The ocean view- Part 2

"I have a lot of respect for women so I wouldn't like her to hear certain words," he said. 

He was dressed in a lilac-coloured lace shirt tucked into his brown trousers. His eyes were brown and he arched his eyebrows in such an unsettling way with a blade. He held his beard in a single braid, and wore a golden serpent tooth around his neck. His hat fitted perfectly on his head but his curls could still be seen. His accent was Mexican and he stood with both hands on his waist wearing a grin. 

"Mira. Go." Lucian said to her. 

"Sure?" she asked uncertainly. 

"I won't hurt him. I can't even hurt a fly." The man said. 

She finally took her eyes off the stranger and walked back to the room. 

"I am El Dorado. You can call me Rad. Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Yeah. So Theo owes me money." He said. 

"Bullshit," Lucian responded. 

"I would have rather you said horse shit but you said bull instead—rude but I'll pass. 

Now you see that I have come all the way here alone. No men on standby for a fight, no guns or the like, because I am not a violent man. No, I believe more in dialogue. It is only when I smell hostility that I attack. 

Is this you being hostile, Mr Grant?" Rad inquired. 

"Theo is dead," Lucian replied. 

"Not my money. I hear his money has now been transferred to you. Do not be stingy, Amigo. You were worth five billion dollars before his death and now you are worth ten more." Rad said, 

"He would never do business with a man like you. He was clean." Lucian replied. 

"And I am dirty. You hurt my feelings. Theo was a man of honour, yes but he was also a man of secrets. I would give you two weeks because I am generous. Do your research and wire my money to the account contained in the text you will receive when it's time. Adios." Rad said and then turned to walk away in the opposite direction. 

He bent down to pick up something as he walked. 

"Ah, a sea shell." He said excitedly before continuing his journey. 

"What did he want?" Mira inquired once Lucian got into the room. 

"Money." He replied. 

"Money? For what?" she asked. 

"He says righteous Theo owes him money and I have to pay. Even he gave me a deadline." He responded, freeing his shirt buttons. 

"That's absurd. Theo would never work with a man like that. That man smells like mafia. He is all shades of bad news. For all we know he could be trying to get money from you." She said. 

"Maybe." He replied. 

"It is the only reasonable explanation. Theo—" She said. 

—"Could you just stop?" Lucian turned to her immediately. 

"I would do background checks to see if he is bluffing or not but until then you must stop this. You don't know people. No one does." He told her. 

"Get some rest. We move at six." He added. 

She heaved a sigh and blinked her eyes while sitting on the bed. She couldn't help but think about Theo, the one she took as a father, the one she trusted, who had helped and taught her so much. How was it possible that she didn't know him? There was a significant conflict in her mind. She slept despite her doubts. 

"Hey." She heard as she struggled to not be awakened by the mild taps on her arm. 

She tossed and turned while murmuring unclear words. 

Lucian's voice became clearly audible in her ears, forcing her to fully awaken. 

She could see he was already dressed for the job. She let out a yawn and then sat up. 

"Did you sleep?" she inquired. 

"I did. Obviously, not like you do. You sleep like it's your last." He said. 

In no time, she had visited the bathroom and was out with her body wrapped in a white towel. 

"What?" he asked, seeing she stood there looking at him. 

"I need the space. I have to get dressed." She told him. 

"You want me to leave the room for you? A room I booked with my own money." He replied. 

"So what? You think that gives you the right to see my boobs?" She replied feistily. 

"Whoever said I wanted to see your boobs? You think those are the kind of boobs I would want to see?" He replied. 

"Just stop talking about my boobs." She said. 

"You initiated the boob conversation, not me. Get dressed, I will be waiting in the car." He said and walked out of the room. 

In the car, he waited, checking his watch and looking out the window.  

"I'm here. I'm here." She said, rushing into the car and shutting the door.

"It took you thirty minutes? For real?" Lucian turned to her with a furious look. 

"That was my best, okay? I am a woman." She defended herself. 

He ignored her and started the engine. 

She hurriedly strapped herself to the seatbelt as he drove like he was trying to catch up with time. 

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the venue. He parked the car in a safe spot behind the building. 

"They definitely would have some guards on standby for things like this. What if those guards were armed?" she asked.

"Is that panic? Are you doing this right now?" He asked. 

"I am not panicking. I am considering our options here." She said, rolling her eyes. 

"I am not stupid okay? I have had someone check out the place before now. All you need to do is follow my lead and stick to the plan. We go in through that door. Be sneaky. Don't get caught, head for the Operation room, find the sci-tech, get it, and get out. If obstacles arise, improvise." He said. 

"Fine.  Let's do this and get out of here." She said. 

They both got out of the car quietly and headed for the facility. They had their backs against the metal door. 

"Duck." He told her. 

"Why are we ducking?" She whispered from a squat position. 

"The camera." He said, 

As soon as she realized what was happening, she said, "Oh.". 

He quickly got up and swiped a card from the card slot. The door opened. 

"Ohh. This is crazy." She muttered to herself. 

They got in. 

"I hear footsteps approaching, hide." She whispered. 

They split and hid behind trucks. 

Their attention was drawn to two men conversing. 

"Smell that?" One of the men said, pausing their steps. 

"Smell what?" the other asked. 

"Smells like coffee." The first speaker. 

"I wouldn't blame anyone for overdosing on it around here. The boss makes us work like animals." The other said and walked away with his colleague. 

"I told you not to wear perfume!" Lucian whispered angrily from his side. 

"When I am nervous I sweat and I am nervous plus I don't like to sweat. I thought it was mild. I apologize." 

"Just keep moving." He told her. 

"There. Up ahead. That door reads "Operation room." She said. 

"Hurry." He said, quickening his steps as he headed for the door with his body lowered.