, and Lord Lucario hadn’t come in to ask why, nor send for her.
Just then, there was a knock on her door.
“Who is it?” She asked.
“It’s me Boss, Kylo. I’m here to remind you of -.”
She rolled her eyes.
“It’s fine I know, just wait for me, you and the others.”
“Okay Boss,” and with that he turned and left.
Jasira groaned loudly. To be honest, these missions were begining to bore her, but they were once her passion, her work, so why the boredom?
“Whatever,” she cussed rolling her eyes, as she got up to get ready.
She finished dressing up, in a sleek black gown, something different that was suitable for the mission, and then she walked out of her room, heading for the parking lot, there, beside her car, she saw the others, just Kylo and Mico as usual, waiting for her.
Kylo on sighting her coming, immediately held open the car door, she walked up to them and they slightly bowed their heads, while she jumped in, ignoring their greetings.
Kylo sat behind the wheels, Mico sat beside him, and with that, they zoomed off.
They drove straight to their destination and halted few metres away, stealthily studying their environment, it was Kylo and Mico doing that.
From where they sat, they could hear jazz music followed by cheers and noise, coming right from the mansion, people jammed at the entrance, a party was going on.
As for Jasira, she just sat in the sleek black Jeep, her head on the headrest with her eyes tightly shut, suddenly her heart began racing. As already known, her reputation was built on precision, cold calculation, and a heart of stone. But now, as she sat in the car, few metres away from the opulent mansion, doubt gnawed at her for the very first time.
The mission was simple, no too much work, just to eliminate one Marcus Romano, a rival who had dared to encroach on Lord Lucario’s territory.
The plan they had decided to follow was easy: infiltrate the mansion during his lavish party, slip through the security unnoticed, and make the kill.
It was a routine operation, one she had executed flawlessly countless times before. Yet that moment, as she sat in the car, something felt different.
She opened her eyes and glanced at the silver bracelet on her wrist, the gift from him the very first time she visited his mansion.
Jeremy, who had unknowingly ensnared her heart, obviously had been the unwitting cause of her distraction.
Because of him, she had managed to keep her two worlds separate. By day, she was the sophisticated online blogger, and by night, the feared mafia queen. But the line had begun to blur ever since she had started to fall for Jeremy.
“Alright Boss, everywhere is cool, it is time”, Mico said turning to her.
She sighed deeply and looked out, Kylo had already gone down to open the car door.
As she stepped out of the car, the hot noon air did little to calm her racing heart. She adjusted her dress, a sleek, black number that concealed her weapons.
With a deep breath, she approached the mansion, blending seamlessly with the guests arriving for the party.
Inside, the mansion was a whirlwind of opulence and excess. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the elegant guests.
Jasira moved through the crowd with practiced ease, her eyes scanning for Marcus. She spotted him across the room, laughing with a group of associates.
She made her way towards him, her mind focused on the mission. But as she approached, a wave of memories hit her-Jeremy’s laughter, the way he looks at her, the feel of his hands in hers. Her heart ached, and for a moment, she faltered.
Marcus noticed her hesitation. “Jasira, isn’t it?” He asked, smiling. “I didn’t expect to see you here,” he added.
The others who were with him didn’t even as much as glanced at her, they were all focused on the drinks and merriments. What a friend!
She forced a smile.
“Just thought I would join the festivities,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.
“Come over, let’s go in and have a talk,” he said as he grabbed her by her right elbow and led her into the inner rooms, away from the others.
She smiled, perfect.
As they approached the room, Jasira’s hand quickly slipped to the small dagger hidden at her side, but as she prepared to strike, her mind flashed to Jeremy once more. She saw his face, his trusting eyes, and her resolve wavered.
In that split second of hesitation, Marcus’s eyes narrowed. He grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully.
“I knew you would come,” he hissed, “but I didn’t expect you to hesitate,” he added with a snicker on his face.
And that triggered it, Jasira’s training kicked in, and she fought back, but her heart wasn’t in it. She couldn’t shake the image of Jeremy, the man who had made her feel something other than cold calculation.
Marcus overpowered her, his grip tightening around her throat.
“You have lost your edge, Jasira,” he sneered, “love has made you weak.”
“Who the hell told you that?” She sneered, still struggling with him.
He chuckled.
“News flash,” he replied.
With a surge of adrenaline, she broke free, but the damage was done. She had failed.
Quickly, she made her way out of the room, and immediately, out of the mansion, her breath ragged, her mind a chaotic mess of anger and despair.
As the duo saw her approaching the car, Kylo quickly revved up the engine, while Mico quickly jumped down to open the car door, she entered and they zoomed off immediately.
“How was it Boss?” Kylo asked and she said nothing.
Mico nodded knowingly.
“Another mission accomplished Boss, I know,” he said and Jasira winced.
She gripped the car seat, her knuckles white. She had never failed a mission, never let emotions cloud her judgement, but just few minutes ago, love had been her downfall.
If only these two knew that for the first time ever, she had failed a task, failed to accomplish a mission, if only they knew.
“Ahh!” She lowly muttered under her breath.
As they drove through the lonely street, tears blurred her vision, she didn’t even know when it welled up in her eyes.
She had just let her feelings for Jeremy compromise her, and in her world, failure was not an option, at all.
Two choices were now before her, but deep down she knew the decision had already been made. Jeremy had awakened a part of her she thought long dead. And now, there was no turning back.