Page 73 of My Merciless Don

He smiled offering me his arm. “Ready to go?”

“Born ready.” I said as I slipped my arm into his.

“Do you recognize this place?” He asked and I looked around. How could I forget the first time we met. I looked towards the bar. I could see the very stool he had been sitting on.

“How sentimental of you to bring me here. I knew you liked me that first day.”

He chuckled, inclining his head in concession. “I did find you very interesting.”

“Mr. Cassio, welcome,” the hotel concierge said coming towards us, “your dining room reservation is ready.”

“Thank you.” He led me down a carpeted corridor to a room at the end. It was magnificently decorated with bunches of flowers and strings of light. A table was arranged by the window, with two places set - a perfect view of the city below us. It also held a perfect view of the entrance, which my mind noted without my permission.

Marco seated me down before taking his own place opposite me. I put my elbows on the table and my face in my hands, staring at him in disbelief. “Well, well, well, I am impressed.” I said.

He smiled cryptically, “You ain't seen nothing yet.”

“Ohh mysterious.”

“Yes I am.”

The sommelier brought some wine, launching into a long soliloquy on why it was the perfect aperitif. I barely listened, though I appreciated the attention to detail. When he was done, I held up my glass so he could fill it and took an experimental sip. “Mm, it's good.” I said as if I could tell the difference between box wine and an aged Merlot.

The sommelier smiled and inclined his head in appreciation, before leaving us alone. We didn't stay that way for long. Soon a waiter came up to us with menus ready to take our orders.

As far as dinners go, it was definitely on the far end of elegance. However, I got the feeling that Marco was waiting for something. He kept glancing towards the entrance, and then peeking at his watch…

“Are you expecting someone?” I asked coolly feeling rather pissed off.

He grinned breezily at me. “It's a surprise,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously. “What kind of surprise?”

He just continued to grin. “You'll find out soon enough. Now eat your steak.”

He took a sip of wine looking extremely pleased with himself. I figured I should wait and see before I got annoyed with him. I didn't want to spoil the mood, because we were really vibing. Marco was an interesting conversationalist, and he knew a lot of things that one wouldn't expect a gangster to bother with.

Finally, as we dug into our dessert, he told me what the surprise was.

“I'm sure you know about the Asiana jewel, right?” He said.

I gave him a look that said very clearly, ‘duh.’ The Asiana jewel was a fascinating piece. Literally one-of-a-kind. The theory around it was that an emerald, a diamond, and an opal somehow fused together to produce this multicolored stone. Then someone dug it out of the earth, it was cut and polished by De Beers and set in a necklace.

While it was highly coveted, no one ever bothered to try and steal it because it was such a singular piece. Unless one intended to keep it in a very private secret collection, there was barely any resale value to it.

“It's here in this hotel.” Marco said.

I shot to my feet. “What? How? Where?”

He chuckled indulgently as I stared impatiently at him. “Well, it would seem that the owner would like to give it to his daughter at her wedding, which is to be held here tomorrow. He's currently in the penthouse suite. Or rather the necklace is. Mr. Botha has just left the hotel, after he was told about a very unique brothel that operates somewhere in Hollywood - invitation only of course - where you might get the chance to fuck an actual actor.”

“No.” I said in disbelief excitement bubbling through me.

“Yes.” He confirmed.

“Then what are we waiting for? Let's go.”

He grinned dropping a wad of cash on the table and offering me his arm. I was so glad that I carried my lock picking kit everywhere I went as well as a pair of gloves. They were currently in my purse along with my phone. I had, however, forgotten to bring lipstick.

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