Reporting from the underworld

chapter ten

Alejandro's POV.

“Hey. You there.” He called out

“Yes you, I am talking to you, come over here and help me serve this to the boss. You know how much he hates being kept waiting.”

My heart beat doubled from my hiding position. I knew I was in danger.

This was a place of dangerous people and one wrong move was all it took to end me here.

I needed to get this information to Miguel.

This was stupid. Here I was in the face of trouble and imminent death and all I could think about was Miguel. Zero sense of self preservation.

The footsteps kept coming closer and I mentally prepared myself for defense. An uppercut maybe? That sounded deadly and enough to stun the enemy. That was settled but it brought me to my next question, what exactly is an uppercut?

I crouched there, praying and hoping for the best when the footsteps stopped a few inches before me.

“Come on now, how many times have I told you not to put on those blasted earbuds when working, especially during dinner?”

I summoned courage and looked from my hiding spot to find someone who was dressed like a chef talking to another person who I assumed to be one of the servants. The chef had his back turned to me, covering his face and that of the servant as they talked.

“You're a good kid,” he continued, “but it doesn't tell good on you when I have to keep repeating the same thing over and over again to you.”

I sighed in relief. I was out of one predicament, now for the second. How do I get to Miguel without raising suspicions or worse, getting killed?

The kid muttered something which I assumed to be an apology as the chef patted him on the back. “Come on, why don't we get done with dinner and you show me this playlist that has undivided attention?”

They both walked into the kitchen. I saw my chance and ran as fast as I could in the opposite and closest direction of the kitchen.

I did not care about being stealthy, all that mattered was speed and getting the f**k out of here.

As soon as I took the bend that led to a bigger hall, I heard the familiar chef's voice yell behind me, “who's that?”

I looked around for a way out of this place but I was too tired to make a move.

I heard footsteps. Not of one person, a group. I stayed out of sight and sighed in relief when I discovered that they were the servants supposed to serve dinner

Following them was my escape.

They all went down the hall towards a large door. I followed and waited till they were done before walking in.

Images of Miguel choking from the poison haunted me as I walked as fast as I could to prevent that.

I pushed the door and it gave way to a large dining hall. The table was placed at an angle in front of me and I could count three people seated there.

“No one should take a bite from this table” I warned.

“Oh boy.”

The room was silent enough to let me identify who that was. Miguel.

“This is for you dummy,” I thought.

I could recognise two faces at the table even though they were three men seated together.

“You must be Alejandro.” That came from a man who seemed to be in his mid fifties. It was safe to say that this was the father Alejandro spoke about.

I knew better than to speak to him, after all, I had no idea what they had discussed before I showed up.

Instead I repeated my instructions again,louder than the first time.

“Nobody should take a bite from this table, one of these meals is poisoned.”

Juan gave me a stern look before bursting into hysterical laughter. “Really? This is what you two are up to now?”

Miguel's eyes and mine came in brief contact with each other, passing across one message. We had no idea what Juan was all about.

“You think this is some sort of prank?” I asked, trying my best to hide the annoyance in my voice.”

“It has to be, there's no other explanation for this? I don't believe in coincidence and even if I did, this is not one.” He answered.

“Are you trying to tell me that it just so happens that you found out that the meal was poisoned right after my weakling of a brother here gave the excuse of him almost being assassinated by his driver?”

“What?” I muttered,my eyes darting from Miguel to Juan.

“Father.” Juan continued, “Miguel has been through a whole lot, I mean,look at the stress he has to go through just to keep one servant. Maybe you should just let him keep it.”

“It? Keep ? What are you saying? I overheard the chef speaking with someone in the kitchen on how fast the poison would kick in after it is served to you all “

Juan walked towards me while I inched back, “really? Is that all?”

What was he on about? “No,” I answered honestly, “he planned on serving the poison in the appetizer so it would kick in a few minutes after the main course.”

Juan took a step back as he reached out to the table grabbing a kebab, “this appetizer?” he asked.

I was lost for words. What was he doing?

I found my speech, “I don't know, is that an appetizer?” I asked.

“Only one way to know” he said with a smirk as he brought the kebab closer to his lips.

“No!” I cried as I made to stop him from eating it, “it's poisoned!”.

Juan smacked me, pushing me to the floor as I got closer, “don't touch me!”

“Juan!” Miguel barked as he rushed over and grabbed Juan by his shirt. “Since you're so insistent on dying, why don't I make it quicker? Why wait for the poison?”

“This poison?” Juan asked, waving the kebab in front of Miguel before taking a bite, “I guess there's only one way to find out now and we'll wait!”

Miguel forcefully let go of him causing him to lose his balance and crash to the floor.

“Are you alright?” He asked as he bent to his knees beside me.”

I was torn between the sense of gratitude and embarrassment. Something about him fighting made him more appealing,bonus points if he was fighting for me, but there was also this humiliation.

I could squeal with excitement but I had other pressing matters to attend to.

“I've been slapped harder…” I answered, taking his hands while he stood up slowly. He pulled me up and I don't know if he pulled a bit too hard or if I was looking for an excuse but I was pressed against his hard beating chest in a split second.

I was there for a while before breaking off our embrace.

I muttered a faint “thank you” that came from the depths of my soul while I looked at him in his dark seductive eyes!

I temporarily forgot about what led to this moment.

“Eeeenough!”

“That's a lot of emphasis on the ‘e’ sound” I thought to myself as I called myself to order.

That voice, as deep and cracked as it might have sounded, seemed to have a lot of authority.

“Have your seats! All of you!”

Juan rushed to his seat while I followed Miguel closely to take a seat next to him.

“You all seem to have forgotten you're in my presence!”

Miguel pinched my hands under the table, it was unexpected and painful but I just went along with it. It was a warning not to do anything stupid at this point and I got the message.

“Forgive me Father” Juan apologized

“I am sorry Father.” Miguel followed

“Sorry…” I muttered under my breaths

“I would get to the bottom of this poison nonsense but for now, and as for you, Alejandro—”

That came as a shock. Me?

Miguel signalled me to stand and I did

“I would be seeing you privately. Prepare yourself for my call!”