Mellone’s unique сollection
Mila Pavlova
Proofreader Ekaterina Serbo
Designer – illustrator Katerina Vorobyova
© Mila Pavlova, 2023
ISBN 978-5-0060-6383-9
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
I express the greatest gratitude to my family, relatives and friends for their comprehension, help and support during this story writing.
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Chapter 1
Los Angeles! This is a city of sins and temptations! This is a fantastic combination of reality and illusion! Los Angeles is a fairy tale city for some, and a cursed paradise for others.
A young pretty girl resolutely entered the panoramic elevator of a skyscraper towering in the center of the metropolis. She was on her way to a meeting in one of the luxurious offices, which was located on the twenty-first floor of the business center.
Mr. Devon turned out to be a very personable man with reptilian eyes. When the girl saw him, the phrases «airless space» and «temperature below absolute zero» for some reason immediately came to her mind. However, this made absolutely no impression on her. On the contrary, she was finally convinced that the order she was going to receive was quite real. And it meant that the incredibly generous fee for its implementation was also real.
– You are very young, – Mr. Devon’s voice was colorless and even lifeless. – But your recommendations are impeccable, and the people who gave them… However, you know everything yourself…
Mr. Devon picked up the remote control. A huge screen flashed behind him. A two-story mansion appeared on the screen, located in the forest, apparently somewhere in the mountains. The screen went blank after a couple of seconds.
– We have only this. There is no appearance, no signs, and no habits. We have only a photo of the house where the Object lives. – Mr. Devon’s voice was rustling somewhere beyond the hearing limit. – The subject is very cautious, suspicious and does not let anyone near him. The territory is guarded like Fort Knox, and even better. His cook, his housekeeper and his personal bodyguard who also acts as a chauffeur constantly stay with him in the house. The rest of the guards live on the territory, but these people are not seen or heard, although they see and hear everything. They are more loyal to the Object than watchdogs and they guard him just as zealously. There are no postmen, no pizza delivery men, or anything else. Getting close to the Object from the outside is simply unrealistic. But we were lucky. The Object needed a secretary. So there is an opportunity to get close to him from the inside. This is exactly what the customer needs.
Mr. Devon walked over to the window and folded his hands behind his back. The girl shrugged her shoulders and thoughtfully drawled: «There is a possibility… In that case, why is the amount for completing this order so astronomical?».
Something like satisfaction flashed in the reptile’s eyes. Or was it just imagination?
– Because any violent death is excluded, as well as an accident, – the unblinking cold reptile eyes stared into the surprised, puzzled eyes of the girl. – It must be suicide. This is an indispensable condition of the customer. The level of your professionalism is respected. You’re very creative. That’s why we chose you, – the rustling whisper stopped, and the eyes closed.
The visitor tilted her head to one side, pretending to think. But in fact, she has already decided everything. She decided everything at that moment, as soon as she heard about the impossibility of the task carrying out. She was hardly interested in money, because she had more than enough of it. During her not very long, but very successful career, she managed to earn for two or even three comfortable lives, if only she had them. She was attracted by everything unusual, non-standard and practically impossible. She was very adventurous and loved difficulties very much. And the more unattainable the goal was for her, the sweeter the taste of victory was. She has earned an impeccable reputation in her professional field precisely because of all of the above. Another merit of her was that she could cope with any order.
The reptile snorted contentedly and nodded his head almost imperceptibly.
– I am glad that our interests have coincided. Now I will provide you with the introductory data, there are very few of them. The Object is a collector. It is unknown what exactly he collects. We know that he loves classical music, painting and general art in all its manifestations, knows several languages. Despite his closed lifestyle, he leads an active virtual life. He has friends and partners in all corners of the earth. And more – he is disabled and confined to a wheelchair. It was a car accident.
– I noticed how your eyes twinkled. – Mr. Devon raised his hand and shook his index finger. – No wheelchair-related death. This will be regarded as an accident. He must commit suicide in the house and leave a suicide note in handwriting. His house is stuffed with cameras from top to bottom. Therefore, the fact of suicide, as well as murder, will be recorded from different angles, be sure, – the yellow-green eyes closed again.
The screen flashed anew, showing a sheet of newspaper with the announcement: «Live-in secretary required. An educated, young girl (knowledge of languages is welcome), able to keep up a conversation on any topic, with a great sense of humor. She must know office work, as well as be able to compile and maintain catalogs of archives. Payment …, – rather big payment was offered for the work. – Contact by…» – then the email address was specified. The screen went blank. The girl got up from her chair and walked towards the exit. Mellie, a professional killer of the highest class, has taken her new job. The reptile behind her made no sound.
Chapter 2
She sent her resume on the same day to the email address indicated in the advertisement. And almost immediately she got an answer. She was invited to an interview.
The mansion was impressive. The place where she arrived was striking in its solitude. It was hard to believe that such places could exist in the XXI century. And it was hard to believe that such places could exist near the city, which was boiling and bubbling like lava in the mouth of a volcano. Wherever Mellie looked, there were mountains covered with impenetrable forests, sheer cliffs and bottomless abysses. The road she took was like the road to hell. Although Mellie hoped never to find out what the road to hell looks like, for some reason she assumed that this is how this road should look like. After all, these were continuous cliffs, dizzying turns, ascents and descents. And in some places the passage was so narrow that one of the wheels of her car sometimes almost ended up in the air.
– Yes, – the girl thought with a smile. – Even if you order a pizza, you will hardly wait for it. No one will come here in their right mind and of their own free.
However, riding a mountain serpentine that would drive anyone else crazy only lifted her spirits. She loved danger, loved risk, loved speed and loved life very much! Therefore, she enjoyed it with full spoons and in all its manifestations. So Mellie stopped by her car in front of the wrought-iron gate under the gaze of video cameras bristling from all sides and breathed in the tart smell of pine needles after the rain that had just passed. How beautiful it was after all! And quiet! The silence was not terrible, empty, ringing, but appeasing and soothing.
Only a steady and muffled hum came from somewhere. She couldn’t find an explanation for this hum, and she didn’t want to. The hum did not interfere, it fit perfectly into the overall picture. For a minute, the thought even flashed – to build a house somewhere in the same place and retire after completing this order… Mellie pushed the thought away. How could she bury herself alive? Even in the most beautiful place on the planet – no, it’s not for her.