CHAPTER 13

"They are gone."

​​

The words felt like lead in Macy's ears. It took her mind some time to be able to process what Jade had said. She was dumbfounded beyond words.

After some time, she blinked, fully grasping what she heard.

"Oh no. What happened? How could they have…? I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me? When did all these happen?"

All the questions that ran through her mind came pouring out at that instant. She still couldn't believe it

"They were murdered, alongside my relatives and a few family supporters present for dad's sixtieth birthday celebration, two days ago."

Macy Michael looked unprofessional at that moment with the way her lips were left open at the news. She immediately moved her hands up to cover her mouth, still dazed and left dumbstruck by her friend.

"Who could have done such a thing?"

"The Anders' Mafia Gang."

"Jade, I am very sorry," Macy apologized and held her friend's hands in hers. Her eyes held so much pain and concern for her friend, but she didn't know what words she could use to comfort her right now.

Luckily, Jade wasn't in need of some petting, all she wanted was her revenge.

"I no longer bear the name Jade anymore. Call me Quinn Wales from now on, Macy."

"Why if I may ask?"

"They want me dead as well. I alone survived and escaped, thanks to the help of my personal bodyguard."

"That is true, what of Asia? Where is she? The Asia I know wouldn't let you roam about, especially after what just happened."

Macy said as a matter of fact. It was true that Asia and Jade were close but Asia never compromised her duty by letting feelings and friendship cloud her senses, making her dull.

To her, Jade came first, even before her life. It was what her father had taught her, be loyal to whom you serve and never let anything compromise your work.

Due to that fact, whenever something happened or some rival gang made an attempt against Jade, Asia's overprotective nature would surface and guard watch over Jade as a mother hen watches zealously over her chicks against the hawk.

"Asia was killed as well. We escaped together but she couldn't make it. Till the end, she protected me," Jade informed her.

"I am sorry. I know she meant a lot to you."

"It's okay. Her sacrifice will not be in vain."

"So now, what do you want to do?" Macy asked her.

Both of them removed their hands from the table and relaxed into their seats when the waiteress arrived with their order.

As soon as the waitress left, they resumed their conversation while eating the meal laid out before them.

"What do I want? I want full-scale revenge. For now, I will lie low and plan. Basically, Macy, I am back, back as a new and different me."

"Welcome back, Quinn. Your companies await."

**********

~BACK AT MOONCREST CITY – ANDERS ENTERPRISE~

Seated at the top floor in the big building of the Anderson group, was a man in his late fifties. He sat cross legged in one of the chairs in the office, with both hands joined together in front of his face, forming an arc.

Opposite him, were two chairs with two other males seated on it. The man to his right, dressed in a white and black six piece suit, looked around his early forties and the man at his left, dressed in a maroon suit looked no more than thirty years old or younger.

Even though the air conditioner in the room was switched on and the entire room was cold, the two men in front of the older man had sweat glistening on their foreheads.

It was a tense atmosphere, no one spoke. The eerie silence that enveloped the big office was so that even if a tiny pin dropped on the floor, it would be heard loud and clear.

After several minutes passed, the older man broke the silence in a low but dangerous tone.

"You mean to tell me that all we did was for NOTHING!" He bellowed the last word at the two other men. "Zale, you couldn't get me a good result and rather bring this imbecile here to tell me this?"

"Chairman,"

He was cut short by the deadly glare the Chairman shot at him. His cold voice sent shivers running down the spine of the man on his right-hand side. Apparently, he was the one who broke the news to the Chairman.

"A simple job and you couldn't do it. What are you being paid for? Instead, you bring me a picture of her dead corpse. This could be clearly fabricated to throw us off her trail. She is not the one!"

"My apologies, Chairman."

The older man held his hand up, cutting the other man's words and turned his gaze to Zale.

"Where is the CCTV footage? Don't tell me you haven't gotten that till now."

"No, father. We have. Hand it over," Zale gestured for the other man to give the envelope in his hand to the Chairman.

He did as he was told and passed the brown envelope to the Chairman.

The man seated in front of them was none other than Mr Zain Anders, Chairman of the Anders Group, known for the ruthless and merciless way he handled those who dared to go against him.

Just like his son, he was a handsome man with his usual neatly swept-back brown hair with no trace of grey in it. Although in his late fifties, he looked like a man in his mid-forties.

How he had stayed in shape and looked this young was still a mystery to all.

Mr Zain took it from him and brought out the contents. It was a set of pictures. In one of the pictures, a man wearing a black mask was standing behind a girl in a short halter-neck gown, with his hand wrapped around her nose.

In the next, he seemed to drag her away. In another picture, he put her in a car and in the last picture, he raised his head up so his eyes could be seen clearly.

Upon seeing the content, Mr Zain's eyes scanned the pictures and the next moment, he lashed out again.