"We have landed now," he broke the trance I was in.
His gentle gaze was replaced by his usual serious demeanor. He turned on his "official" work mode.
I did not know what else was more shocking: The fact that the family curse could follow me till my death, meaning those red eyes would continue to haunt my every sleeping moment until I "prove my worth" whatever that means or the fact that he had been having those nightmares for over 30 years now.
As the plane pulled to a complete stop the fasten seatbelt light turned off.
As I fumbled to stand up, Jeff reached out easily to retrieve our hand luggages with his long arm and my fingers brushed his when he passed me my bag.
I felt my face heated up as I remembered how he complimented me. He noticed my looks!
But then again, if he was gay, they are very observant so I should not think too much or put too much meaning into it.
As we exited the flight, I was walking three steps to match Jeff's two steps.
At six feet two he towered over my petite frame of five feet three. When he realized I was struggling to keep up with his long and quick strides, he slowed down to match my pace.
He looked deep in thought as we waited for our check in luggages.
I knew better than to break the silence. He would initiate a conversation once he was through with his deep thoughts. Having worked closely with him for the past few weeks showed me two sides of this dashing Professor Jeff Everett. One was the gentle, caring and charming Jeff while another side was the no-nonsense workaholic professor mode.
He finally broke the ice of silence in the taxi.
"We shall head straight to the first guy on our list," he said matter-of-factly.
I raised my eyebrows quizzically, "Not checking into our hotel first?"
"We are staying at his hotel," he gave a slight chuckle.
"Oh, okay," I absent mindedly gazed out at the crowded streets as the taxi drove through a rowdy neighborhood.
My eyes were as wide as saucers when our ride pulled up to a dinghy cheap motel called the Love Hotel.
"This is not a decent hotel. It's right in the middle of a red light district! Are we at the right place?" I exclaimed in alarm.
"Yes this is it. It is only for two nights. This helps with our expenses as our budget is tight," he winked at me.
My father left a substantial inheritance for me to pursue his quest to find our ancestral secret cave. I pledged that 500 thousand dollars to Jeff as he was the only person my father trusted to ensure his quest was achieved.
On top of that, Jeff had recently secured a 90 grand grant, who is he kidding, tight budget?
Maybe he would order some "extra room service" to the room these two nights, I rolled my eyes inwardly.
"Reservation under Mr Everett for two please," his cool crisp voice was a stark difference to the tardy place. The lava lamps were dated and provided an eerie red hue to the entire lobby area. Not that there was much to see, there was a couch which may seat three persons max, a fake chandelier missing more than three light bulbs and a huge mahogany counter which had seen better days with an equally jaded receptionist behind the counter.
"I am sorry Mr Everett, our hotel is overbooked," the old man with more salt than pepper in his hair said.
I was cheering "Yes!" inside while trying to keep a neutral face, maintaining my composure.
"There is only one room left with a double bed is that okay with you?" he continued.
My heartbeat when wild.
"OMG, sharing the same room with the hunky professor, yes yes yes I don't mind the hotel now," I did a little victory dance in my mind.
I felt like the Devil in red was on my left shoulder cheering me on.
"But he's gay. Don't get your hopes too high. He is old enough to be your father! Remember that he is 28 years older than you!" the angel in white spoke from my right shoulder.
"We will take it." He turned to look at me and said, "Let's check out our room."
The saying said "Don't judge a book by its cover," but I felt like Prof Jeff Everett seemed like a slimy snake or perhaps more like the Big Bad Wolf who disguised under the Sheep's wool. It was never discussed in the event of a lack of rooms throughout our 6-month-trip if I would be okay if we were to share a room.
As expected of the place the elevator was out of service and the only bell boy was the ancient man at the reception.
We lugged our luggages up five floors and made it to room 520.
It was a penthouse room as the fifth floor was the highest floor for the building.
The moment the door was unlocked and I stepped through the door my jaw dropped.
A waterbed was in the middle of the room, shaped in a red heart. The corniness or the room made me cringe as the word "Sex, Sex, Sex" screamed loudly through every piece of decor and furniture in the room.
"I can take the couch, you take the bed," Jeff placed his stuff on the couch which looked more like a love seat, also in red velvety material.
I sat down on the bed and gave a little yelp as I found myself sinking into the bed. The water bed was eating me up!
Suddenly the idea of sleeping on the couch seemed more appealing, at least there would be better back support.
With great effort and exerting my stomach muscles, I got out of the water bed and checked out the bathroom.
A pink bathtub fit for two grown adults adorned near the tap with two pink flamingos side by side craning their neck to form a heart shape right smack in the middle of the room. I turned to the pink sink and turned on the faucet to wash my hands.
On one hand I felt fascinated by the ambience of the room. It was corny yet sexy at the same time. On another hand I felt I needed to wash my hands off the dirt I touched so far. Then I realized that the bathroom had no door. It was a room for lovers so why was there a need for a door inside the room?
