Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

Not understanding what he meant, Rachael looked at him. "What do you mean?" She was confused.

"Well, he doesn't do what we do," Andrew tried to be as discreet as possible. "His work is a little different."

"Different like?" she asked. "Does his work involve not hurting people?"

Thinking for a while, he answered, "Not that much."

"So he doesn't do anything dangerous?"

"Not really."

"Paperwork?"

"Well—" He awkwardly cleared his throat. "You can say that."

…..

[Moscow, Russia]

[Petrov Mansion]

"Did they find it?"

"No sir," One of his men answered. "They looked for it in his apartment but it wasn't there."

"Ahhh—" Igor yelled and kicked the table in front of him. "That fu*cking b*astard." He then picked up a vase near him and threw it at the man.

The man dodged it but ended up stumbling backwards and falling on the floor.

"I want it," Igor yelled. "I don't care what it takes but I want it."

The man quickly got up and composed himself. "Sir-maybe Joshua doesn't have it."

When Igor glared at him, he quickly added, "H-He wouldn't steal from you."

Igor scoffed and gestured the man to come closer. "Come here Jeremiah."

Jeremiah gulped in nervousness before approaching him. He was well aware of Igor's crazy nature. He had worked for him for several years now. He didn't want to do anything to aggravate his craziness.

When Jeremiah stood in front of him, Igor grabbed his cheeks. "Why are you taking his side?" He scoffed. "Do you miss your best friend?"

Jeremiah did not say anything. He tried his best to keep a straight face and endure the pain and humiliation.

He had joined the Petrov's at the same time as Joshua. Both of them worked directly under Igor but Joshua was more close to the boss than him.

In the passing years they worked together, both of them grew very close and shared a good bond.

When Joshua told him he was leaving the organisation, Jeremiah tried to talk him out of it but he had made up his mind to leave.

Jeremiah wanted to follow Joshua too but he couldn't gather the courage to do so. He couldn't see himself doing anything other than what he was doing right now.

Igor jerked him away. "Who else will take it if not him? Go and find it. I don't care what you do but I want my diamonds and book back."

"Boss—?" Jeremiah was confused. What was Igor implying to?

"Isn't he your close friend?" Igor smirked. "Go to the city and find out what he is up to and where he is hiding my things."

"Yes boss." Without saying anything, Jeremiah took his departure.

"Wait," Igor stopped him. "I want you to report back everytime you hear anything."

"Yes boss."

"I give you fifteen days," Igor stated. "If you don't come back in fifteen days, I'll come and find you."

...

[Elisberg city]

[Collins mansion]

"You are joking, right?" Daniel scoffed.

Andrew took a sip of his coffee. "I am dead serious."

Daniel frowned and looked at Andrew who was relatively very relaxed. "Do you have any idea how risky it is?"

"He is an assassin Andrew," he stated. "He works for Igor Petrov. He—"

"Worked," Andrew corrected him. "He worked for him and now he doesn't. He is basically unemployed so I am hiring him."

Daniel sighed and helplessly shook his head. "You have really lost your mind."

"He isn't as bad as you think."

"He tried to kill you." Daniel scoffed, "Not only you, he tried to kill everybody. Did you forget that we almost lost Justin because of him?"

Andrew did not say anything. Daniel hesitance was completely appropriate and genuine. Taking Joshua in their team was a very bold decision which he had taken. But despite all the potential risk, he wanted to give it a try.

A big part of him wanted to trust Joshua and give him a chance.

"Dan, I know it's a big decision but can you just trust me?" Andrew tried to convince him. "Joshua will work with Samuel for us. After Samuel takes Igor's place, he will handle the trading we do with the Petrovs."

Contemplating for a while, Daniel asked, "Are you sure about this?"

Andrew nodded. "Yes."

"Okay then," he sighed. "But you are explaining this to Owen."

"Leave Owen to me," Andrew smiled.

…..

[Samuel's place]

"You want to take up that offer?"

"I don't know," Joshua sighed. "It's complicated."

He left Ben's place in the morning and came to see Samuel to tell him about Andrew's offer.

The offer was good and enticing but he still wasn't sure about it. There were several things he had to consider because accepting it.

Samuel kept quiet for a while before saying, "I think you should take it."

"Really?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "It's a good offer and who are we kidding? The Volkov's will be able to protect you better than anyone else. Igor won't be able to touch you once he finds out you work for them."

Seeing Joshua's hesitance, he added, "And you will still be working with me, right?"

Joshua nodded.

Samuel smirked and exclaimed, "That's even better. I will get better assistance from you and you will have full access to their resources."

He patted Joshua's shoulder. "Igor won't stand a chance."

Just then Katherine entered the room with refreshments and snacks for the two of them.

"What are you guys talking about?" she inquired as she handed them their coffee.

Joshua was about to share the news with her when Samuel stopped him. "Nothing, we were just discussing work."

Joshua looked at Samuel but did not say anything. Why did he stop him from telling Katherine about the job Andrew had offered him?

This behaviour was very unlikely of Samuel who trusted and shared everything with his sister. It was strange and unusual.

"Oh look at you—" Katherine sat on Joshua's lap. "Why do you look so stressed?" She ran her fingers through his hair. "Did something happen?"

"Nothing," He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I just didn't sleep well last night."

"Do you want to take some rest?"

"Okay, you both continue with your sweet talks—" Samuel glanced at the watch. "I have to be somewhere."

Samuel grabbed his coat and left the apartment leaving the couple by themselves.

…..

[Outside the apartment]

Before Samuel could enter the lift, Joshua stopped him.

"Why did you stop me earlier?" When he did not say anything, Joshua frowned, "Is there something you are not telling me?"

Samuel glanced at his apartment to make sure the door was closed. "Okay, this might sound weird but—"

Sensing his hesitance, Joshua said, "Tell me what is it?"

"I have asked someone to track and record all the calls I receive because I started getting a few spam calls from weird numbers," Samuel explained. "A few days ago, the man tracking the calls informed me that someone is using my house number to call someone in Russia."

"What?" Joshua frowned.

"I know it's weird," Samuel sighed. "At first I thought it was Katherine calling her friends but when I asked her she told me she did not contact anyone."

"So you think she is lying?"

"I don't know," he pinched the space between his brows. "Two people live in this house, Katherine and me. If I didn't make those calls then it has to be here unless someone else is sneaking into my apartment to make those calls. And that doesn't make sense."

Joshua pursed his lips and frowned. He couldn't understand what was happening. Why would Katherine lie? And even if she had contacted someone in Russia, why would she deny doing it?

Was she trying to hide something?"

"Listen, I know it's weird and shocking but—" It was weird for Samuel to have doubts about his sister but he couldn't help it. There is no one else other than Katherine who might have made those calls.

Seeing how confused and distressed Joshua looked, Samuel placed his hand on his shoulder. "Look, I am not saying it's Katherine or she is planning something. I just want to be careful until we find out the real truth."

"I know she is your girlfriend, you love and trust her but maybe you could refrain yourself from sharing everything with her until I trace the calls back to the person in Russia, okay?" he added.

Joshua nodded. "I don't think it's her."

"No one will be as happy as me if she has nothing to do with this," Samuel remarked.

…..

[Inside the apartment]

After talking to Samuel, Joshua came back to the apartment.

"You were gone for long," Katherine remarked. "What were you talking about?"

"N-Nothing, I was just confirming when we should meet up to discuss the next move," he lied. He didn't want to but he did.

His heart was screaming that it wasn't her. His Katherine would never do anything to betray him or her brother. But his brain was telling him to stay alert and wait for Samuel to find out the truth.

….

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