Lu’s office looks spacious and neatly arranged, it almost seems like it had never been used if not for the ash plate in the middle of the large round table. The books were neatly arranged on its shelves and the pens were in a portable customized mug.
The mug has his face with blue eyes and his name written across his face in ancient roman writing.
It almost looks like the room was divided into three parts. One for books, the other for files while the last for devices.
The gadgets were also arranged at the other side of the room which is the left. A huge television, almost as huge as the size of the wall hung a few inches below the ground and a few inches below the ceiling. His computer and laptop sat next to each other on the same table, beside it was three android phones.
The middle of the room seems to be the most important part. Just a long shelf with a mirror behind it. Files with different label and ribbon were neatly arranged, below was old files that seems abandoned or closed but it was dusty.
Lu sat moodily in his office, his hair combed back. His long legs were crossed on the table where his device sat and his main phone is in his hand.
He seems lost in his thoughts, not so deep but lost that he didn’t get to hear the knock at the door until the third one.
He quickly removed his legs from the table and unlock his laptop, he typed something on it and a video of his office front door revealed three men.
“Names?” he said with his finger on a button on the table.
“Rocco. Cage and Luca” three different voices said.
The door opened as soon as the last person say his name and they walked inside with a bag. The one holding the bag dropped it on the table and stood back, letting Rocco do the talking.
“Today’s collection” Rocco opened the bag, he show it to Lu who just nods “But someone refused to pay”
“Leave Alberta to me!” Lu’s voice sound rusty, he got on his feet and walked to the mirror “If you want to help which you must, bring me her last daughter, yesterday was her 16th birthday” he said looking at his reflection.
Rocco nod, he look back at the other men who also nodded and made to leave but stop on his call.
“What about Alita?” he asked, there was silence and he turn back to see their faces, “I asked for something” he voiced sternly.
Cage swallowed, he looked at Luca with pleading eyes, as if asking him to talk first but Luca looked away instantly.
“She has no one but her brother, Gio. They lived with their grandmother Samantha who died six years ago” Cage’s voice shook. He crossed his hands behind him and bowed slightly.
Silent grew again as Lu strolled to his seat with a none impressed look on his steel face. He took a pen from the mug and began to roll it between his fingers, fast, then faster, waiting for the next report.
“I am not saying Cage is wrong but…” Luca stopped, be looked at Cage who just nodded as if granting him the opportunity to talk “Samantha is not their grandmother. She is just a good Samaritan who took them in twelve years ago and lied to everyone that they are her grandchildren”
Luca paused, he removed a picture from his pocket and gave it to Rocco. Rocco studied the picture and passed it to Lu with a pleasant smirk on his face.
“The adults in that picture are Alita’s parents’ name yet to be known as all i keep seeing is classified ” he bowed his head in disappointment and crossed his hands in front of him “The Little girl is Alita thirteen years ago” his voice lowered “I’m sorry sir, I couldn’t get how Gio came to the picture”
Lu stood up, he walked past Rocco to Luca then tapped his shoulder. He walked around him, humming what he couldn’t even tell.
“How much did you buy this information?” He asked.
Luca flinched a little but was not visible, he removed his hands from his front and take them behind him. He attempt to turn back and face Lu but stopped.
“It’s nothing, sir,” He said “I owe you more than I can talk of”
“Funny man!” Lu placed his left arm across his shoulders “What did your source ask for?”
“My wife earrings,” Luca said “But you don’t need to worry sir, I can lie to her that I lost it”
“How about you take her on a fancy dinner” Lu suggested “And your kid. What’s his name again?” He walked to sit at his table.
“Vito” Luca replied.
His expression went from a bit startled to worry as Lu stared at him in a great silence. He glanced at Cage who had an assuring look and his hands in his pocket.
Rocco had gone round the room, with his head high looking like a proud monk. Remember him as Lu’s right man, supper annoying in everything. Handling Lu a cigarette and lighter he grinned.
“Take your family to dinner,” Rocco said to Luca, he looked at Lu, waiting for back up but none came “For the earrings, you will get them back. Aside from that, you both can go with other duties”
Cage and Luca exchange look before they turn to go. You never can tell, that’s not the first time they heard something like that from Rocco and they paid dearly for it. But still with uncertainty was clearly written all over her face, they walked away.
‘You live to die once tho’
“You both did a very good job” Lu let out, he gave Rocco a black card and finally relaxed on his chair “Not every day is Christmas so Make sure Vito knows I am saying hi”
Rocco smiled as he heard Cage and Luca whispering to themselves while they walk out. Of no doubt, he knows that the whole building will hear them jubilate about getting the surprise favor from their boss.
“You seem to be in a confused mood today,” Rocco said immediately after he noticed the door lock “What’s up with this girl?”
Lu didn’t bother to look away from the ceiling, he scoffed, collapsed more into the soft chair, and sigh.
“What did you find, Ro?,” He said instead “I know how you live to save the good for the last”