9. Eva
CHAPTER 9
EVA
I walk into the office building filled with dread of the days to come. After receiving the photograph of Carter outside our door, both of us hardly slept, worrying that the person who left it was going to return.
Mandy left an hour before me so she could fill Rob in, on everything that happened which soon followed up with a text from him asking me to go straight into his office once I arrived. As I walk through the office space, it was like everyone’s eyes turn towards me, as if they know what happened.
“Eva. thank god you’re here.” I hear someone shout.
I turn to see Adam running in my direction, before wrapping his arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re ok” he mumbles into my shoulder. Well I guess that confirms that everyone knows.
“Yeah, erm thanks Adam, I’m okay but I need to see Rob so” I say before gently removing him from me.
“Oh yeah sure, go.”
I give him a small smile before quickly walking out of the main office before anyone else can stop me. The thought of getting a coffee enters my mind before going to see him, but I know someone will be in there who wants to talk.
I don’t know who, but It will be someone who will ask too many questions.
When I approach Rob's door, the sound of faint voices seep through, one of them being Mandy’s which stops the second I knock on the door, shortly followed by Rob’s voice.
“Enter” Robs shouts.
I push the door open to see Rob pacing around the room on his phone, while Mandy sits on the sofa at the other side of the room with a look of concern. I quickly give Rob a wave before taking a seat next to her.
“No you don’t under-” Rob says with frustration.
“Yes, fine but they won’t be happy about this.”
I turn my head slightly to glance at Mandy, seeing the same concerned look on her face as when I walked in before Rob turns to face us both.
“Okay, back to business.” He starts, “Eva, Mandy has filled me in on what has happened last night. I’m sorry about all of this.”
I watch as he moves around to the other side of his desk pulling a folder out of a drawer. “Due to this, a new assignment has come in which has been requested for you to handle. I know this isn’t the news you thought you were coming into but this line of work never stops it seems.” He says as he passes me the folder before continuing.
“For this, it will do you well as you have to leave Boston. We will arrange for temporary housing for you and a change of vehicle due to the recent events.”
I open the folder to see a photo of a woman. Before I get the chance to read the task, Rob speaks again.
“The only thing different about this, is that you won’t be alone. Mandy will be joining you on this trip as she is potentially at risk due to you both living together. You leave tonight, understand?”
I look up to see him leaning on the desk with his arms crossed, staring at us both waiting for an answer. A loud sigh floats across the room as we stare at him blankly.
To say I’m confused, is an understatement. Am I being punk’d right now? I look around the room, trying to find a hidden camera but there is none to be seen.
“Look, I know this isn’t the ideal situation and I am not happy with how this is being handled by the higher ups. If I could, I would pull you both right now and send you somewhere safe but I can’t. What happened last night must have been terrifying and I’m so sorry it’s resorted to this. The only thing I can do is hand you this assignment and reassure you I will do everything I can to keep you both safe.”
I look between him and Mandy, unable to come up with any words.
What the fuck is going on?
“I dont… I don’t understand. What’s going on exactly?” I ask, trying to get my head around what I just walked into.
“Sorry Eva, Let me try this again. Mandy arri-” The sound of a phone ringing cut’s Rob off. He picks it up, groaning when he sees the name of the person calling.
“Mandy if you don’t mind explaining.” He says before walking out of the office.
“Mandy, what the fuck is going on?” I ask.
She turns in her seat, grabbing my hands into hers as she looks at me. “So, I spoke to Rob this morning about everything that happened last night. A warning then went out into the office, details weren’t mentioned but I think the majority of people understood the meaning.”
She moves to pick the folder up from my lap, opening it for us both to look at. “Not long after I spoke to Rob, he received a phone call about an assignment in Providence where you were personally requested.”
Me? No one has ever personally requested me before.
“This has got to be a coincidence right Mandy? I mean, I have never been requested for a job before and a day after someone comes to our apartment, I do? Something doesn’t seem right.”
She drops the folder and stands pacing the room.
“I know that, Rob knows that too. He even explained to them what has happened and how unsafe it is but they wouldn’t take no for an answer. He negotiated that the only way he will allow for this to happen is if I go with you, he gets to see the apartment we stay in and that he organises all transport.”
I nod my head letting her know I hear everything she is saying but the thought of going on another assignment this soon unsettles me. Someone knows that I’ve been following Carter. They know where I live and the thought of that terrifies me. Mandy informed me of all the risks when applying for the position but I never imagined it would happen to me.
“So, what happens next?” I ask her.
She sits back down next to me grasping my hands in hers. “Well, we can’t go back to the apartment. The executive’s won’t allow it. We’ve been ordered to go straight to the new destination and we will get everything we need delivered to us.” She explains.
For the next few hours we sit in Mandy’s office creating a list of everything we might need.
Not long after Mandy explained the situation to me, Rob came in and informed us we will be able to use the company credit card for all new clothes and food for the duration of our time there. The mention of this was the only upside of the assignment as I can’t remember the last time I bought something for myself. My shoe’s have had holes in them for the last two years due to how expensive it is to live here and I’ve worn the same clothes on rotation for about a year.
“Pizza is here!” Mandy shouts as she enters back into the room shortly followed by Adam. The smell of the pizza instantly making me gravitate towards it.
“You know you look like that cartoon character following the smell of food right?” Adam states while watching it unfold in front of him.
“Oh ha-ha, get a slice,shut up and help us will you?” I snap back as I quickly open the box and grab a slice of pepperoni pizza, “mhm, this is so fucking good” I moan.
“Stop having an orgasm and get back to list creating.” Mandy laughs as she throws a pen in my direction before grabbing a slice for herself.
