Kian Turner

The field day had begun, and so does the plan.

Rachel, Joy, Leo, and I had already placed the material boxes in one of the storage rooms provided to us. We were given the work to illuminate the manor and were given instructions by Zoya to lighten up the manor from outside, hence, our first stop was the terrace.

With boxes of required material in our hands, we took the two-floor lift to carry us to the terrace. Once on the terrace, the first thing I noticed was three guards that were standing firm in their positions with their hawk eyes assessing us.

"Dang it, don't tell me they are going to have their eyes on us all time. I can't work when watched on." Joy grumbled lowly.

"I wish female guards were here watching on us." Leo, the group's carefree member—other than me, spoke. Spending only a little time with him, I figured, we could become wonderful friends. 

"Agreed, Leo. I mean, it would have been a cool breeze in this hot summer." I chuckled.

"Do you boys ever think of anything else than girls?" Rachel scowled as she dropped her box. She was a cool, vivacious girl, who wore tons of bracelets, a few rings in both of her hands, three ear piercings, and had colorful nails. She kept her strawberry blonde hair in a high ponytail.

I dropped my box and smirked at her. "That's fun, you know?"

Leo approached her and scoffed. "Look who's talking. As if you don't think about your girl all time."

She narrowed her eyes at him punched in his gut playfully. "You think of girls that aren't yours and probably won't be. And I think of only one who is already mine. Learn the difference."

"Ooo, fire." Leo and I did a high five and laughed; Joy joined as well.

"Hey, are y'all gonna chat over there or you gonna start with work?" One of the three guards complained.

I narrowed my eyes at him. He honestly didn't have the right to meddle in our work. I was about to give him a fitting reply when Rachel came forward and grilled him with her sharp yet smart remark.

"Not to be rude, but your work is to watch on people, not to order around or interfere in other's work."

This reply of hers had us, the boys, snickering while covering our mouths. The guard was taken off guard and his eyes lowered, he stepped back in his position. Served him right.

We collected the tools like scissors, electric tapes, wire ties, etcetera in our waist bags and began doing our work. Rachel and I decided to cascade the twinkle lights from one end of the rooftop while Joy and Leo chose the other.

I was joining the two wires which were in Rachel's hands when I muttered, "I'd heard that opposite attracts but have seen it now. I mean, Mia's quite reserved while you're so outspoken and cool."

Rachel chuckled lightly. "Well, some things are said for a reason."

"Know what? You should have asked Zoya to be with Mia." I grinned, trying to tease her a little as I took the wire from her hand and went to hang it on the edge of the wall.

She picked up the twinkle lights and came near me. "We try to be discreet when at work. Mia gets quite uncomfortable sometimes. She's...she's sensitive."

Her low, painful voice had me look at her. Her hurtful expression told me that it was an acceptance problem.

I can't understand why people question love amongst the same gender. I mean, love is love; no matter what the gender is. They are no one to question the principles of dignity. It's the twenty-first century we are living in for heaven's sake. When will people change their minds?

I gently tapped her shoulder as I smiled warmly. "Don't worry, we'll make her stronger."

Rachel gently smiled in response. "Thank you, but no need. I love her anyway."

With that, we got back to work. We all spared some time to chat, laugh, share jokes, and talk nonsense. All and all we had a great time together while working. While on the rooftop, I had my gaze fixed on my surroundings.

I made sure I had checked every surveillance camera and its angles on the rooftop. While inspecting them I found one camera that was focused on the main entrance gate. I noted it down in my digital notepad to remind myself to cut the cords of it since it could be a problem.

I didn't get time to inspect the cameras outside the manor but during the break, I stealthy wandered inside the manor to look for the surveillance room where all cameras were being monitored, if they had any inside.

