When I got to the office, I went straight to Marvin’s office in the penthouse. I knocked and entered, Ken and Marvin were discussing and I didn’t bother.

Hello, Marvin, I have the bag you requested for,” I said.

“What bag? Can I see its contents” Ken asked.

“Ken please, can you please come back in a few hours? I want to have a private discussion with Cass,” Marvin replied.

The look on Ken’s face almost made me laugh. He was shocked and angry at the same time.

When he got to the door he stopped and turned, looking in my direction, he said, “Marvin, don't forget the date with Shantel at her place this evening,”

Immediately he left, I and Marvin started laughing. Our plan was working and Ken did not know we knew what he was doing with Shantel.

“Why are you here? Marvin said, smiling.

“To preserve your life and sustain our love,” I said.

“So what is in the bag I asked you to bring?” Marvin asked me.

“See for yourself,” I said.

He opened the bag to see that I was fully prepared for him. “We are not going to war and I don’t need a bulletproof vest, I am going on a date.”

“Well, until I can certainly feel you are safe, Marvin, you are putting them on. It’s a simple vest and it’s unnoticeable, please, my love,” I said.

“Okay, can I do some work now? He asked.

I could not wait for time. I kept rehearsing what and how I was going to do to keep Marvin safe since I had not heard from the contractor.

The evening came like a velvet curtain over the city. Marvin was already outside Shantel's residence. I had taken a sniper’s position on the roof of the opposite building as a sense of uneasiness flowed through me.

Marvin knew the charade he was about to partake in was necessary to deceive Ken, but the moral weight of his actions weighed heavily on his shoulders. I knew he felt terrible at what he was doing to Shantel, but from the looks of things, he had no choice.

As he knocked on Shantel's door, I could see him looking around. I had placed a voice chip on the T-shirt so I could hear everything they said. Shantel opened the door with a smile that belied the tension in the air.

"Marvin," she greeted him warmly, "I'm so glad you could make it."

Marvin returned her smile, although his eyes betrayed the turmoil within. "Likewise, Shantel."

They had orchestrated this date meticulously, not as a genuine romantic encounter, but as part of a ruse to deceive Ken. Shantel's role in Ken's manipulative scheme had been exposed, and Marvin had decided to use the situation to their advantage. I knew Ken must be somewhere watching.

Shantel led Marvin inside, her elegant demeanor. I could see from my position on the roof through one of the windows of Shantel’s apartment, that it was dimly lit and adorned with tasteful decor, that gave out an aura of sophistication.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Shantel offered as she made her way to the bar.

Marvin nodded, his mind racing as he tried to maintain the illusion of their date. "That would be nice, thank you."

As Shantel prepared the drinks, I couldn't help but wonder about the tangled web of deception that had brought us here. It was a dangerous game we were playing, and the stakes were high. The goal was to convince Ken that his plan to manipulate Marvin's emotions had succeeded, all while secretly working against him.

Shantel returned with two glasses of wine, handing one to Marvin. They clinked their glasses together in a mock toast, concealing their true intentions beneath smiles that concealed a deeper purpose.

"So, Marvin," Shantel began, her tone playful, "tell me more about yourself. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?"

Marvin knew that every word he spoke needed to fit the narrative they were weaving. He recounted fictitious stories of his interests and hobbies, all while keeping a wary eye on Shantel's reactions. The delicate dance of deception had begun.

As the evening unfolded, I could see that they were playing their parts with practiced ease, laughter, and conversation flowing like a well-rehearsed script. It was a performance designed to deceive Ken, a charade that masked their true intentions. I really felt embarrassed and annoyed and I do not know why. If I had seen Ken anywhere near there, I would have killed him instantly.

Beneath the surface, Marvin couldn't shake the feeling of being entangled in a dangerous game of wits. He was determined to outmaneuver Ken and protect his own happiness, even if it meant dancing on the edge of deception with Shantel. I could have stopped this, it was not a good idea and Ken was no-where to be found.

