Chapter 22: Murder in the harbor
2426words
"Ramona," he muttered quietly. Elors stood beside him with a respectful attitude, waiting for further orders.
"So it's about him," Sevano said, putting down the bundle and folding his hands in front of his chest. "A prominent designer in Los Angeles, has a son, and has never been recorded as having a marriage."
Elors nodded, then added, "However, there was a news that was horrifying in Los Angeles some time ago. A reporter asked about his son's biological father, and a man suddenly admitted that he was the father of the child in front of the media. He said they deliberately hid their marriage for the sake of Ramona's career and protected her son from the public spotlight."
Sevano listened intently as he closed the bundle and threw it on the table. Elors observed his movements and asked carefully, "How's it going, sir? Is there anything different or strange about it?"
Sevano let out a deep sigh before answering. His face showed pent-up tension. "We only know he's a prominent designer from Los Angeles. But we don't know yet what his true intentions are working here. Find out more about it. Don't let us let our guard down in the slightest. Report whatever he does. Investigate where he lives, who he is with, and who his family is."
Elors nodded firmly, took back Ramona's biodata file, and put it in the folder. "Okay, sir. I will implement it soon."
Before leaving, Elors glanced at his watch and said, "Nick will be coming soon. It is likely that he will buy his goods again. But at the headquarters, Nick's goods are still in process. It is estimated to be completed in two weeks."
"Tell him about it," Sevano ordered without turning his head. Elors just nodded obediently, then walked out of the room, carrying Ramona's file to continue his investigation.
After some time, the door of Sevano's office was knocked. Sevano immediately exclaimed, "Come in." The door opened, and it turned out to be Ramona who appeared. Ramona stepped closer calmly while carrying a folder containing a design. He thrust it onto Sevano's desk.
"This, sir, is the design you asked for yesterday. Actually, it was finished last night, but since you have come home, I will take you home first," said Ramona politely.
Sevano took the design and began to observe every detail. His eyes traced stroke after stroke, admiring the beauty and uniqueness of the design. Every detail looks very precise and has a strong characteristic.
"It's really very detailed," Sevano muttered. In his heart, he admits that this design has very high quality and selling price. This was a golden advantage for him to be able to hire Ramona in his office.
"How, sir? Does this design not match your request?" asked Ramona politely.
Sevano shook his head slowly, then replied, "No, this is really the first design I have with a certain characteristic that has expensive scratches on each shape."
Ramona smiled shyly at the compliment. Blushing his head, he said, "Thank you, sir."
Shortly after, the door knocked again. Sevano exclaimed, "Come in." A tall and handsome man walked in, throwing a friendly smile at Sevano and Ramona. He shook Sevano's hand tightly, then nodded politely to Ramona.
"Nick," Sevano introduced the man to Ramona. "This is my company's new designer, his name is Ramona. If you search in the media, you're bound to find out how prominent he is in Los Angeles. Just imagine, a famous designer works for my company. Isn't that a great advantage for me?"
Nick nodded with his crisp laugh, while Ramona just smiled politely.
"Ramona, this is Nick, a friend and co-worker," continued Sevano.
Ramona gave Nick a brief nod, keeping his professional demeanor up. Nick replied with a light nod, noticing a glimpse of elegance emanating from Ramona. The atmosphere in the room felt warm even though their conversation remained formal.
Nick then said in a relaxed but purposeful tone, "It just so happens that you have a new designer. Your former designer really made me feel unlucky because I couldn't deliver my goods on time. Can I request a new design for my items? I'm really desperate right now. My barracks must be shipped immediately. How, can Ramona help me?"
Sevano glanced at Ramona thoughtfully. Actually, this was a conversation that was supposed to be a secret, but since Nick had already spoken in front of Ramona, and Ramona had also heard everything, Sevano decided to take a step.
"It doesn't seem to be a problem," said Sevano with a big smile. "Seeing that Ramona has the golden ability right now, I'm sure she can help you."
Sevano then invited Nick to tell him the design details he needed. Nick nodded excitedly, while Ramona prepared to accept this new assignment with the professional attitude she used to show.
Nick enthusiastically explained, "I needed a men's bag design that not only looked elegant but also had a special function. This bag must have some secret compartments that are difficult to detect. For example, a hidden pouch that can fuse into the inner lining of the bag, using a magnetic zipper or other hidden mechanism to make it look like a regular part of the bag."
Nick continues, "The material of the bag should be light but strong, such as carbon fiber or durable, high-quality leather. The shape should be modern and suitable for professional men, but still be flexible for everyday use. The exterior design should not be too flashy, it should be simple, but it exudes an expensive impression."
"There's also a desire for security mechanisms to exist, such as small code combinations to open certain pockets, so that only the owner of the bag can access them."
Ramona noted all the requests from the design Nick wanted, "Well I'll make the design you requested." Nick smiled with relief and was happy not to play.
Ramona then left and said goodbye to go back to her room.
As soon as Ramona left, Nick immediately asked, "You seem to be interested in Ramona." Nick smiled and leaned his back in the chair.
"You're always quick to realize something, may I have it?" Sevano chuckled as he took one of his cigarettes.
"Of course, take it if you like it. I just need his skills," Sevano replied, making Nick smile wide as if he had won the jackpot.
Nick spun his chair and asked again, "What about the development of Hunter's trade? Do you know the continuation?" asked Nick suddenly.
Sevano exhaled a long puff of his cigarette smoke and replied, "I haven't seen any movement in the harbor. It seems like he's waiting for us to make a move. What do you think, are we the ones who move to the port first or wait for him first?" Nick looked at Sevano with such a raging thought.
