Chapter 6 Levi’s POV

The envelope felt heavier than a regular one.

I didn’t like that.

There was no reason for a piece of paper to make me hesitate, but I still did. I stood there for a few seconds, staring at it like something might happen if I opened it.

“Levi,” Jamie said. “Just open it.”

“Alright.”

I slid my finger under the seal and pulled it apart. The paper inside was thick, just like the envelope.

I pulled it out slowly. There was only one card inside . It was Black, Simple but elegant. And my name was written at the top again.

Levi Cross.

Under it, a short message.

You kept me waiting.

My stomach tightened.

Jamie leaned closer. “What does it say?”

I didn’t answer immediately. My eyes stayed glued to the card.

There was more written below.

Tomorrow night, 8PM. Don’t be late.

At the bottom, there was an address.

I already knew who it was from.

“That’s one hell of a card.” Jamie said.

“I know. I figured that out already.”

“you think it's from the strange number?”

I nodded once.

Jamie let out a slow breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Okay… this is weird. Not illegal, but still weird.”

I looked at him. “Someone got into our building and left this at our door.”

“Yeah, that part is actually concerning.”

“You think?”

“I’m trying not to assume the worst before we understand what this is,” he said.

I looked back at the card.

“You kept me waiting.”

I didn’t remember agreeing to anything.

“So what are you going to do?” Jamie asked.

The messages all sound the same so it had to be him or her, ow whoever it was.

I exhaled slowly.

“I’m going to go.”

Jamie blinked. “You’re serious about that?”

“I need the money.”

“You don’t even know what the job is.”

“I can make a guess.”

“And you’re okay with guessing?”

“No, I’m not okay with it,” I said. “But I don’t have a better option right now.”

Jamie stared at me for a few seconds like he was trying to figure out if I was thinking straight, or I was running mad.

“This could turn into something bad, Levi.”

“I’m aware.”

“And you’re still planning to go?”

“Yes. Bad is my middle name.”

He looked like he wanted to argue more, or probably smack my head,but he stopped himself.

“…Then I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I’m not letting you go alone.”

“It’s not that kind of situation,” I said. “If I show up with someone else, it defeats the whole point.”

“You don’t even know what the point is.”

“I know enough to understand how this works.”

Jamie frowned. “You’re making a bad decision.”

“That’s possible.”

“And you’re still doing it anyway.”

“like I said, bad is my middle name.”

He sighed, long and tired. “At least send me the address.”

“I will.”

“And if anything feels off...”

“I’ll leave immediately. I understand.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he nodded anyway.

“Fine.”

Later that night, I couldn’t sleep. I tried, but it didn’t work.

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, waiting for my body to give in. It didn’t.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.

The way he looked at me. Like he was searching for something in my soul, Like I wasn’t just another person in the room.

It was irritating.

And worse… it stayed in my head. I turned onto my side and picked up my phone.

No new messages.

That was good.

I didn’t want to deal with him right now.

But that didn’t stop me from thinking about it.

I'll get to know who he is by tomorrow. I exhaled and dropped the phone back on the bed.

“It’s just a job,” I muttered.

The next day was awfully slow. All the classes where boring as hell.

Maybe because it's Friday. Or a part of me was anticipating what tonight held.

By the time my last class ended, I was already tired again. I had the morning shift at Cody's, but the history professor had to move his class up to the morning..

I didn’t want Jamie starting another conversation about it. So I walked around campus for a while, pretending I had somewhere to be.

That odd feeling came again. The feeling that someone was watching me. I slowed slightly and glanced around. Students were everywhere. Talking, laughing, moving like normal.

Still, the feeling didn’t go away. It was persistent.

I turned a corner and stopped for a second, checking behind me.

Nothing.

“Yeah… I’m definitely overthinking this,” I muttered.

I stayed there a few seconds longer, then kept walking.

By the time I got home, it was already evening.

Jamie looked up the moment I walked in.

“You’re back later than usual.”

“yeah. I was busy.”

He studied my face. “You’re still planning to go, right?”

“Yes.”

He nodded slowly, like he expected that answer. “What time are you leaving?”

“ seven-thirty.”

He checked the time on his phone. “Then you should start getting ready.”

I dropped my bag and ran a hand through my hair.

“I don’t even know what I’m getting ready for.”

“Whatever it is, you can’t show up looking like that.”

