Chapter 90 Malcolm Makes a Hefty Offer
After an awkward silence that stretched over several seconds, with Reese not uttering a word, Sophia's smile grew wider as her eyes glittered with triumph. She assumed Reese was chickening out.
"If you're too scared, we'd all understand. Coming from the sticks and handling this job is already impressive enough. We don't really expect much from you," Sophia sneered, turning to flash a knowing look at Lilly, who nodded subtly before addressing the office onlookers.
"Alright, everyone, back to work. Since Reese is opting out of joining our social gathering, let's not push her. After all, she's not one of us. We should be more understanding," Lilly said in her mock-sympathetic tone, her voice dripping with condescension.
Just as Lilly and Sophia were about to strut away, proud of their perceived victory, Reese finally spoke up.
"I'll do it."
The two shared a glance, smirking at their apparent manipulation.
"Great, let's make it even more interesting. How about we have Miss Linden and Reese go head-to-head? It's all in good fun, right? What do you all say?" One of the onlookers suggested, igniting murmurs of agreement.
"Miss Linden and Reese are the department's most attractive ladies. If it's between the two of them, the turnout will be huge. It's gonna be quite the show."
Reese couldn't help but inwardly scoff at their idea of 'entertainment.' They just wanted to see her make a fool of herself.
Sophia's eyes shone with pride. She was well-trained in dance, having practiced since childhood, which explained her graceful moves.
Reese, while she wasn't lacking in looks, was just a country girl. Getting three square meals a day was achievement enough, let alone having time to hone any dance skills.
Sophia was confident she would outshine Reese and reclaim the spotlight.
But Reese had a plan of her own and confidently accepted the challenge.
"Okay, but don't expect too much; dancing isn't really my thing. Just don't laugh at me," Reese conceded with a sense of nonchalance that belied her nerves.
Lilly responded with a victor's grin, "We're all colleagues here. Why would we laugh?"
Sophia's heart was already racing with anticipation for tomorrow's social event.
"See you tomorrow then, Reese. Better get ready," Sophia said, barely containing her eagerness.
Reese nodded slightly, and Sophia Linden exited with Lilly following.
The office returned to its usual quiet as lunchtime neared. Reese hadn't yet finished her workload, which should've been wrapped up by eleven. Unexpectedly, Sophia Linden dropped another contract in her lap, and now she needed to carve out a moment to review it.
She always kept an eye out for new business opportunities. She was indifferent to most things except the prospect of making money. Reese never let a chance slip by if there was even a sliver of potential.
Her colleague, roughly the same age and possessing a delicate beauty, seemed particularly reserved and was quite small in stature, eliciting an instinctual protectiveness in others.
Initially, the young woman seemed intimidated by Reese, so she kept her distance. But when Reese sensed someone near, she looked up to find a pair of hesitant eyes watching her cautiously.
"Need something?" Reese asked.
"I got an extra meal from the cafeteria. Here, it's for you," the girl said, offering up the boxed lunch.
Reese didn't take it immediately. She was curious why the girl would bring her food when no one else in the company seemed to want any unnecessary contact with her. Their glances often bore a mix of alienation and fear, as though she were a creature from another world.
Misunderstanding the hesitation, the girl hurriedly clarified, "Don't worry, the meal is clean."
"That's not what I mean. I just find it strange that no one else talks to me, and yet you came over on your own," Reese said.
The girl, clearly timid, even in speaking up, was practically invisible around the office.
"Because you're the only one in this company who can stand up to them," the girl said simply and then walked away.
Reese watched her petite figure retreat, remembering the look of apprehension and fear in her eyes. Instinctively, she knew the girl must have been through some sort of trauma or unfair treatment to end up so faint-hearted.
Her observations since joining the company suggested the usual workplace targets and isolation, which could easily break someone without inner strength, just like this girl.
After looking at the steaming boxed meal in front of her and then glancing at the time on her computer screen, Reese realized there was no chance to grab lunch out. She still needed to call Calvin.
