Chapter 79: Brian’s Well-Intended Reminder

After a long period of comforting, William finally helped Alexander start to feel better. He still felt guilty about the attack on her, but fortunately, he was well-prepared, and Brian's team was indeed as competent as Barney had described, preventing any serious incident.

William knew that the best way to alleviate Alexander's fear was through frequent communication. He continued to whisper sweet nothings, tell secrets, and even share some slightly risqué jokes. Soon enough, Alexander was giggling and smiling.

After about half an hour of tender moments, William heard Alexander's stomach growl. Holding the slightly embarrassed Alexander, he said, "Let's go, darling. I'll take you for a big meal to help you forget those unpleasant memories."

Alexander, however, was strict about her diet to maintain her supermodel figure. "No, I can't eat late at night. Let's just go back to the hotel. I only want to be alone with you, okay?"

"I have something important to handle soon, so we can't go to the hotel. Besides, you need to eat something. I'll order a vegetable salad for you. It's not good to stay hungry. Trust me," William said, making a call to his exclusive lifestyle advisor from the National Bank. This service, similar to what American Express offers, covered any needs for a fee. The annual fee was $25,000, significantly more than American Express's, but it was worth it for William.

Employing a personal lifestyle advisor costs much more and comes with no guarantee of availability or professionalism. 

After Alexander happily finished her salad and sipped some red wine, her mood improved significantly. She returned to her usual playful and coquettish self, and as they chatted in the VIP suite, time flew by until it was 3 a.m. Swiss time. Felix knocked on the door and announced, "Sir, the U.S. market will open in half an hour. We are ready and waiting for your instructions."

William replied, "Got it, I'll be there in a moment." Turning to Alexander, he said, "You can take a nap if you want. This place is more comfortable than most hotels. I have to get to work now."

Alexander clung to William's arm, reluctant to let go. "No, I can't sleep right after eating. Plus, I slept over 10 hours on the plane, and I'm still adjusting to the time difference. Can I come and watch what you're doing?"

William thought for a moment. Today's task was simple, mainly buying up in a rising market trend, nothing secretive. What he really guarded closely were his short-selling strategies. He nodded, "Alright, but don't say anything out loud in the trading room. If you need anything, just tell me, okay?"

"Sure thing, darling. You're the best!" Alexander said joyfully, giving William a quick kiss before they headed to the trading room together.

Upon entering, William saw Sam surrounded by a setup of seven or eight computer screens and several servers in the corner, his hands flying over the keyboard. Bernie and the others were scanning the room with various detectors.

Brian Mills stood by the window with binoculars, checking the distant surroundings. These guys were indeed professionals, quickly getting into their roles. 

William was impressed by how swiftly they had gathered all this equipment in unfamiliar Swiss territory. Clearly, this group had considerable resources and knew how to procure what they needed efficiently.

Satisfied, William addressed Brian Mills, "How much did all this equipment cost? I'll reimburse you."

Brian smiled, "Thank you, boss. I won't be shy about it. We have more gear coming in a few hours. Altogether, it's about $200,000. Most of that went to getting special permits since Switzerland's a neutral country, and we don't have gun licenses here. The equipment itself is only a few thousand."

"Okay, I'll give you $250,000 in cash. Buy whatever you need. Don't worry about the money." William instructed Felix, "Felix, get $250,000 in cash for me. I'll pay by card."

"Understood, Mr. Devonshire. I'll make the call, and we'll have it in half an hour," Felix responded.

Brian Mills was pleased to hear that William was covering the costs. He thought to himself that William was a generous and easy-going employer. Although he wasn't sure what trouble had come their way, it meant good business for his team. After all, their line of work was all about handling such matters.

Brian, now retired, worked to earn money so he could enjoy his life and spend more time with his daughter, despite their distant relationship. His ex-wife had remarried a wealthy contractor, allowing their daughter to grow up in luxury. Brian, despite his skills, had little money and could only afford modest gifts, which embarrassed him.

Thus, Brian's focus had shifted from a patriotic duty to personal survival and providing for his daughter. His experiences had long since quenched the fiery idealism of his youth. This job for William, though, seemed relatively simple compared to past missions, making it a great opportunity to earn well without excessive risk.

Feeling grateful, Brian offered a sincere warning to William. "Boss, you should stay cautious. I couldn't say much with Miss Ambrosio here, but those guys we dealt with yesterday are part of the Alba syndicate, known for trafficking women. They're marked by moon and star tattoos, which are easy to recognize. This group has a lot of members and holds a strong 'eye for an eye' mentality. We killed four of their men, and they're unlikely to let this go easily."

"If possible, you should consider bringing Barney and his team over. The Expendables have better assault capabilities than us and are more suited for handling sudden crises. If we have to split our focus to protect you and Miss Ambrosio, our team of five might be stretched too thin."

William appreciated Brian's honest advice. Although he couldn't recall where he had seen Brian Mills before, he was certain this man had been a prominent figure in his past life. Watching Brian and his team operate with precision and professionalism reassured him. They clearly had decades of experience as special agents, making them appear reliable.

Only time would tell if they were truly trustworthy.

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