23 Chapter 21 (Wicked Cindy)

*Hey guys, please be reminded that every single event, place, and character remained fictional in this story.

It has been a week, Aubrey stayed in New York for the conference. She had received no calls and no messages from him. Not even, once. Aubrey sighed harshly whenever she thinks about him.

She won't admit that she was missing him. It was a matter of ego and pride of the woman.

'Why am I concerned about him now when I'm the one who supposed to be mad at him…Damn that man, for doing this to me.'

Aubrey massages her temple and put her effort to read the paper works for tomorrow conference.

... … …

On the announcement day,

Apparently, no doubt, Aubrey's team won the case and Aubrey as the team leader received the best candidate awards. Aubrey walked up the stage with a smile on her face but deep inside her, she did not feel any signs of happiness.

That is because Alessio is not there… She couldn't help it that she was disappointed.

At the end of the awards ceremony, she was surrounded by people with black suits, asking her opinion on some other case, or how did she come up with the solutions…and etc.

Aubrey smiled and answered them professionally, giving them a satisfying answer.

At the same time, she was trying to look for her teammates to help her from the misery.

But all her members were facing the same problem. Then, she caught a glimpse of a person walking out of the conference room.

'Is that Alessio?' Aubrey thought and excused herself to chase after the shadow.

When she had come out from the building, she had not found the familiar figure she was looking for and smirk at herself for being pathetic.

Alessio who had just entered his car coughed loudly.

"Boss, are you ok?" Carlos, the secretary asks.

"Why would you come here, Aldo when you have nothing important to do in New York," Murphy questioned in his furrowed eyebrow. Clearly, he was not satisfied with Alessio behaviour.

"I've promised her, to come here and protect her," Alessio said difficultly through his coughing.

"Fine, but you are still not well. What would she think if she saw you in this condition? Huh?"

"I'm fine, and she won't find out"

"You better be, Aldo. We do not know her personally and her identity is somewhat suspicious. We do not want to risk it when someone acknowledges your health conditions. No one…should…know…about…this." Murphy warned Alessio in his strict voice.

In which Alessio returned him with a silent nod and closed his eyes.

… … …

Aubrey, who was still looking around, hoping to find the familiar figure, came back to the hotel feeling down.

She threw her trophy to the couch and head back to her room, laying down on the bed and closed her eyes.

Before she could doze off, she was awakened by the customized ringtone.

'The headquarters?'

"The adjudicator here, ID 171***"

"Ms Adjudicator, we've noticed a suspicious movement in Diego's clan. We need confirmation and evidence if they were involved with the 12th may case."

"Anyone specifically I can start with the investigations?"

"You can try from Cindy Jefferson, Diego's head niece."

"I'll send my report tomorrow night." Aubrey marked her last word and hung up.

… …

AT night, the closing party.

As it was a party, so it was held in a well-known nightclub in New York. Someone among them has booked the nightclub for themselves, thus, the room was crowded with people from the meeting, also there were few outsiders coming in with the invitation.

Aubrey search for Jonathan, Megan, and Giana, to have them keep an eye on Cindy Jefferson. She knew Cindy would've come to the party as the host of the party was a friend of hers.

As she was drinking her drinks, Jonathan approached her.

"Aubrey, Cindy is here, Megan and Giana were eyeing her"

"Hmm" Aubrey replied, eyeing the crowd. She turned her gaze back to Jonathan when she felt a stare on her.

"What?"

"What happened Aubrey, it's been a week you are being like this?"

"Being like what?" Aubrey raised her eyebrow.

"I don't know, frustration maybe. Is everything alright?"

Aubrey gives Jonathan a small grin, put back her glass on the bar, requesting a refill.

"Everything is fine. You don't have to worry about anything."

"If anything happened, you know you don't have to hide it from us though."

"Thanks, Jon" Aubrey showed him a genuine smile, grab her drinks, and joined the dance floor.

On the other side.

Cindy was enjoying the attention from the attendees of the crowd, greeting everyone with pleasant gestures. Then she met with Giano, the host, a Spanish guy, her uncle trusted workers.

Cindy approached him with a charming smile. In return, Giano replied to her with a feeble smile and turned his head, fixing his eyes in one direction. Cindy followed his gaze and saw the figure she hated.

With her forced smile, she said softly "Did you know her, Giano?"

Giano take a sip on his drinks and replied, "I do but not a lot."

"Do you mind telling?"

"Why?" Giano asked curiously. Living in a dark world, he knew woman jealousy is not something you can underestimate especially for someone with power.

"Nah, I've met her at the charity with Alessio last time"

"Oh, I see. I guessed most of us knew her here, she won the best leader awards and received great praise from the judge this morning. As for her name, you can ask people around here." Giano said.

"You realized you worked under my uncle don't you," Cindy said in a hard tone.

"I worked under your uncle, not you. Thanks, and nice to meet you, Ms Cindy."

Giano replied with his firm voice. Ignoring Cindy spoilt behaviour, he walked away.

Cindy stomped her feet on the ground, left the room. Suddenly, a wicked idea popped up.

She signals one of the bartenders, whispered in his ear, and hand him a pack of white powder.

'Huh, after tonight, you won't be the same but a trash in this community'

Cindy smirked wickedly.