Chapter Twelve
2140 Words
“Hey.” Rose said as she sat on the chair. “Why did you pick the underground casino of all places?”
“I think clearly down here, it keeps my mind calm.”
“When is Dennis getting here?” She asked.
“Dennis won’t be coming. He says that we are the ones to handle all of it, and he’ll just be the judge,”
“Typical Dennis.”
“You know, being business partners, we need to have each other’s contacts to keep in touch,”
“I don’t find a need keeping in touch with you. If I need anything I can ask Dennis. If I need you, I’ll ask Dennis.”
“Dennis will not comply. You and I know that clearly,”
“Why are you so obsessed with getting my number? What’s your interest my number?”
“I don’t have an interest in your number, don’t flatter yourself.”
“I have no interest in communicating with you outside of the business.”
“Fine. You need to understand that we are a team in this, there is no winner or loser.”
“Unfortunately.”
“I’d say fortunately.”
“Storm, I don’t like you. Never have I ever liked you and never will I ever like you. Looking at your face alone irritates me to my bones.”
“Why do you hate me so much?”
“Whenever I look at you, I see the face of the man that killed my father. That took away everything I ever owned. That snatched it all away from me.”
“My father did no such thing.”
“What would you know? You still sound like that naive little kid following his daddy’s instructions with no mind of his own. I’m still wondering, how on earth are you an Alpha?”
“Pool?”
“Pardon?”
“Loser pays for the food.”
“That’s not intriguing,”
“and does whatever the winner says.”
“Sounds like a good game.” Rose said getting up to her feet and walking over to the pool table. Her heels click-clack on the ground as she walked.
“Ladies first,” Storm said as he stepped away from the table holding down his cue stick. Rose picked hers up and bent over the table aiming for the three balls.
3…2…1… she hit the balls with the stick after counting down mentally. None of the balls went into the receptacles.
“Better luck next time,” Storm said smiling as he approached the table. “Learn from the master,” Rose rolled her eyes, anger boiling up inside of her . Storm bent down on the table, with his targeted balls in sight. With one eye closed he pushed back the cue stick and released it.
“Yesssss!” He exclaimed victoriously as his target balls entered the receptacles. “Now that’s how you win a pool game.” He said turned to face Rose whose face was already red with anger.
“Oh come on Rose, you should be used to losing by now, your favourite competition is back in town.”
“I’m done playing this game,”
“Now Rose, I don’t know you to be someone who gives up easily,” he said dropping the cue on the table and following after her. “Come on,”
“Stop acting like we’re friends. We are not friends.”
“I’m not, we were just playing a game, getting our heads straight, and we did make a bet. Whether you tap out now or not, I’m the winner. So guess what? Bills on you tonight, and you have to do whatever I tell you.” Rose glared at him, her head felt like it would explode away, her hands grip into a fist at her sides and her eyes now green and yellow,
“You might want to relax. Not everyone here knows about the existence of werewolves, you don’t want to be the one to draw that kind of attention.” He whispered in her ear.
“Owww!! Ow oww!!!” He held up his knee in pain jumping on one foot. “You kicked me in my shin!”
“What exactly do you want from me?” She asked crossing her arm on her chest.
“Dammit woman! Couldn’t you have asked without inflicting pain on me?”
“I’m not here for games. We have a business plan to attend to.” When it felt like the pain had subsided, he stood up straight, brushing his hands against the part of his shirt that got rumpled from bending down.
“Let’s return to our table first and order something,” his stomach growled out loud. “I’m starving as you can see, and you’re responsible for the bills.”
“Mtchewwwww.” Rose hissed her life away as she headed back to the table, her heels still doing its click-clack thing against the marble tiles.
Storm followed behind her, watching her as she walked.
Sitting in front of her with a wide grin on his face,
“I do not appreciate this excessive friendliness Storm. Cut to the chase.”
“What I actually want from you is…”
“What would you love to order?” The waitress asked interrupting them. Rose rolled her eyes leaning back in her chair and scrolling through her emails.
“Get me your most expensive wine,”
“That would be Penfolds Block 42 Ampoule,”
“The most expensive yeah?”
“Yes.”
“Bring it my way.”
“And for the lady?” She asked turning to Rose who had her head buried in her phone, squinting to see the screen. “Miss?” She called out again.
“Huh?” Rose asked looking up at her.
“What would you love to have?”
“A glass of water would do.”
“Only?”
“Yes. Only.” Rose said not paying attention to her.
“She’s just kidding, get her a glass of water and add a bottle of champagne to it,”
“Which sir?” She asked. Storm picked up the menu from the table, studying the champagne section. He tapped on one for a while,
“The Amazone de palmer and co,” he said to her.
