“Aaaaaaah!” I grunted as I satisfyingly stretched my arms. I did not know that working for eight hours in an office setting can be so tiring.

I occupied the previously empty desk which was next to the sofa where Gary was sleeping on. Miss Barbara’s desk can be found on my right side and Keen’s was behind mine. 

“Wow, you look so tired.” Miss Barbara commented.

“Not really, more like my back just felt a little stiff from sitting straight for a whole while.” I replied with a smile.

“We still do not have a lead yet so all we can do now is search the net for information until we find one.” Miss Barbara replied.

“This is how things always are here, brat. It’s not too late to quit.” Keen interrupted while still doing something on his computer.

“Why would I? How can I quit knowing how much you will miss me!” I quickly turned my chair to face towards Keen.

“I won’t fucking miss you, you hear?” Keen said with an irritated tone as his eyes were still focused on the screen.

“Why not? We even promised to play fetch at the park sometime and sniff butts with the other dogs!”

“Stop spouting nonsense, there is no such thing.”

“Really? Oh right! It must be another dog! I kind of mixed you up, sorry.”

“...” Keen did not reply and went on with what he was doing.

“Hey Miss Barbara, does he always work like a dog even past office hours?”

“He’s serious when it comes to work.”

“Oooooooh!” I replied in amazement, I did not know he has a side like that since he gave me the impression of a rule breaker.

“Mmmm… Is it go home time already?” Gary who just woke up at the sofa beside me asked.

“Is he also always like this?” I asked as I pointed at the guy in a suit.

“Yes, slacking off every single day.” Keen uttered.

“Come on! Ya gotta relax when ya can!” Gary responded

“And you need to work even for at least a bit.”

“Stop being a killjoy and get a chill time already!” Gary went to Keen and wrapped his right arm over Keen’s shoulders.

“If you won’t work then at least get the fuck off me!” Keen irritably replied as his fingers continued to move on the keyboard.

“Ooooops!” Gary pushed the power button of Keen’s device which turned it off. “Sorry, hand slipped!”

“Just what the fuck did you do?” Keen quickly stood up and grabbed Gary by the collar.

“Now ya don’t have to work any longer!” Gary replied with a smirk.

“Fuck you! Didn’t you know that shutting it down like that may break it?” Keen angrily shouted at Gary, face to face.

“It’s no biggy of a problem, right? At least now ya can relax!”

  “No biggy my face! You might corrupt my files!” Keen angrily shouted and was about to punch Gary when a deep voice interrupted.

“Ehem!” The boss interjected.

He rested his chin on his palm as he gave the two a frightening glare. It felt as if there was a huge fire burning behind him.

“Sorry, chief!” Keen was filled with sweat and readily let go of Gary then apologized with a bow.

“Sorry.” Gary also apologized but with a giggle while scratching the back of his head.

“Wow, I did not know that the boss was this frightening!” I excitedly uttered.

“Jo isn’t the boss for nothing so you better watch your mouth too.” Miss Barbara advised.

“I’ll do my best!” I raised my arm to pump myself up. 

“Cray, are you free tonight?” The boss asked.

“I do not have any plans, boss.”

“I’m going to meet someone important later. I thought it would be nice to introduce you.”

“Got it boss, I’ll come with you.” I replied.

“Meet me here at 10 PM. Keen, you do what needs to be done while I am away later.”

“Sure, chief.” Keen responded calmly.

I found it quite strange why Keen did not protest at all. He should have said “Seriously? You are going to take this brat who just joined to meet an important figure?” or “Why the fuck should I be the one who remains here?”. I wonder what was going through his mind.

“Anyways, office hours are over. Everyone can go.” The boss announced.

Everybody cleaned up their places and went to their separate ways except for Keen who turned his device on again to check if his files were okay. I must have really misjudged the guy.

I went to my room to take a nap since we are going to go out at such a late time later. I prefer to go now so we can get home earlier but it might be a bit too arrogant of me to suggest it to the boss.  

I woke up a few minutes before the meeting time, as I set my alarm to ring. I went down to the office area and the boss was already there.

