3

The rest of the journey passed in comfortable silence. But inside Deanna's heart, the beats were loud and fast. The man beside her was insanely handsome for her given that she had never been introduced to anyone like that till then. All she ever got close to her were the nerdy boys back at her study groups, her driver Bertin and her father. This man with his styled brown hair, neat, trimmed beard, narrow blue eyes, he smelled of … She stopped in her thoughts. How well she had noticed all about his features, was beyond her understanding. Anyway, she was thankful for his presence at that hour. He was a gentleman to her.

Outside of The Barrington Bistro the cab came to a stop. Stepping out, Deanna let herself be stunned by the glamor of night life. Girls in varieties of pretty and shiny dresses were moving around in groups and some were walking as couples with guys, holding hands. All were nearly her age. She felt like she belonged there. Few guys smiled at her as they passed by. Then she looked down at herself and then at other girls. She felt under-dressed, and her mood fell off the cliff. Mauricio circled around the vehicle and paid the driver. "Are you going to stand there all night?"

"Oh sorry!" Deanna hurried inside her bag to grasp a few dollars to pay.

"Don't worry, it's done. Let's go." Mauricio watched her hesitate as they stood at the opposite side of the pub. "What happened?"

"Can I go in there…" she looked down at herself, "…. like this?"

"Come on! You will do just fine." Mauricio grabbed her hand and led her carefully across the street to the doors of the pub. A large, muscular man dressed in black bowed to Mauricio in respect. He held the door open for both of them.

"Are they not going to ask us for our IDs? Rest of them were showing it before he let them enter. I saw." She asked as she tagged along beside him.

"What ID? This place is mine, and you are my guest. So, …."

Deanna could hear no more as the music became louder. "This is your place! But you said you worked here." Mauricio did not respond anything to her statement. They were at the edge of what looked like a dance floor. A live band was performing rock music and a good number of people were dancing to it. The inside was somewhat dark, but she managed to see tables scattered across long hall like floor. On the opposite side of the band was a busy bar. Bartenders serving drinks and flirting with the customers who ordered them. She saw some girls on high stools at the bar, giggling and looking their way. Suddenly she became cautious of Mauricio's presence beside her. He had not left her hand yet. She looked up at him. He had a serious face, looking at the crowd like searching for somebody.

"I think I can find my way." Deanne tried to remove her hand from his grip. "Thanks for helping me till now." But the grip did not seem to loosen.

Mauricio dragged her across the dance floor, past sweaty bodies grinding against one another. The smell of beer, smoke, sweat made her nauseous but she was not able protest, given the loud music blaring in their ears. They were soon at a table away from the dance floor. "Please" Mauricio gestured for her to take a seat. "What would you like to have?"

Deanna hesitated. She had only met the man and he had already paid for the cab, now they were sharing table. It was uncommon of her to make friends so soon, but she liked the man standing before her. Maybe he was just a gentleman, she tried to convince herself. "Beer" she said it with an unsure tone. Mauricio smiled down at her, "Right away, Ma'am." As he made his way towards the bar, she looked inside her backpack to find her phone.

Mauricio was looking at her from the bar. She seemed busy calling somebody from her phone. You are going nowhere to night until I get my thing from your father. His phone rang, breaking his thoughts. He did not wait to hear from the person at the other end. "Guilio, call Damien Vasquez and tell him that his daughter is with me."

"You did it!" There was disappointment in Guilio's voice. Mauricio hated it when he sounded like that, when he talked like his father.

"Ask him to give the thing he took from us in return for his daughter." The call got disconnected. Mauricio returned to the table with a beer. Deanne looked happy, slowly swinging to the music from where she sat. "Sorry to ask it now, but are you of age already to consume alcohol?"

Deanne feigned offense at Mauricio's question. "I am 21 as of today mister!" She crossed her hands across her chest and pretended to look older. Mauricio grinned at her and gestured her to take her drink. "Yours?"

"No, these are business hours. I can't drink now." He said as he looked around at the crowd. "But I want to say something before you decide to get drunk for the night." Deanne nodded and encouraged him to talk.

"You are beautiful." Her hands stopped midway, and she looked away from him. She felt shy to have heard such a complement for the first time in her life. She sipped the bear slowly as Mauricio didn't say anything further. The happenings of the evening played before her eyes. She had never expected to meet a new friend, that too at such an hour of night – only if she could call him a friend yet.

"What are you doing here alone? Like don't you have girlfriend or boyfriend or sibling to accompany you at night?" Mauricio asked.

"Actually, it's my birthday, I wanted to celebrate. And No to your second question."

"That means I have to take you home once you are done here."

Deanne nearly spat her beer out. "No! No! that won't be necessary. I have called my driver."

Mauricio's pleasing expressions faltered for a moment. The dim lights however did not allow Deanne to recognize them. Something had to happen soon. Otherwise, he would lose the golden opportunity. He rose from his seat.

"Where are you going?" she asked,

"We need to celebrate your birthday." Deanne kept staring at his back with a stupid smile stuck to her face. Once turned away from her, Mauricio called Guilio, "What is the progress?" he barked.

"I tried but… Damien isn't ready to negotiate."

"What do you mean?"

"He says you won't harm his daughter in any way. Neither can any other person in our gang. Everybody knows that son! I am trying to look for an alternative, some inside information. But till then please do one thing…. Won't you listen to me?"

"What is it?" Mauricio asked the question despite being familiar to the answer.

"Let the girl go, without causing any trouble for her." Mauricio looked at Deanna from across the dance floor. She had a stupid smile on her face, and she was swinging carelessly to the music.

"Look Guilio… I got to go. I have a birthday to celebrate."

Guilio took a deep breath from the other end, "Is this thing really worth compromising an innocent girl's life?" Mauricio's eyes glistened dangerously. I have to do it.

"I have my reputation to modify." Mauricio said.