I glanced down at myself. “What’s wrong with how I look?”

“You look like you’ve been working all day and haven’t slept.”

“But that's quite accurate.”

“Go take a shower,” he said. “At least try to look like you belong wherever you’re going.”

I did as he asked.

An hour later, I stood in front of the mirror, looking at my reflection. I wore a black jeans and grey shirt.

Nothing special.

But better than before. I picked up my phone and wallet, then headed for the door.

Jamie was already there.

“Text me when you get there,” he said.

“I will.”

“And Levi…”

I turned to look at him.

“If something feels wrong, don’t stay.” he sounded worried. 

“ Yes Sir.”

“Good.”

With that I left the house.

The address led me to a part of the city I wasn’t used to.

It looked clean and polished.

I stopped in front of the building and looked up. The building screamed old money.

Yeah… this was definitely not my kind of place. It looked like a house . I hope it's not to sit a cat cause I'm allergic. Rich people can be very weird.

I checked the time.

7:58 PM. Perfect timing.

I walked up to the entrance. A man in a suit stood by the door. He looked at me once, then straightened slightly.

“Name?”

“Levi Cross.” I said and showed him the card.

He didn't even check the card properly, he just nodded like he had been expecting me. He repeated my name into his walkie talkie, then the door opened.

“You can go in.”

I hesitated for a second. But I was already here so why not go ahead. I stepped inside, it was dark at first,but I walked further in—i could see the lights ahead, but then someone stopped me .

"Your phone." He brought his hand out in front of me.

I couldn't see his face but his voice sounded like he could break me in half if I refused. So I gave him my phone.

I took a few more steps before I got to where the light was coming from.

The vibes on the inside was definitely different from that of the outside. It looked like a regular old money building from outside. While the inside gives off a dark mysterious vibe.

My heart rate increase a bit.

The door to the place with light was a see through glass. I was about to open the door before a lady came to me.

“Mr. Cross?”

“Yes.”

“This way, please.”

I followed her without asking questions.

I should be scared, but I wasn't. My heart rate spiked up and it was definitely not fear.

I must really be going mad like Jamie said. Because this is the part where I turn around and run for my poor life.

We stopped in front of a door. She opened it and stepped aside.

“He’s waiting for you.”

Who the hell is he?

I wanted to ask but swallowed my thoughts. I took a deep breath and walked in.

The He I saw was not the He I was expecting to see. But weirdly I wasn't surprised. 

His eyes lifted the moment I entered. “You’re late,” he said.

I checked the time out of habit. “It’s not even past eight.”

“That still counts.”

I shut the door behind me. “ You're the one who sent someone to my apartment.”

“Yes, I did.”

“That’s Creepy as hell.”

“ Maybe. But it brought you to me.”

I stared at him. “You could have just texted me.”

“I did.”

“ How was I supposed to know it was you?”

“Thats a foolish thing to say for someone who needs a job to get by.”

There was something in his voice when he spoke. Something that made me straighten slightly without meaning to.

I didn’t like that.

“So,” I said, crossing my arms, “are you going to explain what this is about?”

Professor Luciefiel stood up slowly from his seat.

“This is an opportunity,” he said as he stepped closer.

“For what exactly?”

“For you to solve your problems.”

I let out a short breath. “That doesn’t explain anything at all .”

“It doesn’t need to be complicated.”

He stopped in front of me. Close enough that I could feel the shift in the air again.

“You need money,” he said, but I didn’t respond. “You need someone to take care of you and your pathetic life.”

What the fuck. Was I brought in here to be insulted or what?

I still didn't voice that out. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know enough.”

Silence stretched between us.

Then he said, “I’m offering you a job.”

I looked at him. “What kind of job?”

His gaze stayed on mine.

“Nothing serious, you just do whatever I tell you to.”

I frowned. “That doesn’t sound like a real job.”

“It pays like one.”

“How much are we talking about?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Enough that you won’t need any other work.”

That made me pause.

“Not interested?” he asked.

I looked at him again. At the way he stood there like he already knew how this would end. And that annoyed me.

“What exactly do I have to do?” I asked.

His expression didn’t change. “You’ll find out.”

That wasn’t helpful at all.

“That’s not how this works,” I said.

“It is now.”

I stared at him. This was a bad idea. I knew that. Everything about this was wrong.

And still...

“How long?” I asked.

He looked at me and smirked."you'll get to find out soon."