Jeff was already working on his laptop from the couch. He seemed unaffected by the room and everything it represented.
He looked up at me when I exited the bathroom. "Want to grab a bite at the restaurant downstairs? He also owns the restaurant."
I just nodded.
Jeff flashed his dashing smile at me and turned off his laptop.
"Oh Lord please help me get through the next six months with this man," I said a silent prayer.
It was just at the tip of my tongue, "Are you gay?"
"Oh My God, I actually said it out loud. Theeya, this is what happens when you don't pay attention to your thoughts and let it run wild! We just asked him the forbidden question!" I cursed inwardly.
His face was blank. Maybe he did not hear me the first time. I held my breath as he got up from the couch and walked up to me.
"Miss Theeya James what makes you think that I am gay? Can't a guy be single without being gay?" He seemed amused. He was teasing me.
"I'm sorry, I... I shouldn't have blurted that out. It was uncalled for, I... I just...there was really no excuse for my rude behavior."
Then I heard the loudest laughter erupting from his belly, out through his mouth. He laughed till tears rolled down his cheeks.
"I really look forward to spending the next six months with you, Love," he said sincerely, holding my right hand with his left hand, he led me out of the room.
My face was redder than a tomato again.
I was led out of the room and down the five flight of stairs like a child. Perhaps it was the age difference. I behaved like a child whenever I was around him. I felt inadequate. Maybe it was all my problem and not him at all. It was all my insecurity projected in the way I viewed him, going as far as to guess that he was gay. I cursed myself again mentally as we made it to the lobby area. I released my hand from his immediately after I came to my senses, the red light at the lobby alerting me to be wary of my surrounding again.
This time we were greeted by a stocky man with chubby fingers extended to us, expecting a handshake. His almost balding head made him look older than his smooth face would tell. I guess he was in his mid 40s although he looked older than Jeff.
"Professor Everett! Such an honor to have the privilege to finally meet you. I trust that you find the Honeymoon Suite to your liking?" the man grabbed Jeff's right hand with both his hands.
"Oh yes, it is fit for the King and Queen of Egypt, thank you for having us and for all the arrangements, Mr Shalom," Jeff coolly replied. I nearly fainted at Jeff's remarks that the room was fit for the royalty.
"Good, good. Let's see what we have at my restaurant. You must be famished," with an exaggerated bow he beckoned us to enter the doorway on the left of the lobby area which I missed the first time.
I noticed the signboard hanging at the entrance of the restaurant "The Love Boat". I rolled my eyes again at the corniness of the place. The entire ambience matched the lobby, with warm orange light and red decor all over. Too loud, too gawdy and too much!
We were seated at a heart-shaped table and a bunny costumed lady came up to us with the menu. She looked like she came out of the 1980s with her blue and pink eye shadow and perhaps time really stopped for her since the 80s as she looked like she was in her 50s.
I ordered the sexy shakshouka. It is an Arabic egg dish with no meat just all vege. I did not want to risk the meat running bad and I definitely did not want the trip to be marred by food poisoning on Day 1! I was not sure why they added the word sexy to it though.
Jeff ordered the hummus with spinach falafel. I guess today's meal is meat-free and all vegetables.
Mr Shalom ordered a steak, medium raw and ordered red wine for all of us. I remembered my drunken episode on flight and blushed.
"Mr Shalom, you understand why we are here today," Jeff started the official conversation.
"Please call me Dawood or David if it's easier for you. Yes, here it is," he took out a yellow parchment not unlike ours.
Jeff took out his magnifying glass and carefully handled the parchment. His face was in awe like a little boy in a candy store.
"Can you tell me who I am, Professor Everett?" asked Dawood.
"Jeff, please call me Jeff," he looked up from the parchment and smiled.
"It seems that you are also one of the direct descendants of the original Forty Thieves," Jeff told a beaming Dawood.
"Do you have nightmares Mr Shalom?" I just had to ask.
The grin that was there before were wiped off Dawood's face at that question. His small eyes squinted as he recalled a painful memory.
"I lost my mother four month ago. I was the only child. In her will she entrusted me with this ancient piece of yellowed paper. Then I started seeing him, the creature that haunted me whenever I close my eyes. I then started searching for an expert to help me decipher what was written on this ancient paper and that's how we are all here today," he looked at us with a small smile. His thick lips slightly open, revealing a set of crooked teeth. The only striking feature on his face was his nose, a sharp, well defined nose.
"Does the creature have blood red eyes?" I asked in barely a whisper, as if said in a louder voice may bring that creature to life.
Dawood turned pale, his face as white as ash:
"Yes, the reddest bloodiest eyes I have ever seen with the sharpest fangs and the most evil laughter," he whispered back.