PRELUDE

GREG

“The Concierge”

Hand on the trigger behind the polished mahogany counter ready to pop this nigga, I can’t help but notice the fake-ass Rolex and the three men hiding behind the columns in the lobby. “How can I help you sir” , I ask with the corniest smile I can conjure up. I can smell the fakeness a mile away. “I am here for the elevator repair, ” he says with a thick Brooklyn accent. My right hand is still on the trigger of my 9-millimeter as I confirm the elevator repair appointment while noticing a black figure on the security screen accessing the basement door to the building. “They’ve sent even more for her, ” I said to myself. I tap the black button on my computer that alerts Sango. “May I see your badge please?” , I ask him. At first glance, I could tell he was around six foot two or six foot three, bald head, goatee, and one small gold hoop earring in his right ear; A typical jailbird assassin. Handing over his badge, I can see this is a fake. It humors me at the number of times they would send men to try to take her out and fail every time. Handing him back his badge I notice the tattoo on his wrist that spells the phrase “E pluribus unum”. “Appointment confirmed, you may proceed down the hall sir, have a nice day, ” I say with a smirk on my face. He gives me a side smile, that is followed by the look of satisfaction, like he’d just won a game of chess. Too bad he is a pawn.

There are 2 kinds of men in this world: Those who play the game and those who own the board.

I’ve seen many men like him hired by the best to take her out and yet, none succeed. I wonder how it feels to be surrounded by death yet she evades it every time. My role as the luxury concierge in this elite Manhattan residence demands discretion and efficiency. It’s a world of privilege and secrets, but none so intriguing as Ms. Black. Her presence is as elusive as the shadows she seems to effortlessly navigate.

I’ve glimpsed into her world, an existence that exists beneath the surface of her public persona. A woman of means, she engages in a double life that transcends the boundaries of convention. She’s more than just a resident, she’s an enigma wrapped in allure, a puzzle I'm compelled to solve. However, secrets have a way of attracting danger, and the tranquil rhythm of Ms. Black’s double life was shattered when whispers of a sinister plot reached my ears. Four men, disguised as elevator repair workers, were planning to assassinate Ms. Black. I had to do something to protect the woman who had unknowingly become the subject of my late-night musings.