“Right on time, let’s go.” 

The boss went outside with me tailing him. We went to the garage where a nice dark blue painted car was parked.

“Oh, what a nice ride you have here boss!” I excitedly said.

“Want to take the wheels? I can just guide you where to go.”

“Really? You will let me drive?”

“Do you have a driver’s license?”

“I do not have one on me but I know how to!”

“I’ll drive for now. You can do it once you get your license.” The boss then got on the car, and so did I.

I sat on the front seat and it really was an amazing ride, it has spacious leg room and a comfortable chair. Too bad I was not able to give it a go. The only thing that distracted me was the lingering smell of smoke which was absolutely because of cigarettes.

“Wow! Even the interior looks great, boss!” I complimented as I softly pat at the seat. “I kind of expected for you to have an old looking second hand car.”

“What a coincidence, Keen said the same thing.” The boss replied as he focused his eyes on the road.

“Really? You allowed a dog to get in here? Were you not afraid that it might leave scratches?”

“The one who might have scratches is you if you keep on teasing him like that.” He replied with a giggle.

Awkward silence filled the car for a while then the boss played some music. 

“Woah!” I was surprised to hear that it was classical.

“Not a fan?”

“No, I’m alright with it. I just thought that you are the type that listens to alternative rock music like Audiohead.”

“Others think otherwise. What makes you think I listen to rock?”

“Your aura, maybe?”

“That’s surprising.” The boss then pushed a few buttons on the sound system and a different music played.

“Wow, so you really do listen to them!”

“I’m surprised you know of them despite your age.”

“I was the vocalist in my past life! You should have played it in the first place!”

“I just thought that you might be too young to know these songs.”

“No one is too young for great art creations!”

I sang along with the music as we travelled while the boss focused on the road until we arrived to our target destination. I got off the car and I was surprised as to what I saw.

“Hey boss, is that where we are going?” I pointed out at the large house in front of me.

“Yes, let’s go.” The boss went towards the gates where he pressed the button of the radio at the front and the gates opened for us.

We went inside the huge establishment. It looked more like a mansion than a large house. Whoever that owns this must be ridiculously rich! I wonder what might be their source of income to become this wealthy.

The garden at the front was really vast and seemed to be properly taken care of. There was also a well lit pool area with a bar. It was just completely amazing. I really did not expect that we will visit such an extravagant place. I would have dressed more nicely if I knew. 

I was in awe as I looked around as we made our way towards inside the house which was open. 

“Hey boss, do you usually visit this person? You don’t seem to be bothered walking on such a luxurious place.” I asked as we walked.

“Only sometimes, you’ll get used to it.”

Even the interior was beyond spectacular. It was very spacious with a huge chandelier, statues, and large paintings. We then went inside a room to the right with a tinted glass door.

“Greetings, it has been quite some time since we last met,” said the man who was sitting in a one seater black sofa.

In front of the man was a hazel nut coffee table and beside it were two long black sofas. There was also a bottle of wine and a bunch of glasses in the table. The huge flat screen television attached at the wall also stood out. It might be an awesome experience to play games on high definition with that.

The man had a beautiful face, raven black hair, and looked like he was around his late twenties. He was wearing a blue long sleeved shirt and eye glasses with a black frame. He somehow looked familiar but I just cannot point my finger on it.

“Take a seat,” the man invited. 

The boss nodded in response and we sat on one of the sofas.

“Let me introduce Cray, a new member who is also a Possessed. He has proven to be capable in our last operation.” The boss uttered.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Cray. Feel free to refer to me as Ron.” The man said to me in a straight face.

“The pleasure is mine, Sir Ron.” I replied with a smile as I try to match his formality.

“I am the same as you. I bear a demon inside me as well. Within me is one of the directional demon kings, Corson.”  

What the hell? A directional king? I thought we were factionless? Why the hell were we meeting a king right now? Were they lying to me this whole time? Was this a trap? Was this the reason why Keen did not protest to coming along since they had it all planned?

“Hey Boss, what is the meaning of this?” I asked as I put my right hand on my chest, ready to transform anytime.