PROMISE
Caroline Havens: At Work
One day had passed from everything. Gehrmensch was now busy as hell because he took three leaves.
Currently, he was busy with a politician, and it was most likely a construction project where it could either make a stacked profit or cost thousands of lives.
Moreover, I found out he was Momo's father. If I had to term it, it should be "step-father." Momo hates him because he only adopted her because they didn't have a daughter.
And nearly every Butcher family branch has a daughter who handles the seat of a celeb.
Momo hates all of her family because they treat her like just a weapon. She even wants them dead because she knows some of their dark secrets that she hates them for.
As for Cupra, he suddenly became normal after that day and apologized. But I wasn't that same Caroline as before. So even I apologized, and he burst into tears.
About Momo's diary... I found it. And it actually had all the proofs she was collecting to get her whole family behind the bars. But I can't go out of this mansion and meet her for two reasons.
Gehrmensch has prohibited me from leaving the mansion because I am supposed to be PA of these two minions, not a freeloader.
Two, Momo texted me she can't leave her home because of the tensions in her home due to her father's political project colliding with Gehrmensch's arguments.
Hence, due to the stalemates, none of our people can leave the residential place.
I was just slacking off the whole day in my bedroom.
Past few days were stacked with tiresome work. I guess a little rest won't hurt, right?
I do have an intuitive thought that I'd get kidnapped or something by that politician. Am I right? Maybe.
It feels so because there are always some unknown cars around our mansion and we can't inform the police because...
Those cars are of the police. I guess that politician is really going all out.
I also heard that Pursera Phinixia is missing. Damn.
Things are going really bad.
I stood up from my bed, stretched my arms, and got a very pretty news.
"We have a warrant for all of you!"
It's not like it's something too dangerous. Of course, it's really fast-paced.
The policeman standing in front of us seemed really old. Is he a walking glass? Can be broken anytime?
Okay, that was a bad joke.
Cass and Hoddy were taken away already, and so were Nickel and Cupra.
"What is it that we've done so you're arresting us all?" I didn't fight because of course, they won't hesitate to use force for some creepy reasons.
They're politician's dogs and this man is waiting to use force to get a chance to touch me.
I sincerely accepted the arrest based on this claim.
"Mr. Gehrmensch has been arrested on the charges of using violence against the Mayor. And you all are being arrested on charges of planning Mr. Mayor's murder."
Seems good enough after I saw that Mayor's bleeding face. Because Gehrmensch's mood was already bad as hell because of me.
Wait, wait, wait.
Suddenly all this happened so fast?
I need time to breathe.
"Get here!" That old man pulled my wrist and I, maintaining a good distance, went into the car.
"Um... hello?" I greeted Gehrmensch inside, with Momo too.
Why is she here?
"You have the diary?" Momo asked. What a question to ask in this situation.
"It's all because of me. Sorry!" Gehrmensch looked down. It's not his fault. Maybe it is.
But after so much emotional drama in the past few days, I seriously can't take anything serious.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine." I reassured him, nodding at Momo, assuring her of the diary I brought. Mayor can control the police, not the public.
"He's arresting many upper tiers like me, a celebrity, CEO like Gehrmensch, and Nyco brothers.
It won't be easy!" I believe her.
The cars moved. Through some unknown ways, they took us to a rather quiet place.
It was all concrete, abandoned houses and thorny bushes. I looked at Gehrmensch. He was in deep thought, while Momo was reviewing her diary.
I read her diary a little. When she was a kid, she was taught to look up to Lia Butcher — her relative — and she was always discriminated against among family.
When she failed anything, it was her fault, and she was compared with Lia's achievements.
When she performed well, her credit was given to Lia by making it seem like she copied her.
Her only way to survive was to become like them. So, she worked hard and hard, exploited some people to use them. Climbed higher. But the more she went inside the darkness, the more it stung her.
Finally, she was fed up and aimed to marry a high-class individual and give a venomous bite through the fangs of evidences she collected.
Now I think that — she seems way more heroic than I am. But I'm glad I looked up to her.
She had a total of five evidences:
1. She clicked some pictures of all the places her father hid the black money.
2. She recorded some confessions from the ex-workers of her father's filthy work through call hijack. In the form of CDs, she stuck it in her diary.
3. She hid the recording drives in her diary, which contained recorded assaults her brother did on women.
4. She has contacted a trusted police officer and promised to bring the samples of the drugs that went missing from her mother's case when she was about to get arrested. Those samples are in her diary, stuck in small packets.
5. And most important: DNA reports to prove that she was adopted and has nothing to do with this family. Was exploited by them to make fake confessions and statements to climb high in the entertainment industry.
The cars were now shaking as the road turned into sandy pathways.
Are we really going to a police station? Now I'm tense.
Momo held my hand, closing her eyes — this feels like a the-end-for-all moment.