I was prepared to do whatever it took to protect Marvin. I was not ready to lose him. He came out with Shantel and they were all smiling. I could see the fakeness in their smiles and laughter. Where is Ken? I asked myself in silence, all these were done for him and he was no-where in sight? My instinct did not believe his absence, something must be cooking.

Marvin’s deceptive rendezvous was a crucial part of our strategy to outmaneuver Ken. He was accompanied by only two of his bodyguards, a decision he had made to minimize any suspicion which I disagreed with. But I couldn't shake the anxiety that clenched at my heart as I watched them leave Shantel's apartment.

From my hidden vantage point, I kept a watchful eye on the entrance, my fingers lightly caressing the cold metal of the sniper rifle at my side. It was a weapon of last resort, a means to safeguard the man I loved if the need arose.

Time seemed to stretch on as I waited, the minutes feeling like hours. My mind raced with the potential dangers that could await Marvin outside the apartment, and I couldn't help but fear the worst. “Get into the damn car man,” I said to myself. What was he even saying to Shantel? He was very exposed.

Finally, he started moving towards the car. His two bodyguards trailed closely behind him. Relief washed over me as I saw him get closer to the car, but it was short-lived. In an instant, the tranquility of the evening shattered as a barrage of gunfire erupted from multiple directions. I could not place the locations of the shooters at first.

Marvin and his bodyguards were under attack, caught in a deadly ambush that had been meticulously planned. The deafening cracks of gunshots echoed through the evening, and my heart clenched in fear as I watched the chaos unfold below.

My training took over as I swiftly brought the sniper rifle to my shoulder, my focus laser-sharp as I scanned the assailants. They had positioned themselves strategically, firing from various angles to pin down Marvin and his guards.

Without hesitation, I began to return fire, my shots aimed at the gunmen who posed the greatest threat. He was just in front of Marvin and Shantel. One shot to the head and he was gone. Marvin looked in my direction as if he had seen his messiah. He took out his gun while I changed the direction of my riffle. The evening erupted into a symphony of gunfire as I fought to protect Marvin and his bodyguards, the deafening noise drowning out all other sounds.

Down below, Marvin and his guards sought cover, returning fire as best they could. It was a desperate struggle for survival, and my heart pounded in my chest as I did everything in my power to provide them with cover and support.

I saw one of the gunmen move towards Marvin’s right. It was a blindsight for Marvin, but a pole in front of him did not give me a free shot. I tried to change my position for a better view, another was already flanking them on the left. I counted. They were eight shooters, with one down, I have seven left and two almost flanking them on their blindsight. If I didn’t make a move quickly, they would be killed.

The minutes felt like an eternity, the gunfire echoing in the night as we battled against a relentless enemy. It was a fight for our lives, and I knew that the outcome would have far-reaching consequences. The bodyguards were aiming blindly, the shooters were well-shielded.

As the chaos raged on, I couldn't help but wonder who was behind this vicious attack. Ken's involvement seemed increasingly likely, but the true identity of our assailants remained a mystery. The gunmen were professional. I took my phone and called Marvin,

“Marvin! Can you hear me?” I said.

“We are under attack and in a bad position,” he said. His voice gave away his fear of death.

“Can you make it to the car?” I asked.

“No! But we can make it back to the apartment,” Marvin said.

“Tell your bodyguards to move in the opposite direction from where you are. Two of the gunmen are flanking you on both ends from blindsight. Continue to aim at anything that shoots in front of you, I am coming to get you.” I said in a reassuring voice. It was my profession, I was trained for this.

I continued to fire, my shots guided by a determination to protect Marvin at all costs as I came down the roof. The bodyguards had killed the two men that flanked them. I shot one of them as he mistakenly brought out his head to make a move on Marvin.

We were now even, but I was the only one who was professionally trained to kill, so we had the advantage. I called and asked Marvin to change his position and as he did, the gunmen, too, tried to change their position too to get a better shot.

It was so easy. I shot two of them. The other two now knew there was a sniper and started shooting at me from the same position while Marvin and his group ran into Shantel’s apartment.

They continued to fire at my previous position, not knowing that I had already moved towards where they were. I took out my shotgun and shot the farthest as I stabbed the one close to me several times in his chest and stomach.