Velika: The story of a lover

Later they accessed the secure internal database of Natural and browsed the classified files since Romeo Leontes had the authority to reach any files, he interested in.

Nevertheless, it wasn't easy to find out the documents about Companion, it seemed someone had hidden it away intentionally. After they viewed quite a few insignificant files for nearly an hour, they found a link at the bottom of one page that was nearly invisible.

A window popped up, it was about the basic information of Companion, but more specific than those useless details on the public websites. Companion was known as an oil company but what it did to gain profit was how it controlled the black market of biological weapons research and development. Currently, they were experimenting on a new medicine called XYZ-2421, Velika O'Sullivan suspected XYZ-2421 was the chemical mixture that killed Edmund Leontes and her thought was agreed by Romeo Leontes.

Daniel Heinrich, on the other side, was in silence. Though he was in that business for a long time, he didn't know his former employer was manipulating the black market. He realized that he stepped into something that he might not have control over. Not only did he not have control over, but there was no way for him to easily step away from this.

The page for the contact information was blank. Rather than they didn't have any, it seemed like all the details were removed from the page. If Astoria Leontes was the director behind this, she must have had the complete information about Companion, which at this point, seemed very likely. Romeo Leontes decided to uncover his sister-in-law's little secret after he returned to the headquarter.

"They can't do all the researches by themselves to develop that XYZ-2421." Daniel Heinrich tried to contribute to the discussion. He was pacing around the living room.

"They don't. They asked Dr. Mills, remember?" Velika O'Sullivan was annoyed by him circling.

"That's not what I meant." He stopped, snapped his finger, "They need a drug company that can test things without drawing anyone's attention. A drug company that also has absolute power in the black market."

Velika O'Sullivan bit her lips. Daniel Heinrich's theory impressed her. She thought about all the drug companies she ever heard of but none of them rang a bell. She was an assassin and never had expertise in market research.

But someone in the room was, and yet he wouldn't speak a word of it.

'This was what made the game fun', thought Velika O'Sullivan.

"Astoria thinks she's smart to hide everything, but," Romeo Leontes pointed on the laptop screen, "She forgot to delete this photo."

A short, white-haired old man with a superficial and oily smile on his wrinkled face was shaking hands with a young man whose face was in the shadows in the photo. Even it was hard to tell, Daniel Heinrich had the instinct that the young man was Brian Braddock.

"Who's that?" Asked Velika O'Sullivan.

"Say hi to Mr. Jonathan Griff, the CEO of the Griff Drug Company." Romeo Leontes said with a smile on his face.

They looked at the Griff Drug Company up and the result implied that two days later, the company would have a press conference about their newest development in their headquarter in New York. The temporary name of the drug was XYZ-2421, which was currently in a clinical trial where the main function was to slow down aging by reducing cell division and lengthening the telomeres. "

"Of course, it will stop aging. Never need to worry about getting another wrinkle when you are dead, am I right?" Taunted Daniel Heinrich with a smirk.

"Why do they hold a press conference if they are doing illegal research?" Velika O'Sullivan stepped back and started rubbing her temples, "I mean if XYZ-2421 is lethal and there's no way for the government to approve it, why the hell are they trying to spread the propaganda about it?"

"Draw attention." Daniel Heinrich shrugged, "Those paparazzi never interested in investigating things that are in the open light."

"Heinrich is right," Concluded Romeo Leontes, "They are doing this because they don't want anyone to find out their secrets. Dark spots are formed behind bright lights."

Velika O'Sullivan sighed, kept rubbing her temples, "We are going to that conference. Romeo, can you provide us identities?"

"Certainly." Romeo Leontes nodded, "I'll go back tonight and send everything to you as soon as I can."

Velika O'Sullivan sat down again and poured a cup of coffee. The steam wasn't as comforting as usual. At this moment, she felt tense though she couldn't comprehend the reason.

Romeo Leontes left an hour after their conversation. Velika O'Sullivan intended to persuade Romeo Leontes to stay overnight. But she knew exactly what the situation was, so she let him go without convincing.

"Take care of yourself, okay?" Said Romeo Leontes as he hugged her, "And take care of that your company."

"Yes, I will." She nodded, "You need to take care too."

"Thank you." Said Romeo Leontes, he let her loose and went up to Daniel Heinrich.

"I guess we'll be in touch." Said Daniel Heinrich, "Goodnight."

"Daniel Heinrich," Romeo said in a low, husky voice, "I know you are hiding something; it better not be related to your mission. I recruited you, and I can easily get rid of you."

"We shall see." Daniel Heinrich smirked. He stepped back and stood alongside with Velika O'Sullivan, watching Romeo Leontes went to his car and drove away. They didn't move until they saw the car disappeared in the night. He heard she sighed and opened the door to step inside.

He was still standing outside, connecting all the dots he had together, then he drew a bold conclusion that he didn't dare to believe two years ago.

It's time to make his move.

"O'Sullivan," He called for her when he walked in, she was sitting on the couch and her eyes looked hollow. He swallowed back what he was planning to say. And instead, he said, "You don't have anything attach to Leontes, do you?"

"Not." She looked at him, a little agitated, "Don't make ridiculous assumptions."

"Right." He nodded, trying to provoke her so she could tell him the truth.

"You don't want to know things about me," She sighed again, seemed like she was buried in sentiment.

"Try me." Insisted him, he had to know her story. He felt exposed in front of her as she knew so much about him but he didn't have a single clue about her.

"Oh, you need to win my trust first." She rolled her eyes, "Anyway, I know you want to ask me something, what is it?"

He rose his eyebrow: "I'm going to get a drink, mind joining me?"

"I'm good." Velika O'Sullivan shook her head, "We have a long journey tomorrow, don't get drunk."