CHAPTER 25

Logan Thames laughed as Anderson gave him a report of the meeting. It was out of character, he knew that. And he meant no bad intention for any of the families involved. But some things couldn’t be helped. He had known things would go just that way. There were more than one person running the attacks. And somehow, Valdez was involved too. The whole episode was beginning to look like something from the movie. The phrase; War on all sides, came to mind. Wasn’t that enough to make someone just want to laugh? “So now there’s a Mexican mafia involved?” he asked his analyst, who nodded.

“Yes, and it appears the Swiss got on their bad sides” Anderson said.

“The man was an Esquire, then Judge. Of course, he had made so many enemies.” said Logan, more to himself than Anderson. “Then we should tighten our security here” he turned to his security detail.

“Sure boss” replied the security officer. He had been listening to the whole conversation as the man gave the report. He excused himself, and walked off with a finger pressed to his left ear. He was already giving his men some instructions over the phone.

“What about everyone, they back now?”

“Yes. But the Montereys leave tomorrow” Anderson reported. He calmly answered the questions asked despite his tiredness. A good sleep was what he craved right now. His boss said nothing for a while, just stared out the window. He looked lost in thought. With no more question from his boss, Anderson asked “May I be excused?” He was feeling jet lagged.

“Sure” Logan said, dismissing the man. Remembering something, he suddenly called out to his analyst, stopping him before he shut the door “Was there any talk of how I’m getting back my money though?”

Anderson stopped by the door, turning back to face his boss, “No” he said, looking disappointed. Amidst the chaos, he had forgotten his boss’ specific request that he made sure they look for a way to get back the money. He had insisted he raised the point so it could be deliberated upon at the meeting.

Logan nodded, he didn’t blame the analyst for not remembering considering all that had happened. Given the circumstance, it wasn’t a surprise that his analyst hadn’t remembered. “It’s fine, I’ll just check in with Valdez later.” He had a feeling if they drained the account of the money, it would paralyze their operation. It wasn’t something solid, but it could work.

“Okay sir” responded Anderson.

“Is it possible to get the money out?” he asked Anderson “I mean drain it once. You go in, get the money, get out.”

Anderson though about it. “Yes. We are logged into the account already. I suppose we could.” he replied with his eyes closed, trying to figure out how. “I can run it by Key, see if we could”

“Wonderful. You’d have to do it without any trace” Logan added. “I think we should be able to slow them down a bit if we drain the account”

Anderson, now catching the idea, smiled brightly at his boss. “I’ll talk to Key” he said.

“Get on it ASAP”

“All right sir” he said, and walked out the door.

Logan adjusted his tie, and stood up to check himself out in the glassy frame behind his door. He had taken his time to look stylish today. Not that he didn’t always. He brushed down his hair, and grinned in the glass. Today, he was meeting with a news presenter at the club, and he wanted to impress her. The lady had just gotten in from what he heard. When he saw her in the TV, he had placed a call to his friend, the channel owner, to get him a date with the lady.

He was surprised when she reached out to him last night. They were able to chat shortly while agreeing to meet after work today.

His phone vibrated, and he went to the desk to pick it up. There was a message from Mary saying she would be back tomorrow. He scoffed. “Why should it bother me?” he said. Mary had travelled out of the country, and had kept sending him messages of her movement. He honestly wished she would just leave him alone. They were friends, had been friends since childhood. Her parents were friends with his. They were always around each other, attending functions together. Why couldn’t things just stay that simple? He didn’t understand why she had to complicate everything.

Their closeness had made him not to bother with male friends. As a good looking guy, with girls flocking around him, it was easy not to have male friends. Rather, he made male enemies. Most saw him as a threat to their relationship. And he never understood how they would think that way. He didn’t also let their thoughts bother him. He had Mary, who was a tom-boy while growing up, before she became a sexy feminine who ended up being handy anytime he needed help with his relationship.

She was the one who went out with him to spite his girls, and make them dumb him whenever he was tired of them. She was also the same girl he could tell anything, even when he couldn’t share them with his family. Mary was the girl. They had always been close. She knew his string of girls, as he did hers. Sometimes they had double dates, just to catch some cruise with their dates, who they intended to dump soon enough Logan recalled once when she had insisted they went on another double date that went south. She was tired of her new catch, and wanted him to walk away rather than leaving him. He had just met his, and wasn’t quite ready to let go. But because she insisted, he had agreed. They met at his play house for the date, which none of their dates knew about. While the meals were served, Mary had kept looking at him seductively, making her boyfriend jealous. She had confided in him that she was dropping the said guy because he was so jealous, and overbearing.