Lifting the lid without any fuss, she started eating with the fork, t hen got up and headed outside.
Stepping off the curb, her phone rang—it was Calvin, saving her the trouble of calling him.
"Reese, there's a gig with a six-figure bounty. You in?"
"Six figures!" Reese was taken aback. She had only created a profile on that platform for kicks, never expecting someone to actually drop that kind of money.
"Yeah, a six-figure gig to investigate someone."
"Just take the message for now. Did they say when they need the results?" She never passed up a chance to make some cash.
Calvin chuckled on the phone, “Reese, why don’t you ask who’s asking, or who you're supposed to look into?”
“As long as they pay on time, I don’t care about the who or why.”
Something about Calvin seemed off to Reese today.
He grinned through the phone like he couldn't wait to spill a secret. "I think you need to know—the target they want information on is you. They sent everything, pictures too."
Reese laughed, "Someone's digging up dirt on me? And they've got photos?"
Looks like they came prepared.
"Yup, take a wild guess who's willing to pay top dollar for the scoop on you?"
"Do I really need to guess? Who else but Malcolm?"
It wasn't rocket science to figure that out, especially since Malcolm's suspicions never eased after his files were stolen.
Who knew how many secret searches he'd commissioned since then, though apparently, he hadn't found what he was looking for.
The thought alone made Calvin chuckle.
"Reese, you have no idea. When I saw your name, Louis and I nearly died laughing. It's like, he’s paying you to investigate yourself."
"It just proves that our security is solid if he's come up empty-handed."
There was a reason for Reese to celebrate. With Malcolm, what you see wasn't always what you get—it was often just a smoke screen.
Calvin's curiosity got the better of him. "So, Reese, are you taking it?"
Reese pondered, her hand stroking her chin.
"Turn it down."
"Why not? Even if your 'darling' doesn't hire us, he'll just find someone else."
"Reject him flat out. Trust me, he won't give up."
Her voice was confident, the picture of a master strategist.
Calvin sounded incredulous, "For real? Reese, think it over. If he gives up, we miss out on a good payday."
Chapter 91: Madam Ambushed
"Skepticism in your voice?" Reese countered. "When have I ever steered you wrong?"
Calvin paused to consider. Actually, she was spot on—her predictions always came true. She had a fitting nickname in their circle: the oracle.
Whenever she foresaw something, it tended to happen, even if not immediately, the outcome was inevitable.
And that was one of the many reasons they held Reese in such high regard.
Calvin decided to trust Reese as he always did, "Alright, Reese, I'll do as you say and turn him down for now."
"Go handle that, I've got a meeting."
"Who you meeting with, Reese?" Calvin wondered to himself, half-joking that Reese might be sneaking off to see a secret lover behind Malcolm's back.
"I've got a new contact who claims to have dirt on Jason. What I found out before doesn’t seem complete enough."
Reese had stumbled upon this source online during a morning search at the office. They demanded a steep price, but given Jason's extraordinary circumstances, Reese thought it was worth taking the risk. Besides, if it turned out to be a scam, she wouldn’t pay a dime - no harm done.
"Then go, but be careful. I'll let you know if anything comes up here."
"Okay, gotta go."
She ended the call and made her way across the street to a narrow lane, the agreed meeting spot. It seemed she had gotten there a bit early; the person hadn’t arrived yet.
She was about to dial the person's number when her phone lit up with Malcolm’s name.
Reese hesitated before answering.
"The contract is reviewed and ready on my desk. Just have Justin Chabon swing by to collect it."
"You’re not at the office?"
"No, I’m...” Before Reese could finish, she spotted several men closing in from all sides, their approach menacing.
Malcolm, sensing the sudden chaos on Reese's end and her abrupt pause, furrowed his brow in concern, "Reese, where are you?"
Those men were clearly targeting her. Reese’s eyes flashed with resolve, and even her tone hardened as she spoke, "Got something to handle, I'll call you back."
"Reese..."
Malcolm's call went unanswered, leaving nothing but a chilling dial tone.
