Whispers of the Damned

I tried to focus, staying focused on my work and trying not to get distracted by anything. But I failed. A few times, my breathing labored because of the anger I was bottling up, and I realized that my enemy was only a few steps away from me. All I wanted was to go to him and then hit him over the head or slap him because, obviously, the one who shot us yesterday knew our whereabouts from him.

I was already on his radar, but he couldn't hurt me directly because of my family's power in this state. That's why he used that Garcia spy. His first trick was to urge me on in another way, one that was softer and more sexual because he was sure and confident in his own charms. He must have thought that I was like the woman in his collection, quickly falling for his charms and crawling before him like a slave before they were destroyed by him.

Zane Bernardi may think that, but I would never do that. He might have fooled me in the past, but now he won't be able to manipulate me anymore.

The urge to go into his room was growing stronger, but I knew it would be dangerous for me, so I could only work on my coding a bit faster.

Or, hell, it looks like I need to go to the kitchen to make some more coffee.

"Do you want some coffee?" I asked Elsa, who was also still focused on her work.

She looked up briefly before shaking her head. "I still have some, Danny. Thanks for the offer."

"Okay, then," I replied. Carrying my used coffee cup to the communal kitchen.

Hopefully, Zane Bernardi wouldn't show up and ruin my mood.

I poured the hot water in the teapot into my glass and returned to the room.

"You don't look so good right now," Elsa said.

I raised my round-rimmed, oversized reading glasses, snorting in exasperation. "Yeah, some personal problems at home. Arguing with one of my brothers. That's normal. But I'm fine."

Elsa nodded. "You want a gummy? Sweets can improve your mood." She said, thrusting two gummies at me before I could even say yes.

I smiled at her. "Thanks, Elsa."

"You're welcome, Daniella." She replied, leaning back in her chair as she moved her sore neck. "Have you seen the news today?" "About what?"

"A mass shooting at an elite restaurant on the beach."

I stiffened.

"It happened yesterday afternoon, and it was a huge uproar." she said again.

"Oh yeah," I sighed. "I just read about it from an online news portal, too. It was horrible."

"The restaurant manager died on the way to the hospital. How sad."

"How many people were victimized?"

"I read that there were ten people seriously injured." She shrugged, shuddering. "I wonder why there's such a horrible person? Is he mentally ill? There were many people there. Why would he shoot at them?" "Did the police bring the perpetrator in?"

"It looks like they have, but there's no information from the police yet. Maybe we should just wait." She said. "San Francisco is a bit dangerous nowadays, isn't it? I'm afraid to go out alone."

"Yeah, the world is kind of cruel to women," I replied. "If you have nothing important to do, you shouldn't go out. If you want to go out, you should bring your friend or your dad. It would be safe."

She nodded. "And you don't like going out at night?"

I frowned. "No," I shook my head. "Yeah, just sometimes. It might be when my friend want to go to a club, or we want that pizza at the nearby cafe, the good one. We'll go out but won't stay out too long." And there's always a guard around me and Joanna, they'll protect us just like those two guys did at the restaurant yesterday. "Do you often go out to clubs?"

"I'm not that fun." She chuckled softly. "I'd rather sleep in on a Sunday night while baking cookies. That's more fun."

"Baking?"

She nodded. "I like making cakes, all kinds of cakes. Sometimes, if I want, I'll sell them through online delivery. It doesn't make much money, but at least I can drain my boredom."

"That's an excellent boredom-busting idea." I looked at her in amazement. I still can't bake. I can only cook home-cooked food. My mom was good at it, and for a long time, she made delicious tarts when we had birthdays. I've come to dislike the tarts sold in cake shops because I think my mum's tarts are the best.

"So, do you make them often?"

"On weekends, yes." She nodded. "And you still sell those pastries?"

"Sometimes. When I'm in the mood."

I had intended to give Jason a cake or a cookie. Instead of buying them elsewhere, I could try to buy Elsa's. "Can you make a tart for me? I'll pay any price." Her eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "There's... a friend of mine. It's her birthday. I can't come, so I should at least be able to give her something. I promised her to send her a cake."

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"I can... " she grimaced. "But I don't know if the flavor will be..."

"It doesn't matter about the taste. I want to buy it from you."

"Alright," she smiled. "When will you pick it up?"

I said, "You can make it on the weekend and bring it on Monday."

"Thank you, Daniella."

"You're welcome, Elsa."

We then chatted for a while before returning to our work until lunchtime. Elsa and my other coworkers had already gone to the cafeteria for lunch, but I sat, staring blankly at the view of San Francisco from the glass wall next to me. Something compels me to do something reckless.

And I knew it wouldn't calm down before I actually did it.

I stood up and walked out of the room, not to the elevator that would take me to the cafeteria but to the left hallway that led me to the room of this company's big boss.

My heart was in turmoil as I stepped through the relatively long hallway and stared at the emptiness of several other executive rooms.

"Is Mr. Zane Bernardi inside?" I asked a woman sitting at the secretary's desk.

She played with her cell phone and then looked up at me. Her eyes scanned me up and down before answering. "Mr. Bernardi is inside, but he's busy." She replied curtly.

I sighed. "Can't I ask for his time? After all, it's lunchtime."

"Are you managing my big boss's schedule?" she raised an eyebrow.

Now, I'm doubting the 'don't judge a book by its cover' trope doesn't work for some people. This woman certainly looks the part. She's wearing a tight gray work dress cut so low that I can see her curvaceous cleavage. Her blond hair is flowing in waves in a frenzy on her shoulders, and her makeup is, I'm guessing, more suitable for a party than work.

Now, I wonder why that man keeps this kind of employee in his office. Is it to refresh his eyes? Or was this secretary of his... one of his collections used just in case he wanted emergency hot sex in the office?

It was so gross, and I was pretty sure that my gross guess was correct.

"Please, it's an emergency," I said quietly and gently, trying to be patient. "Please tell him that Daniella Gomez wants to meet."

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"Who are you to tell me?" she retorted arrogantly.

I closed my eyes, suppressing my anger. If I can help it, I don't want to take it out on Zane Bernardi's secretary.

"What's going on?" the sound of the door opening, accompanied by Zane Bernardi's heavy voice, made us turn to him.

He smiled when he saw me.

"There's a woman here to see you, sir. This woman." His secretary pointed at me with her pen. "I told her you were busy, but she's stubborn."

"You cannot restrain others who want to see me." He retorted, looking at the woman who opened her eyes wide in shock. "I'm not busy, but you are. Shouldn't you have corrected the wrong report earlier?" She stammered. "Oh..yes, sir. I was just getting ready for lunch."

"No lunch for you until you finish that." The man replied sharply. I frowned at him, as he looked back at me with a smile. "And you... why did you want to see me?"

My teeth chattered. "I want to make up for what I did to you in the car yesterday. Can I come in?"

I didn't mind the sound of the secretary's gasp. Perhaps she was surprised that I was getting along so well with her boss.

Zane Bernardi's flat face turned into a seductive grin. "Okay. Come in." He said. "If Daniella wants to come in, you must let her into my office. Understood?" he ordered his secretary without turning to her. "Understood, sir." The secretary replied with a quiet squeak.

I stepped inside and caught my breath when I saw how spacious, elegant, and beautiful his office was.

"So what are you going to bail me out with?" he was behind me, whispering low in my ear. "A kiss? I want more than that."

I closed my eyes, exhaling softly before I brought my elbow back hard.

It hit his chin.

"Here. With this."

And then I brought my fist back to his face.