Chapter 12: DON'T YOU THINK IT'S TIME?

Ariana laughed a little hearing the absurd question she get at the time. Just like what happened before in their first meeting. Just this time, he is the one who give out the question.

Seeing the laugh, made Zayn smile with satisfaction while held out the said flowers to the girl.

"It's beautiful." She said as soon as she saw a beautiful arrangement of jasmine and lavender spread before her, her face lit up with excitement. Her eyes did not stop looking at the flowers. Somehow, purple combined with white really did calm her.

"Take it. It's for you. " Zayn said as he saw the girl didn't take it even though he had been holding it closer to her for a long time.

Ariana looked surprised to hear that. She actually tried very hard not to have the urge to hold the flower. Unexpectedly, the man actually wanted to give it to her.

"F-for me? Really? " She didn't know why, but she was always in a state of confusion every time she faced the man.

Zayn smiled while nodding and after the flower changed their owner, he sat next to Ariana even if without being invited.

"I was harvesting these flowers today at my flower farm not far from here when I suddenly found you walking. You seem to be deep in thought so I thought this might make you happy."

Ariana looked back at the flower that was now in her arms.

"Yes... It's beautiful. " She couldn't help but start to smile happily.

"Wait, you have your own flower farm? Isn't it the one behind your shop? " Ariana suddenly asked for that. She was getting excited and had changed her demeanor 360 degrees from before.

"Didn't I already tell you? I have my own flower farm that my mother helps me to manage. The one at the back of the shop is just like a laboratory. A place where I play with seedlings and experiment. Once the seeds are ready to be planted, I will move them to the farm."

Ariana's eyes clearly lit up again when she heard that. She already can imagine how great the farm would be.

From the way she looked now, Zayn seemed to be able to guess what was going on in her mind.

"You can come to visit if you have time next time."

"Yes!" Ariana accidentally spoke what was on her mind out loud.

"No, I mean… I- can I?" She changed it quickly when she realized her mistake.

"Ha-Ha-Ha..." Zayn couldn't bear to see her like this and laughed. Making Ariana's face redder than before because of embarrassment.

"It's not far at all. If you've made up your mind, I'll take you there. I promise."

Ariana kept nodding and smiling as soon as she heard that.

"Thank you."

"So now, can you tell me why you're here at this time of night alone?" Zayn continued his question.

"Ah... I had a graduation party with my friend and on the way home, I just decided to walk here to ease my mind. Just thinking about the usual problems here and there. Nothing big."

Zayn listened faithfully.

"It's not something to ignore if you're lost in thoughts like this and feeling anxious. You can talk to me if you want. I'm a pretty good listener. " He offered without hesitation.

"I'm not really worried. It's just... Can I ask you something? " Suddenly Ariana thought it might a good idea to ask.

"Of course."

"If you get a big responsibility all of a sudden and there are a lot of people depending on you, they believe you can do it and you also know that you can do it if you put your mind to it. But, along with that, of course, there also must have someone who is against you, doesn't think highly of you, and will look down on you. Also, every time that comes to your mind you feel nervous even though you know they can't do anything to you. If you were in that situation, what would you do? " Ariana lost her breath a little as she asked it too fast.

Zayn stared at Ariana for a long time before giving an answer.

'She didn't ask my opinion if I was really in that situation, she actually asked what she should have done. ' Zayn was reading the question like an open book now.

"If you are not alone, and you have at least one loyal person by your side who you trust all your life. I think you are strong enough even if there are so many people against you. Why should you think about the one who against you when they are nobody? The question is, do you have someone like that on your side?"

Ariana smiled. This time with more confidence.

"I do."

"Then. That's your answer."

~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile,

Something happens somewhere outside the city in one of the big mafia organizations that go by the name Snake Venom Organization, which is the main enemy of the organization owned by Alexander Conrad.

"Sir, the rat is back." Tony, this person's right hand inform.

Someone who was sitting in a dark room started to smile as soon as one of his subordinates informed him about that.

His whole body at the time was full of splashes of blood here and there because he had just tortured his enemy, but he didn't even flinch or care about that as if he liked what was happening at that time.

"This person is totally lucky. Looks like you won't die today. " He said while watching his enemy that look weak at the time.

Tony gulps in nervous each time he sees their leader like that as no one can actually read his thought. What's on this person's mind is beyond their thinking. But still, he is their leader and they have an obligation to be loyal.

"Finally. It's been a while since the last time he came here right, Tony? " The leader said while wearing his black robe. He didn't even care to wash beforehand and just left the room to meet with someone that they call 'rat'.

After walking not far away, the leader finally entered another room and greeted the person.

Seeing the leader covered in blood like this, the 'rat' can't help but shiver for a moment. He knows very well how cruel this person was.

"I believe you are here because something is happening inside Black Eagle?" Straight to the point, the leader said while sitting on the chair that was there while staring sharply at the man in front of him.

This person, who the leader calls 'rat' is actually someone who works under Alexander, inside the Black Eagle Organization, but due to some circumstances, this person now becomes their spy. A spy who will help to bring down the empire that has been defended by Alexander so that their organization will be the most powerful and feared without rivals.

They've been neck to neck for ages and this organization never likes that fact. No, this person as a leader didn't like that fact.

"Ahem... Yes, sir. Alexander is stepping down."

Just hearing that sentence made the leader laugh out loud and like it too much.

"He... Step down? Is it because he already feels old? He should have done it sooner. I will not feel bad anymore fighting with them as he is not the leader. Despite being an enemy, I do feel a little guilty coming after someone who is old like my own father don't you think?"

No one answered the question. They already know that this leader of them didn't really want to hear about it anyway.

"So who got that place? Who is my new rival? " The leader now looks so excited to know. He already pictures all of Alexander's sons' faces in his mind.

"No one really knows the details yet, but there are rumors saying that all his sons refuse the position. The one who will take the honor is probably his one and only daughter."

Silence now fell into the room. The leader also didn't say anything for some time after knowing that making people who were there started to feel suffocated. His aura at the time felt like it was trying to kill someone.

"Is Alexander already lost his mind? Did he want to provoke all the mafia organizations around the world by doing that? " The leader finally let out his thoughts.

"I hate to admit but she is good, sir. Probably surpasses all of her brothers in terms of the field mission. She's never failed."

The leader now is speechless.

"Never failed huh? Tch, does my father know about this? " He sounds a bit shaky at this time when mentioning his father who is the founder of this organization. The person he most fears in his entire life.

"No, sir." Tony in fast answered him.

"Then, keep your mouth shut. I will handle this myself."

"What kind of 'handle' that you mean, sir?" Tony gets nervous each time this happens.

Smirk began to form on that person's face.

"Don't you think it's time?"