Chapter 12: Chapter 12

The heart never lied. In the circumstances of war and peace, the highest place is granted to the traitor heart which beats furiously as it remembers the foes and friends.

And Karma's stone heart wavered at his anger.

"You can't just leave like that Alistair. Arkalos has given you fame, the wealth of the three worlds, don't be thankless-"

"Now, now, Mr. Darius let's not flow with the emotional avalanche. Arkalos has given him nothing. Do you remember the first day he fought for you?....hmm maybe not but I do, he was defeated by Flynn Styx.

Mr. Alessandro was twenty years old, a first-levelfighter, and Flynn... He was twenty-nine with various medals struck at his chest for winning blood street fights.

Due to your incompetence, you made a fighter compete with a merciless killer....."

All lies

Tempting red blood was shining in those blue irises of Karma as she smiled sinisterly.

Maybe Flynn was a street fighter with extreme fists who only quenched his thirst with the blood but he didn't dare compete with Alistair in blood fights.

We all have skeletons in our closets.Some terrible, horrific dark secrets.

Alistair had one too.

He was the King in Underground of merciless combat. It was not only illegal but also one of the most dangerous places a man could be.

With his popularity, one was bound to recognize him.

Everything had a price. Flynn too had his, a victory in exchange for keeping his mouth shut.

But how come a girl like Karma knows unless she was keeping tabs on him and had gone through his entire history, digging deep into the place she shouldn't.

Alistair wasn't startled though.

If she didn't know about him...he would be afraid to state that he would be disappointed.

"I am not a pawn that you can control in your chess game, Mr. Darius and as I said before I would heavily appreciate it if you value my time because I am here only because of Alistair.

If you must know, I can bring your organization down in a single breath because you have not only partaken in illegal activities but also endangered the life of the man whom the government wouldn't think twice before providing the highest protection.

You have my complete attention...so kindly use your words wisely-"

A hand wrapped around her thigh, squeezing softly, it stopped her angry outburst but even though the rageous thoughts remained imprisoned on her tongue. The anger in her eyes still burned fresh.

Only she had the complete right to belittle Alistair and only she had the authority to do it while laughing at his loss.

She would claw out the eyes of those who dared otherwise.

"As Miss Karma said, Darius, I have given you respect as well as a portion of my income. Arkalos was nothing but a mere company not even virtuous to hold a hundred people.

You had no empire but a small place with fighters running like chickens.

And I have no greed or desire to have it, so I hereby announce that Arkalos is completely yours. I am resigning and you have no say in it. I am not willing to take such risks for an organization that is not my only source.

They will fall at my feet.In less than a week, I will the CEO of Xena, and remember Darius I don't even need to try."

Darius and Oliver wanted to vomit blood. Xena was Arkalos' biggest competition. The board had been eyeing Alistair to join them since the beginning.

If Alistair left their company, it will collapse in no time at all.

Some people were born thankless with not a bone of gratitude inside them but this time they have aimed for the wrong people.

Neither Alistair nor Karma were soft-hearted nor forgiving personalities so it wasn't dependent on Darius Stone to provide what theywanted.

The duo would have it either way.

Alistair got up offering his hand to Karma pulling her up as well.

"We must take our leave. You will get the documents by tomorrow."

Darius was frozen in his place, not knowing how to respond he stood up stiffly, nodding once.

******************

"You are welcome." Her black heels clicked against the concrete as they walked towards the black Audi parked right beside the restaurant.

The evening sky covered the earth in a blanket of cyan with specks of turquoise dusted on it. Clouds floating like cotton presented the perfect scenery as Alistair cocked an eyebrow at Karma.

"It is your job to stay by my side. You did your duty, not some charity that I should be thankful of." Alistair was not calm, despite maintaining a placid facade the mask was cracking at the edges.

Did she like Oliver?

Was he the kind of guy she preferred?

He sighed. Why the hell was he getting worked up over something that was not significant to him?

He opened the car door for her to enter first making Karma repeat his previous action by raising a brow of herself.

"Acting like a gentleman? Too bad I know your true face." She sassed and was about to enter when a voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Karma!" Oliver screamed at the top of his lungs, his hair disheveled as he ran to catch up to her. She turned her head to him eyeing him skeptically.

"Miss Karma, Mr. Alessandro, I truly apologize for my father's behavior. He is not usually like that and I assure you we will find a middle path among this."

There was a smug look on Alistair's face as he heard those words being uttered but they soon morphed into a dark smirk as he heard the boy continued speaking.

"Karma, what I said earlier was completely true. You are the most exquisite woman I have ever set my eyes upon....." He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, his cheeks getting heated up.

"If you don't mind to grab a coffee with me........ For the painting, ofcourse!"

Karma found the attempt almost cute.Her face blossomed like the first white lily in spring.

"Ofcourse, I would love to see your art skills. Let’s schedule a meeting for the day after tomorrow then."

Unknown to the little fawn, the guy was staring wide-eyed beyond her petite frame, his legs trembling slightly at the dark looming shadow of Alistair who looked ready to slaughter him any moment now.

"Umm. I-its fine if you don't... I mean if you aren't free."

"Of course not, silly. I am as free as a newborn sparrow who had tasted heights for the first time. See you then."

Oliver opened and closed his mouth several times like a dying fish as Alistair went inside the car, the smoke practically coming out of his ears. He blew the horn angrily startling Karma making her settle inside as fast as she could.

"Bye!" She waved from the window as Oliver stood stiffly not uttering a single word seeing Alistair was eyeing him enraged from the rearview mirror.

"So you like that kind of boys."

"Hmm?" Karma asked with uncertainty not understanding why he was acting weird. she would get loads of information out of the boy... What was the deal with him?

"He is not bad." She was too tired to argue.

"He wouldn't be able to take care of you."

"Hmmm... and who would?Maybe you." she meant it as a sarcastic comment but it came out more as a statement as her eyelids drooped low.

"Come here." She listened to whatever he said by moving towards him a bit as her eyes shut, her body leaning on him as he drove slowing down, enjoying her presence for a while.

Sinning in silence just for a moment.

******************

2 days later

"The fuck is this?!" Karma glared at Alistair walking inside his cabin with a pile of files in bad, keeping in on his desk with a thump.

"What?" He looked up at her from his seat watching her throw a tantrum in his office cabin.

"Why the hell do I have to study these files, Aiden is my assistant, he is extremely qualified-"

"It's not who is qualified, it's who I trust."

"What the hell is there to trust! These mention mediocre deals with small companies. Why am I to look at them?"

"It's it your duty.…."

"I am not free today." She gritted her teeth.

"Why? Do you have to go somewhere? Nevermind, cancel whatever it is.

I am not letting you go." And Karma tried not to show how much it affected her. His dominance and order made her dizzy despite her rage.