Nick raised his head thinking about it, "I don't know this one of my cousins. I had a hard time finding his weaknesses. He's like he's not human, I've been trying to find out and investigate for a long time, but I don't see him having someone who makes him feel weak." Nick thought that he was surprised by his cousin, why he had never seen Hunter close to anyone.
Sevano then asked, "Then the marriage five years ago that you said failed, you really don't know which woman he wants to marry?" Nick shook his head and recalled the incident five years ago about the failure of Hunter's marriage.
Nick then praised, "But I admit that this woman has great guts and extraordinary courage, how could she have played a trick on Hunter and left her on the wedding day? Damn Argh, if only I had come sooner I might have met and known that woman's face." Said Nick who expressed his regrets five years ago.
Ramona, who was still standing in front of the door of Sevano's room, silent and pensive, apparently knew why Hunter always insisted on hiding his relationship, especially always hiding the existence of Esther, because all his enemies were looking for Hunter's weaknesses.
But Ramona is hesitant, doubting if she and Esther are Hunter's weaknesses, given how cruel Hunter is to her.
Ramona took a deep breath and chose to go back to her room hurriedly working on the design.
In the evening, around 7 p.m., Ramona cleared her desk, along with which the door was knocked.
The door opened and showed Nick with his big smile, "Are you going home?" asked Nick who was nodded by Ramona with a big smile.
Nick leaned against the doorway and offered Ramona, "I've got Sevano's permission, what if I give you a ride to go home together? Let's have dinner." Ramona smiled and handed over her bag as she walked closer to Nick.
"Yes, I happen to be hungry," Nick laughed at Ramona's formal remarks.
"It seems like we're just getting along, just talk casually with me," Ramona just nodded with her lips slightly open.
The two then walked out of the office together to go home together, but the two intended to have dinner together.
Throughout the journey, Ramona felt comfortable with Nick, they chatted at length and exchanged stories.
Until Nick asked, "Are you married?" Ramona nodded making Nick a little disappointed.
But to distract herself from her disappointment, she asked again, "Isn't your husband angry that we go home together?" Ramona smiled and sighed.
"My husband has been dead for a long time......... because of a car accident," Ramona replied in depth about her role in telling about her family.
Nick felt guilty asking that and said, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you sad. I really don't know." Ramona glanced at Nick from the side.
"It's okay, it's been going on for a long time. I've made peace with all the circumstances," Nick nodded with a relieved smile when he could hear Ramona's story.
Suddenly Nick's cell phone rang, Nick immediately received his call through his head unit.
Ramona glanced at what the caller's name was.
Dean.
Ramona again focused her gaze straight forward as Nick received the call.
"What's wrong?" asked Nick with a slight scolding.
"Seriously, you have to come here to see for yourself, it looks like Hunter knows if you're going to send stuff tonight, there's an operation in the harbor from the ship's security team with a complaint from a waiter who saw a corpse on our ship, your stuff was confiscated by them, I can't save our stuff," Dean reported, making Nick gripped the steering wheel of his car hard.
Ramona, who heard Hunter's name was said to be trying to be as normal and as usual as possible at this time, tried to calm down even though she was nervous even though she didn't do anything.
Nick swore loudly and replied, "Have they left the harbor?" asked Nick about the security team.
"Already," Dean replied briefly.
Nick immediately turned around and headed towards the harbor and said, "Please hold the waiter for a while." Nick said before ending his call.
Feeling that he had just realized that Ramona was still there, Nick immediately said, "Sorry Ramona, there is an urgent matter, do you mind if I take you to the port for a while to check on my ship? If you're in a hurry to go home, I can call my bodyguard to drive you home." Ramona shook her head softly.
"I'll come with you," Ramona said making Nick curl his smile happily.
They have arrived at the port, Nick tells Ramona to wait in the car while she takes care of the ship.
As soon as Nick went to the port, Ramona was curious about what Nick would do to the waiter he asked to be detained.
Before Ramona disembarks, she sends a message to Hunter, if she is in the harbor with Nick.
Ramona then got out of the car to take a peek at what was happening. Slowly he searched for Nick's whereabouts, while walking stealthily, watching the surroundings vigilantly.
"Who ordered you?" asked Nick to the waitress who was battered by his punch just now.
"No master, I did actually see the corpse on your boat, and then I reported it to the police for that, who knows if the police would even search your ship," the waiter said honestly as his hands were held by two people.
Ramona hid behind the container watching Nick who was interrogating the waiter while recording the incident.
Nick looked so annoyed, he repeatedly swore and shouted at the maid, "Are you really stupid? Don't you really know that this port is where the mafia store, smuggle and ship their goods? Do you think this port is like a port in general?" shouted Nick to the waiter.
Again Nick shouted kicking anything nearby with a burst of emotion.
Then Nick took the knife from behind his back, tapping it gently on the maid's cheek while asking for the last time, "I am the last one, who commanded you?" the maid shook her head honestly again.
"No master, I really don't know if the corpse is a trap," the maid said making Nick only more emotional.
Ramona silenced her mouth with eyes that were briefly closed as Nick swung his knife and stabbed the maid in the stomach.
Nick stabbed the waiter again and again with a loud scream to vent his emotions.
Ramona immediately ended her recording because she was not strong enough to see Nick's cruelty.
Ramona was about to leave from there but suddenly her cell phone rang, in a panic Ramona immediately tried to turn off her cellphone.
Nick immediately turned his head with his sharp gaze, someone seemed to have just seen his deeds.
"Hurry up and find that person!" Nick shouted to his men, making Ramona stunned, nervous, and frightened.
