As Michael headed down to the parlor of the hotel. He pondered on how to go about his dilemma. How was he supposed to tell her about his family's secret? Or about the supernatural world hidden from ordinary people? Those thoughts ran through his mind as he sat at the bar and asked for a cold drink.
"Get me a drink. Whiskey neat," he told the bartender.
"Okay sir"
He watched as the bartender poured the drink into a glass cup filled with ice.
"Here you go, sir." The man passed the drink
Michael drank all at once and asked for a refill. The bartender looked at him in amazement as he poured him another glass.
"Are you a regular sir?"
"No, I am not."
"Okay, my name's Charlie sir," the bartender said,
"Nice to meet you, Charlie," Michael told him. " Well, what do you want from me?"
Well, you look familiar sir. I just can't seem to remember how I know you"
Michael emptied the cup and asked for the entire bottle, hoping to drown away his sorrow, but it was not possible. He knew that he could not get drunk no matter the amount of alcohol that he ingested.
Charlie took the entire bottle of whiskey and gave it to him.
"Isn't it too early to get drunk sir?"
Michael gave him a side eye and continued stuffing his stomach with the ineffective liquor.
"Sorry sir", Charlie apologized right away.
"Yes, I remember you know sir. You are the billionaire, Mr Michael Wolf, he said in excitement.
"Can I be left alone, lad? I am in no mood for a talk "
"Okay, sir. Sorry. It's just I've been hoping to see you, and thank you for your foundation. It helped me sponsor myself through school, Sir"
" You are welcome. Could I be left alone now?"
"Leave the bloody man alone, Charlie, can't you see he is a bit gloomy?" a man interrupted.
"Oh, Mr Victor. Good morning sir". The bartender adjusted himself and greeted his boss.
Michael could sense the strange aura coming out from Victor as he took a seat beside him.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" he asked.
"Hey, calm down. I am not looking for a fight", Victor said as he took out a cigarette and lit it.
"Then what do you want, you monster?"
Victor signaled the bartender to give them some privacy.
"Kettle's calling pot black", Victor chuckled.
"Well, my kind does not live off innocent people's blood."
"Heh, I don't even want to argue with you. I just came to congratulate you on your marriage", Victor continued. " I wonder why you didn't invite my family to your wedding?"
" My people do not want to have anything to do with yours", Michael told him. " We are like fire and ice. Totally different species"
Michael was right. Both families were entirely different in every way. The wolves were hot-blooded in nature, while Victor's species were cold-blooded.
"Speaking of different species, how's your wife? I hope you perform the ritual soon. You wouldn't want someone snuffing the life out of her veins, would you?"
Michael, already provoked, stood up and grabbed Victor by the collar, ready to punch him when a voice from behind stopped him.
"Michael, what in the world are you doing!?"
"Evelyn, it's not what you think," he said after letting go of Victor.
"I am so sorry" Evelyn apologized to the man ruffled by her husband.
"No. Yeah, it's fine Evelyn."
She was surprised that he addressed her by her name. "Do I know you?" She asked
"It's me Victor from high school," he told her.
"I can't believe my eyes, Victor?" She stared in total awe and gave him a hug
"Why... How is this possible?" Evelyn said. " I thought I would never see you again after you left the country before graduation."
"Do you know him love?" Michael interrupted.
"Yes, he was my best friend in high school". Evelyn answered,
"Victor, this is my husband". She introduced her friend to Michael.
"Yeah I know, we've met already", Victor told her.
"Yes, love we've met."
"Okay, that's lovely," Evelyn said." It was nice meeting you again Victor. Hope to see you soon"
Victor took her hand." Of course, this hotel is one of my many investments. So you will be seeing a lot of me."
"That's awesome. I can't wait to catch up with the old times"
Michael removed her hand from Victor's and held onto it.
"Are you heading out?" He asked his wife.
"Yes, I am going to the hospital" she replied.
"But you should still be on leave until next week."
Evelyn pulled away from him. " I've decided to cut my break short since you won't talk to me."
"Come on love, we are talking right now", Michael told her.
" You are unbelievable," she sighed.
Evelyn said goodbye to her friend before leaving the hotel in frustration.
"Trouble in paradise?" Victor smirked.
"Stay away from my wife", Michael warned him and ran after Evelyn.
When he got outside, Evelyn was already in her car getting ready to drive outside the hotel's parking lot. He rushed over and stood in front of the car.
"Let me drive you there."
Evelyn stuck her head out the window. " Get out of the way, Michael. I can drive myself"
She started the car hoping that he would leave after she tried to move, but he did not budge. After seeing that people were beginning to stare, and she didn't want to be the center of the attraction, she stopped the car, opened the door, and got out of the driver's seat.
"Here, catch" She tossed the keys at him before retreating to the passenger seat at the back of the car.
Michael got in the front and drove out of the hotel compound. On their way to the hospital, Evelyn stared at her phone without saying a word, leaving Michael to wonder how mad she was at him.
"Are you angry at me?" He asked, looking at her through the mirror.
"What do you think?" She answered with another question.
"Okay, I am sorry. I promise that I'll tell you everything in time", Michael told her"... I just need to confirm something first before telling you"
"You promise?"
"Yes, I promise"
"So are we okay?" Michael asked.
" Hmm, I don't know" she answered after hesitating a while.
"I'd take that as a yes then. What are you doing with your phone anyway?"
"What do you mean?"
"I noticed you'd been engrossed with it since we got inside the car."
" I am chatting with your sister."
"About?"
"Your father wants to see us this weekend."
"Is that all? What else is she saying?"
"Nothing, just girls stuff"
"Okay "
Michael was curious about what his old man wanted to see them for. If it was about the ritual, he hoped to change his father's mind and so he decided to go home after dropping his wife at the hospital.
"We are here," he said after pulling up at the hospital's entrance.
"Thank you darling" Evelyn stepped out of the car in haste and went straight towards the hospital.
"Hey, no goodbye kiss, or hug" Michael shouted.
" You better be here when my shift's over" she shouted back.
"...and when would that be?"
She didn't look back but just continued walking without giving him a reply. He wasn't sure when her shift was going to be over, and he knew he had to be around when she closed from work.
He knew that was her way of punishing him for not telling her what she wanted to know. Evelyn had a way of screwing with his head and he loved her for it. He sat there in the driver's seat and watched as she disappeared into the hospital.