Chapter 20 - How much is the wage for working at a post office in Alaska?

Previously:

"Nero!"

Oh god definitely enjoys my suffering and my pain and my agony. God is a fucking asshole. I'm going beat thy up.

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I walked towards the CEO with sorrow written all over my face, with Leah (surprise, surprise) following me behind my trail. Once I'm in front of him (and his secretary who was also present), I asked in a grieving tone,

"You called for me boss sir?"

Leo sent a confused look followed by a frown. He readdresses informatively, "I told you not to call me that."

And that's why I did it. Because I'm pissed at you. For putting me through torture. I flippantly replied, "Sorry sir."

Leo lifted his left eyebrow in more confusion and slight concern, He crossed his arms over his chest and even his secretary looked worriedly at me. The man earnestly asked, "What is wrong with you? Did something happen again?"

I winced internally at the "again". The sincerity brought out a small grin to my face and warmed my face up a little. That was before I realised I had a demon beside me that was giving me murderous glares. I sighed once more, straightened myself up and answered back a bit apologetic.

"I apologise for making you worried. I was just... thinking of something from before. It's fine now, I promise. Back to business though, do you need something from me sir or were you just testing out my name in loud volumes?" Leo to quirked his lip up a bit in humour at the latter remark, which stunned Ms. Secretary (what is her name?) and completely froze Ms. Grove.

"No, no. I wasn't just testing out your name. I really do need you for something surgent and quite important. Although before we get to that... what is Leah doing here with you? Do you guys know each other?"

I glanced over to her and all traces of homicide was completely wiped off, replaced with flirty eyes, flirty lips, flirty hair, heck even flirty nose. I don't know what that means nor do I know how that works but it looked flirty ok? It was all directed towards Leo just an FYI. Anyway, she happily responded back with a hint of lustful undertone, "Yeah we're friends right Nero?"

She looked back at me with her happy chappy smile but in her pupils were clearly telling me to agree. It is filled with harmful threat I tell you. I played stupid, pretending that I did not pick up on the signal and looked back to her in fake ignorance and puzzlement. I said nothing because you know, we weren't actually friends.

She huffed and went back towards Leo. "Anyway. I was actually looking for you! Mother has invited your family and especially you for dinner tonight. You never come and mummy is really heartbroken. I also miss you too, you know."

Leo looked up, deep in thought before rubbing his chin with a regretful expression. "I... I don't think I can make it tonight either Leah. I have a lot to do... I really do feel regretful for rejecting your Mother so much but I am a CEO of a company after all."

Leah moved beside him and practically clamped on his left arm like a leech and shoved it into her cleavage. Is that meant to be some sort bribe? Because that's more of a major turn off than an incentive... maybe it's because you're gay Nero? Shut up smartass Nero. "Aw but we really want you there! They haven't seen you in ages. You shouldn't do them dirty like that." Cue the supposedly cute pouting. All it does was nearly make me puke. Ok, Leo is either seriously fucking dense or he's playing ignorant. I really hope it's the latter because no one likes a dense man.

Leo pried his arm away carefully from her grip and gave her a semi-regretful smile. I swear the other semi was fake but that just might be me. But you have great observational skills, Nero! Yes, I do but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. He then said, "I'll let you know later today if I can make it for a short while."

"Kaaayyy" was her response and she quite vocally sighed in adoration. And then just stood there. Leo looked at her hesitantly and looked questionably at his secretary who was also a bit perplexed. I was also confused too but mainly because he still hadn't explained why he called out to me in the first place. So I asked. Again.

"Sir... you called for me... well bellowed really but regardless."

He scratched his head in uncertainty before replying. "Uh yeah, I did. Except I can't tell you. Until Leah leaves..."

Leah snapped out of her blatant ogling. "Oh! Right. I should... leave. Bye... everyone."

"Yup," I emphasised on the p and gave her fake innocence (with all of the deviousness hidden underneath). She didn't pick up on it but she still gave me death glares before turning away and heading towards the elevators. I released an exhale of relief and before I looked pointedly back at my boss.

He grinned at me but his body language was etched with nervousness. Weird... "Right we can finally get down to business." He looked at his Rolex and then muttered an incoherent curse. "and we need to get down to said business fast. Quick introduction. This is my secretary Cindy but you guys have already met before so we can go over the rest of the introduction shenanigans."

I've never seen him so rushed and uncollected before. It's kind of refreshing and I'm loving it. I wonder what other ways I can get him restless...

"Anyway, I need you to do me a huge favour. Like the biggest of all favours."

I raised my left eyebrow in interest but also in incredulity. "What... favour...?"