“Tell us about the watch our parents just got” she slurred.

The jealous guy had heard enough. He dropped his cutlery angrily, and looked at her with pure disgust. “I suppose you’ve been there with him. Since you are always with him”

Mary pretended she didn’t know he was upset, and replied casually, “Yes, I have. We…” she had winked at him.

His own date, obviously picking up the tensed tone from Mary’s boyfriend asked, “You did what?” and she left the dinning. Logan went after her, eyeing Mary. While he tried to pacify her, he ended up sleeping with her right under the sky. It had been one sexual experience he never forgot even though they broke up that night, thanks to Mary.

The date started going sour when she came to find them. They were barely dressed then, something his date didn’t mind. She had claimed her man after all, and was all smiles. What she didn’t know was Mary didn’t care for her obvious insinuation of what they had just done. She simply dragged him somewhere pretending he didn’t see her date, and kissed him. The kiss had been a shock to him, his own date, who had been behind them, and Mary’s man.

“I was going to propose.” he said, bringing out a pure diamond ring. “But you want him instead.” He closed the shiny thing, and walked away. So did his date, amidst tears and rants.

“Why would you do that?” he accused Mary, pushing her away from him. He wasn’t happy to have lost the girl so soon. He was looking forward to some more dip in the sack. But Mary didn’t look like she cared. Her bright smile as they walked away was indication of her triumph.

“Mission accomplished” she told him.

“You just lost a husband.” The two had burst into laughter knowing she wasn’t interested in getting married then or settling down with a jealous, overbearing dude as she called him. And for a while, he had kept on reminiscing over the kiss. He may have developed feelings for her then. There were times when they got so close, he sometimes wonders if they could be more. That kiss that day had made him want to know if there was any chance they could be. So, one day he asked. “Do you think we could ever be more?” she was sitting with him at his home, watching her favorite TV series when he asked. “I mean like dating”

“What makes you say that?” she asked, her eyes were fixated on the TV.

“You know how friends eventually get married. I’m thinking that kind” he said, hoping to sound casual like she was.

“Nah. We couldn’t” she replied, without giving it any consideration. Then she laughed, “We’ve been friends since childhood, and never had feelings for each other. I don’t suppose we could ever.”

She was right. If they were going to date, they should have. It didn’t look like she ever had feelings for him. He knew he sometimes does. In his defense, he could blame those moments on lustful feelings anyway. They were spurn on by either her new haircut, or change of look, and maybe a flash of smile now and then. The feelings get washed away as soon as she started talking to him. She was always so uncultured around him. He knew there were times when he picked her up, and when she steps out of the door, he felt this rush of adrenaline. Something he felt, not for a friend but all the girls he ever dated. Though he had tons of girls, he was picky with them. It was why most of his girls were blond, including Evangeline. He loved them slim, and blond, and cute. There were exceptions of course. For one, Evangeline wasn’t slim. But her curves did him in. He had dated a few curvy women in the past too.

That day, when Mary rebuffed their ever dating, he told himself if he did have genuine interest for her, it wouldn’t be fleeting; going on and off. It would be something that stuck. Like how he felt about Evan. So, he discarded any thought of their ever dating.

Had she entertained any thought of it then, he might have given them a chance. And who knows, perhaps there had have been no Evangeline in the picture. Now, every time he saw Mary, he desperately tried to remember the good friend she had been to him, and the good times they’ve shared. And that was because he didn’t want to see the new lady she had now made herself to be; the one who ruined his relationship. He doubts he would ever forgive that lady.

If only she knew what she had cost him, she would have some decency and stop bothering him. Every time he looked at her, he would see not just his friend, but the lady who ruined his relationship. He loathed that lady, so he pretended that Mary didn’t exist. Instead, he chose to see her as the sweet girl he had once known. The girl who wasn’t shy around him. But she wasn’t making it easy.

Reaching for his keys, he put it in his pocket while adjusting his tie. He looked too serious. Removing the tie made him look casual. He wasn’t going home to change, he staunchly told himself. Looking at the text again, he hoped someday he could sit with Mary, and talk this out like adults without her bringing on her seductive mode on him. It was what she did now. Anytime he played nice so they could talk and iron things out, she ended up ruining the mood with her seductive suggestions.

