It was interesting how the girl always grew stiff and worried around me, just like she was now as we trekked up the staircase. But then, I guess that should be natural for her, she has every reason to be frightened of me.
   When we finally got to my room on the third floor, I led her inside, ordered her not to touch anything, and shut the door on her. I then descended down the stairs slowly. I really couldn’t be bothered being around her, yet I wonder why I interrupted her ‘moment’ with Alex. Probably because he’s a big, egotistical idiot with too much muscle, and not enough brain.
   The boss was waiting for me at the bottom of the steps, counting his winnings of the night, whilst eating another helping of the girl’s disgustingly sweet cake. He was smirking as he was doing this, but his face blanked when he casted eyes on me.
   “Rye. Please explain to me the real reason you brought that girl here.” He stared at me now, awaiting an answer. I paused and just said the truth.
   “I couldn’t kill her Boss.”
   “Why would you need to kill her?”
   “She saw me stab a guy.”
   The boss now raised his eyebrows. This was clearly not what he expected.
   “Why did you stab this man? It appeared your job went successfully, we don’t do unnecessary attacks.”
   “The git was trying to rape her...” I trailed off.
   The boss threw his now empty plate against the door, it shattered, and for a moment all that could be heard was the harmonising sound of hundreds of shards skating across the tiling, and the scratching of slippers as the cleaner came to clear the mess. He inhaled deeply, and then started mindlessly licking the chocolate off his fingers as he continued, with a look of heavy disappointment.
   “Rye. I’ve taught you for a long time now. When I finally entrust you to work on your own, I don’t expect you, in the first fortnight, to screw up.”
   I don’t know if I would have preferred him to hit me instead of say this. He had looked after me since that night I ran from my Father’s corpse. He had taken me into his business, and trained me well. I had let him down.
   “My apologies, Boss.” I concentrated on a lock of his hair, so I didn’t have to look into his eyes. “I’ll take whatever punishment you give.”
   That was when a small chuckle floated into my ears to my surprise. The boss held a small smile on the corners of his lips. I couldn’t tell if it because of my words, or because Roza had appeared and embraced him lightly from behind, which always made him laugh.
   I normally detested Roza, but for once I was glad of her arrival since she had lightened the Boss’s mood. Her dark silky hair that fell down to her hips, danced rhythmically, as did her entrancing body, which was clothed only by some kinky red underwear and suspenders which complimented her delicious buttermilk skin. I turned my eyes away. I seemed to be the only person that looked but never touched her. This was strange to most, since she is the most beautiful, and most favoured girl in ‘The Den’. Having a normal conversation with her is meaningless though. She is a shallow, ditsy girl, which I originally thought was an act. But, I don’t think anyone in the Den wants her for chatter.
   The boss then turned his attention back to me, which caused Roza to pout in complaint. “I’m not going to punish you or anything.” he said. “Just don’t do it again. Besides, I quite like her, she makes great cake, not that the chef would be pleased to hear that.” He then paused, thinking hard enough to not watch Roza, who had started to seductively move again. “Just let her be a messenger girl or something. Nothing else she could do since she’s not allowed in public, being a wanted murderer and all.” the boss winked.
   He then handed me the money for my previous job and a new photograph with an address on the back. “Your next job Rye, go out, have fun, and don’t disappoint me.” He then waved me away, unable to ignore Roza anymore.
   In less than an hour’s time I was back home. It was an easy job since the man, though healthy and strong, was blind, so couldn’t detect my presence. I didn’t normally kill people in such a cruel and messy manner, but I needed to relieve myself of the stress that had built up inside me during all the events tonight. The last thing I needed was to snap at the girl.
   I entered my bedroom and saw that the girl was asleep on my bed. I walked past her and cleaned myself up from my last filthy errand. I then went into my pockets and extracted two photographs. One was of that blind man, the other was of a couple. The man was fairly tall with mousy hair, ocean eyes and tanned skin. The woman had golden hair, peachy skin and icy blue eyes. I tore up both of the photos and discarded then into the fireplace, watching them get eaten away by the starving flames.
   I walked over to the girl and for the first time that night looked at her properly. She was beautiful, so carefree in her slumber. Her mid-length blonde hair had fallen to hide the majority of her face, so I pushed it back so she was in full view.
   Just like her mother I thought, as I left the room.