Smith flipped through the document with Eva's information. His expression remained blank as if nothing about it was unknown to him. Then his eyes fell on the ID.
"Sasha Stones," he said out loud, a smirk on his lips.
She had told him earlier that her name was Eva, and now there was an identification that says otherwise. Just what was she thinking walking into a place like this and with fake ID?
"Should I go and get her for you, sir," Jon asked. He was quiet the whole time watching Smith skim through the file. He held his breath throughout, not sure what he should be expecting. But seeing him smile instead was a huge relief for Jon.
"There's no need," Smith replied, tucking the ID into his pocket. "Take good care of her." He stood up. The other man inside with them only followed his movements with his eyes. "Where is she right now?" he asked.
"She is in the dressing room," Jon replied, and Smith's eyes narrowed. "She is with Stacy. She has no idea what to do, so I thought to have Stacy teach her a thing or two." Jon quickly explained.
"Send her home today," Smith said after a moment's pause. "Tell her that it's her first client's request."
Jon paused, blinking as he processed the words. Then suddenly, he smiled. Mr Smith wants to be her first client, he thought.
"Of course, sir." he said, eagerly nodding. "I will have her prepared and ready…"
"I said send her home, not prepare her," Smith said coldly.
"Ah…right." Jon uttered before he left the men alone.
"What about her piqued your interest?" The other man asked, now going through her file.
"Nothing," Smith replied and sat back down. "How's your investigation going, Marco?"
"You are no fun at all. I'm doing all the work, and you keep adding me to my plate, but you won't even tell me about your girl?" Marco whined. He clicked his tongue when he received no reply other than a blank stare. "Fine," he sighed in resignation.
"George planned it all as you already knew, but this time, there's evidence to back it up," he reached for a bag that's been sitting idly beside the chair, taking out an envelope from inside. "It's all in here."
Smith took the envelope but didn't unseal it. He just stared at the brown paper, his gaze cold.
"What will you do now?" Marco asked. "This is enough for us to kill him, and no one will protest."
"They will," Smith said, clicking his tongue as if the words tasted bitter. "He is a Nova. That alone is reason enough for a protest."
"I still don't get it," Marco sighed. "He killed his own brother for f*ck sake."
Smith picked up an empty glass and a bottle sitting on the table. He poured the liquid inside without saying a word.
Marco watched him and sighed again.
If he was this angry about the whole situation, then how much was Smith about it when he was the closest person to the deceased?
"For tonight, let's get drunk…" Smith stood up, and Marco's words died.
"I have to go," he said and received a glare. "Enjoy yourself."
****
Meanwhile, Eva still couldn't believe she was leaving just like that after being told to learn everything as soon as possible.
"My first client?" She asked again just to be sure, and Jon nodded.
"Yes, your first client."
"Since when did I have a client? I just got here," Eva tried to reason it out of him, but no matter how she tried, he was insistent.
"Would you rather go home or stay here and entertain the customers?" Jon snapped.
"...I'll go home," Eva said despite the uneasy feeling inside her.
Once Jon left, she felt the eyes of every woman in there on her, followed by not so silent whispers, and she could hear them all.
"Seriously? She's got a client already?"
"Just who would it be for Jon to accept that?"
"She must have done something."
"That's a given."
Eva sighed, shaking her head inwardly.
"Already making enemies when I haven't done anything at all," she mumbled, picked up her bag, and left.
Reaching outside, Eva was faced with another dilemma, how to get home safely. When she remembered what happened during the day, she shuddered, her hands clutching her bag tightly.
Unable to get a cab where she stood, she began walking down the street while going through a car ride app, trying to find one close enough but still found nothing.
"This is going to be a long walk," she muttered, her eyes staring at the nearly empty street. She glanced back at the club, reconsidering going back inside.
"A long walk to where?"
A voice came from behind her, and she turned abruptly, startled. When she saw who it was, her breath caught.
"Rom…?" She muttered, eyes wide. Then, she looked away, heat crawling up her cheeks as shame took over. Her heartbeat spiked, each beat so loud against her ears that she feared he could hear it too.
Smith paused mid-step when he heard what she called him. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as a ghost of a smile crossed his features before disappearing like it was never there.
"I asked where you'll be walking to," he repeated. He saw her shift uncomfortably where she stood, still avoiding eye contact. He stopped in front of her and heard her take a sharp breath as if trying to hold herself together.
She stepped back, increasing the distance between them, then she looked around wary of other eyes that might be staring at them.
"Don't tell me you are concerned about being seen after where you just walked out of," Smith said, his brows furrowing.
"It…it's not what you think. I just…" Eva began but he interrupted her mid-sentence.
"You just walked out of the locker room where the club girls change."
Eva bit her lips, embarrassment flooding her being. She felt like cornered prey under his gaze and words that hit her right on the spot. "I… don't work there," she whispered. Lifting her head, she stepped back, heart skipping a beat.
He was smirking.