The last time he tried, she brought a movie to his home with so many suggestive scenes. He had excused himself and left her alone in his home. There was also the day she had lured him into the red room at the club. He was getting tired of her obsession with him. There was nothing loving in the way she chases him around town anymore. All she was doing bore down to spite, or obsession. And he couldn’t beat the feeling that she was doing all this not for love, but because she found out he loved her friend, who she introduced to him.

His phone chimed again. He checked it. It was Mary, wanting to know if he would pick her up at the airport. Usually, he would reply because he had an end game; get them to talk and end the drama. But so far, that had gotten him nowhere. He ignored the text this time. It would be better if he stopped seeing her as a friend since she obviously didn’t want to be seen that way anymore.

Today was the day he got himself back in the game. He wasn’t looking to get back into the dating world just yet. But a few lay every now and then wouldn’t hurt. Now that Evan looked visibly taken by his sworn enemy. He needed to move on. He tucked his tie in his pocket, picked up his phones, and stepped out. With a nod to his secretary, he exited the building.

The driver was already waiting outside to take him to the venue. He stepped in swiftly, gave the address, and let his guard down. Tonight he would be reckless, uncultured and have a good time. He hoped the news presenter would be as fun loving as she looked. He leaned back in the car, and relaxed as the driver got them to the venue.

The lady was waiting outside the bar for him. She had insisted they meet here rather than allowing him to pick her up. From her appearance, Logan could tell this was going to be a long night. He had been hoping to see her in tight fitting skimpy skirt, possibly net leggings, and cropped top. Instead, she was still in her office wear, with a makeup that could use a retouch. Did she think she was coming for an interview?

“Hi” he said casually, and walked past her into the club. The lady ran after him. “Is this an interview?” he said, casting her a brief glance.

“I was told it was. My boss…”

Logan stopped walking, and the lady ran into him. He held her firmly away from him. Assured she wouldn’t fall on him, he released her. “This isn’t an interview. So run along, and tell your boss I said thank you.” He should have known Jeff would want to use this as a business strategy. His company had just launched a device, and though it was a success, he had stayed off the press. He wasn’t in any celebratory mood yet. The numbers were not where he wanted them yet. And there was still the numbness in his heart since realizing he had lost Evan. He wouldn’t grant any interview just yet. He watched the lady struggle to decide what it was going to be, and he didn’t care. He would have his fun tonight, with or without her. The club would be crawling with pretty ladies anyway.

The lady looked offended, “How about you give me some minutes.” she said, a mischievous look finally crossed her face. “I’ll be back” she handed over her purse to him.

He loved the challenge. Grabbed the purse, he smiled and started walking off. “Come find me,.” The lady nodded and he stepped into the club. At the entrance, the security stopped him to hand over something. “What’s this?” he quizzed the man.

The hefty man curtsied, knowing he was talking to one of their good clients. “It’s a special night tonight sir. Everyone gets a mask”

“Ooh, I like that” Logan said, accepting the mask and was allowed in. He stepped into the club. Everywhere was packed full with ladies, men, and drinks was being passed round the dance floor. He stood awhile, deliberating if he wanted to go to the VVIP section. A quick glance towards that direction made him sigh. All they’d do there was drink, chat and even talk business. He wanted some excitement, and since no one would know who was in the mask, what better way to get free? He shrugged as he put on his mask, and stepped on the dance floor.

*******

That evening, Audrey finished off work quite exhausted but excitedly. The queue of customers she had to attend to were much. It had to do with the day being Friday. The end of week was always a rush hour. She attended to everyone as calmly as she could. It was either that or she got things mixed up, and have her boss chew her head off. She booked the ones who needed to see Evangeline, and passed the ones who needed to see the team leader to the next room. And as the queue reduced, her anxiety pitched high.

Today was the day she would check her result to see if she passed, and know if she had been promoted to the next class. She was particularly skeptical about her Tech.course. It had been a tough one to crack. That was why she was anxious about checking it. Already two out of her friends taking the course with her had seen their grades. They both had a D. It wasn’t a good grade, but it was better than failing it, and having to rewrite the examination. Personally, she would kill to have a D too. She didn’t mind, as long as she didn’t have to retake the course. Everything about the course was annoying, even the classes were boring.

As the last client got his things, and started to leave, Audrey sighed in relief. Now she could check her result. Suddenly, someone tapped her desk. Looking up, she found it was the client she just attended to. She fiercely prayed he didn’t have any issues as she was already too tensed. She had logged into the school database, and was about viewing her result. “Is there any problem?” she asked, politely even though she didn’t feel in any way polite.

