Chapter 45 Forty Five
OWEN WINTERS
“I received your gift, you just had to dress him up nicely and with expensive perfumes too,” father said over the phone. I laughed. “I wanted to prepare a nice gift for my father, is that bad?” I said in English, my voice sarcastic — father loved it when I spoke in French with him.
“What a psycho of a son,” he sighed probably in disappointment. “Well, I got it from you even though I'm adopted.”
I did get my behaviour from him, his nonchalant attitude and love for fair killing except if need be. People would've thought I was his son if we shared the same skin colour, but as dark as I was, father was a totally different contrast.
“Well, what can I say, I can be really influencing,” he joked — a sour joke, but I laughed anyway. “Dylan Xavier is rubbing off on you, I can see that,” I replied playfully.
Dylan Xavier knew himself and was aware of what he did; his looks, agility, power and the fact that he was at the top of the mafia chain. He was the real influence and his daughter… I looked at her, she was seated, her laptop on her lap. Dylan would kill me if he found out about his daughter's relationship with me… that gave me more reason why I needed to be careful.
“Guess what I found out about the gift you brought me?” Father asked, bringing me back to reality. “Non, just tell me,” I hissed.
“Old Mr Li, bless his soul was sent by the gang that goes by the name Serpent, he said they were after you. Seems like you unknowingly got in their way during one of your missions. But before he could say something else, I seized him from breathing even a last breath,” father explained, his voice plain with no atom of emotion in them, and he wondered what kind of psycho son I was?
Damn.
I racked my brain trying to think of where I had heard the name. Le serpent.
Suddenly, realization hit me, I encountered them during a gangster wedding. My mission was to abduct the bride who turned out to be an old friend.
“But, you don't need to worry, Mr Xavier has it under control, an old man like me shouldn't be worried about stuff like this…” I interrupted him, irritation written all over my face, though I knew he couldn't see it. “Too bad, I'm young, I can take care of my business!” I blurted out and hung up to keep him from saying any other word.
What I needed was a good drink and some fun to clear the fuck out of my head. My brain felt like it was going to burst open in my skull. A splitting headache settled in.
I glanced over at where Amy sat, the look on her face told me she too was irritated. Walking over to her, I cupped her chin with my palm from behind.
“What are you doing?”
AMELIA XAVIER
A problem shared is a problem solved.
A problem shared is a problem solved.
A problem shared… fuck me.
I stopped myself from the repetition before my brain would go totally blank. I stared frustrated at the rejection email from Kayla Xavier. Who the fuck did she think she was.
She's Kayla Xavier.
“Maybe I should send an anonymous email,” I muttered to myself creating a burner email account and typed away.
Dear Kayla Rodriguez,
I hope this message finds you well, I am writing to request an audience with you. After much research, both from word of mouth and a personal assessment, I found you fit for a trustworthy collaboration and my proposal of a big deal which would be discussed when we meet.
Best regards,
AX.
Sent.
I sighed saying a short prayer. Half of me hoped she would accept the request and the other half… Well, let's say it's from the devil.
MESSAGE FROM KAYLA.
I opened the message and didn't need to read it through before I knew she had rejected my proposal. “Fuck!” I cursed having the urge to fling the laptop across the room.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my chin — huge and strangely smooth palms especially for someone who did a lot with his hands.
I liked the feeling.
“What are you doing?” Owen asked, he let his hands drop to the side, but didn't move from behind me and I didn't complain.
“Nothing really, just…” I said nothing else. “Just what? You're trying to reach out to Kayla?” My eyes widened with surprise, how did he know? But then again, Owen Winters had his way with anything — he basically knew everything. “You know what, pumpkin, she's hosting a cocktail party and I'm invited. I didn't want to go, but anything for you,” he suggested, his words lit up my face in excitement. If I weren't seeing him face to face and didn't know his flaws, I would have tagged him a god — a blessing in disguise.
Then, a thought hit me like an earthquake at level five. I didn't know what to wear. I was Amelia Xavier, the daughter of one of the richest if not the richest and most feared mafia lord, Dylan Xavier, but I was very poor with my fashion.
“I don't know what to wear,” I muttered a little too loud and Owen's face lit up. “That's where I come in, we French know our fashion and wine!” He said and gave me a quick kiss on my finger tips, it sent sweet chills down to my legs — fucking weak legs.
Of course it was black.
When had it not been black.
I looked at myself in the mirror, I looked different, the dress was maxi and had a slit that stopped at my thigh…. It had a… “We're late, pumpkin. Kayla doesn't really love showing herself at her own parties,” Owen called from downstairs. I sighed going down to meet him after I was done with my make up. “You talk as if you know her so well,” I said as I reached him and locked arms with him. “You never know.” He teased me and I liked it.
Eleven years ago, we were just kids, but here we were facing our own challenges. I glanced at Owen, a smile on my lips.
Owen stopped walking and turned to face me, I stared at his eyes as the moon shone on it. “What's the problem?” I asked curious to know. “We're going as business partners right?”
I nodded wondering where he was getting at. He inched closer to me and grabbed my waist. “Then let me kiss you before we play partner tonight,” he whispered into my eyes and bit into my neck. A moan escaped my lips, I shut my eyes and let him control my body. He licked my neck till he got to my lips and dominated it.
Owen was different.
I liked it.