While passing through the hallway, I came across the glass window through which I saw my crime partner, Aura, standing. Moving closer I stood near the window and watched her take the whiff of flowers, but ended up sneezing hard, making her body shake violently. A low but deep laugh escaped my throat when she looked up in the glass and rubbed her finger under her nose. She then brushed her hair back and giving the last look to the flowers, she walked away. She's fun to watch.

Letting myself off the wall which I didn't know I had leaned on to watch her, I resumed my task. Luckily, while passing through the empty hallway, I came through a staircase going down towards the basement.

Hmm, this could probably lead to my destination. With that thought in my mind, I quickly descended the stairs, not wanting to get caught. The part of the mansion, opposite to what I thought, was brightly lit but was secluded. Carefully, I marched ahead, passed by random doors, and only stopped when a room designated as 'Record Room' came into my view.

I switched my phone on the video and pressed the red button, and placed it in my jeans pocket in a way that the camera protruded out of the pocket. Once satisfied with camera angles, I flung the door open and saw two men sprawled on their respective chairs with their legs lazily stretched onto the front desk as they stuffed their mouths with potato chips, their eyes off the screens. Lazy asses!

Hearing the door open, startled, they stood up from the chairs and faced me. "Who are you and what are you doing here? Don't you know this is a no-entry zone?" One of the men tried to intimidate me.

I did see the no-entry signboard hanging outside, but again when have I cared about rules?

Confidently, I barged in, shutting the door behind me, and made sure to stand in a manner for my phone to get a better view of the screens. "One of the members of the wedding planning team. I thought it'd be easy to look at every corner of the manor through cameras since it's pretty difficult to run around in this hot weather."

They both surprisingly snickered, "Well, boy, you can't. These cameras aren't your plaything. Go, do your work." Both of them turned their backs on me.

Uh, did they think they could outsmart me? Nah!

"Well, fine then. Not me, but you both will be answerable to Rian Mackay for being a hindrance in her sister's wedding planning." This got them stiff and I smirked. Nice move, Kian.

They faced me and I could see them panicking. Since I had the upper hand in the situation so, I thought why not play a little? I turned my back on them and grabbed the door handle but before opening the door, I looked over my shoulder.

"Oh, and I forgot to mention Rian's my friend and she permitted me to come here." And with that, I clicked open the door.

"Hey, wait." I heard the panicked voice of both the men. I smirked and turned to face them again. Well played, Kian.

"If the order's from above then there's nothing we can do. You may have a look." One of them stood aside to give me a view of the screen but the other one instantly protested to his partner.

"But we haven't been informed about this. We gotta confirm first."

"Oh, sure, go ahead." I pulled out my phone and sneakily moved closer to the screen without letting them have a look at my phone screen. "Or better yet, I'll call Rian. I'll also inform her about your laziness." I faked a call and pressed my phone against my ear, making sure it recorded the surveillance screen properly.

I had no fear since it was Rian I was doing all of that for. I felt them panicking again; they knew they'd be raked over the coal for not doing their work properly.

"Alright, alright, you may have the look." Finally, both of them gave in. "But please, we request you, don't complain about us."

"Oh, don't fret about that. My lips are sealed." I beamed, moving closer to the screen, and with my arms crossed and phone peeking through my arm I recorded everything before exiting the room. I slammed the door shut and sighed in relief, and switched the video off.

Well, that was easier than I thought.

By the evening we had draped the manor with the twinkle lights and after the work hours I took a look at the video I had recorded, then I went to the back of the house to meet with my crime partner.

When I reached there, I found her sitting on the concrete bench, peacefully watching the dried leaves shedding from the tree. She was too lost in the view that she failed to notice when I came and stood by the bench.

Three seconds passed, yet, her gaze didn't waver. Smiling wickedly, I leaned forward by placing my palms on the bench and inched my face a bit closer to her, and whispered, "You seem lost. Thinking about me?"

She flinched, obviously startled by my presence. "For heaven's sake, Kian, I would have got a heart attack." She snapped.

