Riley received a text from an unknown number.
"Find a way to get to this address. This message would only last 20 minutes' The address followed after that.
At first Riley was suspicious but when she saw the signature under, she knew who it was. Mrs Miller. About time.
---
Skylar saw that 'annoying customer' again. The one who had been asking for normal coffee.
"Oh, it's you…" He didn't sound so pleased to see her.
"Yes it's me. I work at this spot this week, you shouldn't have come here if you didn't want to see me,"
"Right. You think so highly of your self. Do you think I would have come here if there was another place to get coffee?"
"Don't you work in a bank? There should be coffee for staff,"
"How'd you know that, are you now stalking me?"
"Now you think so highly of yourself,"
He checked his watch and paced on a spot "Can I just have a cappuccino?"
"Hmm, let me see…" Skylar searched for a cup behind the counter "We're out,"
"You're out!" The man's voice went up a notch.
"Chill, I was just messing with you. No need to shout,"
"I don't appreciate those kind of jokes,"
"Whatever," She handed him his cup of cappuccino and he sprinted out of the place like he was a thief.
"Skylar?" Her colleague tapped her while she laughed at the young man's clumsiness on his way out.
"What is it?"
"You forgot to collect payment,"
It was then Skylar realised that she had indeed forgotten. She had been so caught up in their banter that she didn't… "I'll go," One annoyingly high-pitched voice interrupted thoughts.
"Go where?" Skylar asked the owner of the voice.
"To collect the payment from the guy. His workplace is just 5 minutes from here,"
'What? How the fuck is any of this your business?' Skylar wanted to say, but her other co-worker (the one who had tapped her) beat her to speaking.
"Actually, I already planned to do that. I just wanted to let Skylar know before I'll step out,"
"You're not going anywhere!" Skylar spoke before she could stop herself.
---
"Melanie,"
A soft voice called out to Melanie while she was still in the dreamland. After a soft tap, she woke up. Melanie was dreaming about what it would be like to have a mother and SOMEONE just had to interrupt it. She was ready to give the person a piece of her mind when she saw her father, though still in his pyjamas.
"Dad?"
"We're going out today," Not even a 'good morning sweetheart' "I promised you, and I never go back on my promises,"
He ruffled her hair "I'm totally free today. Let Barry arrange your things, we're going anywhere you want,"
Melanie smiled while he left. "Finally chucky," She took her horror doll and did a victory dance around the room.
Melanie wasn't the only happy one that morning. Riley danced her way out of the maids' quarters that morning, greeting every individual she passed. What's there not to like? She could finally visit that address Mrs Miller sent to her without breaking a sweat, and better, there was no mini devil to boss her around for the day. It was a win-win.
"Have a lovely day young miss," Riley waved with smiles as Mr Marcello and his daughter walked into a waiting car. Mr Marcello ignored her, but for Melanie, such a simple and almost insincere gesture warmed her heart. She simply smiled back before leaving.
After taking permission from the butler –Barry, Riley left to see Mrs Miller.
"Ah Miss Knox, look at you. You seem to be blooming since you stopped working in the CID," Mrs Miller did an air kiss to her both cheeks, which slightly disgusted Riley.
'You mean since I stopped working with TOXIC people. Why won't I shine?' Riley reasoned
"Come and meet the crew," Mrs Miller said when Riley didn't respond to her…exchange.
Riley followed her inside the restaurant. Where they went to was a VIP space.
"Hello loves," Riley waved at everybody who greeted her back. "They're the undercover crew you were asking about," Mrs Miller said, "That's Hammer, Jake, Captain, Willow and Crook,"
The individuals waved at her whenever their names were called. "Mrs Miller," Riley spoke, "One word" They went to the side.
"If this is about the résumé then I'm sorry, I don't know how I managed to upload the wrong one. I hope it didn't put you on suspicion?"
"No it didn't, I explained why I wanted the job. I don't think he had any doubts, thankfully. But that's not just why I called you…"
Riley had a feeling that Mrs Miller was lying, but she didn't want to point it out yet. If Mrs Miller had really uploaded her original résumé, she would have never been hired because her five year of working in the CID was also mentioned there. Someone had edited it and deliberately uploaded it!
"How did you know I was on my way here, and when I arrived," Riley asked.
"Oh, we hacked into your phone through that spam message I sent you," Mrs Miller made it sound like invading someone's privacy wasn't a thing. "It's just for location purposes, since we can't call you freely. I have somewhere to be," She carried her bag, "Miss Knox, get yourself acquainted to the group members. We'll see another time. Don't fail this mission,"
And with that she left. "Don't look shocked, she does that all the time," A teammate placed a hand on her shoulder and said.
---
Melanie and her dad were really starting to bond during this outing. Even though he had rented the entire cinema and had bodyguards around just to watch a cartoon, or wore masks to enter into the VIP section of a five star restaurant, or rented a portion of the wildlife reservoir (Zoo) just so she could play with the big cats for one hour, it was all worth it.
Nothing could spoil this day!
Mr Marcello glanced at his phone for the umpteenth time. He had been trying to avoid ruining this day for his daughter but this client was very important to him.
"I thought the park would be full by this time of the day," Melanie glanced around as the bodyguards packed the remnants of their picnic.
"I rented it,"
---
"Listen Melanie, I'll drop off at the company while John (the driver) would take you to the spa. I have an important client to meet. It's just for 30 minutes. Then I'll come back. Am I excused?"
Melanie's smile didn't reach her eyes. She tried to be an understanding daughter and let her dad go make some money, but a part of her selfishly wanted him all to herself. She had predicted this since the beginning of their outing. There was no outing they had that her dad stayed till the end and carried her home.
"Of course. You've been with me since morning, and I've had a great time. Thanks dad,"
Melanie didn't realise that they had reached the company until her dad opened the car door to come down. He stepped forward and opened his hand for a handshake and a kiss on the forehead, but Melanie opened her arms for a hug. Then Melanie opened her hand for a handshake and he opened his arms for a hug.
The driver slapped his head in frustration as he viewed their silly actions from the side mirror. "You know what, just… bye" Nathaniel waved at his daughter. Melanie waved back till he was out of sight, before the car sped off.