The day's work had ended and now, Lexi was riding back home in the company of Gabriel and Matt.
She was reminiscing over the ordeal and drama that played out earlier in the day and she couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. She seemed to have been someone else that morning, still she was unapologetic about her approach, compared to the multitude of sins and offences that have been committed in that company, she was really lenient with them.
"Gabriel could you get me more information regarding Mr Oliver? Something tells me he's the mastermind behind the leaked information, I don't buy his pretence at all" Lexi said suddenly.
"Alright, I will give you a feedback first thing in the morning" Gabriel replied.
"Ma'am why don't I book you a session with the best nail tech so you can get a pedicure and a manicure done?" Matt suggested out of the blues which made Lexi cast an involuntary glance at her short natural nails, they were neat but looked dull and lacked proper care.
Matt was right, she needed that session badly. "Alright, let's see tomorrow after lunch."
"Alright, I'll do just that" Matt answered.
Lexi exhaled sharply, "what a day" she muttered to herself then something suddenly dawned on her, she might have a hot confrontation awaiting her at home, giving to the way she overrode Kevin.
Just as she was still absorbed in her thoughts, there came a sudden laud bang.
"What the heck! What was that sound James??!" Lexi asked in horror.
"Our car just hit a van" the chauffeur replied out of breath. Lexi looked ahead to see a black van with tinted glasses, parked parallel to their car in the middle of the road, forcing theirs to come to an abrupt stop.
"What's wrong with that damn driver?? how could he double-cross us like that!" Lexi lamented.
Gabriel decided to go down and see what the problem was. Just then, some masked men alighted from the van, each armed with a gun, as soon as Lexi saw them she screamed, "Gabriel!" Gabriel jerked with the sudden mention of his name, and immediately his sight fell on the armed men, he ordered James to roll up the car windows and he did.
The men opened fire on their car, Matt's nerves were shattered,he literally shook with horror and then transcended to a world where there's only fear and terror.
"God no! No! no! no!! I can't die like this! Not like this!" Matt cried in despair, then with shaky hands he reached for the cross on his neck and started to chant some fearful prayers.
"Ha..hail Mary full of grace, the l..lord is... oh please God! I promise to change! Just let me off this one, let this cup pass over meee!! I haven't even fulfilled destiny! I can't believe I'm ending like this! On my first day of wo..."
"Matt! Matt!" Lexi called, but he was still lost in the world of fright.
"It's over now, you can stop crying now" she reassured.
Matt finally quietened down, and looked around to find that they had indeed survived the horrific moments unscathed,all thanks to their bulletproofed SUV.
Apparently, the gunmen had retreated when they saw that their efforts proved futile; they entered their van and zoomed off.
The shootout had caused quite a scene and traffic too, a crowd had gathered around their car a couple of minutes after the gunmen took off. Gabriel after ensuring no one was hurt, asked them to maintain decorum, "everybody stays in the car, no one moves until I say so" he instructed.
Lexi's heart was thumping fast, never in her life had she been so close to death, one thing was certain, those men were after them life, 'but who would want them dead??' she pondered.
Gabriel made a phone call for another ride, and in less than 5 minutes a convoyed of cars pull up at the scene, only then did they step out of the car. By now, the crowd had grown larger and the press were there too.
"Can you tell us what happened??"
"Do you know who the gunmen where?!"
"Why would someone try to kill you?? "Where you shot?!"
The questions kept raining out on them up until they got transferred into their new ride and left.
"Father can't find out about this, he doesn't need such news owing to his health condition" Lexi said to Gabriel.
"Wish we could, but he must have heard of it by now, it's all over the news now" Gabriel informed.
He was right, Lexi admitted, she wasn't thinking clearly at all, her reasoning and judgement was clouded.
"Uhmm, where are we going??" She queried suddenly when she realized they were taking a route different from the one that leads them home.
"We're taking you to the safe house. It would be unwise and unsafe to take you home, cos we might be trailed,we can't risk the safety of those at home as well. The security at the safe house is watertight, they wouldn't be able to make it pass through the gate" Gabriel assured.
Lexi exhaled deeply, Gabriel knows best, if he says they need to lay low, then that they would do, but she couldn't get something off her chest.
"Gabriel, why do you think anyone would want to kill us?" she asked.
"Not us, you" he corrected and then continued. "There are multiple reasons for that, but at the moment, it's hard to be exact without due investigations. However, we'll do the needful first by getting you a personal bodyguard."
That day evaporated like morning dew, with Lexi trying but failing to forget the day's ordeal.
Today, Gabriel had already informed her that arrangements had been made for her bodyguard, so that when she heard a knock on her door, she knew he was here.
"I'll join you in a minute!" She responded to the person at the door. After a couple of minutes, she joined Gabriel and Matt downstairs.
"Good morning miss Greyman" Matt greeted.
"Good morning Matt, trust your night was free from nightmares unlike mine" she responded.
"Oh ma'am! That would make the both of us, I couldn't sleep a wink!" he said dramatically which earned him a light laughter from Lexi as she sat.
Just then, Lexi noticed an unfamiliar figure in the room, and without being told, she knew who he was.
"And you are??" she inquired to fulfill all righteousness.
"Ethan Bla... Ethan Blanchard."