Page 4 of The Debt

“I’m sorry. We only follow orders from our administrative department. Maybe you can check there.”

Vasco was whispering in her ear, bringing her back to the party. “Smile.”

Pushing aside her apathy for the man whose sole purpose was to keep her as his possession, she curved her lips while gritting her teeth. They neared a group or powerful men discussing the state of the economy. They skirted that group and came to stand a few feet away.

“You see those men?” he said. “See the one with the dark brown hair, the pretty boy?”

Her eyes immediately settled in the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. His smile made his eyes crease at the corners and his luscious lips brought a flutter to her chest.

“I don’t see him,” she lied.

“Are you blind?” he snapped. “He’s around my age and the youngest in the group.”

“Oh yes,” she said. “I was looking for someone like you described – a pretty boy. He isn’t all that.”

“Forget his looks,” Vasco softened his tone, obviously appeased that she didn’t find the man attractive. “That’s the one who you need to sweeten. Just be nice. Then when he invites you to his hotel, go and make sure to get him tipsy enough to tell you where he stashed the software.”

“But Vasco, everyone knows you and knows I am with you. He’ll know I am your girl.”

“Correction, you’re my date,” he replied. “If he suspects you, just make something up to convince him otherwise.”

“I should tell him I am not your girl? Won’t he know I’m lying?’

“You’re a smart girl, you’ll think of something.”

She wasn’t sure that would work. “What if he doesn’t like black girls?”

“Look at you. What hot-blooded male wouldn’t like you?”

“Vasco, what if he doesn’t invite me to his hotel?”

“Then invite yourself,” he replied. “You’re a smart girl. Make it happen.”

“What do I say to him now?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he notices you,” he said. “I’ll disappear for a while, but I’ll be keeping an eye on you. So don’t disappoint me.”

“No Vasco, I won’t disappoint you.”

“Good girl.”

After Vasco walked away, Mira spent the next fifteen or so minutes admiring her target. She loved the softness of his eyes, the sharpness of his chin and the way he seemed to listen attentively to whomever was speaking. As though sensing her scrutiny, he raised his eyes and connected with hers.

She felt the rest of the room fade as he seemed to now focus only on her. What was it about this stranger that made her want to go to him? The spell broke when someone beside him spoke and he turned to listen. With her tongue dry and face flushed she turned away, seeking a waiter in order to get a drink. This time she opted for some juice instead of the champagne. Her head was light as it were and she didn’t want to get drunk and mess up Vasco’s plan.

In order to still the rapid beating of her heart, she milled around the room for a while. Vasco was nowhere to be seen and she wondered if maybe she shouldn’t slip away. Then again he’d be mad at her that she didn’t do as asked.

She was not looking forward to seducing her stranger. She would rather get to know him than sweetening him for Vasco’s sake. What were the odds that the first man she felt this kind of attraction to would be someone that Vasco wanted her to seduce? This night was not turning out to be a good one. She could only hope that the man would ignore her and let her out of this shitty situation.

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