"But. Asia... She loves her job. It is her life. She was literally trained to serve you. It would break her. I do not want that for her."
'So you agree not to join my force/"
"No. I want to. I wish to be able to protect you as your father would."
"My father is dead and it is as a result of betrayal as well."
Seeing that he could not plead his cause before her without his situation looking too terrible, Arctic went down on both knees and clasped his hands together before her.
"Please. I beg of you. Our lives have been structured to protect you. Do not take it away. I know your father was betrayed and conspired by the Anders."
"Virtually almost the same thing that you did, Arctic," Jade cut in, looking disinterested by what he had to say.
"I am sorry. I never intended to and yes, I stupidly played right into their hands, thinking I could outsmart them. Turns out I just could not. They had planned more than did."
"Hmm, what were you expecting? They have been planning since the day they raided my family. You had little to no time to plan. Anyways, that is my terms. If you cannot meet it, then I guess there is no deal."
"Please, Jade. Any other thing. Just please do not take this from us. Allow me to join. I want to join in your plot to get revenge. I want to make the Anders pay dearly for what they did to you, to us all."
"I know your grudge. But I can only allow one person on my team. In fact, due to the incident, I have decided to streamline my workers. Scrutinize every one of their actions, check them well to prevent any snitch and to see those having family issues."
"But Boss..."
"I am sorry, Arctic. I cannot be made a public spectacle and look weak before my men. This would not be how to lead a mafia gang. I need to be tough and show I would not tolerate any such rubbish."
"I..." she lowered his gaze. "I understand."
After all, he was the one at fault in the first place. He was the one who broke the rule. "You all signed off to this in the first place. Protect the mafia Lord at any cost not to use me as a bargaining chip."
"Yes, boss."
"Call me wicked, I do not mind. This is my mercy and this is my order. Take it or leave it. To prevent future occurrence, only one of you can serve me."
Seeing that he could not convince her and had succeeded in pushing her to the cold self and cold leader she now was, he had no choice.
Although Asia was his daughter and the one being other than Jade he would do anything for, he just had to willingly lose this one just for her.
By all right he shouldn't do so, considering she had been compromised being with the enemy that long. Who knows just what happened.
None other mafia gangs would have taken care of her by now while others might not. But right now both parties had been compromised. She was even fair to suggest that.
Finally, he rose to his feet, both hands dropping at his side as she balled them into a fist.
"As you wish boss."
"What is our decision? I do not want to take this to Asia seeing that she had been compromised but I know she would not have spilt. She would rather die than do so. She has given her life for mine more than once. I cannot put her in such a dilemma."
"There won't be a dilemma. Asia hates me for what I did and it is my curse to bear seeing as I could not give her a life other than the one I lead, hoping to protect her with it but failed still and involved her best friend."
"No. She may be angry at you but she loves you and she might have chosen you over her, to give you a chance to redeem yourself since she made you jeopardize all that you had worked hard for. My trust."
"Hahaha." A light chuckle escaped his lips as he looked at Jade. "I guess we both are stubborn. Thank you for giving me another opportunity to redeem myself, Jade but my answer is this. I would want for Asia to continue and I hope your trust remains for her."
"And you, what would you be doing?"
"With your permission, I would like to remain. I would leave the city after I am sure you two are out of danger and have defeated the Anders."
"Fine. Your wish granted."
"Thank you."
"But then again..." she began, her once cold and serious face changing into a smiling one as her lips pulled backwards revealing a few of her teeth.
"That would be what I would say if I were a ruthless leader with no heart."
Arctic's lips fell instantly, his eyes going wide with shock as his ears strained to listen more to what Jade was saying.
"Mind you, my position requires that I, do that for safety reasons and not to be looked down as a weakling but I have been thought by the best and I know, if my father were in my shoes, he would not make such decisions."
"Oh my goodness."
"Don't be happy just yet. You would be on probationer base to earn my trust and during this period, you are to operate in the shadows as you have always done and this time, you would be more of a ghost assassin and you would earn back my trust."
"I would do anything. I promise not to let you down."
"Good. I never expect less. And since I treated you as a father before, I would do one more thing for you. I would speak to Asia on your behalf."
"Thank you, Jade. Thank you so very much.. I promise you, I would never let you down again."