Chapter 22: Sudden Update

At the casino, 08:00 a.m.

Santiago

After a hectic night of balancing the books, I realize I fell asleep on the couch with all the paperwork on me in my office in Cancun. I don't really like juggling numbers, but duty forces me to. Naturally suspicious and strict, when I was younger, my father wanted me to become a chartered accountant.I had to go and study finance in London to get a solid grounding in accountancy, and so obtained my qualifications. Thanks to my good memory, I was able to pass with flying colors. As Director of Gaming, my role goes far beyond simple supervision. I a\]m the conductor of a facility where planning, organizing and directing and at the same time our secretive activities combined. Vigilance is required to ensure that no trace of money laundering is left behind. It's crucial that I ensure the efficiency and profitability of the gaming house's operations. A headache that sometimes consumes most of my time.

You already have an idea who our law master is ? Andrés, of course! He oversees the legal section, and everyone is quite pleased with his leadership. Each person has their own responsibilities, but ultimately, everything needs to come together seamlessly. Seeing numbers and more numbers scroll by makes you dizzy, like a child of the park turnstile. And that's when a quick break for a protein bar is in order.

Orely suddenly comes into my thoughts and I smile like a moron as I look at my big Monstera right in front of me. Business is pretty good with the big regulars who love to hand us their cash on a silver platter, so I can't complain. Well, I'm exhausted, I am going home. A good shower will do me a world of good, followed by a good breakfast prepared by Petra. Speaking of her, I’m going to give her a call and ask her to whip up her delicious meat tamales for me. They’re made with corn dough and filled with tender chicken, all steamed in corn husks.

“A real treat!" I said with relish.

Then after indulging, I will hit the gym to burn it all off, even though I have already got my dream body. It is important to stay fit! Unprepared, I hear a beep from my phone and see that it is Blanca looking for me. I decided to ignore her. I don't have time and I'm no longer interested in her. If she becomes a nuisance, I'll have to take drastic action. She knows what I am capable of, so don't play with fire, kid. Before leaving, I put all the files and cash in the safe. I switch off the computer and take a last look at my diary. Noting that there is not much going on today, I will drop in on Orely in the afternoon.

But in the meantime, I slip my phone into the back pocket of my pants and leave the office. With a nod to my two bodyguards standing at the door, I signal my departure.

After a good boxing session on the punching bag, I notice on my watch that it's twenty past five and on my phone screen I see five missed calls from Orely. I was so into the punching bag, with earphones in my ears, it is no wonder I did not hear a thing.

"It is strange that she should call me repeatedly and yet we exchanged a few messages earlier, I thought, frowning slightly.

I decide to call her immediately and to my surprise it is her mother, all panicked and distressed, who picks up.

"Calm down, Mrs Lucia. I can't understand what you're telling me. Take a deep breath and tell me what is going on." I try to soothe her down."

"Santiago, Orely has been kidnapped!" she said in a trembling voice.

This news hit me like a punch in the face. Every word sounds like a thunderclap, and my mind begins to race. Anxiety turns to anger, a dull, devastating wrath. Who dared to attack her? She brightened my days. A dark glint appears in my eyes and I grit my teeth. Adrenalin pulses through my veins, sweat on my forehead.

"What?! Don't worry, I'll be right there!" I swing and hang up.

Images of our last meeting, of his radiant smile, of his complicit laughter, mingled with an uncontrollable rage. How could this have happened? My fists clench and I feel a surge of heat throughout my body, an irresistible urge to hit something, someone.

Without wasting any time, I head off for a shower, thinking about my plan, which I've studied and thought about for a long time, and that now is the right time to put it into action. On the way, I call Alvaro and ask him to investigate, to find some clues as to what has just happened at Orely's house. I can't come to terms with this abominable act, just as I was about to surprise her with the fact that we are going out tonight. That damn kidnapping screwed up all my plans and in a split second, everything fell apart. Suddenly my phone rings, snapping me out of my darkest thoughts. With one hand on the steering wheel, I reach for my smartphone to answer it.

"What did you find out, Alvaro?"

"It is one of your men acting under your father's orders, but according to my sources, he won't do anything to her, just to scare her and then release her."

"His name"

"Elazio, Boss"

"As soon as he frees her, you'll be dragging that bastard back to me by the scruff of the ass."

"Okay boss"

With a heavy heart full of bitterness and anger, memories of Orely swirl in my head. Radiant and full of life, they mingle with the image of the injustice she is currently suffering.

This Elazio will have to give me some explanations and I'll finish him off. No one has the right to touch a hair on Orely's head. She is only mine.