Charlie's eyes widened.Even he hadn't expected the Minister's statement to take him aback that badly..The Minister got up from his seat“Charlie, we are men of power”Walking round the desk to where Charlie sat.“But men of power …”He paused, pressing against the desk as he seemingly balanced himself.“Have a price”Some relief came upon Charlie as a smile stroke across the edges of his lips.“Of course, of course. Name your price Mr. Minister, anything”“Anything?”, The Minister asked, a smirk across his lips and one eyebrow raised. He started to walk back to his desk.“I’ve always admired the strength of Voxx. You possess quite a lot. How about half the company, Charlie - shares, assets, everything?”“I don't own half the company, Mr. Minister”“Oh.. how disappointing though. Half of what you own then and I'll convince the president that the deal is as bad as you say”Charlie took a moment, wondering if she could hear from over the tiny earphones he was wearing. But only then did
Fiona looked at the silky black dress she'd chosen for her date. It stopped at half her knee, a slightly body hug dress, just enough to put her endowments in proper proportions. She stared long at her reflection in the mirror, looking at herself in too many angles than normal. Indecisive. It was something she'd never really gotten over. She looked over at the dresser table where her diamond studs lay.. or sat. Whatever.When she'd finally made up her mind and changed into the short strapless gown with a gathered black flair, a soft knock landed on her door.“Come in”The door handle turned and her father pushed the door open.“I have the invitations ready dear. Everything is set and per…”He stopped talking, noticing she was dressed.“Hey Dad”“Going somewhere Fiona?”“Yeeeesssss. I … ““You?”“I have a date”“A business date?”“Urr no. You were saying something about the invitations”“It’s the investigator boy, isn't it?”Fiona sighed. “Dad…”“Fiona,what you are doing is time wastin
Her weak legs seemed too feeble for his thrust. She was exhausted. God! Ethan was a monster.He rolled over, his breathing raspy and in quick, successive patterns. He came out of bed and Elara watched his nakedness leave her, her body both excited and exhausted at the same time. Damn! How could her body feel sore and yet feel so ecstatic at the same time. It was as what it often was with him and after him. She'd never been with another person like Ethan and she knew she wasn't just his lover - she slowly falling for himShe curled up in the bed, wrapping herself in the thick blanket, her mind in an ecstasy as she filled her nostrils with the scent of his string musk. Ethan soon walked out of the bathroom, his short white towel around his neck.“Where are you off to this early?”, she asked, noticing he was picking up another of his towels, only bigger.“Work”, he said, in a cool, unexcited, bland tone. “And you should too”“I don't have work today. I thought Fridays were your off days”
Her hands hesitated but she knew she would pick the call eventually.“Hey babe”“Hey love. What's going on? How are you feeling.”“Nothing much. I'm okay, I guess. I'm just … about a few things”“About a few things like what?”“Just small errands that my dad wants me to run for him”“Oh.”He paused.“But have you had any rest? Are you better now?”“Rest?”, She asked, only quickly remembering that she'd called in sick the previous day. More like lied. But if missing out on your date because of your over-ruling, self-centered father couldn’t make her sick, then she didn't know what could possibly.“Oh yeah. Yeah.. I'm better now”, she said quickly.“Fiona, you shouldn't be stressing yourself. If you are not fine, take some time to rest. Right now, I know you haven't still gone to the pharmacy to get some medics or even the hospital.“I was just feeling a little dizzy, Mark. It was nothing really serious”“And now?”“I'm fine. I'm okay..”, she said, hating herself once again for complete
6.15 a.m, The Castles, Evening PartyMark picked the invitation card from the table.“The Starlings”“You familiar with them?”, His boss asked, twirling on his executive chair towards him.Mark took a while to reply. Fiona hadn't told him about the evening party.“Nah”“You sure?”,His boss stood up from his seat,a slim file in his hand.“Here's their bio data anyway”He dropped the file in front of Mark.“I could have gotten this yesterday you know”“Yeah … but you are the favorite agent”“And the best too”, the lady in black across the room said, turning slightly to them. Priscy. She was the CIA's best computer programmer and of course hacker.And she wore her badge proudly.Mark smiled at her statement, taking the bio data file over to her. His free hand slipped the invitation card into his back pocket.“Come on, Priscy. How about you soft copy this for me?”“Hmm… I take transfers Mark”Mark let out a groggy laughter. He shook her shoulders from behind playfully.“Priscy!!”“You kno
7.00 p.m, Evening Party , The CastlesGuests trooped into the hall, the organizers and their workers going out as they did. The wows never stopped. The guests were totally taken aback by the absolute magnificence of the hall,a true representation of what luxury and royalty could offer. Crystals, almost uncountable, hung down from the top of the building, the ceiling covered in glitter and minute crystals. Some parts of the ceiling shimmered with gold and the mood setting lights did justice to that. Curtains draped down throughout the walls, the room got just enough lighting from its decorative features. A section of the hall was left for - what was suspected to be - ball dancing.Heck. It was “a Lord and Lady” themed party.The hall looked even more colourful from the gallery where Fiona stood. She watched them from above - the hall was rainbowed with beautiful evening gowns of so many colours in so many different shades. Some were more extravagant and others kept it a simple, straigh
Alistair was late for the party.Not that he'd planned to be early.It just seemed like Starling was bent on making him come.Buru finished polishing his shoes. He knocked on his walk in wardrobe room door.“Come in”Buru did so, holding the pair with two of his fingers on his left hand.“Thank you sir”“Thank you for these nicely polished shoes”, Alistair responded with a smile. Alistair shifted back a little from the mirror and Buru got down on one knee and placed them in front of him.“Thank you Buru”Alistair placed his legs into the well polished maroon red shoes. They matched his Italian suit, a slightly lighter shade, which had two slightly lengthy ends instead of buttons. They'd been tied into a perfect bow and it gave the outfit a rather grand than child - like look.Looked like he'd found a new favourite pattern of suits.His breast pocket handkerchief had the same maroon red colour too. Alistair slipped down his hair, holding himself against the urge to take up the comb and
“Any extra arms on them?”“Nah”Mark hadn't seen anything with the X-ray glasses, he'd put on when he entered the hall. The glasses were in his pocket now as he straightened his suit in front of the mirror.“Any other useful piece of information?”Mark prepared to open the door. He could hear the voices of impatient men outside.“Someone seems to be trailing Charlie. Someone that seems to be working with Capuedo's men as well”His boss rolled his eyes. “Give up this Charlie story Mark”“Apologies folks. Door got jammed”, he said as he opened the door. He let some of them come in, making his way out of there.“It's not a story if it's obvious. The men communicate with one another and one of them is obviously out of Charlie.”“Well, maybe Wilde's hired them”“Hired them?”“It could be. There is an unspoken animosity between the two men and it just happens that Wilde looses his shares at Voxx and Charlie seems a million bucks richer the next week. He'd need to bully Charlie into getting