“Coming right up.” With that she walked away from them. Storm brought out his cigar and his s.t. DuPont ligne 2 lighter,”
“Don’t smoke in front of me.” She said to him not taking her eyes off her phone.
“What? You don’t like the smell of cigar?”
“I’m asthmatic.”
“That’s right, I remember.” He said as he took the cigar out of his lips and put it back in his pocket. “Can’t you keep your inhaler close to you incase you get an attack?” He asked.
“What king of foolish question is that?”
“You had an asthma attack at my house,,it was Susan who helped you. Was extremely hard to find an inhaler in your car,”
“I had an attack?”
“Yes princess.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“An asthma attack, but a panic attack before that one. I never knew you to be the type that would deal with…”
“Deal with health problems? Jeez Storm, your brain is still as dense as ever.” Storm didn’t take his eyes off her, he has this gloomy look that sat on his face, completely opposite to the calm and friendly one he had few seconds ago.
“Rose.” He called her name with so much authority. “You never had one health issue while we were much younger, what happened to you?” His voice was stern and extremely deep, Rose felt goosebumps on her skin.
“Storm. What’s the order of today? We have a business idea to think of. Dennis does not joke with his business and his money. We are not friends. Whatever happened during my childhood is absolutely none of your concern. Do you understand me?” Storm pulled out some documents from his briefcase dropping them in front of Rose.
“I have no idea why Dennis included you and not your brothers.”
“Meaning?”
“This is underworld business. We have to get sneaky, to have the leader of the Tigers clan to sign these documents.”
“So, why am I not meant to be involved?”
“Men handle businesses like these. They talk with guns and knives, and you’ve never been to the part of the world.”
“And who told you that I’ve never been there?”
“Come on, it’s pretty obvious to everyone. They let you oversee the top, so you’re innocent looking while you’re indirectly covering up for the dirty works done behind the scenes.”
“How do you know all of these?”
“I work in the underworld too dummy. Even while I was gone, I had eyes and ears everywhere.”
“Well, you’ll be glad to know that I’m more than just a girl. I’m a Luna, you all need to stop boxing and limiting me.”
“Do you have any plan in mind?” She went through the documents that Storm had given to her,
“Who is the leader of the Tigers?”
“Alejandro Morales, he’s also a werewolf but he’s from the Taranden tribe. He’s very dangerous, nothing gets past him.”
“What’s the problem now?”
“He doesn’t want to work with Dennis. Dennis has bad records.”
“So, Dennis needs us to convince him to sign these documents and agree to be selling off his drugs to him, receiving seventy percent of the profit at the end of every month.”
“You’re a fast learner,”
“You say that like you’re just finding out.”
“Are you going to be able to run this deal?”
“It’s not a problem. I just have to sleep on it tonight, or rather, think on it and I’ll come up with something tomorrow morning.”
“Exactly why we need each other’s contacts. For easier communication. I’m not trying to be your friend, I’m not fond of you.”
“Where can we find Alejandro?”
“Madrid, Spain.”
“I’ll let you know my idea on this. What’s yours?”
“I don’t have any right now. He just had the papers delivered to my doorstep right after you left.” He explained. Just then the waitress arrived with their drinks.
“Here is the wine and champagne as requested by the gentleman and lady,”
“I didn’t request for a champagne.”
“But,” the waitress looked to Storm for help,
“I requested it. To make a toast to being business partners.” Rose looked at him in disgust,
“Get me the bill.” Rose said to waitress who scurried away in fear.
“I asked you before Storm, what’s the game you’re playing at? What do you need from me?” Storm was busy focused on opening the champagne bottle,
“I won the game fair and square, I get to ask you to do whatever I want.”
“Ask then and stop with the weird pretence and cringe,”
“You always spit venom from your mouth.”
“Do you think that whatever you say to me will have some type of effect on me? Storm your family has taken something precious from me, my heart is completely against all of you.”
“My request is…” he popped the bottle making a loud noise which startled Rose. “You will have to go on a date with me.”
“What a joke.”
“Do you see me smiling?”
“I don’t have my glasses to see.”
“It’s a deal and you can’t back out.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you that does not involve business.”
“Please.”
“Ew! Storm stop!”
“Here’s the bill.”
“I’ve got my card,” the waitress brought out the POS from her pockets, and Rose placed her card on it. She took it off when she heard the beeping sound,
“Successful, thank you so much.” Rose proceeded to get up from her seat.
“I need your phone number Rose. It’s business related afterall.”
Rose picked up his phone, swiping on it she opened the phone app typing in her number on the keypad before leaving the Casino.
- Writer
