Chapter 458
The two men tucked their phones away and greeted her with friendly smiles.
The bearded one extended his hand first. “Hi, you can call me Dariel.”
His companion, a burly man, introduced himself as well. “And I’m Sonny.”
Zola eyed them warily, her hands remaining by her sides. She chose not to shake hands.
“You’re here on behalf of Travis’ biological father,” Dariel explained, lowering his hand. “The boss has tasked us with looking into a few matters and has requested your help.”
Upon hearing that it was Travis’ father and not some unknown client sent by Kian, Zola felt a wave of relief wash over her.
“Hello, I’m Zola Murray. What do you need from me? Why didn’t you approach Lydia about this?” she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Dariel chuckled softly, “The boss chose you for a reason, and it’s important we keep this between us.”
Travis was barely familiar with Zola’s father. All she knew was that he was a foreign fugitive, pursued by numerous countries.
“Just let me know what you need, and I’ll do what I can, though I can’t guarantee results.”
Dariel gave a nonchalant shrug and grinned. “Our boss’s lab is developing some new drugs and they need someone to test them. He’s set his sights on…” He gestured toward the lower floor at Eileen. “The woman down there.”
“What?” Zola’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you serious? Isn’t he concerned about the repercussions?”
If they were just looking for a test subject, surely any hobo would do. Choosing Eileen, a prominent business figure, would surely attract attention if she were to vanish or if any harm came to her.
“My boss enjoys provoking those who chase him, finding amusement in their struggles as they try to mask their incompetence with lies.”
Sonny’s grin, bright and carefree, revealed his perfect teeth, further highlighting their indifference to human dignity. Not even someone as influential as Eileen could deter them.
Zola’s heart raced, the sharp, metallic taste of fear creeping in for the first time. She swallowed with difficulty, feeling the weight of the moment. No sector was free from shadows, and sometimes, certain truths were manipulated to calm the masses and stave off panic.
But Travis’ biological father was the mastermind behind these manipulations.
“Miss Murray, what scares you?” Sonny noticed her trembling hand and burst into laughter. “Don’t worry, you’re one of our boss’s people. He wouldn’t dream of hurting you.”
Zola forced a smile, but it twisted into a grimace. “I’m not scared. Just… what does he need from me?”
“He needs intel on Eileen and Bryan. Growing up with the Dawsons, you must know quite a bit. Care to share?” Dariel motioned toward a door nearby. “We’ve set up a room right next door. After you, please.”