Call My Name

CHAPTER 7. Let’s Play

It’s only been three hours and I’m already bored out of my wits. Alexei moved at the rear end of the plane and took a nap. I secretly followed him inside and closed the door behind me, settling on the seat directly across another screen.

“Alexei?” I called out, the unusual drawl apparent in my voice. “Alexei, wake your ass up.”

“Hmm?” he groaned, turning on his back to look at me. “Why?”

“I’m bored. Let’s talk.”

He just sighed. “What do you wanna talk about?”

“Anything,” I said and faced him. “Do you like anyone?”

“Yeah, you.”

My eyebrows immediately perked up, my lips slightly hanging open.

Is this a normal side effect of being airborne with him? Why does he just keep blurting out these things?

“What?” I finally said, my throat feeling dry.

“I said, yeah, what about you?” he repeated, and I nearly bumped my head on the wall as I threw my head back, laughing at my stupidity.

That was it? And I’m here overthinking it? What is this weird effect he has on me? I used to be that smooth on ladies. But why does he have the same thing? And why the hell is he using it on me?

Perhaps, he’s practicing for that lady at the pizza parlor? I mean, sure, he does look like he’s serious about her. But, come on. Even if he is boring, he’s got really good looks. He can be a playboy if he wants to.

“No, I . . . I don’t think I like someone right now.” I took three short sips, the straw making weird noises as I finished off the last of the can’s contents, and he shot me an annoyed look.

“You’ve got the etiquette of a caveman,” he commented and turned on his side again, intent on going back to his sleep.

I sighed again. “Alexei, let’s talk. I’m bored.”

He groaned. “Yeah?”

“The assassin,” I started, unsure whether I want to have this conversation with him, “why do you think he wants you dead?”

“My father,” he just answered, not even turning to look at me.

“What about the chairman?”

“He messed with a mafia. Sent their boss to jail and now his son is out to get the payment.”

I scratched the back of my head, still confused. “Why would he be after you and not the chairman?”

He finally turned around. “Because I’m next in line. To my father, there’s nothing more important than legacy. Ezekiel made sure he’s out of the frame by then. He was never interested with the company.”

“So they’re targetting the most priced possession of your father? And that’s you?”

“In a way, yes.”

I gave him a sceptical look. “Are you sure they’re not just out to kill you because you’re a prick? Because honestly, I’m surprised the killer waited this long.”

He gave me a sarcastic smile, turning on his side to face me fully. “Are you sure you’re not my assassin?”

“Oh, baby, if I was your assassin, believe me, you would’ve been dead already.”

I shifted uncomfortably on my seat as the pilot announced that we will be landing soon. I fastened my seat belt fast, my breath slightly growing ragged, and gripped the armrests of my chair.

Damn this. I can’t be a good protection agent if a mere plane scares the living hell out of me.

My teeth clenched as the aircraft gradually descended. At first there was nothing but sunlit white clouds, and then after a short while we were able to see the first signs of land.

The ringing inside my ears started again. I used to fly a lot as a kid but after what happened when I was sixteen, I think I grew a phobia with these things.

The earth crept closer and closer, the objects gradually growing larger as the plane descended. At last, the plane’s wheels touched the pavement of the Charles de Gaulle Airport.

I sighed in relief. Oh, yeah. I survived.

“Welcome to Paris. Bienvenue à Paris.”

We’ve finally landed on the land of croissants. I’ve been here once before, it was also for a job, but I’ve never really looked around or visited it for a vacation.

When people ask me about vacation spots that I know, I think more about Hawaii, Cayman Islands, Palawan, and Oahu. I don’t think about cities when it comes to vacations.

I think about beaches.

When we arrived at the hotel, I found out that my room is four rooms away from Alexei’s and that Sebastian’s is directly in front of his.

Hah, I mean, dude, it’s not as if I’m not the executive protection agent here.

“Hey, bro,” I called out to Sebastian when we finally stepped into the elevator. “Let’s switch rooms.”

He furrowed his eyebrows at me. “Why?”

I shrugged. “No reason. I just like the view from yours.”

“Really?” he asked, sounding skeptic about it. “Have you been here before?”

“Yeah,” I flat out lied and handed him my key card.

He just shrugged and exchanged cards with me, probably annoyed already by my persistence.

The room I had, well, it’s got a really nice view of the Eiffel Tower so I couldn’t say that I was entirely lying about earlier. Now, I just wish Sebastian had the view of the busy streets and pollution. That sure as hell would make my day.

Bored and with nothing to do in my room, I decided to knock on Alexei’s door and just barge in without his consent when he opened up, plopping down on his bed carelessly and sending the papers he had stacked on his bed flying down to the floor.

I saw him clench his jaw but he didn’t say anything and just picked the papers up, restacking it, this time, on the coffee table beside the glass windows overlooking the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

He’s really weird. Sometimes he’s got the patience of a monk. He should be a Buddhist, he’d probably find enlightenment faster than I can pronounce the streets around here.

“What are you doing?” I asked, throwing my shoes down on the carpeted floor and wrapping myself up with the sheets of his bed.

“Don’t you have eyes?”

“Cheeky.”

“I’m working. Get out.”

“You’re always working,” I said matter-of-factly and sighed, rolling on top of his bed. “Don’t you do anything other than work?”

“I do.”

“Yeah? Like what? Read a book?” I scoffed. “I can see you’re a very exciting person. I bet you play golf, too, you sour-faced dingbat.”

He just chuckled at me and resumed whatever it was he was doing with his laptop.

He’s no fun. He’s supposed to be younger than I am, why the hell is he acting like such a grown up already? When I was twenty-two I went to parties during Fridays, and when I don’t have work, I watch movies or go and see places, hang out with my friends, or something fun like that.

Why the hell is he in the City of Lights and still facing his laptop doing work? Can’t he just pay for someone else to do that? Oh, right. He doesn’t trust anyone else but himself.

Well, good luck with that.

“Hey, Alexei,” I called out again, playing with the little figurines on top of the bedside table. “Why are you so boring?”

“I’m busy. Can I ignore you some other time?”

“That’s the only thing fun about you, your cheeky attitude.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing about you,” he said while his fingers typed rapidly against the keyboard.

If he had headphones on, I’d be very much convinced that he’s playing a video game.

“Yeah, because everything about me’s fun,” I retorted, and he paused.

He slowly glanced up at me, the edge of his lips twitching into a smile. “Was that why you’re afraid of heights?”

I snorted. “What does that have to do with anything?”

He closed his laptop and walked up to me, that mischievous glint in his eyes sending jitters down my spine.

I have a bad feeling about the way he looks at me.

“Tell me, what’s your idea of fun?” he said in a really low voice.

I gulped. “Parties?” I said, unsure, and he raised an eyebrow at me.

“Why don’t we play a game?” he suggested and I visibly inched away from him.

“Yeah? What game?” I responded, trying my best to act tough.

I swear if he makes me go bungee jumping or something like that I’ll just kill him myself and pin it on the assassin.

“Truth or dare,” he said and I inhaled sharply. I knew it. “But, minus the truth.”