Chapter 7: The Resemblance Between

It was eleven o'clock in the morning when finally, both Zeronis and Maria hit the road. Both in casual clothing, one won't be at fault if people mistake them to be a couple having a trip together. Most especially that Zeronis matched the color of Maria's dress.

"It's been so long since the last time that I drove around here," Zeronis said conversationally.

"I actually like it here. It's peaceful." Maria let out her hand to the car's window to feel the wind on her palm and then proceeded on leaning her head with both of her folded arms on the window.

"Well, we can stay longer."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Personal matter. I'd rather not tell."

"Going home?"

Maria kept her silence for a moment and watched the neat arrays of scots pine trees planted on the side of the road. It added aesthetic to the surroundings and a feeling of home for the passing vehicles. It was strange for her to feel that way but she truly felt at ease in there.

"Probably," she answered and turned slightly to him. "How about you?"

Zeronis only shrugged his shoulders. "Work. Got so much going on."

"Really? Here you are giving your hotel guest a tour around your homeland."

"It's a privilege. If you only give me a choice, I would gladly accompany everywhere." He said and gave her a boyish grin that she shook her head in the process.

"That is absurd. You know that?"

"I'm serious, sweetheart. Anywhere is fine with me."

"And you're starting to creep me out." she joked, making him chuckle.

"Shame then. Women would fight to have me usher them everywhere." he continued.

"Ooh, newsflash babe, I'm not like any other women you just met. I'm a darn queen who won't chase any bloke." she flashed him her wicked smirk.

"How about this bloke right here, driving you around?"

"Hmm...passable. Almost." Maria chortled when he looked so down.

"Give me a number on the scale of ten."

"Well, to be generous because of your service, I'd say you're in five."

"Ooh. That hurts my ego a little. I thought this face will make a damn difference."

"I don't look on the outer shell..." Maria lied, of course, no one would argue about how charismatic was Zeronis. He was definitely a ten over ten. But she surprised herself that she was willing to be playful around her. if her friend was around, her actions would akin to flirting. Which was weird when she had no natural experience with regards to the matter. It was actually enjoyable.

"I'll work hard to reach at least an eight. eight is cool, right?"

"Eight is definitely cool." Maria agreed.

A couple of hour drive led them both into a private-owned land. As they entered the gate, the name of the owner was indicated by the entrance.

Maria turned to Zeronis. "I'm not surprised anymore."

"It's my little hobby," Zeronis said, pulling over the car near the winery located just in front of the vineyard.

"Your so-called little hobby goes beyond imagination," Maria said and accepted his hand, guiding her outside the car.

"Sir Villan! It's been a while!" Greeted a man with skin-tanned skin. The men and women tending in the garden gathered around before them. Mostly their eyes were directed to the lady beside Zeronis.

"We didn't know you visited Aberdeen."

"Yes. I've been busy, Roman." Zeronis said. "I'm with a guess right now who wants to taste our finest. Please assist us."

"By all means! Follow me." Ramon spoke to the people gathering around in curiosity. They all dispersed to their respective jobs.

Maria and Zeronis then followed Ramon from behind.

Zeronis' hand touched her back, guiding her on the way. Though it wasn't necessary, Maria just let him be.

Inside the cellar, there was a low light level on the walkway in which there were arrays of piled barrels placed in a triangular manner on the left side. On the right side were racks of wine in carboys and amphorae.

"Make yourself comfortable while I'll get the bottles in underground storage," Ramon said, turning to the left corner.

"Underground?" Maria asked curiously as she sat in a high chair, placing both of her elbows over the table.

"It's a passive cooling system to protect the wine from changing temperature. We have an active colling system by the right-wing. But our specials all came from our underground storage." he explained.

"It's a tedious process, isn't it?"

"Quite so. There are too many factors to consider but my people are all competent on their job."

Maria could hear pride in his voice when he talked about his workers and she can't help but admire him.

"So, when shall I have the chance to drink your homeland's local wine?" Zeronis baited and Maria only blinked at him. "What? You said you agreed with your friend about it."

"You're not that friend." Maria pointed out.

"I can be one. Though, I don't really reckon myself to be just that to you." He remarked.

Maria was about to respond to that when Ramon's happy voice greeted them. "Here you go."

They spent the next couple of hours tasting wines on different bottles. Maria couldn't totally understand the languages of wine tasting. There were some that taste meh for her but for Ramon and Zeronis, those were described as rich because they achieved pleasant flavors.

For Maria, the rich flavored wine that those two men were talking about appeared to have a high alcohol content that made her dizzy and tipsy.