I also wanted to apologize to Gehrmensch but couldn't until now.
"I'm... sorry. Please, forgive me." I looked at him with my puppy eyes. He looked back. There was still some anger in him, but he was also human and couldn't cling to these things in this kind of scenario.
"Don't worry. Just treat me next time." He's really asking for that? I thought it was gonna be a sad or serious moment of confession.
Kiss—
Momo would've hid her eyes but no. He wants to be treated?
I looked at Momo and she was looking here and there. Because we weren't on the right track anyways.
"Looks like we're done for," Momo claimed as she started punching her hand on the locked gate. Judging from the feel, it seems too thick.
Gehrmensch was also trying to break the bars between us and the driver.
The driver didn't give a fuck.
"Hey, are you listening?" I questioned him.
"Where's the police station? Where are we going?" Momo leaned on the bars, asking at his direct back.
"You know this is against the law, bastard!"
The driver gave a smirk.
"You... sonovva—" I really wanted to swear anything on him, but Gehrmensch stopped me.
"We have to stay calm," Momo directed.
"Our hands aren't tied. Can't we just, together, shake this vehicle or something?" I asked, slamming my hand on the side.
"Hey, can't you all morons sit peacefully?" that driver spoke. Oh, so he isn't a silent drifter?
"Don't do anything rash. They can blame us with some more charges because we aren't cuffed and can even go to extreme measures!"
Gehrmensch crossed his fingers.
"Extreme measures?" I asked, looking at Momo.
"Yeah, like... encounter..."
Encounter??? Are we going straight into the mouth of death?
I held Gehrmensch's hand tightly — it was both fear and moment. When did I become this close to him? Who cares when life is short.
I kinda remembered some scenes from that night when he confessed. But he didn't want to bring it up.
Finally, the car stopped.
There were many people outside in black masks, and we were thrown out of the car.
There were weapons in their hands. And that mayor — he was also here.
Glasses, golden chain hanging from his glasses frame. Fit body even at old age. Silver hair and normal white shirt and black jeans combo.
Momo, Gehrmensch, and I were taken inside a concrete hall. And in the centre, surrounded by the people with weapons, we were here.
"Gehrmensch. Sign these papers and leave," the man spoke, sitting on a chair.
Momo was trying not to meet his gaze. Her diary — she hid it in her waist, under her clothes.
Gehrmensch was staring into his eyes.
"What if I don't!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the hall. Every man standing there either yawned or gave a laughing look at him.
They knew they were in power — not us.
What should I do? My hands — our hands — weren't tied, but we couldn't move even an inch.
"Don't forget. There are two women with you! Is she your girl?" That damn bastard. He looked at me.
He's using us as bait? It's even worse because I told Gehrmensch about Momo and he said she's our first priority.
The sand in the air was drying my lungs. I spoke with a coughing voice.
"You already have wealth. Why are you behind just a normal project?"
He smirked.
"You little prick," he whispered to himself.
"What?" I asked.
"Don't interrupt us. This isn't child's play, Caroline!" Gehrmensch cautioned us.
"Look. This project is given to us by the richest lineage in history!"
History? As far as I remember, there isn't any confirmed person in history to be the wealthiest. Even if I had to say, they were either some ancient king of the Indian subcontinent or Egyptians.
But their lineage in today's date?
"Don't even try to guess... these are the people whose names are erased from even the history. Normals like you won't understand." He rested his back on the chair and let out a sigh.
"Then why are you telling this to me now?" Why? I don't understand. And I'm kind of scared here too.
"Because one of you isn't going alive out of here, and asking such questions is marking your chances high." My heart nearly stopped.
I looked around, the gravity of the situation sucked me into the ground as if I was drowning in quicksand.
There are men surrounding us, they aren't some good background mind torture dummies but real ones.
We are in a really bad situation.
"Now sign the papers, Mr. Gehrmensch, or you know. These wolves won't hesitate to rip one of these lambs." That meatbag. I pray he drops dead.
"Grr..." Gehrmensch growled.
"What is this project even about?" Gehrmensch asked.
The mayor looked up, thought for a minute, then spoke.
"This is confidential info, but I guess dying people at least should know."
He waved at his grunts to make some space so they wouldn't hear and then closed the distance with us.
"This is a project to plant a nuclear weapon here." Our eyes widened as the mayor looked around to see if anyone heard.
Nuclear weapon? Here?
Memories surged through my brain. Natasha's words came to my mind.
Pursera is a living code for a nuclear weapon. The mayor is building a place for a secret nuclear weapon.
"What was the name of that lineage that paid you?" I don't know if my hypothesis is correct or not. But I'm sure to get a good answer.
Everyone looked at me. Gehrmensch and Momo were surprised.
"Oh ho ho. You wanna know the name? Erm... let me remember. It was...
Yeah! How can I forget. It was QUINCOURT."
