The plan was simple, slip inside the gala
Disguise as a waiter
Drop the threat to the target
Exit the building
Leon was dressed like a waiter serving drinks. Two more steps and his mission will be completed
"You are only lucky to be here" an elderly lady hissed at Leon, snaring at him like he was dirt.
She took a flute of wine from the tray.
Leon spotted the gold ring on her finger, which was among the least valuable gold in his collection
"Now, why are you staring at my ring-do you know how much it costs?" She glared like he was a destitute "Do you want to steal it?"
Leon simply said nothing, he couldn't afford a bitter and rude woman to ruin his plans.
She wasn't the reason he was here, so he humbly bowed and passed her.
He tightened his grip on the tray
Elites, proud people
Behind their smiles were secrets and scandals dirtier than their polished lifestyle.
The gala was filled with men and women lavishly dressed in a dinner style.
"Eyes on the target?" Leon asked in a whisper
"Not yet" Jake's voice sounded from the comms
"I would blend in when the target is found, alert me"
"Roger that" Jake replied
Leon briskly moved to the other end of the room to get more wine.
He checked his wrist watch, five minutes gone already
Five minutes left, he stood with the tray waiting for Jake's feedback
Just beside Leon, two men dressed in sophisticated suits were having a conversation
"When the deal is completed, believe me, I would be the richest man in Zyria" one of the men boasted.
"I am happy for you, my friend"
Both men shook hands excitedly about what the future holds
It looked quite similar to how his father used to shake hands with people he thought were his allies
Leon made to move, still holding the tray in a waiter's stance
A lady laughed loudly to her partner, but it was fake
"I can have any woman I want-you are just one of them" the man replied angrily
"Very funny. You can't just use me as a side piece-tossing me however? I am your wife" she replied, anger boiling inside of her
Looking at the couple, one would think that they were madly in love, having a loving conversation
Rather, they were both in a heated argument
Leon stood a little to hear more. He could use some entertainment after all
"I am your husband-"
"You got my best friend pregnant!"
"I would get whomever I want pregnant-"
"You are disgusting, Frank, I loved you. How did you turn against me this way…"
Leon didn't want to overstep, he, too, had been heartbroken by the woman he loved before
He couldn't care less
Jake finally sounded from the comms "Target spotted, north wing table, blue tux, in a discussion with six men."
Leon straightened, balancing the tray like any other waiter
That was what he was there for
He made his way to the north wing
Leon's target was laughing too loudly
Wine spilling from his glass as he boasted to his companions.
Old habits never die hard
Leon poured fresh wine with steady hands into his cup
"…you look familiar" the man stopped his boasting to look at Leon
Leon maintained eye-to-eye contact, his face stern
"Oh, forget it, he is dead. I made sure of that-you are just a look-alike to Corey's dead son"
The man dismissed Leon with his hand proudly, returning to his conversation with his companions.
Leon slipped the folded note under the rim of the plate
That was only what he needed to do. Mission done
He turned, walking towards the kitchen doors
Tray balanced on his hand
"Done" Leon muttered under his breath
"Copy that" Jake replied
The next thing Leon had to do was leave the building.
He had just handled a quiet mission.
No gunshots, no noise, just a whispered threat,
Meanwhile, outside the building
Paparazzi's cameras flashed on the arrival of billionaire Zayn.
Zayn's chauffeur opened the car door, then got down to help his plus one exit the car.
His date, Tara Vorene, was seated in the 340 Mercedes-Benz
How long he had wanted to be in a relationship with her, but she blatantly refused
He made a deal of a business alliance with her grandfather on ground he gets Tara for marriage.
What he didn't expect was for Tara to accept so easily
"Thank you, my love" Tara blushed, stepping out of the car like a princess
She looked radiant in power, dressed in high fashion, chin high, eyes filled with confidence.
She maintained a cheerful aura
The camera flashed on Tara and Zayn
Their hands interlocked like a couple
"Are you both dating?" A interviewer tried to ask, but Zayn's bodyguard blocked him
"Miss Tara, are you finally ready to love a man?" Another interview asked
Tara's eyes were stern with a little smirk
A celebrity has to be mindful of what they say
The marriage was not official yet
With Zayn by her side, Alfredo won't even breathe in her direction
"I can't wait to get married to you" Tara whispered flirtatiously to Zayn
Zayn raises a brow, teasing, "So the Ice Queen of Zyrai finally melts enough to fall in love? Interesting."
Tara forced a soft laugh, she had no feelings for Zayn
She didn't want him, she needed him
"You are the best man who has worn my heart." Tara leaned in
She hates it so much that she has to be vulnerable
The camera continued flashing while the couple posed for the camera
On their way in, Tara and Zayn cut across the hall toward the entrance.
Just then, she locks eyes with Leon.
She freezes, recognizing him instantly as the delivery man she saw at the hotel.
How dare this nobody keep reappearing in her world?
Now he was dressed like a waiter
"You again? What is it with you and expensive places you don't belong in?"
She deliberately raised her voice so Zayn and others could hear
Leon stopped in his track,
The same lady from the hotel was she destined to always ruin his mission?
"Boss, things could get really messy" Jake said from the comms
The lady stood in place, her hands looped through the man's arm
"A lowlife like you shouldn't be here serving drinks, you can't even afford the drink."
"Who is he?" Zayn asked Tara
Leon didn't move. He didn't blink
"He is a nobody. Men like him don't even deserve to breathe the same air as us-let's head in"
Zayn's lips curved arrogantly, then he pulled Tara closer as if to parade her. "Servants like you can never dream of a woman like her. She belongs to men at my level."
"Careful who you call a servant. The tables turn faster than you think." Leon replied sharply
Tara was rattled by Leon's confidence
"I am the most talked about billionaire in this country, the only table turning is the one you serve for a living" Zayn replied, like he had just cracked a funny joke
Tara forced a laugh. Zayn was too arrogant
She hated herself for feeding Zayn's arrogance, but what choice did she have?
The couple ran down Leon with their eyes before walking past him.
***
Inside the building
The man took his flute to sip his wine
A paper close to the plate, under the tablecloth caught his attention
Handwriting was inscribed on the paper
"You would lose everything in two weeks"
He laughed at the paper, nothing but a useless prank
"Very funny, where are the cameras?" the man continued, laughed, showing his companion the note
They laughed and mocked too, an empty threat
Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his pocket
He took it out
"What?" He exclaimed, colour draining from his face
His account was debited $10,000 to an unknown account with a description
"This is just the beginning, more to come"
"Who…who dropped this?" The man's voice echoed loudly to his companions were suddenly stiffened
This wasn't a prank, it was real!