"There are a few minor companies' projects that faced difficulties around the design production department and the printing house, which none of them met halfway." Medina began reporting to her boss on the issue at hand.
"What's their problem?" Skylar wondered if it was very rare for the design production and the printing house to have some difficulties with the projects.
"There are some changes in the design, and the printing house received a different design, which they have already started printing the received one to meet the deadline." She answered, making Skylar sigh, but she understood the situation.
"They could have handled it by themselves. Something might be off. Call for an emergency meeting between the heads and the team leaders who were dealing with the same issues." With quick thinking, Skylar coldly answered before wondering about another report. "Anything else?"
"The SaiRus Corps projects, I've noticed something off and confirmed it to them before calling you." Medina quickly updated Skylar as they stepped out of the lift and walked down the CEO's hall.
"Interesting. What's the problem they're facing?" Skylar wondered.
"Every project they were trying to launch, if not being copied before the release date, they were either sabotaged by infiltrating technical issues, the reserved venue had been intercepted or overbid, and the funds were getting tight." She replied, making her boss frown.
"Funds…hm, from the likes of it, somebody is trying to annoy Fredric." She snickered, but something flashed in her mind. It was about the strange bond she felt around Fredric, her hazy dream, and what she had learned about her sealed memories. "Can it be?"
"True, that's why I asked his secretary and said that their boss is still willing to proceed with all the projects according to their respective deadlines, even by means of using their boss's own money." She answered, entering the CEO's office and giving the file report as soon as her boss returned to her chair. "But some clients began to have doubts about his company's service; if the situation isn't settled as soon as possible, they were going to lose them."
"Hmm, it will come to that if they don't do anything, and since we're partners, we'll cover it, but do it in secret, Medina. Also, do tell Josh to check some leakage around the SaiRus Corps' transactions; there might be some moles that Fredric intentionally let in. I need details on everything, particularly around the funds." Skylar quickly decided after reading and hearing her secretary's updates before turning to Joey, "Joey, tightened our security. Every company and business that I own must be tightened and notified of the rest, but be sure to keep low."
"As you wish, boss." Joey respectfully saluted before excusing himself to do what he was told.
"Is there something more to add, Medina?" Skylar asked while she stood over the huge window, taking in the city view from her skyscraper company.
"About the lake view, Sky Lux Hotel & Restaurant near the border encountered some fishy customers," Medina informed before handing the next file she had to read.
"How fishy they were?" Skylar asked while scanning the report and checking the images attached to it.
"Snooping in some areas they shouldn't be if not included in their reserved accommodation. It has been handled repeatedly, but it became suspicious. Also, by the way they walked into the hotel, everyone started to become wary and scared." Medina briefly explained, making Skylar nod.
"I see, sensed Ruby and Gregory to spy on them. If they notice something, let them handle the situation and inform the rest to keep on watch and assist them if necessary." She decided firmly before giving the file back to her.
"Noted, boss." Medina took note of it and excused herself.
"And call Fredric. I need to speak with him in person." Skylar added before Medina could leave the office.
"About him, he's out of town making deals, like what his secretary said." She answered.
"Is that so? Then better to leave a message to meet me tonight as soon as possible," Skylar firmly commanded before dismissing Medina, leaving the couple behind. "Something is not adding up. If his company is having difficulties, shouldn't he be handling it now rather than leaving it behind?"
"Or perhaps, his luring the prey by doing it," Vincencio added, making Skylar squint her eyes, and went to her desk.
"I would do the same thing if he did, and if that was the case, then he's still around the city, searching for the culprit silently." She said coldly as she sat on her chair, tapping her fingers on the table, thinking secretly, "Does it have something to do with Rudolf's existence? If that's the case, then I know the answer about my brother."
"Wow, I didn't know you could put yourself in his feet when you just knew each other through business deals," Vincencio commented, cutting Skylar off from her secret thoughts that he didn't hear.
"Odd, I know, but somehow, that's what I felt around him." Skylar smiled but replied coldly before adding her annoyance, "And I'm thinking he's my brother that I want to strangle for later."
"If that's the case, can I watch?" he chuckled teasingly.
"I'm front row, Hubby." She smirked, agreeing with him.
As the minor issues around the company had been handled smoothly as soon as Skylar took charge, the couple decided to have a date night. They went to the amusement park to relax from the secrets they had just unfolded and uncovering sealed memories connecting to her hazy dreams. However, creepy stalkers never let them have it all. Vincencio pulled Skylar closer, possessively and protectively, while Skylar, her guard was up, but never let her vampire side to surface – she let her Rose Slayer's instincts to be on the watch.
"Hubby, they were persistent." Skylar telepathically told her husband as they walked past the parking lot.
'Let's take them to a less crowded place and talk, but if not, I'll break them.'
"Did you bring my guns with you?" she wondered while they walked to the nearest woods connected to the city's park and river view.
'Always with me.'
"Good, because I want to dance with you in blood." She grinned mischievously, making Vincencio chuckle amusingly.
'Wow, that's bloody hot.'
"I know, right?" She chuckled and kissed his cheek before pushing him.
Vincencio took that opportunity to attack the stalker behind them and threw them in front of his wife. Skylar was leaning against the tree, amused by the strength that her husband was showing. It was warming her – turning her on even more, and Vincencio sensed it, making him frown.