[3RD FLOOR OF THE REVIRIE]
[Did the plantation start?]
[Roger!]
[Secret base of Mayor]
That name. That lineage. Isn't Phinixia too from this? Is she involved in it? But if I try to get 1 and 1 together... Her lineage is using her as a code to activate this. Why? There are many questions I can't answer.
Suddenly, while others were away, Gehrmensch grabbed the neck of the mayor but—
BAAM!
A metal bat hit behind his head and he fell back, leaning on the pillar.
"Don't try anything funny. Or I'll kill you all!" The mayor took his shit back together and dusted his coat.
"What about your daughter? Why is Momo tied?"
Someone had to ask. So I did.
"My daughter? My ass. She's just a freeloader I'm getting rid of. Imagine the news headlines!
'CEO OF NYCO BROTHERS KILLED DAUGHTER OF THE CITY MAYOR' khkhkh! I'll get sympathy of the public, Nyco Brothers company will fall to crumbles and the stock market will be shaken. Everyone's eyes will be too busy to see what I'm building."
That jerk. He's really falling too low? Even mud is cleaner than his heart.
I looked at Gehrmensch while he was rubbing his head. Momo was just staring down. She didn't want any attention for her diary.
"Sign these papers now!!"
Gehrmensch moved. Stood up. Grabbed the pen.
Is he really gonna do it?
He clicked the pen one time, two times.
Wait, is he gonna attack him?
Click!
Click!
BAAM!
A steel rod landed a direct hit on Gehrmensch's knee as he fell to the ground.
"Don't try to play dirty. This isn't a drama. Why can't you just be serious for once? Or... do you want me to show how serious I AM?"
The mayor ordered two men with his fingers. They grabbed my arms and pushed me back to the pillar.
I'm scared. Their hands. I can't remove them. Help me. I don't want to be touched by them in any way.
Gehrmensch is bleeding. God please save us.
These two bastards are looking at me with all their filth. I want to crush their eyeballs right now but...
"I'll do it. I'll... do it. Sorry."
Gehrmensch stood up again, his steps hindering a bit.
He grabbed the pen and signed the papers. The mayor stood up. Gehrmensch could've attacked him right now if I wasn't tied by these four hands.
He dropped the pen and these two dropped me.
"I'm leaving. Play some games, kill one of 'em, and leave them here."
The mayor left. One of them came in front. He had a mask and a cap. He must be the main grunt. Main dog.
He kicked in Gehrmensch's stomach and asked,
"Does anyone have a last wish? One of you will die, so anyone can make one wish. Who knows? If it's you." He's scary as fuck.
But what happened to the others?
"Can you call my other friends, please?" I pleaded. He smiled as if he chose me as the one who's gonna die.
He dialed a number, called someone.
—Hello?
"Hey, you have those guys captured?"
—Yeah, I do.
"Here someone's... so that's the thing."
—That's a great idea. Even police are with us so no call can save them.
—H-h-h-hello? Master? Big brother?
My eyes sparked with a little hope. I spoke,
"Hello! Nickel? Can you hear me?"
—Yeah, I can. Th-they tied us all to pillars.
"Tell me, how many people are with you?"
The man holding the phone looked at me like I was trying something sneaky. I smiled in a fearful way.
— I, Cupra is unconscious, Cass, Hoddy, Natasha, Suzie, Charles, Julius.
Charles... Julius! What?? They are also kidnapped? Why? Because they knew me or they were old friends of Momo?
"It's all because of me," Momo spoke.
"Huh?" What the hell?
— I'm scared. I don't know what to do.
— (Grunt 1) Only God can save you.
"Hey. Sorry I rejected Pursera as your date." This is my last trump card.
— Huh?
"Call Pursera and tell her your feelings." Save us, princess.
— What? N-now?
"I know that Mr. will let you do your one last wish. Last wish."
I wish Nickel understands what I meant.
Gehrmensch was slowly bleeding from his head.
— (Grunt) Who is she talking about?
— She's actually my girlfriend. I-I couldn't confess.
Oh my Lord. Thanks! He understood.
— (Grunt) 'Kay! Make it short.
Beep!
The call hung up as the Grunt leader laughed and mocked me.
"So, bitch. Do you plan to die or live as my... sex worker!"
I swear, if these are the two choices, I'd choose the second one.
Not because I don't wanna die, but because I could rip off his scoundrel-ish evil manliness.
"Give me the gun and leave these two." I sound like a hero.
The man spun the gun on the ground.
I am scared. What if these people — after I die — use my body as...
I wanna die. No. I wanna perish from existence.
God, please save us.
Just as I was thinking, the gun was already picked up. In that micro moment, I remembered that it could be either Gehrmensch or Momo.
Momo has the evidence, but since she shared it with me... could it be?
Or Gehrmensch? Why him?
I looked back immediately to take an action but...