"Oh gosh." She muttered and put down her zalto wine glass back to the table.

"I think that concludes our wine tasting festive here," Zeronis said and instructed Ramon to return back to his work for the moment. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Just a little disoriented." Maria placed her head down the table with her bent arm.

"You're basically drinking it instead of tasting," Zeronis remarked after noticing the ten wine glasses of different kinds of wine almost empty.

"I thought we are drinking it all?"

"No, honey. You just sip a little and let the flavor spread on your tongue first then a little down the throat," he explained and patted her back. "Should we head back?"

"Yeah. But can you drive?" she asked worriedly.

"Of course. That much won't even make me drowsy. Come on, now. Careful." Zeronis got her arm and helped her stand up from the chair. "Should I carry you to the car?" he asked when she swayed a little.

"Don't you dare." She glared at him which made him laugh.

"Hey, I'm just saying. Here let me hold you." Zeronis wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer toward him as they began to leave the tasting room.

When they were already outside, Maria's eyes squinted by the bright daylight compared to the dimness from the inside.

Few of the workers stopped their work and eyed them walking towards the car.

At the car, Maria closed her eyes, shooing the impending headache. The car moved and she felt a little sorry for not sincerely returning the happy waving hands of the workers on the grapes plantation.

"This is not part of the plan." Zeronis chuckled upon hitting the highway again.

"Yeah. Sorry for spoiling it."

"You're not. It's my fault for not guiding you well enough. Next time, I'll do better. I can't be falling from scale five. I'd feel worse then. " Zeronis promised.

Though she was still a little dizzy, Maria knew the answer to his words. There might be no another next time for them. Her job was always quite risky and uncertain. Nobody knows what will happen in every operation. Who knows, Aberdeen might become her last getaway.

The visit to the wineries for wine tasting concluded and the plan to have dinner in one of the restaurants in the city was canceled.

Maria suddenly found herself in her own room in Villan's mansion, comfortably tucked in and feeling well-rested. She was lying on her stomach, hugging the soft pillow. She blinked sleepily, trying to remember how did she end up from Zeronis' car into her bed.

She recalled they were talking about something and then his voice became distant and she drifted on dreamland. Her thoughts then went to the things they did for that day. They did pass by thousands upon thousands of acres of grape plantation along with their travel, she had one word of it. Zeronis spared no expense to expand more of his wealth.

She'd learned he wasn't into lavish spending and showing off his money. Thus, justifying his previous defiance about her prejudice against his wealth which he worked hard in the sideline.

"You've awakened."

Maria's heart skipped a beat as her eyes trained sharply to the brown single couch on the right side of the bed. The room wasn't lighted but the moonlight streamed through the opened window. Curtains danced for a moment as the gentle wind blew from the outside. The drape partially covered the dark figure sitting on the couch before it went down as the blowing of the wind subsided.

Maria had no idea why the setup felt like a Deja Vu and her gut screamed of great threat all of the sudden.

"In case you forgot, I'm not a ghost you know."

"Villan?" Maria's chest was knocked out of air for feeling relieved. "What on earth are you doing in the dark? I could have hurt you or something." She snapped and combed her hair nervously.

"I stayed here after the power went out. Thought you might be startled if you woke up in the dark. " Zeronis explained and approached her. "Hey, were you really scared?" he chuckled but reach towards her.

"Damn you. You're this close with being rammed with a vase." She snarled.

"You're not really going to hurt me." He said.

"How sure are you? I can even make this pillow a murder weapon." She continued to ramble on.

"Okay. I understand that I startled you. I'm sorry." He said and placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed them gently.

"Don't jump on me like that."

"Technically, I didn't jump on you. But yeah, I get your point. Now, let's feed that stomach of yours. It's been rambling in your sleep."Zeronis humored.

"Fine." Maria agreed and accepted his hand.

As both of them were walking towards the door, Maria threw a glance to the couch where Zeronis occupied a while ago. Somehow, it brought back her dark past in Morocco where she was an undercover agent as a kidnapped woman. She was sold as a high-end prostitute on a chaotic auction night.

A man had bought her out in a hefty amount of price. That man's alias was Black Prince, a wealthy client of the brothel she worked on.

It puzzled her why did she felt like the Black Prince was inside her room a minute ago instead of Zeronis?

"You alright?" Zeronis asked when Maria fixated her eyes on the couch.

"Y-yeah."

"Should I send the dinner up here instead?"

"No. I'm okay. Let's go." Maria said and shook her head. It must be the wine's doing why she was acting weird.