5. Move On

Irene's entrance to the closed cafe was greeted by silence. She opened the beaded curtains, sitting on a single sofa in front of which was a table with some tarot cards on it.

In a long navy-colored dress with balloon sleeves, Irene was stunned there. She looked like a queen from a fairy tale even though her complexion looked flat like she was pressured by something.

"Stay out of our business with 88 Corps, Irene!"

Irene's mind was still filled with her husband's emphasized words. Even the look on his face was still clearly recorded. It was rare for Irene to find Danni in an angry situation. He was a lovable man.

That's why Irene was quite shaken. Not because of her husband's prohibition but because of his attitude.

Then Irene looked down at her hands, lamenting every line that was destined up there. Hands that either brought good luck or bad luck. Both could happen.

Her mind carried memories in an erratic sequence like a kaleidoscope ending in a memory of fifteen years ago. Fifteen Irene was involved in an amusement ride accident. She fell from a height and was unconscious for almost a week, then woke up with a new arrangement.

Since that incident, Irene's hands began to allow her to see things. She can see memories by touching what and who's commonly called psychometry.

Instead of being happy, Irene was frustrated. Every time she shook hands with someone, she would find many things that person had gone through, including their evil actions.

Because not everything needs to be known, right? Many things are better hidden.

But after that, Irene made a profit with her ability with the idea of her lover, Dannielle Morgan, who is now her husband.

Few people know about Irene's psychometric abilities. Therefore, Irene covered it up with a tarot cafe as a way to conceal that she could read someone's memory with just a touch. Again, she also created a secret agent website that works for infidelity and theft. However, if there is a fantastic fee, then it is inevitable that Irene will take it as has happened to make Danni angry.

Irene blew out her breath roughly. "Why is she so angry?"

"He's not like my husband." Suddenly, her tears shot up. She wiped them away. "Why can't I do the investigation? Can't I also benefit Danni?"

Amid Irene's anxiety, her eyes accidentally caught sight of a shabby business card on the table near the tarot cards. Irene stared at it from a distance, then grabbed it.

Irene opened the card that had become round from being crumpled by her this morning. Instantly, the astonishing incident was replayed in her memory.

"Alex Matthew-88 Corp," Irene read the words on the card. Then she chuckled in annoyance. "He's good at putting me off. No!" she snapped.

"There's no one I can fall for except Danni. Maybe I was just feeling lonely, so I lost control." Irene was believing herself even though she couldn't deny how sexy Alex Matthew, the drug dealer was.

+++

In a spacious laboratory, there was a lot of equipment and one of the professors was focused on his work in a white coat as a dashing man entered.

Even from the back of his body, it was clear that he was handsome. He walked with authority toward the professor.

"This drug directly reacts to the pituitary gland. If you take it without an antidote, it's like committing suicide," the professor explained.

Now, the handsomeness on Alex's face looked so complete, with a firm jaw with a bit of a beard around it and bluish eyes. He seemed to be listening and absorbing the professor's words.

Alex buried his hands in his pants pockets as he stared at the empty air filled with ambition. "At least they got what they wanted for a moment."

"Even dead..." Alex smirked. "No problem." He looked at the professor, who was quite dumbfounded by that statement. It seemed quite horrifying even though he also knew what the effects of the drug he concocted were.

"Anyone will feel stronger as I want to be strong, invincible in every way," Alex continued in his sexy husky voice. "This drug produces hormones to make that happen, right?"

"That's right, sir!" exclaimed the professor excitedly. "After that, the hormone control center will be destroyed and it won't be able to live without Anaspidean blood."

The professor then stood up and approached an aquarium behind him. There was an animal commonly known as a sea rabbit. So did Alex, who also stood beside the professor.

"What is given today is the maximum amount. It looks like it will have to be imported from abroad," said the professor.

Alex stared at the animal with a flat stare. "There is no alternative?"

"None, sir," he replied. "The blood of this animal is the most potent antidote."

Alex was just stunned into silence wondering what was going through his mind. He just continued to stare at the animal as the as his secretary entered.

"The team has found Celine's whereabouts," Ken said.

Alex's flat eyes were now rippling. "Where?"

"She's been around Vermont, but after that, her whereabouts went undetected. The team visited the last location, but Celine disappeared there and no one knows."

Alex chuckled in annoyance. He then walked out of the laboratory holding back a surge of anger. "Did you track her cell phone?"

"Yes, we got the location from her cell phone."

"Damn it!" growled Alex. He stopped walking. "So? Where did you find Celine's last point and what was she doing there?"

"The last location was at the hospital."

"What?" gasped Alex. "Who is sick anyway? Then do you know why she went there?"

"No, sir. The hospital is never willing to give out any information. We know that too," Ken explained. "But, it might be different if someone asks for it directly."

Alex knew where this was going. He grinned. "I know, money can do anything. But I also have the honor of keeping the company's good name. After all, the hospital is a dignified place. They help heal the sick."

"That's right, sir."

"I want Celine badly like crazy. But it looks like I don't need to look for her anymore. If she left without telling me, then she did betray me," Alex continued to reassure himself.