Keefe's POV
"Well, well, Keefe Delano. I didn't expect to see you in this line of business."
She raised her chin, enough for me to see her full face. I was stunned. It really was her.
Her face was sharper, more defined. Her eyes, once full of spark, were now cold and assessing. Her lips, still full and sensual, were set in a hard expression. Her cheekbones were higher, accentuating a beauty that was both breathtaking and intimidating. Her dark hair, which I remembered as long and flowing, was now short and styled to suit her face.
Every feature was perfect, sculpted, but there was no warmth in it. The kind of beauty you see in actresses, but more intense.
One of her eyebrows slightly raised, looking at me questioningly.
"Fey?"
In front of him was no other than, Peitho.
Peitho Castellano
My first high school crush.
I was frozen. Paralyzed. I felt like I'd seen a ghost, a beautiful, dangerous ghost. The years had changed her, hardened her. This wasn't the girl I used to moon over in high school. This was someone else entirely.
She started to circle me slowly, like a lioness assessing a strange creature that had wandered into her territory. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, a mixture of curiosity and suspicion in her gaze. It was as if she couldn't understand why I was here, as if I didn't belong in this kind of situation.
Just as I was starting to regain my composure, the reality of the situation crashed down on me again. Why had she beaten up my friend? I was about to demand an explanation when she spoke, her voice cool and detached.
"I have some business with him...or I thought so." Her words implied that they had mistaken Quen for someone else, that they thought he was the one who owed them money.
She continued, "We'll compensate for the mistake. We'll cover all his medical expenses." She gestured to her men. "He'll be treated at the most expensive hospital in the city, with the best doctors. And I'll personally write a letter to his company, excusing his absence."
She nodded to her men, and they moved to help Quen up, ready to take him to the hospital.
That was it?
I snapped. Anger washed over me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "That's it? After you beat him up because you made a mistake, you can just solve everything with money? Just pay? Just like that?"
She just stared at me, her expression unreadable. She tilted her head slightly, as if trying to understand why I was so upset. As if wondering if she had said something wrong.
She then glanced towards the doorway, her eyes narrowing as she focused on someone outside. "Oh...right." She scratched her head with the hand holding the gun, a gesture that seemed almost casual, but was terrifying given the circumstances. "Yeah, we should fix this misunderstanding."
The next thing I knew, she spoke in a different language.
"Portatelo dentro."
The waiter from earlier, the one who had led us to the VIP room, was shoved into the room. He stumbled and fell to his knees in front of her, trembling with fear.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" he cried, begging for forgiveness.
She cut him off with a swift, brutal action.
Bang!
She fired the gun, the bullet grazing the waiter's arm. He screamed in pain, clutching his wounded limb. My eyes widened in shock. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
She raised the gun again, aiming it at the waiter's head. Without thinking, I lunged forward, placing myself between her and the terrified man. I knew that graze was intentional, and I knew she was capable of making it real.
"Move," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Fey, what the hell?! What's happening to you? Why are you doing this? He's just a waiter! Look at him, don't you feel any pity?" I pleaded, desperately searching for any trace of the girl I used to know in the cold, ruthless woman before me. "Why are you like this now? What happened? How?"
She just stared at me, her eyes like chips of ice. "You won't move?"
"No. I won't let you do this. I won't let you hurt an innocent person," I said, my voice trembling but firm.
The woman sighed and put down her gun, "Okay." I seemed to relax a bit there, and I couldn't help but smile a little. Maybe, just maybe, there was still some good left in her.
But I was wrong.
The woman signalled her head at someone, the next thing I knew is that someone injected something into my neck. A sharp sting, and then my legs gave out. I fell to my knees, my vision blurring. I slowly lost consciousness.
The last thing I saw was Fey's blank expression, her eyes still cold and unreadable.
...
I woke up inside a hospital room. White walls, the smell of medicine, the typical scene from soap operas. My head throbbed from the sudden movement.
"Oh, you're awake, Sleeping Beauty," I heard Quen's teasing voice.
I turned to him. He was also lying in the adjacent hospital bed, but he looked better than last night. There were still bruises, but he no longer looked like he'd been beaten by ten people.
"What happened?" I asked, massaging my temples.
"What happened? We just got beaten up, and now we're getting VIP treatment!" he replied, laughing. "But seriously, Keefe, whoever that woman is, I salute her. At least, I get a one-month vacation!"
"One month? But your company is so strict! They won't even let you take a break, and with just one word from that woman, they agreed immediately?" I said, puzzled.
I thought about it. What hold did she have over Quen's company? Why was her influence so strong?
"Who knows, maybe she's a secret shareholder in our company," Quen said, shrugging. "But seriously, Keefe, I have a vacation, and millions in the bank HAHA! Can I get beaten up again?"
I glared at him. "Idiot."
"Wait, did you accept her offer? Did she apologize?" I asked.
Quen shook his head, but his grin was wide. "She didn't apologize personally, but at least, I get a vacation and millions in the bank! Enough to pay for my sister's hospital bills and our debts."
I sighed deeply. At least, something good came out of what happened. "How's your sister doing? Is she okay?" I asked.
"She's okay. Still recovering."
"Thanks, by the way." he said, his tone now serious.
"I didn't do anything, Quen." I replied.
"I know, but if it wasn't for you, who knows what would have happened to me last night. So thank you anyway." he said.
"Wait, why did they let us go? Usually in situations like that..." My friend gestured his hand on his neck, as if hinting that they were being killed.
I fell silent. I remembered what happened last night. The gun pressed against my temple and the woman shooting the waiter in the arm.
"Bro? Are you okay?" Quen asked, worried.
"H-Huh? Yeah," I stammered.
Quen continued to talk, but he suddenly stopped and turned to me with a puzzled look. "Wait, why does it seem like she knows you?"
"When her bodyguard or secretary was talking to me earlier, he mentioned your last name... Mr. Delano."
I sighed. "I knew her in high school."
"What's her name?" he asked.
"Peitho. Peitho Castellano," I replied.
"Oh, Peitho Castellano," Quen said, nodding.
He quickly turned to me, his eyes widening. "PEITHO CASTELLANO???" my friend asked in shock.
I was surprised because his tone had risen. "Why? What's wrong?"
Quen suddenly laughed, but you could tell he was still nervous. "Shit. We almost got killed," he said, stunned.
They were enveloped in silence as they remembered what happened last night.
"Fey..." I said softly as I remembered the woman.
Quen turned to me again. "What?"
"Nothing," I replied, avoiding his gaze.
He stared at me as if he wanted to know something, then he suddenly grinned. "Ey, Keefe... you seem to be hiding something, huh? It looks like you guys weren't just classmates. There was something more, admit it!"
"What are you talking about?" I asked, pretending not to be interested.
"Here I am, hospitalized, and my friend is about to continue his interrupted love life!" he joked, laughing.
"So, bro? What were you like in high school? Were you her first love? Or maybe she's had a crush on you since then?"
I just glared at him. "Just get well. You know too much."
But he still didn't stop. "As if! Maybe that's why we were let go because she still likes you! Or maybe she wants to protect you! Yieee!"
I ignored him. I turned to my side and closed my eyes.
"Hey! Keefe! Hey!" I could still hear Quen teasing me, but I ignored him.
He can deal with that. As for me, I just want to sleep.