Adam turns the radio on to ‘Waste a moment by Kings Of Leon’ playing, “What a tune!” I turn to see him dancing around the room without a care in the world and at that moment I decide to join him, letting loose in the moment. With a slice of Pizza in one hand and a Pepsi max in the other, we both kick our legs and throw our arms around dancing. Taking time to enjoy the freedom before tomorrow.
We make it through 3 songs before we crash on the floor next to each other laughing uncontrollably. “You don’t understand how much I needed that, thank you Adam.” I tell him with a smile.
I see his head turn to look at me from the corner of my eye. “You’re welcome Eva, you deserve to smile.”
I silently nod my head as I close my eyes to lock in the memory from tonight, wondering if it will be my last.
“Come on love birds, work to do, lists to complete.” Mandy shouts over the music.
“Yes mother” Adam barks back to her before standing and grabbing my hand helping me up.
I move over to where my list sits and pick it up inspecting what else we need.
Things we need
Snacks for the Journey
Playlist for the Journey
Toilet breaks planned
“Wow, strong list there Eva, you might even win an award one day,” Mandy teases, peeking over my shoulder inspecting it.
“I mean, we can’t go back to the apartment so what else is there to put?” I question her. She looks back at me shrugging her shoulders before flicking through the papers on her desk “Alcohol maybe?” She suggests.
“I think that should be on your list, I’m the driver remember?” I say, flicking a piece of pepperoni at her.
We haven’t been told how long this assignment will be for. All we’ve been told is that the client is willing to wait and will pay whatever is necessary to get the results we need. Apparently the target we’re due to follow is a cheating spouse. I should be excited about this job seeing as I’ve been requesting it for months but I can’t help the nagging feeling in my head telling me not to go.
Quickly packing up my belongings I look over at Mandy seeing her doing the same.
“Ready sweetheart?” She calls out to me from behind her desk.
I take one last chance to look outside of the window, admiring the view one final time,“I am indeed darling, let’s get the show on the road.”
Adam runs over, grabbing my bag from me before popping it over his shoulder. “I’ll walk you down to the car. Rob gave me the keys earlier before he left.” He tells me with a smile.
Me and Adam haven’t exactly been close work colleagues but he definitely tries. “Thanks Adam.”
We walk in silence out of Mandy’s office leaving her to pack her last few things, it’s now 8pm at night and everyone else has gone home. The office building has an eerie feeling to it when it’s this quiet.
During the day it’s bursting with energy with people running around, phones ringing and everyone filling the room with laughter. Now, it sits silent as we walk the halls.
“I’m going to miss it here.” I state.
Adam turns his head to look at me as we walk. “This place is going to miss you too, you know that, right?” He asks.
Sighing I stop walking and turn to look at him fully as he opens the main door leading to the car park. I take a deep breath trying to hold tears back as I think of the life I created here.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” He asks, his face full of concern.
I look at him trying to get the words out. How do I tell him that I’m absolutely terrified of everything that has happened in the last day? “It’s just… so scary, I haven’t had time to stop and think.” I say, my voice trembling.
He drops my bag to the floor before wrapping his arms around me, holding me tight. “It’ll be alright, Eva. You’re one of the strongest women I know. You’ve got this, I know you do,” he says, running his hand gently down the back of my head whilst his other arm keeps me close. “If you ever need me, I’m there, okay? Day or night. You call me whenever you need someone.”
I pull back, quickly wiping away any tears before he can see them. “Yeah, I know. Thank you, Adam,” I say, giving him a small smile to show I’m okay. He pulls back, placing his hands on either side of my face whilst his is full of worry.
“I’m okay Adam, really… let’s go see my new car.” I say with a smile before removing his hands and walking out the door.
The cold air rushes to meet me as I step out, the mist of rain hitting the bare skin on my face and arms reminding me to order a coat as soon as we hit base at the new apartment.
I look around the area to see if I can spot my replacement vehicle.
Adam moves beside me pulling the key’s from his pocket pressing a button. We turn to the sound of a car unlocking as the back lights gleam against the darkness around us.
“Woah… are we really taking that?” I ask him in disbelief . I step closer trying to get a closer look as the dim lights from the office reflect off it.
“All yours beautiful, a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.” He replies, his voice full of excitement as he takes in the same view as me.
I walk around the mustang, running my hand along the body of the car. “This is amazing, how did Rob get them to agree to this?” There is no way the executives approved this, they don’t even order the fancy coffee, never mind a mustang.
“No idea. Apparently, the person who requested this job offered the car,” Adam says with a shrug, barely looking interested in why we have it.
Suddenly, the sound of a car starting up behind me snaps my attention away from what’s happening in front of me. I turn quickly, trying to catch a glimpse, but it speeds off before I can make out much.
I look back to Adam, ready to ask another question, when something else catches my eye.
A motorbike is parked on the corner of the street, its glossy black paint glistens in the streetlamp over the side of the road, and there’s something oddly familiar about it. I squint, trying to place where I’ve seen it before.
Mandy’s voice pierces the air, taking me by surprise as the puzzle in my head crumbles into a million pieces.
“Let’s go, people!” she shouts, running out of the building with her bag held protectively over her head. I turn to Adam to see his eyes already on me.
“Thank you Adam, for everything.” I say before pulling him into a hug.
“I’ll see you soon okay?” He tells me before waving bye to Mandy and heading to his own car next to ours. I look back towards the motorbike to see a figure standing beside it watching us.
“Eva, get in! Let’s go!” Mandy shouts from the passenger window, her voice urgent.
Despite the rush, I can’t help but feel grateful that she’ll be by my side on this assignment. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Alcohol first!” I laugh, sprinting to the driver’s side and jumping in beside her.