Oliver.
~
Leyla was waiting for me at my house with the news.
The council wanted their biggest event yet.
As the hype kept building around our latest race, more and more previously reluctant investors came forward and want a piece of our pie.
20 of the best racers they can recruit.
6 races on a single weekend.
And .. the purse? The bets?
Unimaginable.
I called Asin, but he didn't pick it up. So I left a quick message and jumped into my car stepped on it, so to make it for dinner.
Our days of peddling for respect are over. Once Asin ran over those monkeys .. we might get a seat on the council at this age.
I mean, we couldn't even legally drunk in some countries.
I felt my palms sweating. This was big, but if we fail ..
Stop thinking nonsense!
We have been on the inside for almost a year, and after some early blunders, we perfected their old and useless systems.
Modernised it, and thanks to some cheap gimmicks, we made it the most popular entertainment option in the world.
We have more views than any major league sports and have been credited to revive the entire illegal racing scene not just in our country but worldwide.
I was let inside the gate and made my way to the house.
We will not fail. We can't fail.
~
Ayshe was the only Konore when I arrived and greeted everyone.
But just as I finished, the new couple walked downstairs hand in hand.
" Oliver? .. I thought you were busy. "
I was confused, but I guess he didn't check for a message yet.
" I finished early, and Mother's having dinner with clients.. hello Marie. "
" Oliver .. "
She smiled differently. Did something happen between them?
" Alright, let's go then. "
Asin took his wife, and we sat down sharing some tea.
" Hello, Oliver. "
" Ayshe.. Good evening. "
Looks like she is talking to me again.
" Oliver dear, haven't you thought of marriage yet? "
I almost spilt my tea.
" Auntie Seline, please.. my mother just let me breathe about this. "
She smiled to herself but seemed to let it go for now.
" Yary, talk to me some more about the business you made today. "
Zerile sister looked proud.
" Nothing, really. They decided to invest because they recognised our family name and it's worth. " He said with a shy smile.
" Don't sell your self short brother. I bet you anything the main reason they invested because you convinced them. "
" Thank you, Asin. "
They talked more about their upcoming business adventure. Soon, Uncle Erwing arrived, and we sat down.
" Look at us coming together. It's becoming rarer that we can share such a day. Asin .. you stood up to the challenge, my boy. Made me proud. "
Asin looked happy .. I knew how much the approval of his family meant. Even if he wouldn't admit it.
Uncle Erwing looked at Marie.
" Now let us again welcome our new daughter at the table and make sure she understands. She is among family. "
He raised his glass, and we all followed.
" To you the happy couple. "
""" To the happy couple!! """
~
After dinner, we went out and sat down by the pool as I told him everything I learned today.
" .. How are you feeling? "
He didn't immediately answer.. or even moved for a while, so I decided to ask.
" G.. Khmm .. Good. It's our chance. "
He smiled.
I knew he would feel that way.
" The council wants it as soon as possible, as the way things accelerated.. we might have it by this weekend. "
" Hmm .. what about us? Does 4 days enough to prepare? "
I leaned forward and grabbed his shoulder.
" You leave all that to me, okay? I take care of it. You have the harder job .. 3 race a night. It's super risky since we won't split after the first. In fact, I'm not even sure about how it will work or if they plan something new .. or not. "
" Won't matter. "
" Huh? " I looked up.
" Whatever they come up, it doesn't matter. Once we won, Old Ivan could rest and fully retire, those who looked at us like unwanted kids at the table .. Will acknowledge us. "
" The kids can be more than petty drug dealers to some creep calling himself Mr Unknown.. " I added.
" Exactly .. " He laughed. " .. Help the 9th as well. They could all use this. With that amount of money .. "
And they think Yary and company made profits today. When looking at the overall picture, we made more money considering the amount of work needed to be done.
But that was neither here nor there.
" .. No more next time. "
The time is now ..
——
Ayshe.
~
Marie was strange.
I mean more than usual.
She was leaning over the balcony, trying to listen in on their conversation by the pool.
I was sitting next to her, trying to poke some since in her.
" Stop it already.. can't concentrate. " She whispered.
I took a peak, and they were both looking at the moon .. it gave me deja vu .. expect last time I dragged her.
Whatever the conversation was, it made them both very happy.
Spent a few minutes on their phones and then looked out into the horizon towards the ocean.
As they were unmoving 5 minutes later.. I had to gently pull my sister inside the room.
" Marie .. I know you have been a little loppey lately, but what are we doing? "
She paced back and forth the room.
" Marie! "
" .. I think .. I think! " She stepped so close so fast it made me recoil in the couch. " .. that Asin and Oliver might be .. this is insane. "
She turned around last second pissing me off royally.
" Marie.. enough of
" GOD .. I think they part ..if not out right run the organisation. " She smiled like a crazy person.
Get out of here ...
" Pfft.. Hahaha .. " Couldn't believe we were having this conversation. " .. I'm sorry, don't be mad. "
I was having a great old time until I saw how serious she remained.
" A-alright .. okay. So what .. how did you.. just how? "
She sat next to me. " I wasn't snopping..
Oh boy ..
" .. his phone was there! " She pointed the couch we sat on. " .. I was just about to check the time before dinner, but I saw his notification bar .. he got a text from Oliver. "
I grabbed her hand. " Marie .. what exactly in that massage that made you think that? "
" .. we have another race soon .. "
" What? "
She sighed exasperated. " That's what the snipet of massage I read on his screen said. "
I needed a minute to process, and by the time I awoken, she was already watching old GOD videos online.