Before he could answer the question, Cindy butted in and encouraged him to not go with it. "Leo I really don't think this is a good idea. Like at all. It's too risky and if we're caught out, it'll be worse than getting the bloody deal with him."

Leo sharply looked at Cindy and coincidentally declared, "So we won't get caught. Simple."

"But-"

"Cindy. Trust me a little will you?"

This got out an angry rebuttal of, "I'd trust you if didn't do reckless sh- things like this!"

Leo waved her off and blatantly ignored her to give his full attention back to me. "Now do you want to hear of the favour?"

"Yes?" Now I was really suspicious and had a really bad feeling about this favour but my interest had been caught so I was gonna hear the end of it.

"Well..." it was at this moment that THE LEONARDO COVELL began NERVOUSLY playing with his hands and rocking slightly back fourth with a NERVOUS look on his face. How fucking bad... "I need you to pretend to be my employee who wrote up a certain contract."

I blinked once. Then twice. Then thrice. "What?"

"Yeah"

That doesn't sound too bad... something is still not right. "Why...?"

"Um yes so about that. A little background information. The contract is between MegCorp and Mark Rox, the man who created-"

I interrupted him briefly. "Raid Off. Sorry that was rude of me. Aiden plays the game whenever he's bored and is apparently a beast at it. Also heard it's always in the top charts in the app stores or whatnot."

"No, no it's fine. Saves me a lot of trouble explaining. Anyway, the contract basically entails a limited time cross over between our ChatMe app and a mini-game version of Raid Off. ChatMe users can play the game between conversers. It's beneficial for both parties as it promotes his game and makes our app more captivating. He's also going to our app on his game so it's a win-win for everyone."

"I still don't see where I come into play here."

"Which is my next point. Rox really liked the contract that was written up. He liked it so much that he made an unusual request to meet the one who wrote the contract. He had some queries for him. Sounded harmless except now it's detrimental."

"Riiigghhhtt... so why don't you get him?"

"The man who actually wrote up the contract fell sick today. Like he's admitted to hospital. That bad."

"Ok so just tell Rox that."

Leo shook his head in frustration. "You think I'd be here if I could just do that? He specified if the one who wrote the deal doesn't turn up, there is no deal. No excuses, nothing. You see where I'm going with this now?"

"You want me to meet up with Rox with a contract I've never seen or touched so we can have the deal, even though there is a high chance of failure?"

Boss beamed. "Great you get it then."

"No."

"No, you don't get it?"

"No as in not happening"

Leo and Cindy froze in their spot. Leo still had the wide grin plastered on his face but it turned plastic. "What?"

"I'm not doing it."

He blinked rapidly before half-shouting, "What?! Why?!"

I gave him an are-you-kidding-me look. "With all due respect but are you insane?!"

Cindy butt in quickly. "THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING!"

Leo was about to refute back but I beat him to it. "No, listen to me. You're putting a lot of pressure and stake on me; a no-name employee. If I mess up, we lose a very important business deal and the likelihood of me messing up is at an all-time high. Not only that, you will lose the trust you established with the man and the man can go around telling his friends of what went down, therefore losing all possible future deals. All in all, the responsibility of the entire screw up will be on me and me alone. Plus my job contract never said anything about high stake incognito missions either. So no I'm not doing it."

Cindy was vigorously nodding her head while looking back and forth between me and her boss. Her boss on the other hand was frowning and had his arms crossed over his chest. "Nero, I know what the stakes are and how risky it is to go through with it. I'm not an idiot and I've deliberated over this for many hours. However, I know there is a chance we can pull it off and I'm gambling on that chance because this is such an amazing deal. I can assure you that none of the responsibility will be on you. All of it will fall on me and I will not be mad or fire you for screwing up. I know what I'm sending you out for and I completely understand if it all goes to hell. Also, I will add to your job contract that high stake incognito missions are included if that's what will get you to do the job. I'll even pay you extra."

I exhaled in frustration and asked with a frustrated tone, "Ok fine it's important but why me? Why not ask some other employee like, I don't know, someone you trust more?"

He shook his head in refusal. "No can do. It has to be you."

That surprised me. "What, why? We barely know each other why would you..." I trailed off due to a lack of words and because I was flabbergasted.

"Even though I don't know you, I trust you enough to give you this mission and to no one else. Also statistically speaking, you lower the chance of messing up. That's probably the main reason looking back on it."

I flashed a slight hurt look because it wasn't that he trusted me over the rest. I'm just statistically better than the rest for some odd reason. "And what makes you say that?"

