Duke's feet are transfixed on the ground, he can't get his head over the off statement that Mister Jimmy has just made. He wants to question him on what he meant by that, but he decides against it. He pushes the door shut and leaves the house. He dials Bloom's number and places it against his ear. He takes the picture and puts it in his pocket, it's not something that he wants everyone to see. " Yes, boss?"Bloom answers. " I'm at the Futtermans, pick me up now. " He instructs. "On my way, boss. "Duke ends the call and puts the phone back into his pocket. He notices a car drive into the compound and he feels his breath heighten. He is just about to leave like he is going to be gone in a matter of minutes, so why does Melody have to walk in now?She is with her mother and they look like they have been shopping, it's evident with all the bags in their hands. Melody locks up the car and takes all the bags from her mother. Her mother notices Duke and smiles as she walks towards him
Early the next morning, before the sun wakes up from the horizon, Duke and Bloom are on their way to the airport. Duke didn't sleep a blink the night before, and that's because he is trying to get information on Eve's missing girl. As the car moves through the quiet road, Duke is looking into the darkness out the window as he thinks. " What have you found on the girl?" Duke asks Bloom. "Um, sir. " Bloom picks up his iPad and scrolls through it. " There isn't much sir. For all we know, Eve doesn't have a daughter legally. " Bloom tells him. " What do you mean by "legally"?" Duke snorts. " I mean, sir, that her daughter is not recorded with the government or anything. " Bloom explains. " Even if she gave birth to her, she wasn't registered. "Duke thinks, why would she do something like that? Is it because she had so many enemies and she wouldn't want anyone to know?Now she is dead and the girl is stuck in some faraway land?" So what can be done?" Duke inquires. "It's a tough
119" Jesus Christ. " Duke drops his head into his hand, for God's sake he just got here. " According to him, it's a matter of national security. Life and death. " Bloom reads out. " That's why there are a whole bunch of us," Duke yells. " Why does it have to be me?""Maybe that's because you are good at Killing people, boss. " Bloom shrugs. Duke stops and studies him. " Is that supposed to make me feel better or something?" Duke asks. " Sorry boss. "" This has to be the only one, Bloom." He warns. "Any more of this and I will have to kill you. "" Got it, boss. " Bloom apologize. " I am gonna be here a few minutes before nine tomorrow. "" Good." He grunts. " Now, leave. "Duke turns and walks into the house. His elegant house was the one thing he missed while he was in Dunville. Each time he has to pretend as if he is not one of the richest men in the county, he remembers the luxurious home that he left behind. Gwen is watching the television from the kitchen door and that'
Melody? No. He can't bring Melody to a meeting, she doesn't even want to see his face at this point. " I'm sorry, sir, but I don't think that my wife will be able to make it. " Duke quickly says. " She is kind of busy at the moment, traveling for work."" I am sure that she will make out time to attend such a huge party at that. " He insists. " Who knows? She might meet potential business partners while at it." He doesn't wait for Duke to answer to the remark he has made, he is leading him to the door. " I will see you at the party. And your wife too.""Goodbye, Mister president. " Duke smiles as he leaves. Under that smile are jaws clenched as hard as steel. Bloom stands up from where he has been seated and then he walks up to Duke. Duke is already leaving, so he is behind him as they both walk out. They get to the car and Bloom opens the door for Duke before hopping into the driver's seat. Bloom reverses the car and drives out. " How did it go, boss?" Bloom asks. " You guys
He ends the call on her and she can't even believe it. He called and just went on to talk about Duke without even asking if she is fine. She had to go back to work within weeks of her father's death and all he cares about is that she listens to the phony she got married to.She picks up her phone again and calls Duke. He knows what he has done and what he has put her through and that's why he picks up at the first call. " You know, I underestimated just how far you were willing to go for this. " She points out. " Good job. "" I am sorry, Melody, but I didn't have another choice. " He defends himself. " You weren't listening and I told you it's important. "" And the first thing you thought to do was to call my grandfather?" She fires. " Melody, he is the only one that you listen to. " " You know, this just makes you hate me even more. "" That's totally fair, I get it, but I promise that it will be worth it. You haven't told me what you want. "" I don't want nothing from you, D
Duke shuts his eyes as he feels the pain going from his cheek to every part of his body. He inhales sharply and looks at her, there is absolutely nothing that he can do to her. " Nice to see you too, Melody. " He says. " I don't know why you would want to slap me though. "" Why not?" She shrugs. " You dragged me here by my teeth, didn't you?"She hasn't forgiven him for calling her grandfather and him ordering her to come. Duke rubs his cheek some more and turns to Bloom who is now as white as a ghost. " Come on, in. " He sighs. She walks behind him and he walks to the door, he opens it for her and walks her into the house. " I think I am going to wait in the car. " Bloom points. " I think I am going to get some work done here. "Duke shrugs as he shuts the door. Melody is with her hands folded and she is looking around, but not in an impressive way. " Have a seat. " He gestures. " I have to put on my clothes, we leave in a few minutes. "Gwen walks into the room and she freez
Duke almost laughs, but he keeps the handshake solid and doesn't break eye contact with this man. " Barrett?" He says under his breath. " Well, that explains a lot. " Ansel laughs, but he doesn't let go of Duke's hand, Duke doesn't mind. " It's a good thing that your memory doesn't fail, you do know who I am. "" Of course. " Duke blinks. " Had an encounter with your father. "" Of course you did. " Ansel nods. " You left him dead and headless."At this point, Duke takes his hand back. " What can I do for you, boy?" Duke asks, he is not fazed by Ansel's presence. Ansel chuckles and rubs against his nose. " You know, where I come from, we are heavily influenced by culture, and one of our many beliefs states that a headless corpse in the ground is the same as taking a shit in the face of the gods. " Ansel says. " It's a curse. "" I still don't know what that has got to do with me. " Duke shrugs. A waiter is walking past them with a tray of champagne, he picks one of the glasses
Duke can't believe his ears, she actually said that she wants to spend the night at his place and not the hotel." Are you sure about that?" He asks. " I won't be able to go to sleep knowing that someone might sneak into my room. If I am at your place that's not going to happen, right?" She looks at him. " Of course not." He answers. " I just don't want you to feel threatened by me and my presence."" I just don't want to be at the hotel tonight. "That's enough convincing, he knows that she is sticking to her request. He takes out the key that Bloom gave to one of the securities to give him and he unlocks the car. He lets Melody go in first before getting into the driver's seat and he drives towards the gate. His eyes look for any suspicious shapes in the dark that might be trying to peep at them. The one question that doesn't leave his mind is how the president is aware of a presence like that in the party and still be okay with that.From what he has heard and witnessed, the