Chapter 3


    Via Vienna, the 16-hour flightnded at Chisinau international airport. As I stepped out of the terminal, one muscr man appeared out of nowhere. How was the flight? he asked. And he said he was sent by vice-chairman.


    What the hell was he doing here?


    Gasp!


    The sudden weakness in my legs made me stumble.


    I retraced what vice-chairman had said before.


    <strong><i>Once the prosecution investigation ends after it is determined that the money is missing.</i></strong>


    He told the truth except that


    The prosecution would announce that I vanished with the money that was to be invested in Moldova infrastructure construction enterprise


    Which would beter followed by a small article:


    <strong><i>The pector found dead from drug overdose</i></strong>


    This meant, I knew that he either would stab my heart, or shoot me in the head.


    It doesnt make any sense!


    For the past 13 years. Ive served him like a dog.


    I cant believe this!


    I thought I would get promoted. I thought I could be a butler.


    But it seemed as if I would end up being a servant.


    Damn.


    I hate this shitty world where servants will be servants to death no matter how hard you try you will never be a butler.


    Shit.


    I unpacked in my hotel room while he was ring at me.


    <strong><i>Sleep tight.</i></strong> he said.


    I had not slept a wink on the flight, envisioning a future where Id be a butler.


    I couldnt sleep in bed either, being seized by fear that far from bing a butler, this servant life would be over soon.


    After tossing and turning for a couple of hours, I rolled out of bed.


    It was in the dead of night, so I guessed he fell asleep.


    I shoved my purse and passport into my trouser pocket, and opened the door. Then I sneaked toward the lift.


    <strong><i>Where are you going?</i></strong> a familiar voice came from behind.


    <strong><i>Oh, going to the bar for a drink. Jetgged,</i></strong> I said, turning my face to him.


    <strong><i>Okay. Let me keep youpany,</i></strong>


    <strong><i>No, its fine. Just one drink and then Ill go to bed,</i></strong> I said calmly and then turned around.


    <strong><i>Hey, you know that you are going to die tomorrow, dont you?</i></strong> he said, curving his mouth.


    My heart began to race.


    <strong><i>Dont you dare to run away. Go back to your room now. Get massages and go the fuck to sleep,</i></strong> he said.


    <strong><i>Why dont we have a talk about it?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>About what? Suggesting that we split the money up?</i></strong> he said as if he had peeped into my mind.


    <strong><i>No. you get the money. All the money,</i></strong> I said.


    <strong><i>Ha. that is exactly what he said.</i></strong>


    <strong><i>What do you mean?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>The old man said you would be saying it,</i></strong>


    What? The old man? Not vice-chairman, but chairman?


    I was the one who had cleaned up his mess. Whenever he got a woman pregnant, I would apany her to each doctors visit.


    <strong><i>What did I do? I didnt steal the old mans money. Why do I have to die?</i></strong> I shouted.


    <strong><i>Dont shout! What am I supposed to do? Im just doing my job,</i></strong>


    <strong><i>I need to talk to the old man, please?</i></strong>


    <strong><i>No, you need not,</i></strong>


    Then, you talk to the old man. Tell him I will disappear and never show up again,


    <strong><i>Shut up, damn it,</i></strong> he went on, <strong><i>think of your parents,</i></strong>


    That plunged a dagger in my heart. I flopped down on the ground, in front of the lift.


    The old man had a firm grasp of my personal life. He knew that my marriage was not working and that I had no children. He knew how much my parents meant to me and that I would not trade them for anything. He was holding my parents hostage.


    If I didnt die, my parents would die.


    Car ident. Or something more terrible.


    It seemed I had no choice.


    day, he and I walked into a bank.


    I tried to set my face toward CCTV while transferring the money.


    <strong><i>Dont worry about your family. They will be all right. The old man willpensate your family.</i></strong> he said.


    Bullshit.


    I knew that the old man would take everything away from my family, bringing them to ount for the embezzlement.


    He drew me to a secluded ce. The sea was visible in the distance.


    After gazing at the sea for a time, I turned around and saw that a gun in his hand was aimed right at me. The gun awoke my instinct for survival.


    I went down on my knees and clung to his leg.


    <strong><i>Spare me please!</i></strong> I begged.


    Did you watch the film Wanted?


    <strong><i>I will never appear again as if dead,</i></strong>


    He ignored me.


    <strong><i>In that film, Angelina jolie says Im sorry. whenever she kills someone,</i></strong> he went on.


    <strong><i>I didnt do anything wrong, damn!</i></strong>


    <strong><i>I always wanted to say it too,</i></strong>


    And he pointed his gun at my head.


    Shit.


    I had never imagined thest word I heard before I died would be


    <strong><i>Im sorry.</i></strong>


    Bang!