“Yes, please.” said the man. He had been watching the smart secretary all day, and couldn’t resist the urge to walk out without getting her contact. “You’re beautiful and I was hoping we could see some other time”

“Oh.” Audrey said, looking at the young man. He was good looking, and dressed richly with his designer suit, and shoes. She hadn’t paid attention all right. It didn’t matter what he wore. She was in no mood for men. Her relationship had just ended with her longtime boyfriend. It had been a sour breakup. She wasn’t in anyway interested in this man or another man for now.

“Can I have your number?” asked the man Audrey nodded, knowing it was the only way to get rid of him. Stretching out her right hand, she asked “Your phone?” The man handed it over and she typed in her number. “There” she said, returning the phone to him.

“Thanks Audrey” he said, “I’m Thomas Stanwell”

Audrey smiled. For a second, his name had reminded him of her favorite TV series character; Thomas Shelby, of Peaky Blinders. She nodded, keeping her smile in check as the man strolled off. With the door safely closed after him, she checked the desktop. The school’s site was opened. Standing, she brought out her student ID from her handbag. It took a while before she punched in her login details. Once logged in, she went to her dashboard to check her result. As the site loaded, she closed her eyes, hands pressed together and prayed earnestly that she had no course to rewrite. Finally, she peeked with an eye closed.

The results were there. Audrey quickly opened her eyes and bent down to see. A quick scan showed there was no F. She breathes out in relief. She sat down to go through the result. First, she checked the Tech.course she had feared most. She had a B in the course. Excitedly, Audrey jumped. “This calls for celebration” she told herself. Logging out of the site, she started to gather her things. She soon locked up, and went home to get changed. There was no way she wasn’t hitting the club tonight.

It didn’t take long to get to her apartment, and get a quick shower. She put on her transparent lacy hose, then wore a short on it. Then she put on her fancy plaid top and went to sit by her dresser. Her red lipstick would go well with this look. She applied it, smacked her lips for a good blend, and applied some mild makeup. Standing up, she accessed her look in the mirror, and walked out. She got in the cab before remembering she didn’t take her purse.

“Something wrong?” Uber man asked.

“I forgot my purse. Can I just wire it?”

“Yes” the man said.

“Thankfully, I have my phone here” she sighed.

“That’s okay by me” he drove them to the venue, and she wired him the money. After paying, she started towards the club which was already lite up with blaring music and screams. The two security men at the door stopped her, and gave her a mask. She collected, put it on, and they let her in the place. Audrey walked in to find everyone on the dance floor, all masked. “It’s going to be a fun night” she said, sliding her phone into her shorts. She walked by the perspiring dancers towards the bar, to get herself some shots first. The bartender nodded, and gave her a mix which she drank in a gulp, and requested for another.

“Hey” said some guy beside her. “Not dancing?” he asked, nodding at the people on the floor.

“I just got in” she said, accepting the drink from the bartender. She gulped down the drink again at ones.

“Okay” he stood up, “Join me”

“Not yet” she told him. To the bar man, she said, “One more, please”

The bartender poured her another. She drank, then looked at the man who had asked her for a dance. Finally, it was time to dance. Audrey dropped the cup, and took his hand. Some of the dancers had retired to some corner, leaving the floor a bit free. As she danced with the guy, she found herself being rolled off to another. She danced with the new man for a while before changing partners again. It was good letting off some steam. Some waitress was passing drinks. She reached for a cup, and swallowed the content in one swift gulp. She cautioned herself to slow down on the drinks. But did it really matter, since she wasn’t going to drive herself home. Finally exhausted, she started to leave the dance floor.

“There you are.” said a man, pulling her to himself. “Dance with me.”

Audrey was tired, and wanted to excuse herself. But the man had a strong hold on her. She shrugged, faintly recognizing his voice was familiar. Shaking her head to clear her head, she giggled. It must be the drink.

As the two dance in such a perfect blend, Audrey breathed heavily as the man pulled her closer to himself. She let him touch the small of her back, guiding her to dance perfectly with her. They moved steadily to the music. He was such a fun to dance with. And she could sense something deeper too. Though she couldn’t place it. Amidst the loud music, she signaled that they should take a break.

“I have a spot upstairs” he nodded towards the VVIP

“Okay” Audrey replied. She placed her hand in his as he walked them to the seat.

