Gold Flower Legend

Chapter 4: Regret

"Chase her!" I blurted out as I leaped over the table. I and Dusk stormed out from the office and ran after her.

The velocity of our pace was no longer considered as running but slightly levitating on air, which only our tiptoes trod on the floor. Whoever we run across our way stepped aside on their own, leaving them scruffy and stupefied. 

In rush, we took a couple of hallways and stairs instead of using the elevator. Before we realised that, we already reached the huge and wide reception area.

We were chasing our breath as we looked around with our back facing each other. This was the first time in my life, I felt like I was chased by my death which I already found a way to be saved but I let it slip.

The onlookers at the reception area were watching us with puzzled expressions as they saw me on my discomposed self for the first time. But I didn't care. My main focus was to catch her up.

-"What is going on?" 

-"Is that really our Chairman Aderson?" 

-"Is he possessed by strange ghouls?"

-"Chairman is still hot and handsome as usual."

Their random thoughts to each other. I didn't bother myself to give them some notice. 

"This is a rare sight. Girls, take a shoot on your cameras." Thrilled by a gay screechy voice as he positioned his phone camera on me.

I never accepted interviews from the media nor posted my photo on the internet because I didn't like being photographed. Thus, as I heard he wanted to take a photo of me, I got pissed off. 

I took Fulgor Nocturnus out from my black suit chest pocket and without looking, I forcefully threw it towards him, aiming straight to the phone.

'Bulls eye' I said in mind as I heard the gay screamed and the sound of fallen objects. 

"Murphy, that was your 8 million dollars pen. Aren't you going to retrieve it?" Dusk said as I didn't spare a glance on them. 

"My dear phone!" The stagy cried of the gay. If I remembered him right, he was one of my secretaries, Guili. 

Though my eyes were busy roaming around for my target, I knew Dusk went over and picked it up. 

"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Murphy you're awesome! You got the cam's eye."

-"Wow, our Chairman is really talented."

-"Yeah! Yeah!" 

'Fools' I smirked. "Dusk! You are getting misled." I shouted to him. 

"That was a warning." Dusk said to Guili before he followed me.

I went outside the company first. I looked around but seriously, Wavina is nowhere to be found. She was way too fast. 

"Chairman, are you looking for someone?" Asked by the  chief guard of the company. "I noticed that you have been stretching your neck around."

My hands were on my side as I turned to him. "Yes. Have you seen a girl in white coat and white pants with a black undersleeve? Her hair was tied up with a red lace."

"I think yes, Chairman. She just left 4 minutes ago. She went here." The guard pointed me in the right direction. 

"How was it?" Dusk asked as he came. 

"Gone." I lazily stated and walked back inside the company.

***

As we got back to my office, I slammed my butt on the chair in frustration. 

"Your pen." Dusk handed me the pen then sat slothful to the opposite couch. "I forgot to get the lid."

"It's with me." I reach out my left hand to get the pen as well as the lid from my chest with the other hand. 

"Come on, Dusk. Let it out now." I said as I closed the pen with the lid and put it down on the table.

"Let it out what?" He asked, clashing his brows to each other. 

"Your laugh."

Dusk brushed his face with his hands. He looked more frustrated than me. "Why should I? For what reason?"

"Because what you said earlier was right. I regretted it now."

He looked at the window and sighed. "Murphy, you know me. I won't make a joke if it involves lives. Especially, if it involves you. I know how crucial it is to you." He stared at me again straight to my eyes with deep emotion. "She wasn't just our mission to keep safe but we needed her help for you to be free with that thing inside you which anytime it will be out of control."

"Thank you."

"No matter what, I won't let you face things alone. I will always be there for you."

I and Dusk turned our head in sync on the door as we heard knockings which interrupted our conversation. The one who asked for acknowledgement was no other than Guili.

"Come in." I answered. 

Right as he entered, he spoke immediately. "Chairman, I come here to apologise." He tried his best to make his voice sweet but I didn't know why it sounded disgusting to my ears, causing my skin hairs to rise. He was smiling ear to ear and looked at me in a sticky manner.

One of my brows slightly lifted, "Apologise?" 

"Yes. I was so rude earlier. I am sorry I made you upset."

"Done?"

"Yes."

"Then leave." I said, pointing to the door. 

"But you hadn't accepted my apology yet."

"Guili, I think you forget your status here." Dusk butt in. He got up from the couch, walked over, and sat on the table. Blocking the gay's sight. 

That was my buddy. He really understands me. He knows when I don't like to talk with others. "Do you know you interrupted our discussion for an important matter? Not only once, but twice today."

"VP, what did I do wrong?" He pouted, acting as if he was wronged.

"Just leave, then it's fine."

"Okay." Guili left in dissatisfaction. 

"I think we need to ask our people to look for her." Dusk said as he twisted his body to me. 

"That was also my plan." I nodded.

Despite my wide influence on the city and the large number of people under my power, we were struggling a lot to find her. I could not publicise our search because enemies were everywhere, waiting for a chance to gather information from us about the Gold Flower.

