Chapter 60 edited

The town car glides to a stop at the grand entrance of Hotel Splendide, exuding an aura of elegance. Kage and Lady Jaye step out, their presence commanding attention as they enter the lobby bay.

The receptionist greets them with a warm smile. "Welcome to the Hotel Splendide. Your name?" she inquires.

Kage returns the smile, replying smoothly, "Alexander Kage. You'll find reservations under the name 'Kage'."

Efficiently, the receptionist slides the paperwork over the counter, her demeanor as polished as the establishment itself. "Welcome, Mr. Kage," she acknowledges.

With a subtle smile, Kage turned to Lady Jaye and remarked, "You sign it, dear, you're the one representing the Treasury."

As Lady Jaye signs the documents, Lady Jaye and Kage exchange subtle glances. She was fully aware of the facade they were maintaining as love interests. Despite the inherent deception, she found herself drawn to the comfort of Kage's presence, each exchange and small gesture easing the tension of their high-stakes mission. In the midst of their charade, a genuine connection seemed to blossom, and Jaye couldn't deny the subtle thrill of playing her part alongside Kage.

Jaye swiftly retrieves her key and strides towards the elevator, with Kage by her side. In a hushed tone, he whispers, "If Le Chiffre is as smart as he fancies himself, he already has guessed that we are some sort of government agents. A player swapped at the last moment is about as obvious a ploy as one can imagine. Which means he's decided to play me anyway, so he is either desperate or overly confident. Either way, it tells me something about him, and in return, all he gets is a name he already has. And he'll have to wonder why I gave it; which will have him thinking about that, and not about his cards."

Jaye nodded, acknowledging the logic, while they enter the elevator. Jaye added, "We are already keeping an eye on Valenka, Kratt, and Le Chiffre."

As they step into the elevator, Kage hums in agreement and said"First we get Valenka."his focus already shifting to the next phase of their mission. With a press of the button, they're on their way, the doors closing behind them.

The following day, Kage strides confidently towards his customized Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. It has a wide-body kit, a large rear wing, and a front splitter. The car is also lowered and has black wheels. It boasts a subtle shade of silver with dual, Kona Blue stripes.

As he settles into the driver's seat, Kage retrieves a note from the torn envelope, scanning its contents with a practiced eye. The letter, courtesy of Solange, provides vital intelligence on the whereabouts of Le Chiffre, Valenka, and their enforcer, Kratt.

Solange's role as Kage's information secretary, her willingness to assist was enough for Kage.

With a smile, Kage sends a message of gratitude to Solange, silently expressing his appreciation for her invaluable support, "I love you, too, Solange."

Now in a resort in Montenegro, Valenka emerges from the shimmering pool, the sunlight dances on her luxurious blue swimsuit, accentuating every curve of her statuesque figure. The water cascades off her body in droplets.

With each step, the poolside tiles hum beneath her feet, punctuating her graceful movements.Her sleek cascade of her long, blonde hair as she tosses it back with a flick of her head.

Her ice-blue eyes gleam with a hint of mischief as she glances over her shoulder, the faint sound of a distant splash echoing in the air. With a subtle sway of her hips, she saunters towards her suite.

Entering the dimly lit room, the soft rustle of fabric fills the air as she reaches for a plush towel, enveloping herself in its warmth. As she dries off with deliberate motions, the towel absorbs the remaining droplets with a gentle swish, the only sound in the room apart from her rhythmic breathing.

With a final, satisfied smirk reflected in the mirror, Valenka's lips part silently, shaping the word "perfection." The room descends into an eerie stillness, broken only by the soft whir of the air conditioning.

Suddenly, a faint intuition prickles at Valenka's senses, a whisper of danger in the air. She whirls around, the sound of her movement a sharp whoosh as she pivots to confront the unexpected intruder — Who was none other than Lady Jaye.

Before Valenka can utter a cry for help, Lady Jaye swiftly draws a gun, the metallic *click* echoing ominously in the room. With deadly precision, she fires, and Valenka feels a sharp thud as the bullet pierces her skin.

A moment of confusion ensues, as Valenka's senses reel from the impact. But as she pulls the gleaming chrome dart from her chest with a clink, realization dawns — it's a tranquilizer.

Lady Jaye's lips curl into a smile, her voice dripping with malice as she taunts, "Sleep tight."

Groggily, Valenka manages to rasp out a single word, "Why?" before her strength fails her, and she crumples to the floor with a soft thud, the room enveloped in silence once more.

When Valenka slowly regains consciousness, her head feeling heavy and her senses dulled by grogginess. As she blinks away the haze, she realizes with a start that she's tied up and her mouth is gagged.

Across from her, Kage and Lady Jaye sit calmly, their presence casting an imposing shadow in the dimly lit room. Kage's smile is disarming yet firm as he addresses her.

"We're aware of your connections with Le Chiffre," he begins, his voice steady and authoritative. "He's already under government radar and will be arrested soon. It's in your best interest to cooperate with us."

Though Valenka's mind is still foggy from the effects of the tranquilizer, the gravity of Kage's words begins to sink in. She knows she's caught between a rock and a hard place, and the only way out is through cooperation.

Jaye's words cut through the tense silence, her tone firm and uncompromising. "Your boyfriend is on the chopping block," she states bluntly. "The organization he's part of doesn't tolerate failure. Death is imminent for him. And Le Chiffre? He won't bat an eye if you're expendable. With more mistresses by his side, your life means little to him. So, are you going to talk?"

Kage tosses a stack of photos onto the table, each one depicting Le Chiffre's associates, all lifeless.

Valenka knew everyone of them, they were all employed by organization. But upon losing a mission, all of them were killed.

Valenka feels the weight of the ultimatum bearing down on her. She knows the stakes are high, and the consequences of silence could be dire. With a resigned nod, she concedes, "I'll do as you say, but you must ensure my protection."