Velika: The story of a lover

"Describe their looks." Daniel Heinrich took a deep breath. He saw Velika O'Sullivan started rubbing her temples, and he knew she was on the edge.

"They are both Caucasian," Said Griff as he recalled, "Braddock is in his thirties I would say, tall, skinny, always had that kind of indifferent and proud look on his face. And that woman, she's middle-aged as well, she has a very strong northern European accent. Blonde, very pretty but very pretentious."

Daniel Heinrich felt relieved, everything went as he predicted so far. He glanced at Velika O'Sullivan, who was rubbing her temples. Something was going on with her, Daniel Heinrich didn't know how she would react.

"Do you know the woman's name?" She asked in a raspy voice.

"Not really, but her last name, um, probably is Leontes, I've heard the Braddock called her like that before. It's very rare so I remember." Answered Griff.

Velika O'Sullivan sighed and left the basement without saying a word. Daniel Heinrich hurriedly followed her after locking the door. She was pacing around in the living room, devastated, paranoid, and unstable. Daniel Heinrich decided not to approach her, he quietly stood there and watched her. After thirty seconds, she finally calmed down, poured herself some water, and sat down. Dean O'Sullivan was sitting at the other side of the room, staring at them nervously.

"What is it?" Asked Daniel Heinrich carefully, he didn't know if this as part of her acting or she was truly troubled by the information she just received from Griff.

"Astoria is behind this," Velika O'Sullivan didn't look at Daniel Heinrich, she bit her lips, seemed to be needing much effort to keep talking, "You knew it already, correct?"

"What do you mean?"

The tension was so intense that he could almost smell it in the air. But he pretended he wasn't nervous at all and sat down next to her. Indeed, it was time for them to talk.

"What do you know then?" He asked, poured some wine, and handed another goblet to her and she directly placed it on the side table instead of taking a sip.

"You worked for a Companion." She said in a cold, contemptuous tone, "Don't try to deny it."

"How long did you know?" He lowered his voice. Daniel Heinrich always had the hunch that Velika O'Sullivan was far more sophisticated than she appeared to be. It wasn't how she found out who he worked for bothered him since she probably already knew that for a long time. His only concern was, whether she was aware of Clarabelle Lewis was his asset.

"I know you better than your closest friends, Heinrich, if you have any friends." She finally took a sip of the wine he gave her, "I have my sources."

"That's a very nice thing to say," He sneered, "But does Romeo Leontes know?"

He was glad he came to the point that she carelessly threw herself into a position that he had the power to question her.

She swirled the goblet steadily like a professional sommelier, after pausing for half a minute, she said: "No."

A smile climbed on Daniel Heinrich's thin lips; his prediction was right. She couldn't fool him though she was a good actress: "You don't trust Leontes at all, do you?"

Velika O'Sullivan didn't answer right away, she swiftly glanced at Dean O'Sullivan, who was peering them fretfully and then signed Daniel Heinrich to pull his chair closer.

"No." Said her, her voice was so low that Daniel Heinrich could barely hear her, "Listen, Heinrich, I know you have your plans, I don't care what they are, but I assure you I can help with that. As you said, we are on the same page and must do whatever it takes to stay alive. These people are not to be messed with."

Daniel Heinrich narrowed his eyes, debriefing her words in his mind. Why did Velika O'Sullivan offer him help? The percentage of this offer was a trap was high. But again, she might be sincere and tired of fighting for others and wanted her life back. He told himself not to easily jump to a conclusion.

"You think this is strange," She continued, "I do too. Right now, we have to build an ally of our own. Of course, I want more time to get to know you, but the clock is ticking."

"Why do you want to be my ally?" He asked in concern.

"Why?" She sneered, "I have my reasons and I want to leave this business for good."

No doubt she was a dangerous woman, she could switch instantly between compassionate and brutal. Although he wasn't certain who she longed to revenge for, she did seem determined. And now he became surer that she sincerely wanted him as a partner. Just as she said, they could mutually benefit from it.

"Alright," He nodded, "We have a deal."