Forbidden by Design

Third Person POV

Maelis winced as Richard dabbed antiseptic on the fresh wound on her upper arm. She sat on a stool in the corner of the room, shoulders slouched and expression unreadable.

"You know, I'm now certain that you're trying to get yourself killed with one of these missions of yours. Did you somehow develop a death wish now?" Richard said, dressed in black slacks and a grey sweatshirt,

"You mean they are trying to get me killed in one of these missions?" she said and rolled her eyes. "They've been sending me newbies, untrained ones. It's like they're giving me a knife for me to just slit my own throat at this rate." She added, sighing.

"Why don't you complain? I mean, request more experienced people, it's not like your missions are easy." The man added.

"You know my situation, Richard, I don't have that luxury in this work to make a request," she said and shook her head as she chuckled bitterly. "They will just remind me of who I am again in this organization. So, just bear with the idea of seeing me every day or every three days here to keep me alive. I'm giving you a job, you know," she said and smirked, but Richard could see that she was faking it.

They've been friends since childhood; he knows her more than anyone in this place.

"Wow, then thank you, you're giving me a job at 1 am," he said and rolled his eyes. "Stupid," as he removed his medical gloves.

"Anyways, thanks. I'll go now." Maelis said, stood up, and pulled her hoodie up to her shoulder.

"Take a few days off, if you can, but because you're stupidly stubborn, at least take it easy if you don't want that to open. I don't need extra work." Richard said, and Maelis laughed and offered a fist bump.

Maelis chuckled and offered a fist bump. "Appreciate it."

Outside, Maelis sighs as the cold breeze slaps her pretty face, another reminder that she is alive. She pressed her eyes closed when she heard a rustling of dried leaves, as someone stepped on it,

"Look what we have here," came a smug voice. Maelis frowns as she recognizes Nadia approaching, arms crossed, flanked by her usual shadows. "Here to scavenge for food again?" Nadia smirked. The three of them laughed.

"Oh yeah, I was thinking about it," Maelis replied coolly. "But Richard said that I don't need to. He said we’d go grocery shopping instead. Like a date, Nadia." Maelis said and grinned at Nadia.

Maelis wants to burst out into a laugh when she sees how Nadia's expression changes, like she is a bull with smoke coming out from her nostrils and ears. Like a bull seconds away from charging.

"Who do you think you are to go on a date with Richard?" Nadia said and stomped her feet on the ground.

"Well, I'm his closest friend right now. Maybe, will I be more than just a friend on that grocery date?" Maelis said in a teasing tone, and Nadia couldn't help but just shout in annoyance.

Maelis just walked away casually as Nadia tried to get her, butwas stopped by her minions. She couldn't help but shake her head as she laughed to herself. She does really know how to push Nadia's button. The easiest way is to utter Richard's name.

Nadia never fails to remind her of her status, that she is a nobody. Well, a peasant in Nadia's words if she were to use it. Does it bother her? Yes, but Maelis knows that she is telling the truth, and it hurts her like a freaking dagger stab in her chest.

She walks while her head is in a trance of what she should do next, when her phone buzzes in her pocket, snapping her out of her thoughts. She immediately pulled it out and checked who the caller was.

'Fucker-Lorenzo'

It's her boss, she sighs before picking up the call.

"Hello, dear beautiful child," the old man from the other line said.

Maelis could help but roll her eyes after hearing his unbearable voice.

"What is it?" She said,

"So rude, my darling," The old man said.

Maelis wants to gag in discussing hearing those words, or even just this old, disgusting man's voice. Just hearing him made her want to smash something—or someone.

"Anyways, I have a new mission for you. But I think it would be best if we talk about it in person." The old man said, and Maelis smirked in disbelief.

"No, tell me over the phone. I still have a lot of things to do. I was assigned to clean up, so it's better to tell me now." She said,

Maelis could endure pain and the smell of gross, dead bodies,s but not this old man's face. This man is one reason for her family's suffering and downfall, and she knows to herself that she can't stand in the presence of a rapist; she might forget that she still has a family to feed and might just kill this man right then and there.

"You're really like an eel. I couldn't get a grip on you. So slippery," The old man said and laughed. "You know that if you just come to me, your life would be easier, right? When I say come to me, I mean cum to me," the old man said, and Maelis could help but clench her fist as her blood boiled.

"Find someone else for your stupid mission," she said, and was about to hang up.

"Alright, alright." Lorenzo said, laughing disgustingly on the other line, "But just always remember that my offer is always up. So, Anyways, you're Lucien Allard," he added.

"Lucien Allard? The heir of Davos Allard?" She said,

“The very one,” Lorenzo said.

Maelis could help but chuckle bitterly.'They are really getting creative in finding ways to get me killed, huh?

"Fuck this," She said, laughing sarcastically. It's like they really want her dead.

"Is there something funny?" Lorenzo said in a serious tone of voice.

"Nothing," she replied and just smiled in disbelief. "Well, tell me what I have to do?" Maelis asked.

"Seduce him, get close, extract information from him, and after getting what we want...kill him."

LUCIEN could feel the gaze of the woman from across him. It made his skin crawl in disgust. He knows this woman, and if he could just throw her off this yacht right now, he would. He thought grimly.

"Lucien, darling, what's with the long face?" The man said as she approached him and tried to touch his face.

"Get your fucking hands off me," He caught her wrist midair.

"Why are you always so sulky and mad?" The woman said and smiled, "Are you still mad because I picked your daddy over you? " She said in a flirtatious tone.

"Get away from me,"

"I told you, honey, you can still have me anytime you want." She whispered, her hand trailing down his arm. "Just don't tell your daddy, or even better, just finish him so we can be together again." The woman said.

Lucien’s jaw tightened. "I never thought you could go this low, Asha. You're disgusting. Stay away from me before I forget that I don't hit women."