I took the liberty to sit beside her. "Now, that's an exaggeration, cheesesteak. I don't think a daring girl like you can have a weak heart."

She hastily shifted so that now she was facing me. "Tell me one thing, Kian. Have you made it your mission to start a conversation with pick-up lines?"

I beamed. "It works, doesn't it? Besides, I have been complimented for bringing smiles to girls' faces and making their day. And now, I have made it my motto." I winked.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop herself from laughing softly and I swear, after listening to her laugh my day felt complete. The exhaustion of the day vanished in the air making me feel light as a feather.

I cringed at my thoughts. Light as a feather? Complete? Fuck, Kian. What's wrong with you? I certainly had lost my senses somewhere.

Despite knowing about my dysfunctioned senses, yet, I couldn't take my eyes off her. It was peaceful to watch the light breeze pass through her hair, making her brush the baby hairs out of her face. She was daring, bold, confident, and stubborn.

Could she be the one for me—

Damn it Kian, control yourself! I mentally punched myself for having those outrageous thoughts.

I straightened my posture and asked, "So, what information do you have?"

The gorgeous smile on her face vanished which had me mentally punch myself again.

She said, passing me a notepad. "Position of all the guards except for the terrace. I have also noted down the timing of their position change and their break."

"There are three on the terrace," I responded while flipping the pages of the notepad. I then played the video on my phone and passed it to her. "Surveillance video of all the cameras."

Astonished, she saw the video. "How did you manage to get into the surveillance room? How did they allow you in there?"

"Skills." I simply replied.

With her lips stretched in a tight-lipped smile, she looked at me and said, "Well Mr. Skills, your genius self failed to notice that the video you have here doesn't follow to the east side of the manor."

A frown immediately appeared on my eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

She handed me my phone. "They have another surveillance room for the east side which is monitored by guards themselves."

I hurriedly watched the video and found out that she was right; one side of the manor could not be seen in the video. Fuck!

"I thought they have only one surveillance room. Guess, I was wrong, they are so damn cunning." I mumbled and glanced at her. "You knocked my socks off, cheesesteak."

She did the job worth appreciating.

She faked a gasp. "Am I hearing a compliment from you, Mr. Skills?"

I smiled knowingly. Clever, Aura. Clever.

"Keep it 'cause you deserve it," I appreciatively gazed at her, which made her frown at me.

When I didn't avert my eyes from her, a soft blush appeared on her face and she shook her head. "You surely are something else."

"That I am," I exclaimed. "Now, could there be something which we can take advantage of?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Can't say. I didn't get the chance to look further, but I'm betting on a secret exit."

I nodded my head in understanding. "Don't worry, we still have time."

"Also, I have taken a look at what cameras in the east side we'd have to cit in case needed." She added.

"Impressive." I complimented her. "We'll have to cut the cords of one of the cameras on the terrace since it gives a clear view of the front gates."

"Alright. Uh, well, we have discussed everything concerned; I think I should get back inside." She pushed herself to stand up and I just followed her moves through my gaze. "Uh, okay, umm, see you tomorrow." She hesitantly waved at me and made her way ahead, but I stopped her.

"Hey, Aura." I couldn't understand why I called her by her real name; it was a mystery for me as well.

She stopped and spun to look at me, surprised. "You..." Her eyebrows came together in a frown, not believing what came out of my mouth.

I slowly stood up. "If you don't mind, can we walk back together?"

I didn't know why I wanted that, but I just couldn't bring myself to leave any chance of being in her company.

She studied me for a while, then she ticked her head. "I don't see a reason why not."

I quickly came and stood beside her, feeling like a two-year-old who didn't want to be left behind when going out with their parents. We then went back to our respective rooms together, in peaceful silence.

Walking beside her quietly was different. It was calm. It was new. Despite all the calmness, it made my heart drum at an unexceptional rate and made me question myself: Why was I going all insane over a walk with her?

What was happening with me?

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