The Assignment

** Before I go into this new chapter.. .I just wanted to tell everyone how much I apprecitate your feedback! Thanks so much! :)


The alarm’s shrill scream had Alex up out of bed right at five a.m. He slipped into what made up the most of his wardrobe, sleek black formals. He arrived at the building at exactly 5:45. He entered, going up the gold elevator to floor 8, and first reported to Michael to see where he stood in terms of assignments. This was the same procedure that every hired assassin did once they entered the Stetson and Smith Insurance Agency. The building served as a cover-up, oblivious salesmen worked side by side with trained killers without ever knowing it.. Michael was the boss, he controlled every aspect of the glass structure, as much as Alex detested that fact. “Good morning.” He greeted him coolly, and once he was seated slid a manila file folder across his desk. Alex opened it to find the profile of his client- a Mr. Roland Williams. The man served as council on Winsor’s Board of Directors. “As you can see he’s very high profile. He actually requested you by name. Good news travels fast, I assume.” Michael smirked. Alex flipped to the next form, where the outline and current whereabouts of his assignment were listed. Alex was a bit taken aback by the photo provided. “Jordan Noble.” Attached to the form was a picture of a young woman, with long blonde hair and wide eyes. “There’s no explanation.” Alex pointed out. The client had left the ‘reason to eradicate’ section blank. “Yes, I noticed. It doesn’t matter however, Williams is offering quite a stack of cash to take out this one. It shouldn’t be too difficult for you, Noble lives a few miles from St. Paul’s Cathedral. You won’t even need to go overseas for this one.”
“Jesus.” Alex said, looking at the photo. “She can’t be older than twenty.” Michael ignored this, and continued to flip through his own copy of the report. “Hm, I think I’ve heard of her father, she comes from a wealthy family. Anyway, this has to be done by the end of the month, there’s no specific preferences on the style, just do whatever it takes.” Alex didn’t respond, and Michael leaned over to look his in the eye. “Any problems?” He met his boss’ gaze with a fiercer one. “Not at all. You can send Williams my assurances.” Michael waved him off. “That won’t be necessary, you’re having lunch with him five hours.” Alex stood up sharply. “I don’t eat with clients.”
“He requested he meet you, so I penciled you in.” Alex imagined himself hurtling over the desk and throttling Michael for his ignorance. He closed his eyes to collect himself. “Michael. I am not dining with that man. This is a strictly business relationship.”
“All the more reason you must attend. You’re still on duty, so don’t try and slip out of it. The reservations are under Stetson for two at The Veranda. Don’t be late, he hates tardiness.”

Alex scowled as he entered The Veranda hours later. He hadn’t bothered to change, though he did manage to shave in between leaving the office and coming to the stuffy restaurant. The maitre’d escorted him to where Roland Williams sat. A very smug looking man with a thinning hairline, he had a 'too rich for his own good' air about him- not one of Alex's favorite types of customers. He didn’t concern himself with standing once Alex arrived, but shook his hand once he sat. “Hello, Alex. A little over the clock I see."
"It's 11:05!" Alex was appalled at the man's ignorance, and was already counting down the minutes until he could leave.
"Hm, nevertheless, I’m glad you could make it.” The man, in his early 50s, had a haughty manner about him that caused Alex to instantly dislike him. “I scheduled this meeting with your supervisor so I could set out a few, em, expectations I have.”
“That’s what the form is for.” The man smiled thinly. “Not into making first impressions, are you? Nevertheless, you’re here now, so I suggest you listen closely.” He leaned in, and Alex promptly refused to follow suit. He detested the man’s condescendence, and his patience was wearing thin. Williams addressed this stubbornness, and was wise to compromise. He situated his chair so that outsiders couldn’t hear the conversation. Now, Williams was seated directly beside Alex, which was two close for comfort for the hit man. “This woman, Jordan. We haven’t had the best history together, and the reason I summoned you is simple. I want her gone, Alex. Whatever it takes.” It was vague, but Alex knew better than to press further. “Understood.”
“Very well. Oh, and Alex? One more thing,” he leaned in again, “before you, you know, take care of things? I want you to give her my name. Tell her Mr. Roland Williams sent you.” Alex narrowed his eyes, he would do no such thing. He never interacted with the assignments, it was always a quick job for him, and his methods had yet to face complications. “With that said, might you stay for the crab? It’s delicious.”
“I’m afraid I must be going, I have research to do.”
“Oh, no doubt. But I insist.” Williams promptly ordered two dishes from the waiter, leaving Alex to tighten his jaw and plan to eat hastily.

“So? What did you think of our client?” Michael asked once he was back at headquarters. “I don’t like him. The pompous bastard acted like he owned me.” Michael chuckled and strolled around his office. “Well I’m afraid that’s too bad, now isn’t it? Fortunately you won’t have to deal with him anymore, the next time you’ll see his name it will be on a rather large paycheck.”
“Let me make this clear.” Alex put both of his muscular arms on the desk in front of him, facing his boss. “Don’t you ever go behind my back and make plans like that again.” Michael merely smirked and turned his back to face the window view directly from London’s Eye. “How old are you Alex? 24? 27?”
“I’m twenty-five.”
“Oh, that’s right. Let me remind you I pass you by just five years. Do you know how much you can acquire in five years, Alex? A damn good amount of knowledge to run a successful business. That’s how I became to practically own this place. Don’t screw this one up, you may find yourself fortunate enough to be in my place someday.” Alex turned his head to the side. “Fortunate.” He scoffed. “I have research to do, Michael. Are we done here?” His boss waved him off, and Alex exited the room quickly, almost running into Jimmy, one of the newest interns. “Oh, hey there!” He was carrying a stack of insurance papers, which he made a barely successful effort to keep in one place. Still inexperienced, Jimmy was in his junior year of college. “Hello, Jimmy. Here, let me help with that.” He lifted the large stack off the intern’s arms with ease, and dropped them off to the mailroom. “Thanks, buddy. Saw you just got out of the boss’ office. Guys’ a real tough cookie, right?” Alex chuckled. “Don’t let him scare you.” The boy turned his eyes back to the office, Michael had now shut the blinds. “I hope I never have to go in there. Well, you seem to handle him all right. How do you put up with a guy like that?”
“He’s my brother.”