MARCH 1ST

I don't like people.

I don't like parties.

But I don't like failing my hits even more.

I sat on my sofa, my right ankle resting on my left knee. I was expecting a call from the man who ordered the hit, and I had grown a little curious as to who wanted Hailey dead. Although I don't particularly like her myself, I wondered what she could've done to make somebody feel this way. Most people like the sweetness about her that I hate. 

My work phone started ringing at 4pm on the dot. I picked it up instantly, placing my glass of whiskey down on the table beside me and sitting up in the seat.

"So, is it done?" the man asked.

I shook my head while responding, "No. Something came up and I wasn't able to. But tonight I will, there's a party being thrown and I'll make sure that she's in attendance. How much would you like her to suffer?"

"I want you to make every second of her death the most painful that you can. Drag it out, let her feel herself dying. Give her a little bit of hope....then take it away from her. Make her want death," the man spoke, his words sounding like they gave him pleasure to say.

I nodded my head, running my tongue along my top teeth. I asked, "May I ask why?"

I never ask why. I've done hundreds of hits - and I've never once cared to ask. I kill them, collect my money, and never think about their name or face ever again. But I couldn't repress the curiosity that was growing inside of me. 

"No questions, Black. Just deliver her dead body to me once you're done."

Mouthing a curse word to myself out of disappointment, I ended the call, leaning my head back against the top of the cushion. I knew exactly how to get her to the party tonight. 

I could invite Reid - he would bring her without a doubt. But he may complicate things by never leaving her side. Luckily, Hailey and I have one mutual friend.

I texted Tomas, offering him a generous amount of money to bring her to the party tonight. Like I expected, he agreed instantly. He doesn't know my intentions, he doesn't know what I'm involved with. 

He doesn't know that he is leading his friend to her death.

I picked my cold glass of whiskey back up and swirled the ice around in it. I thought out loud, "I'll see you tonight, Hailey Romano."

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H A I L E Y

I almost skipped out of my lecture, feeling overjoyed that I was done for the week. The school year was getting closer and closer to ending, but there were still a couple of months left.

As I exited the building, a familiar arm wrapped around me. Tomas stared down at me through his green eyes and asked, "What are you up to tonight, Romano?"

I bit the inside of my mouth, debating on if I should tell the truth. My plans were to go home and lay in bed for the entire weekend, and only get up to eat and pee. 

"I'm going to a strip club," I lied.

His eyes widened and a grin appeared on his face, "Really? Which one?"

I suddenly felt like an idiot, knowing that I couldn't name a single one. I clicked my tongue before speaking, "The one...downtown. With the lights, and the girls."

A soft chuckle escaped his mouth. He nodded his head, "As believable as that sounds, would you maybe want to change your plans? I'm going to a party tonight and can bring a plus one."

A huge smile appeared on my face, "I'd love to!"

There was nothing that made me happier than being around people.

Tomas asking me to go to a party surprised me a little bit, though. We were sort of friends, but we never really hung out outside of classes. Although I'd never complain about hanging out with somebody. 

"Great, I'll be there to pick you up at 9," Tomas said to me before jogging away to his car, and I wave at him while he leaves.

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A E R O

The number of people here made me sick. I haven't been around so many people in months. I don't think there's anything I hate more than being around people. 

This party was thrown by Alessandro Diaz. He's involved in the mafia world, but he isn't an assassin. He's the son of a don and plans on taking after his dad. He knows who I am, he gives me about 5 hits a month.

This party was purely for appearances. He wants to look professional in front of everybody so that they will respect him as a leader when the time comes.

Alessandro spotted me from across the room and ended the conversation he was having. He walked over to me with one hand in his pocket, "Black. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Business reasons," I responded vaguely.

He picked up on what I meant, nodding his head. He whispered, "Just make sure to keep it quiet. I can't have screams bringing down the mood."

I took a sip from the glass in my hands. 

A scent from behind me made me lower the drink from my lips. It was captivating - sweet vanilla and pine. It was the type of smell you could bask in and never get bored of it.

A familiar soft voice spoke from behind me, "Aero?"

I turned around and found myself doing a double-take. Hailey's dress sculpted her body, showing every curve. Her dress was a soft shade, although her heels were black. Her blonde hair looked so soft, the light reflecting off of it beautifully. 

"Interesting colour choice. Lilac?" I observed. 

She gave me a big smile, "Yea! It's my favourite colour."

She looked me up and down. I wore nothing more than black slacks with black shoes, and a white oxford shirt. She asked, "I'm assuming black is yours?"

I nodded my head. She grabbed the drink out of my hand and took a sip, catching me by surprise. She made a disgusted face after removing it from her lips, "That's disgusting. You should let me make you something with more sugar."

I looked over my shoulder and noticed that Alessandro must've left as Hailey came over here  - leaving me alone with my hit. I shouldn't be surprised, Alessandro doesn't like a lot of people seeing his face.

I nodded my head once, "Maybe."

She opened her mouth to talk when Tomas suddenly entered from behind me, putting his arm around her waist. He shook his blonde hair before grinning at me, "I see the life of the party is in attendance." 

Tomas' presence really seemed to bother me. I can't kill her with him around - he needs to leave.

