Beautiful Monster by Shani Greene-Dowdell

Author:Shani Greene-Dowdell [Greene-Dowdell, Shani]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Imperial Publishing House
Published: 2023-07-20T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

~Kiyana~

The Crack

The party faded away as I stood in the heart of Cannon’s commercial kitchen. The stainless steel appliances reflected the soft lighting overhead. I’d taste-tested many meals on the large island in the center of the room as Maria commanded countless culinary performances and ensured things were to Cannon’s liking. To my left, the walk-in refrigerator hummed gently, a constant reminder of the fresh ingredients gathered from around the globe.

“Alright, everyone,” I called out, not recognizing the sound of my voice echoing through the metallic space. “Take a well-deserved break. You've all earned it. Cannon would like to eat alone.”

Maria Fontaine’s three-man team took off their chef hats. One of them wiped the sweat from their forehead. She slowly removed her apron, but she didn’t leave.

Worry lines were etched on Maria’s forehead. “Is everything okay, Kiyana. You don’t sound or look like yourself.”

“Everything is fine,” I assured her with as much calm as I could muster. “Just another of Cannon’s unusual demands. We’re used to it, right?” I asked, giving her a nod of assurance.

“I guess we are. I could use a break anyway. We’ll be in the workers’ den. Let me know if you need anything,” Maria offered. “The boss wants us to take a break, so we will take a break,” she said to her three-man team then ambled out of the kitchen with them following her, for a much-needed rest.

My eyes flicked back to the island, a stack of empty plates waiting expectantly before me. This was the moment I'd been preparing for, the culmination of everything I had worked towards. I had always known that taking Cannon out was necessary for the progress of humanity, but now I was sure. He was a part of the elite class that didn’t care about people like me.

Since returning from New York, I had waxed and waned on whether or not to follow through with my plan. I thought he’d shown me another side of him. A gentler, kinder side. But Kassie’s shit talking and Cannon’s acquiescence were enough to remind me of the monster I’d come to loathe enough to wreck his cars.

I stood in Cannon’s pristine kitchen, heading over the edge of insanity and ready to plunge myself into the void. With absolute clarity, I knew what I had to do. The vial in my brassiere felt like justice against my skin. I got it the day after I came back from New York. That day was a pivotal moment in my murder plot. And the moment played in my mind like a movie reel.

I walked three miles from Cannon’s estate and stood at the intersection. The air felt thick with anticipation as I hopped in the Uber that I ordered from a fake profile. My heart pounded against my chest as the driver took me to the pharmacy.

Glancing at my reflection in my compact mirror, I adjusted the sleek brunette wig, pulled down the oversized sunglasses, and adjusted the floppy hat. I had gone to great lengths to ensure my anonymity in this illicit endeavor.

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