He barked towards the door, "Justin Chabon, get in here!"
Justin Chabon burst through the office door, "What's up, Mr. Flynn?"
"Locate Reese, now." The urgency was evident in his voice, his expression grim.
Justin had never seen Mr. Flynn so rattled but knew better than to ask questions, "On it."
When Justin returned, he reported without delay, "Madam is down the path near the office."
"Check it out."
Meanwhile, Reese stood defiantly surrounded by towering figures, not a trace of fear on her face.
She surveyed the intimidating circle, "Who sent you?"
Being able to pinpoint her exact location like that, they must've had tabs on her movements beforehand.
The leader of the pack, a bat resting on his shoulder and a toothpick dangling from his lips, had the look of a street thug straight out of central casting.
"We just do what we're paid for. As for who's got it out for you, we're not at liberty to say."
One of his cronies, eyeing Reese up and down without a shred of decency, piped up, "Malcolm, this chick's pretty hot, and what a figure!"
The rest of the group smirked and snickered in agreement.
"Malcolm, you get first dibs, eh? We're just here for the show."
They rubbed their hands together in anticipation, as if they couldn't wait to get started.
The toothpick guy cut to the chase with Reese: "Someone wants your virtue. Play nice, and we might make it somewhat pleasurable for you. Otherwise, if you get hurt, don't expect us to care."
"Yeah, babe, relax. We'll make sure you're more than satisfied," another chimed in with a sleazy grin.
As one of them moved to caress Reese's cheek, she glared icily, grabbed his wrist, and launched a kick straight to his gut, sending him stumbling backward.
Clutching his belly in agony, his face turned ashen, and cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
"My stomach...it hurts so bad..."
"Malcolm, that bitch knows how to fight!" one of the men exclaimed, somewhat shocked.
Toothpick guy was surprised too, but remained unfazed. They had the numbers, after all. A lone girl was no match for them.
He raised his hand, signaling a pause, and looked at Reese. "Sweetheart, no matter how well you fight, you can't beat all of us. If you know what's good for you, you'll take care of us."
His shameless words were met with loathsome snickers from the men behind him.
Reese's gaze swept over their despicable faces with the sharpness of a knife. "You think you can touch me? Please."
The man Reese had hit, still holding his stomach, felt the chill in her eyes and something inside him panicked.
He tugged at Malcolm's sleeve. "Maybe we should just drop it, Malcolm. There's something about this girl, man. Her eyes...I get the chills just looking at her."
Like being watched by the eyes of death itself.
One of his buddies couldn't help but laugh at him. "Scared by a single kick? That's pathetic, man. Just watch us handle her."
Toothpick guy gave his orders. "Take her down."
Reese sneered. "Come at me all at once. I've got better things to do than waste time with you losers."
Her words were brazen, and her expression was the cherry on top of her defiance.
Malcolm and his crew couldn't help but hoot and holler at her audacity.
"She must be out of her mind, thinking we'll all take her on together."
A chuckle rippled through the group, "Hey, we don't mind at all. It's your pint-sized frame I worry about not holding up."
The innuendo was clear, and the others burst out laughing alongside him.
Reese casually picked up a stick from the ground and brandished it with fierce determination.
"Cut the crap, let's get this over with."
Toothpick guy flicked his toothpick away and sneered, 'Alright, let's do this, guys."
They charged at Reese with a menacing ferocity, but she gripped her makeshift weapon tightly, her movements agile and eyes flashing with an icy resolve.
Toothpick guy had underestimated the girl; her agility infuriated him, and he bellowed, "Don't hold back on me, any of you!"
Even with Reese's quick skills, the numbers against her began to tell, and injuries started to mark her body. Yet, the ferocious light in her eyes never once dimmed.
From a distance, Justin Chabon suddenly raised the alarm.
"Mr. Flynn, that gang's picking a fight with the lady!"
Malcolm caught sight of Reese's petite figure amidst the crowd. Even surrounded, she stood out to him.
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