I thought we already searched the entire city but we can't still find her. 

A question once occurred to me. 'Is she hiding from us?' Impossible. She knew nothing.

A week passed but still no news. Everytime I ask my people about their progress, they always answer me with nothing. 

I blamed myself a lot and I regretted being impulsive. If I gave her a chance to speak, if I didn't let my strange feelings influence my decision, these things would not happen. We should not search blindly now.

During the day, I searched for her everytime I had no important business transactions and searched doubly during the entire night.

***

"Murphy, have a bite first." Dusk called as he entered my office, bringing boxes of food with a delicious smell and two cans of soda. 

I put down the documents I was holding and went over in the mini-table. I was indeed hungry so I didn't hesitate anymore. "How was your search?" 

Dusk shook his head as he took out the food. "Still none. But don't worry, I already asked some of our people to search at the nearer city while the other was to re-check the places here. Maybe, she wasn't roaming around this previous week and just missed her."

"I really hope so. I won't feel better if we can't find her soon. Dusk, sorry for troubling you."

Dusk tapped my shoulder, "What are we? Aren't we brothers? So don't ever think again like that or else I will get mad at you."

I sighed. "Alright. Let's eat."

We hadn't even eaten half of our lunch yet when my phone rang. I didn't answer first but it kept calling after another.

So I picked the phone in my chest pocket, and answered annoyed. "Hello?"

The caller in the line immediately reported a matter to me. As the call ended, Dusk inquired. "What was it?" 

"We have business to deal with." I replied seriously.

"Okay. Then, I will clear the path." He said as he took a tissue paper and wiped his mouth. 

I nodded as a reply.

Business to deal with? That was only a code I and Dusk used to refer to a subject which actually was not business-related and needed to be kept hidden.

As Dusk exited, I stood up and walked towards my table.

I squatted down and opened the drawer. Inside it were 3 spinning buttons lined horizontally. 

I spinned counterclockwise once the center button, and clockwise the first and last buttons. Right after, my office made a total transformation. 

Automatically, the door locked. The crystal glass walls turned tinted which no one from outside was able to see inside. The stuff and several furniture were neatly pulled at the side, except my chair and table. Lastly, the secret bookcase door opposite to my table flipped open and revealed the gloomy stairways of a passage heading outside.

Later, I heard cursing noises that got louder and louder to my ears from the stairways until the door protruded four figures. It was headed by Dusk followed by two men, my two elite dark guards with a code name Seven and Third, who were dragging a fat man. 

"Supreme." Greeted by the two of them simultaneously along with a respect bow with a right fist touched on their left chest.

I motioned my hand, telling them to let go their grip on him. "Kneel!" I ordered from the fat man.

He grinned evilly. "Kneel? In your dreams. Peeh!" 

"If Supreme asked you to kneel, then kneel." Shouted by Third, a young sturdy man, as he kicked the fat man's legs, reasoned for him to kneel despite his unwillingness. 

He glared at me. "Murphy Aderson, why did you abduct me."

"What did you know?" I directly questioned. Not bothering to know who he was because I could sense his evil dragon aura. 

He chuckled. "I just got to know you are looking for Wavina Javier. I really don't understand why you are looking for her so hard. Unless--"

"Don't speak nonsense." Dusk intruded as he suddenly punched him on his stomach. 

Blood burst from his mouth and laughed like he didn't feel pain. "I think my guess is right. If our Lady knows about it and we find her first, get prepared for your end."

"If that you can leave here alive." I popped off from my chair and faster than a blink of an eye, I popped out in front of the man. Clutching his neck as I thrust him against the wall. "Tell me, is there someone else who knows about it?" I asked, glaring at him and not letting go his neck in spite of hearing his neck bones cracking.

"Why ask? Are you afraid now?" He whispered in difficulty as he glared back at me.

"No need to ask him, let's see it in his memory." Dusk suggested as he crouched and took the man's hand and pressed their index fingertips. It took a while before he stood up. "He hasn't reported to anyone yet." 

"Murphy, you are vicious. You even trespassed in other's memories." The man said, gritting his teeth.

"Vicious? Vicious than your clan?" 

"Ah, I got it. You want to find her much not because you are preventing our Lady's husband to wake up but to save yourself. Am I right?" He mocked. 

"You talk so much shits." I tightened my grip on his neck and tossed him on air. I hurdled following him, caught his two legs and walloped him continually on the floor like a hammer sticking a nail on a lumber.

His skull exploded. Blood, brain, eyes, every part of his head spattered on the walls. And I only put him down when nothing was left of his head. 

That was me. I was ruthless towards enemies. 

I took hygienic alcohol in my drawer and poured all the content on my hands.

Third and Seven didn't wait for me to order them. They initiated to clean the mess.

As I was wiping my hand with a tissue, my phone rang again. I checked the caller name and it was from Mommy Tessie, our nursemaid.

I wrinkled my forehead as I read the name because Mommy Tessie never bothered to call me when it's not important.

"Mommy Tess? Do--" I was unable to finish my speech as Mommy spoke on the phone. My only reaction was, "What????".