I looked around the room, seeing if there was a woman I thought could distract him. Men like Tomas let sex distract them. Don't get me wrong - I need to fuck here and there. But I don't get hard when women throw themselves at me. 

I pointed to a tall brunette, "I think she was looking for you."

His eyes widened, as I expected. He released Hailey and said, "I shouldn't keep her waiting, then. I trust you'll keep my date good company?"

I forced a fake smile, "The best."

He walked away towards the brunette, leaving me alone with her once again. Hailey looked up at me and asked, "What are you doing here? I know you're not the fondest of people."

"I'm here for business, darling," I responded while taking a sip of my drink.

I'm here to kill you.

She nodded her head, "Right. You run your own company and stuff, Mr. Black."

I tell my family I run my own company so they don't ask me questions. Not that they get many opportunities to, anyways.

She suddenly grabbed my arm with her hand, pulling me with her somewhere. She looked back at me while giggling and said, "There's something here that I think you'll love!"

She dragged me to the elevator with her and pressed a button for a floor a few above. Her scent filled the elevator, and I couldn't stop myself from breathing it in. She crossed her arms and asked me, "Do you know how to swim?"

I stared at her, knitting my eyebrows together. She quickly continued, "Don't worry! If you can't, that's fine. I won't make fun of you."

"Yea, I can swim," I responded in a bored tone.

The gun in my waistline could be grabbed and used in seconds. It's an elevator, so nobody would hear. I could carry her body out of here without anybody seeing me...

The elevator suddenly dinged as the doors spread apart. She said cheerfully while walking out, "Good! Because I would've made fun of you."

She walked out, the sound of her heels echoing off of the ground. I followed behind her, not understanding what her goal was by taking me here.

It was a small art gallery, with no more than 15 paintings. I looked around, not recognizing any of these pieces. She quickly pointed to the most ridiculous painting that I've ever seen in my life. 

It was a puppy - but its eyes were bulging. It wore a pink tiara on its head and pink socks covered all 4 of its paws. She looked at me, "It's you. Look! The pink socks, the tiara....did you pay somebody to paint a portrait of you?"

I paid somebody to bring you here so I could kill you.

"Don't worry. This isn't the only thing on this floor," she said before continuing to walk forward.

She entered a different room, and the smell of chlorine burned my nose. It was a pool room, with glass walls that overlooked the city.

She entered, doing a spin as she did so. She said, "You looked so bored down there. I thought you might like it up here more."

"How do you know this building so well?" I asked her.

I stared at the water. Drowning would be a painful way to die.

"My ex-boyfriend used to come here sometimes, for 'business.' Although he never told me what that meant, he'd just say it had to do with stocks or whatever. His favourite movie was The Wolf of Wall Street, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. But I'd get so bored, that I'd just go to different floors. This is the one I came to most often, I love this pool."

She kicked her shoes off and walked over to the water, sitting on the ledge. She put her feet in the pool and looked at me over her shoulder, "Come on, thought you said you could swim?"

She spoke in a teasing tone like she was challenging me. She stood up and pulled her dress off, standing in her bra and underwear before jumping into the pool. When she came back up to the surface, she looked at me with a smile. She noticed my eyes wandering down to what she was wearing. She said, "We're both adults, Aero." 

I took a deep breath. I'm only getting in so I can drown her.

I removed my clothes, hiding my gun under them. I walked over to the pool and slowly walked in, maintaining eye contact with her the entire time. I watched as her eyes lowered to my chest and my tattoos. Her eyes remained there, causing me to say, "We're both adults, Hailey."

Her eyes shifted to mine again as she laughed. She swam over to me, and although she could've stood up, she kept her body underwater. She looked so happy. Like always. I didn't understand why, there was nothing to be happy about in this world. 

I lowered myself to be at the same level as her. She asked me, "Favourite food?"

"Why?"

"Just tell me or else I'll scream," she tried to say with a serious voice and face, but she couldn't stop herself from smiling. She laughs again. 

"Steak."

Her smile widened, "Good taste."

She turned away from me, making me face the back of her head. She stared out at the view that showed the city. With her back turned to me, I could easily push her underwater right now. I'm muscular and she's not, she wouldn't even stand a chance.

"Isn't life beautiful?" She suddenly said.

I didn't respond for a second. She turned back around and continued, "The world is so beautiful. Don't you agree?"

Her brown eyes were lighting up at her own words. I continued to stare, absolutely hating myself in this moment. I ordered, "You should leave this party, Hailey."

I shouldn't have said that. It's my goal to kill her. 

She stared at me in confusion, "Why?"

"You should leave."

Once again, I give her the chance to get away from me. 

The confused look remained on her face. She asked again, "Why?"

She clearly didn't like to be ordered around without an explanation. Not wanting to give it to her I got out, not responding to her question. I could feel her eyes on me as I walked over to my clothes.

I bent down, picking up my clothes and gun. I took a few steps to leave but stopped in my tracks. Without turning around I said, "You should stay away from me, Hailey Romano."

My voice echoes off the walls. 

I didn't give her a chance to respond before leaving the room, the coldest man on the entire earth sparing her life once again. 

Word Count: 2249