"Wifey, don't," Vincencio warned and growled at the same time, but Skylar shrugged her shoulders, laughing teasingly. He rolled his eyes and made sure they were knocked out, aside from one who tried to hold Skylar, but it didn't happen because the man was down with a blade pointed at his neck.
"Speak before I let this blade cut you." Skylar sinisterly warned, making the man beneath her gulp in fear. Her nose twitched faintly, but something clicked behind her mind – a familiarity.
"We're sent to watch you two, particularly you, Lady Skylar." He answered, catching the couple's attention.
"Lady Skylar…" With narrowed eyes, she repeated, as if she knew who could do her like that, before asking, "Who sent you to stalk me? Us?"
"I dare not speak his name –" he replied, quivering, but Skylar cut him off.
"Then die tonight." Skylar coldly said and pressed the blade, almost cutting his throat if he didn't answer honestly.
"You're brother, my lady. Please, spare us, we're just doing our job as the family's servants, and surely, we're going to be punished for something we confess." He pleaded, making Skylar grin devilishly, and it was not about killing but something else that finally made sense.
"Don't be. If he does you, tell him I'll make him pay for doing that." She said firmly, but her grin never faltered before asking again, "Why did he send you to stalk me and be obvious about it?"
"Because that man is getting near you. The master quickly made all his diversion against him on standby and…" he answered, but Skylar already got it, but to her, her brother was being stupid.
"I see, I get it. You don't need to finish it, but do tell my brother that he's being stupid for doing this thing. Leave me with my husband and never come closer than you all used to do because the more you all get near me, the more he'll notice. Not unless he's using me to get him in the position." She firmly commanded, making the man jolt but nod before grimacing coldly, "If that's the case, then it'll be interesting. Go, before I deal with him personally."
They all ran and vanished like they were not even there to bother their date night. However, the couple was not done when they started running as fast as they could before making sure they were blending among the crowd in the street.
"You feel that?" Vincencio asked, taking Skylar's hand with his.
"Yeah, he's there, my brother." Skylar replied, leaning on his shoulder, pretending they didn't come out from the woods before adding, "It seems to me, he needed to be reminded who I am."
"What do you mean?" he wondered as they continued their date, which he wasn't sure where they were going since he let Skylar start leading the way.
"Well, I'm a killer, and when I hunt, I'll know everything about my prey." She daringly whispered and winked at him.
"Whoa, that's dangerous." He smirked, feeling challenged.
"I know." She chuckled and entered the SR Night Pub.
"But you need to be careful. You're pregnant." He reminded her and grabbed her hand.
"Who says that I'm doing it alone?" She chuckled as they went further inside the pub toward the VIP booth, which had a great view of everything in the pub.
"You mean?" He grinned excitedly.
"Yes, you'll be coming, but you need to be on watch and don't interfere until I need your help. Got it?" She pulled his collar and kissed his lips.
"Crystal." He chuckled and kissed her back, but something made their heated kiss stop.
"He is here," Skylar whispered and felt his presence approaching their booth.
***
As soon as their private booth opened, Vincencio was sitting alone on the couch, enjoying his whiskey, and his eyes looked with so much familiarity at the man who entered before smirking. And before the man could say anything, he began receiving a surprise attack from all sides. He quickly dodged them, but the combos from punches, kicks, and weaponry with speed, he started losing. It might be faint, but he stumbled in some dodges, but quickly recovered, and still not enough to even their gap until he was thrown to the couch beside Vincencio, sitting like nothing happened.
"Okay, I get that you grow stronger." The man waved his hand, surrendering to the sudden test, which welcomed him in the booth.
"And you grow weaker, why is that, my dear brother, Fredric?" Skylar chuckled as she teasingly commented on the man's sudden weakness.
"You've got me there, and to answer your question, I could not feed from my wife ever since she got pregnant with our second, and stress has not been my forte." Fredrico Saison-Rusco, Skylar's elder half-vampire brother, answered with an amused sigh. "But don't show your fangs and eyes everywhere, little missy."
Fredrico, known as Fredric Rusco among the humans, looked paler and colder, but he still had his commanding presence, making everyone stay away from him. But as soon as Skylar made contact with him, she felt it again, the strongest bond she'll ever felt to anyone aside from her husband, and from that, she knew it already. It began clicking, and her guts were right.
"Then don't belittle me." Skylar scoffed, throwing her blade that Vincencio caught before it landed within an inch of Fredric's temple and held it for her.
"I've got your message, and it seems to me you knew it all along." He sighed but coldly responded while pouring red wine into his glass.
"I'm a killer and your worst enemy. I had my ways of knowing things, and now that I'm awakened..." She said coldly before appearing in front of him, grabbing her brother's collar and pulling him away beside her husband, and said, "…I feel even better."
"I can see that…" he said, coughing a little before frowning since his glass became empty and adding, "…but this is not the right time for surfacing, little one."
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" She shouted because that nickname from a teasing brother still doesn't ring right around her ears before pouting, "I'm not little, you're just tall."
"Exactly what I mean." He coldly refuted, teasing her more.
"YOU!" She hissed and began fighting again, making VIncencio sigh, but amused by the siblings' weird reunion.