They both collapsed into the chair, exhausted. A waitress seeing the new comers, went to serve them some exotic wine. She accepted the wine being served, and she drank steadily. “I need to go easy on the drinks” she drawled, giggling. That was after she reached for another. “That was fun” Audrey sighed, after taking a long slurp. Beside her, the man was searching for something. “What?” she asked He smiled, “I’ll find it, never mind” he got out his vibrating phone, hoping this wasn’t a business call. He really wasn’t feeling business-like. It was Mary. He switched off the phone, and put it in his pocked with reckless abandon. The waitress approached their seat again. This time, she bent to whisper in his ears. He nodded. “Someone wants to join the party” he told Audrey. Then finding what he was looking for behind him, he lifted the purse. “Found it” he said Audrey leaned closer to the man. “I feel so dizzy” she said. She didn’t collect the purse he held up from him. But as she leaned on him, he dropped it. His hands started to pull her off, lifting her away from him. Then changing his mind, he drew her closer. Something about her hands on him, made the man look down at her while she gazed at him. Giggling, she watched as he bent over her.

The kiss came naturally. He was a gentleman, kissing her so lightly like she was going to break. Even though she wanted no man, and no relationship, she told herself a single kiss with a masked man wouldn’t hurt anyone. She reached for the back of his head, and pulled him closer. Sighing contentedly when he started kissing her passionately, she relaxed her hold on him.

The man, surprised by how a simple kiss had his heart racing, crushed her lips with his. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her. He moved so that she was now beneath him. Her moans were drawn out by the music, but he could hear the faint passionate cries that she made. He groaned, enjoying every bit of it. Who knew the lady could be so enticing? And to think she had been dressed in her office wear earlier.

“Logan?”

Audrey sat up as the man pulled back. He had her red lipstick all over his lips, and mask. She giggled.

“Logan!” called a lady again. She had removed her mask, and looked so flustered. It was the news presenter.

Audrey looked from the lady to the man, wondering if she heard the name right. “Logan?” she asked, looking at the masked man that she had just kissed. Oh God, let it not be the very Logan she knew, she wailed inwardly.

Logan, surprised the woman standing with hot, angry eyes wasn’t the one he had danced with earlier, and had been kissing some moments ago, sat up straight. “Where have you been?” was all he could say. Before she could reply, he turned to the woman she had been kissing. Who was she? He loved how she tasted. He was sure he wanted her. His hardened length was proof of that. She started to move away. Logan reached for the mask, and pulled it off. He was shocked at the face that stared back at him. He removed his own mask, and she looked appalled. “Audrey?” he called.

“I didn’t know” she apologized, face sad with unspoken irritation. “Sorry” she stood to leave.

Logan held her, “Wait” he said. Turning to the lady, he explained “It was a mistake” then bringing out the purse from behind him, where he dropped it just now. He handed it over to her.

Audrey excused herself stubbornly while they talked.

“I looked everywhere for you.” the lady told him, desperately trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. “The mask didn’t make it easy.”

“I’m sorry” he apologized again, but I have to go. “That lady is wasted” he pointed towards Audrey as she staggered out. “I can’t leave her by herself.”

She nodded, knowing she was being so understanding because of her boss. She wouldn’t want Logan putting in a bad word and costing her her job. “You owe me” she said, and let him go “Yes.” Logan accepted and went after Audrey. He couldn’t let her go by herself, not with the way she staggered. She was already outside the club, and had hailed down a cab. Catching up with her, he held her hand “I’ll drop you off” he told her. Then he paid off the cab man. His own car zoomed down to where they were, and he opened the door for her.

Audrey stepped in his car wordlessly. It was awkward enough. Why didn’t he just let her go her separate way? She sighed heavily. Her phone started ringing. It was Evangeline. How was she to explain this to her boss? That she had been kissing her man some minutes ago? “Hello” she said into the phone and listened to the instruction Evan gave. Even though she felt her tongue weighing down heavily because of the drinks, she forced herself to sound right. “Done ma. I’ll forward it to your mail tomorrow” she said, looking at her wristwatch. It was almost midnight. “No. nothing from Mrs. Sullivan.” When the call ended, she took a peek at Logan. He was staring out the window.

“Was that Evan?” he asked, turning to face her.

“Yes” Audrey replied. “It was an honest mistake” she started saying, “I didn’t know it…”

“Look, it’s okay.” he said, trying to get her to relax. “We both didn’t know”

The car stopped, and she got down. “Have a good night” she called out.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked ‘Yes, I am. Thank you” she replied, and started walking into the building. As she walked back in, she felt so embarrassed she could barely relax. Why did it have to be Logan?

Logan stayed until he was sure she was inside before tapping his driver to drive off. His smiled, shaking his head at the turn of event tonight.