She went with the .. masked driver compilation ..
" You don't think .. "
" Ayshe.. his first ever words to me was about sports cars! .. " She looked up. " From a guy who has a "fear" of driving. Or how about the fact he swam into the ocean less than an hour before the drift race in Konore? "
She waited, and I had nothing. It was a lot .. of coincidence, I admit.
But it was way too ridiculous.
" Sister, listen.. " I took her phone. Otherwise, she wouldn't listen. " .. This is .. unbelievable, to say at least. But let's say you are right .. what now? "
" .. Well .. nothing, really. But I want the truth. "
Her argument was paper thin .. considering since they have a fake marriage contract, but it wasn't the time to say that out loud.
" Okay .. what we clearly need is more information. But how to get it? "
Not that she had any ideas.
" My contract is in the way .. I can't ask where he goes or what he is doing .. but he gives me a few hour notice. Since I have to cover for him .. "
Make sense.
" What about following him when he leaves? "
I asked.
She shook her head.
" There are like a hundred..of those crows out there every day. Do you think he wouldn't get a call from them if I left? "
By crows, she meant the security guards.
" What about.. wait, why do you think he would get a call? I mean .. as far as secret identities work .. they need to remain a secret. "
" Ayshe.. I'm not in the right head place for you to talk in riddles .. " She warned.
Little idiot .. I sighed and explained.
" No one .. not one person other than Oliver knows anything about his .. assorted nighttime activities .. meaning no one would call him. "
" So we can follow? "
" Yes. " I answered.
" We can't drive .. "
" Oh .. "
Yes, that was a problem.
But my mind wasn't in the right place either ..
How much from that insanity is actually true?
I wish I could've been here when she read that massage. Although it didn't sound much but it was something..
Hearing it like that just felt .. unbelievable.
We jumped a bit when the rooms door swung open.
Asin came in with Oliver in tow.
" Hey .. "
Marie unconsciously stepped forward.
" Hmm .. "
They were staring at each other for a while until Oliver nudged him.
" Right .. we were thinking about going out for a little while and wondered if you would like to do something as well? "
" Where? What? " I asked automatically.
Oliver answered.
" We were given these tickets weeks ago to this theatre thing .. Le Puginol .. " He gave me four tickets.
Sounds fancy. It was staring a bunch of high-profile actors. Inside the biggest opera house in the capital.
Me and Marie shared a smile since we had a lot of fun back in the day getting dressed up and going to out watching a play.
" We're in. Should we change? " Marie asked, showing her figure to her husband..
Oh sister .. but it did work.
" No .. u-unless you want to. But you look fine, I mean .. " Oliver bumped him a little.
" You .. you look good. "
Oliver and I shared a smile at his delivery, but Marie enjoyed it.
At some point, she started staring at my dress.. her husband and Oliver followed.
I suppose yellow and flowers don't scream night at the opera.
" I will change .. Marie, come with me. "
" Yeah.. khmm .. yes, let's go. "
On our way out of my room, I changed into a pretty little black number, we ran into Yary, and his wife dressed fancy as well.
" You look beautiful. Where are the two of you going, sister Zerile? " asked Marie.
She spun around, showing her dress that fitted her well.
Yary answered.
" Asin wanted his big brother to feel appropriated. " he smiled proudly.
" Ohh, you guys are coming as well .. " I asked.
" Yes.. Le Puginol.. yes .. he said you two would have the tickets. Are you ready to go? "
" Shouldn't we wait for your brother and Oliver? " I asked.
" Why? .. he said we be going with you two. They're out in the waters tonight with Oli and some of their friends from the Polo club. "
We shared a look with my sister.
They tricked us with clever wording and let us insinuate things of our own!
Did they ever say.. they were coming as well? No .. no, they did not.
Also, Polo Club? .. I bet you anything they don't even know the rules of the game.
We reluctantly followed my sister's in-laws outside.
" We need to be more on the ball if we hope to catch them off guard. "
Marie pressed it through her teeth. She was fuming like I did.
" I know .. this was unacceptable. "
——
Asin.
~
" That was cruel .. "
" It was funny .. " I countered Oli immediately.
What? .. we had to celebrate somehow with the kids. And it won't be at some stuffy opera.
" I should've known about the tickets when you asked me to get 4. But choosing a show that lasts 5 hours... brother .. " He smiled.
" We needed time as well .. "
We were out on the endless waters, picked some of the guys from the crew, and had been having a jolly good time.
" Well, Yary success at the firm helped out quite a bit.. " I laughed at faith.
" Who would be the other 2 if not them? "
" .. the maids. " I shrugged.
We laughed, then started howling at the moon, and crew all joined.
In fact, some others from different boats thought it a good idea as well.
We just opened the second bottle of bourbon, which really got a taste for it lately, which probably wasn't a good sign.
But tonight was different.
We were at the precipice..of great things.
" Sir .. Boss? "
Leyla walked up the top we were sitting.
" The captains crew informed us that they ran out of food. "
" Can we order? " I asked Oliver.
" I don't think they deliver on the water .. I'll fix it. I'll fix it fine, don't you worry.. "
He got up a little wobbly and walked downstairs.
I nodded towards Leyla to follow him.
Soon, I heard his yelling from downstairs and the collective apologies from the kids made.
Something never changed.
I got up. I looked at the starry sky ..
I wonder if she will be really mad .. wonder if she will fight with me when she arrives.
What a night.. what a life!
3 more days, and we blow this town up, and hopefully, we come away unscathed.
Let me enjoy tonight in peace .. my dear wife.