Page 9 of The Debt

Chapter 6

Vasco paced his study, his mind troubled. The room was large with a mahogany desk up against the back wall. The wall to the left was lined with a books shelf – books he’d never read. He wasn’t much of a reader, but his guests were usually impressed by his collection. One of Vasco’s greatest strengths was knowing how to impress others. With some research, he’d acquired a collection of books that were indicative of the powerful man that he wanted to portray, although he’d never actually opened any of them.

Mira on the other hand was a reader, who had showed interest in reading from his library. But he’d instructed her never to touch the books in the study, they were for the eyes of his guests only. The right wall held a portrait of himself. In every wealthy or high powered home or office was a portrait of the man of the house. There was a duplicate in the living room just over the mantle like he’d seen in most other houses. Other than the book shelf and the portrait there was nothing else in the office save for the desk, an arm chair and a safe behind the portrait.

On top of the desk was a book titled “The Art of the Deal” by a prominent businessman who claimed to be able to close any deal. He’d heard the book was crap but it was one of those books that were on many shelves in the studies he’d visited. This copy was strategically placed on the desk a part of his image.

Beside the book was a wooden box with Cuban cigars he acquired on the black market. Next to the cigars was a golden lighter which once belonged to a drug king pin – one he’d eliminated after the man crossed hairs with him. A pencil holder, a tablet and keypad completed the items on the desk.

His feet moved one behind the other and his mind wandered to a hotel across town. This was unusual behavior for him. But something was different about tonight. He’d arrived home, took a shower and went downstairs to make a few important calls. One call in particular was to secure the sale of that software that the engineer developed. That software was worth a few billion moolah and he was determined to have the sale closed within the next few days.

However, as the night drew on and he heard from his men on the street that Mira had left the mansion with the engineer, he was gripped with a sense of unease. While he needed the deal closed, he was aware that he might have pushed her into the arms of another man. He knew that Mira was only with him because of the contract and not because she loved him.

He’d watched her as she danced with the man and he could not deny that he felt enraged at the way she looked at Archer, the ease with which she danced in his arms. She had never looked at him with such longing before.

“Shit!” he shouted.

But as he stomped around his study, Vasco reminded himself that Mira had too much at stake to mess this up. She was supposed to sweeten the man and extract the information. She would never dare cross him or the consequences would be dire for both she and her father.

Relaxing his shoulders, he walked around the large mahogany desk and sat in his chair. Pulling out one of the drawers on the right on the desk, he extracted a bottle half filled with bourbon and a glass. After splashing some of the liquor into the glass he returned the bottle to the drawer.

Reaching for the wooden box, he lifted the lid and picked up one of the cigars, then passed it under his nose. After popping one end in his mouth, he took the lighter and fired it up, puffing on the cigar and fire ate at it. After setting down the lighter, Vasco reached into his slacks pocket and took out his cell phone. A second later he was speed dialing Mira’s number.

“No,” he mumbled, hanging up before she could answer.

Calling her is a bad idea. It might make her nervous and not complete her task. Better to wait to see what happens before getting all worked up.

Vasco leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes while puffing on his cigar. This was not the first time he’d asked Mira to get up and close to a man. What irked Vasco was that this was the first time she seemed completely relaxed around one of her targets. She was a naturally shy girl who didn’t talk much. Seeing her chatting and laughing easily with Archer Dunbar grated his nerves.

She’d charmed Archer so much that he’d come looking for him to ask permission to take her out. Vasco believed that Archer was a pushover and no match for him anyway. He picked up his bourbon and took a swig, setting his mind at ease. Mira was only doing her job. Perhaps she had done this so often that she was now an expert at this kind of thing … that’s it, he told himself. There was nothing to worry about.

He was halfway through his cigar when the phone rang. A smile played on his lips thinking that it was Mira returning his call. He snatched up the phone and took a look at the number. Swallowing his disappointment he answered, his tone displaying his displeasure.

“Yes Randy.”

It was the man sent to watch Mira and her target. He was supposed to keep Vasco abreast of what she was doing, to make sure she wasn’t stepping out of line. Not that she’d ever crossed the line with any target of hers. It was the situation between them that created the mistrust.

“Boss, what should I do now?”

“Update me of what’s happening now.”

“The dude is sitting by himself at the bar.”

That didn’t sit well with Vasco. “Where is Mira?”

“Well, the dude booked her a room and they said goodnight.”

“Oh.” He wasn’t sure what to make of that.

A part of him was elated that they weren’t spending the night together and he wondered what her plans were. But he needed to close this deal fast and didn’t have time to mess around. She was supposed to be hanging out with Dunbar, making sure he was inebriated and extracting information. Perhaps she had gone to freshen up and would join him later.

“Are you sure she said goodnight?’

“Yes, boss. She told him she was tired. She didn’t look so well.”

Vasco nodded to himself, remembering she told him about a headache. Maybe she wasn’t faking it and she was indeed not well. A twinge of concern settled in his heart for her. But Mira was an expert in faking all kinds of ailments in order to get out of doing as she was told or to avoid having sex. He wasn’t sure he should buy this ailment either. But there was nothing he could do about it now.

“Alright, go home and get back there in the morning.”

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