– Let me think it through alone, okay? – I answer with a smile. – Meet me here tomorrow at the same time, and I'll tell you what I think. No, no, no, please sit! I want to go and think about your proposal alone...
I wave him goodbye and shake my ass when I go out of the restaurant. I know pretty well that he is looking at my ass. I feel gorgeous! Of course, I know what I want to do, but what's wrong with distancing Mr. President? It's only for the night and the next day, isn't it? I want to hear his uncertain voice tomorrow. I want to see his nervous gaze and when he frantically looks me in the eye to hear my decision. I've already made up my mind some time ago...
OK, frankly, I've just made up my mind.
Next day the time goes terribly slowly. Fortunately, I do not come across Miriam, because I'm really not sure how I would react when I saw her – especially after what Victor told me about her... Once 4 pm passes, I go away from my desk and rush home to dress up before the next date. Fortunately, Karina is absent and I don't need to listen to her stinging remarks. Yesterday, I had told her about my meeting with Victor and it quickly turned out that it had been a bad idea – Karina became frigid and sarcastic on the spot. She excused herself with a headache quickly and locked in her room. Well, she's probably angry that she isn't the one who picked up this guy!
I carefully choose my dress, shoes, do full makeup, and when at last I am happy with the result, it appears that I have too little time once again! I run out onto the street and take the first taxi I see. When I get out of it in front of a restaurant, I see Victor that at the sidewalk. He has ... a large bouquet of red roses in his hand!
– Oh, it's you! – Victor is clearly surprised, but quickly regains his initiative. – Take the roses, please... A beautiful woman like you should be adorned in beautiful flowers...
The compliment is rather usual, but still it gives me genuine pleasure. I almost bend under the weight of flowers when I'm stepping into the restaurant. Fortunately, the service is well trained and without any asking the roses are put into a huge vase. It is set next to our table – we met last time at the same table. A few pairs sit at neighboring tables sits. As usual, guys did not notice a thing, but most of the women watch the whole scene secretly or less secretly. Very well, they can be jealous of both flowers and SUCH a guy!
I sit in front of Victor with a smile and I allow him to choose drinks and a light salad. He is busy with studying the menu, but I can see very clearly that only one question bothers him right now really – what do I think about his proposal? What answer will he hear from me in a few moments?
It will really not hurt if I hold it in the dark for a while …
– You know, I was thinking about yesterday's proposal... –I casually play with a teaspoon and watch with some amusement as Victor quickly pushes the menu away. He stares at me with an undisguised nervousness.
– What then? – he asks tensely.
– Well, I couldn't sleep at night, I wondered what you would say today. You understand that this is a very serious matter for me. If something went wrong, perhaps I'd go to prison... I cannot just like that agree to take that scenario into consideration... – I see successively surprise, frustration and sadness on Victor's face, but I don't want to give him a word –...without weighing everything very carefully. Victor, I know that you are honest and you are a good man. My intuition has never let me down – I touch his hand. – So, all in all I decided that I will help you to clear your reputation and expose Miriam's intrigue.
I'm a bit surprised when Victor kisses me on the lips...
– I knew you would agree – he's very glad. – I felt that you're a woman I can trust from the very beginning. All the people around me are doing many things for something – they need to draw my attention, to capture or hold the position in my company. They are just hyenas, not humans. They only think about how to make opportunities work in favor of their petty purpose. But enough of that!
The waiter approaches our table, but, to my surprise, Victor sends him back with a careless gesture.
– What would you say if he had coffee at my house? Frankly, this coffee here is rather of poor quality…– he winks at me archly.
It is quite a direct proposal...
– We will still have some time later for this important coffee at your house – I smile at him ironically. – Would you be so kind and call for a taxi for me, please? Your James Bond needs to be in good shape tomorrow if you want to get any results.
Victor smiles at me. He takes a flat, small box out of his pocket. He puts it into my bag gracefully.
– If you are my Bond, I take care of your equipment – he says. – This voice recorder has a battery good enough to record for twelve hours straight. I am sure that you can use it appropriately...
We go out of the restaurant together. The taxi is in front of the place, it's waiting for me… and then… I don't have any reason to refuse Victor a long, sweet kiss...
When I show up in the office the next day, I feel a strange excitement and nervousness that engulfs all of my co-workers just I pass the front door. Is my... closer relation with Victor not a secret anymore? But I guess it's not that, because a few minutes later Henry calls me to his office. Miriam is already in place, she watches me with a mildly venomous look.
– It seems that we have our first evidence of Oaker's scams – the girl says the as she shakes a small envelope in her hand. I discreetly breathe with a relief; if she had guessed that I have something more with her ex, this talk would have certainly started differently...
– These are the bills he signed on a fairly substantial sum which were paid to someone named Narrow. This nickname probably does not tell you anything, but Narrow is an important figure in the car thieves gang. The gang works nationwide. Personal loans aren't a crime, of course, but a mere fact of transferring money to criminals by the famous businessman does not put him in a good light. This could be the beginning of the thread which will lead us to more serious evidence of his crimes.
I watch the bills carefully – they really have large sums of money and Victor's handwritten signatures on them.
I feel cold running down my spine... Did this guy lie to me and now he tries to get me caught up in his scams? I have to stay calm no matter what! The last thing I need right now is Miriam to suspect something...
– And what do we want to do? – I ask discreetly pointing out my commitment to the whole thing. This is not just a problem of Miriam and Henry only, but it is also mine!
– We? – Miriam asks surprised. She glances briefly at Henry who is silent. – I think it's quite a task for you. He already knows you after the interview. Now nothing stands in your way to befriend him, maybe even something more than only befriending him... Victor is always sensitive to charms of beautiful girls, and you're definitely his type. Surely, he hasn't offered you a private meeting yet, has he? – Miriam asks me with a mocking smile glued to her full lips.
Oh, it is your weak point! Our dearest Miriam is jealous!
– And if so, then what? – I ask her teasingly. – If he invited me to his bed, I would also have to report that to you? You probably would ask for details, wouldn't you?
That was too much, I know. Miriam is enraged, she throws papers on the desk. Fortunately, before she even has an opportunity to start a big fight Henry grabs her by the arm and pulls to the side. He squints at me. Miriam stands with her back to me and I see as she breathes deeply, tries to regain self-control and Henry whispers something into her ear. Every now and then he glances at me nervously. It seems that once again it will be a longer discussion and perhaps a quarrel between them. Maybe it's just what Victor talked about? Is it good a moment to leave her the recorder? Or should I wait for a better opportunity – but when? Before I am able to decide, Henry turns to me with a smile and nervously collects bills scattered on the table. Damn, I missed a good chance!
– Take these documents, please, and try to analyze them to find some connection between them. We need to have a starting point which will help us to continue the investigation. Then come... I mean, I will come to you and discuss what to do next. Well, go now! – he gives me the envelope with bills and pushes me out of his office!