"Last time there were only five."
Knowing he wouldn't answer no matter how I asked, I continued.
"They would bring more, maybe about ten? Or maybe fifteen?"
I turned to him while the coffee dripped into the cup.
"It would be great if there were at least twenty," a smile tugging at my lips.
He stood up and walked to me, looking at the coffee I was making.
"And it would be even better if they had weapons now. You have seen me use a knife, this time-"
I abruptly stopped my monologue when he placed a knife to my neck.
"What is it this time?" I asked, not even taking a step back.
"Are you thinking I am being impertinent right now?" I asked.
Since I had been asking for something in return for everything I showed him, is he losing his patience?
Despite the heater in the office, the coldness of the blade made me shiver. Not of fear but simply because it's cold.
"What I am showing you is all entertaining enough. Don't tell me, you think I left them alone just like that with the meeting? You should already know that the USB drives and hard drives all with a code that will infiltrate their computers."
"..."
"And of course, all the files are already with codes that even if they sent it through the cloud. Once they open it on their personal computers or anywhere else, I am already in."
"..."
"You don't believe me? You already know I am Blank-"
The knife was pressed harder on my neck, and I could feel that a wound was created. I can even feel blood dripping.
But instead of irritation. I was honestly dumbfounded.
My mouth dropped open, as if a knife was not threatening my life.
"Are you serious right now?"
I pushed the knife away before taking a step closer to him, my face a few inches away from his. Then I pointed at myself.
"Do you seriously think I would use my identity as Blank to cause trouble in the Sinclair Empire? Me? Your partner in crime?"
I even looked hurt.
"No. I won't," I said while staring straight in his eyes.
"Even if I deny it, you and your grandfather are my shields against those people. I can deal with them on my own, but having shields is a good saving grace from time to time. I am not that ungrateful."
Huffing, I turned to the coffee that had just finished being made.
"Here's your coffee. I even made yours first," I pouted, handing him the cup.
He accepted it without complaint, maybe shocked or in disbelief with how I reacted to his accusation, I don't know, and I don't care.
Instead, I turned to the coffee machine again and started making a new one for myself.
"There is one thing I want to clear up. I am not someone who stabs the back of someone whom I treat as a partner. Instead, I'd even give them my support with what they needed."
The coffee dripped into the second cup. Seeing that it was almost done, I took out a capsule of milk and sugar. I love my coffee with milk or cream. I am not fond of black.
He walked away from me while I focused on my coffee.
I thought he returned to his chair, but instead, a band-aid was placed in front of me. I turned to him in disbelief.
He raised an eyebrow and gestured for me to take the band-aid from his hand.
After I took it, he finally went back to his chair and started sipping from his cup.
Looking at the band-aid, I reached out to touch my neck.
The wound was not deep, and the blood that dripped barely reached more than an inch.
With a shrug, I went to the comfort room in the office and fixed the small wound before stepping out for my coffee again.
I smiled as I got close and saw that it was done. Taking a sip before sighing in contentment.
"20."
Thinking I was hearing things, I turned to him. I blinked in confusion cause I am sure that I heard it right.
"You think they will send about twenty people to warn me later on?" I raised an eyebrow, understanding what he just spoke of.
But to think that Kieran Sinclair initiated the conversation.
Did he feel bad for pointing a knife at me?
That is impossible, though.
This guy who kills without second thought would feel bad?
Maybe he just felt that my answer was good enough, so he could communicate with me again.
"Yeah, I think that would indeed be the number. Because they are only giving me a warning, but because of what I did with the first five people and what happened in the meeting, they'd want to warn me strongly."
I walked to the sofa with my coffee.
"But someone's been outside the door for a good while now. It doesn't seem like they are waiting for you to call for them. It's like they're hesitating," I added.
He did not bother and continued signing the documents in front of him. I shrugged, since he did not bother, I also wouldn't.
It was another few minutes before the door finally opened.
"...Kieran."
I looked up from my phone when I heard a female's voice, and the tone had hesitation.
The person by the door has the same facial features as Kieran. Someone I have seen on the monitor of my computer the other night.
Karina Sinclair.
Kieran looked at her without any greeting or a change in his expression.
"Mother... forgot something when she visited your place yesterday. And I... also wish to express-"
She abruptly stopped when she noticed me.
Then she came to me, almost rushing, grabbing both my hands with hers.
"It is you. Thank you for saving me back then."