He simply shrugged and noted, "I don't know. Something tells me you're used to being sneaky and playing undercover."

My eyes widened slightly and I froze. My heart paced faster and I felt myself getting sweaty. I have not been obvious with anything at all. I haven't even done anything recently. I quickly regained composure and blankly said, "That's awfully rude of you. You really think I'm dodgy?"

"Yes."

I glared at him. "You know, you're doing an awful job at this whole convincing thing."

"You're right. Nerovsky Poston. Will you please help me out on this one matter? I will forever be in your debt." Leo then had the AUDACITY to show me PUPPY DOG EYES. That's right. Leonardo Covell was showing me puppy dog eyes. It startled the shit out of his secretary as her pupils were as wide as a UFO and her jaw dropped to the floor. It caught me so off guard, I actually had to take a step back. I managed to keep my jaw off the floor but my eyes sure as hell were doused with shock. That look should be illegal and I hate how it's currently working. Where's my dignity dammit! You can't pull off looking hot and cute at the same time. It's an injustice.

After the initial shock, I sighed in surrender (I seem to do that a lot lately). I still put up a half-assed fight though. "I-I don't know Leo. It's a lot of pressure..."

He then goes for the double kill and PUT HIS HANDS ON MY SHOULDER AND LOOKED AT ME WITH THAT STUPIDLY ADORABLE LOOK OF HIS. Omgomgomgomgomg he's touching me. Fuckyoufuckyoufuckyou this is unfair! "Please? For me?" HE SAid THAT IN AN EARNEST AND TROUBLED TONE AND I DIED A LITTLE INSIDE. I was about to say yes right there but another part of me really cared for my pride and self-worth, therefore refused to succumb to such... manipulative tone without getting something out of it. So to satisfy that part of Nero, I suggested, "You just said you will forever be in my debt. I want three favours from you that I can cash in at any time. No question asked and you cannot go back on the favours either. If you agree to such terms..."

Leo squeezed my shoulder with a hard grip (Ouch) in what seemed to be anticipation. "Yes. Done deal. Whatever you want."

I stared at him for a moment before reluctantly (very reluctantly) giving in. "I... fine. Let's do it."

Leo's face lit up like a Christmas tree and does a fist pump before proceeding to grab my left arm and drag me into a hug, arms around my shoulder. His cheek was rested against my temple and the proximity brought on shivers. My glasses were also imprinted onto my face due to his shoulder but I could care less because I died a little inside and my brain shut down. Who am I? Where am I? What's happening? My hands were by my side, limp and I was completely speechless (Cindy seemed to be at a near faint stage from all the consecutive shock attacks). Sir didn't seem to notice my lack of... anything and added on, "Thank you! You have no idea how much of a saviour you are right now."

My brain seemed to be semi-functioning now so I slowly pulled away to breathe but he still kept me at arm's length. I gave him a wobbly smile and affirmed, "You only if this works out and I don't actually get caught out."

Boss sir just simply grinned at me, teeth and all. He stared at me with hope and anticipation. It became the only thing I could focus on. Everything around us blurred out and time slowed down. I studied (staring) his face as he did with mine. His skin was kind of tan and extremely smooth with no marks of any sort. Well except for the tiny scar on the underside of the right side of his jaw. He seemed to be staring at me too in his own trance but soon his eyes travel down my face to the left side of my neck, staring at the bandage that was slightly popping out of my shirt. He's noticed it on the first day as well... that's going to garner some suspicion.

That broke me out of my spell and I took a hasty step back. Confusion flashed on Leo's face and I quickly distracted him with more important matters. "So when are we going?"

Leo's eyes enlarged in panic and quickly looked at his watch. "Shit. Now." With determination, he grabbed my forearm and pulled me towards the underground carpark. Cindy was at my heels, still recovering from what she witnessed.

"WHAT?! NOW?!" I screamed in panic.

Leo didn't even look back and continued to drag me with long strides. I have to fucking take three steps for one of his steps. I fucking look like a mouse scurrying towards cheese.

I anxiously blurt, "B-But I know like NOTHING? I also my own job to attend to like right now. I'm off break now."

"You will be debriefed on the way there don't worry. You also get the day off from your usual job. This is higher in priority."

Cue the sigh of fucking-fine-I-give-up. "How much time do I have for the debriefing?"

"45 minutes"

We were in the elevator by now, going down to the carpark. I had to catch my breath from the sudden fast-paced action but Leo was seemed unaffected. Stupid daddy long legs.

"That's not too bad for a debriefing." I calmed down a bit but then Leo looked me dead in the eye and bluntly said,

"You have to memorise the contract."

"...WHAT?"