XCruz Hotel

After the end of the meeting with the CEO, Athena is now free to look at the information about the XCruz Hotel. Cynthia has already sent her the information before the meeting started.

She flips the first page of the file and studies the content. She does not find anything odd about the hotel though she hasn't heard much about it as well.

"They cover up really nice" she mumbles, finding something interesting on the next page. The hotel at night runs a sex club while at night, it is just like any normal hotel. And the VIP members of the hotel are privileged to choose the partner/ partners of their own choice through their eyes. The normal ones get a random partner which best matches their requirement.

She cannot help but scoff that the person called her to meet at night as well. What was he thinking when he sent her this? Does the person know she has kinks for sex? But the assumption doesn't fit right. She has many reasons to go but not a valid reason not to. She cannot refuse the offer just because she isn't sure of the outcome. "Oh, fuck it" she closes the file and keeps it aside. She has decided to go. She is not scared, nor is she expecting the person to actually tell her about Cario. Cario's whereabouts cannot be disclosed by just anyone that casually. The person has ulterior motives to meet her. Fine then, if the person wants to meet her, she will grant her wish. She rings Cynthia and within two minutes, she comes through the glass door of her office. "Yes, my Lady?"

"Do we have any meeting to deal with after seven?" Athena asks, sitting elegantly in the expensive leather chair with her fingers entwined with each other and resting on her stomach.

Cynthia takes a quick glance at her tabloid and answers, "No. You are clear six."

"Good. We are going to XCruz hotel" she tells her and Athena is not expecting Cynthia to give her opinion on whether she should go or not.

"I will prepare the arrangements," Cynthia says. Since the hotel has a rule of wearing masks during the night, Athena is even more curious to find out just what will happen.

"Tell the others to dress the right way and be alert" she adds. Cynthia nods and leaves when Athena dismisses her.

Alone in the office, her thoughts travel to the previous night in Warlow. The handsome face of that man comes before her eyes and she winches. She should not be thinking about him. He is only for a night. But the sex was amazing and there's no doubt. She didn't have to tell him. In fact, he was the first to take charge. Here in Arcillia, she acts as the dominant and tells them what they should do which she finds extremely boring.

The thought of wanting Vincent's lips on hers, sends shivers. She clenches her thighs and tries to not think about him.

»»——⍟——««»»——⍟——««

The XCruz hotel is like any other hotel with its glamorous exterior and elegant design. But few know what actually happens inside. Athena and Cynthia step out of the car. They very well noted the theme of the hotel today.

Athena smirks, gazing at the building in front of her. Although the black Masquerade mask itches the skin near her eyes, she cannot complain about it. She looks stunning in the black backless body-fitting dress and brings out her figure beautifully. She specially chose this dress because of the side slit. She pushes her hair to one side, showcasing her diamond earrings.

Cynthia comes to stand beside her and Athena has made sure to make her wear 'a dress.' Cynthia's stiff face is enough for Athena to know she is not comfortable in the black shimmer dress and ends just above her knees. It's a decent one but Cynthia doesn't like to wear a dress.

But since they are here for work, she kept her mouth shut

"Shall we, my Lady?" she asks and Athena smiles, nodding.

Both their heels tap on the ground as they make their way inside the hotel. They notice two men are checking a pass or something. "What is happening over there?" Athena asks in a low tone.

"Hotel's pass card, it seems" she replies continuing walking.

The two men stop them and ask about the pass. Athens cannot even reveal her identity so she tries another approach. "She shows him the envelope but only the cover and says, "Your boss specially invited us."

The two men look at each other, sharing a knowing look. "Are you Miss Athena?" one of them asks. She gets alert but smiles instead.

"I am."

They show her the way inside, bowing in respect. That is a quick change of attitude. They made their way inside the hotel. Upon reaching, she is surprised to see crowds of people, all wearing masks moving. There seems to be some kind of party.

"My lady, how will the guards come inside?" Athena whispers in her ear.

"Tell Santos to do something about it. Make a imitate of the pass" she tells, scanning the area to find something but there's unusual. Cynthia notes and takes her time to inform Santos through her phone.

"What are they trying to do?" Athena mumbles, suspicious if this actually a party or a setting.

Then, a waiter approaches her. Smiling, he offers her a drink but when she looks at him, he gestures with his eyes to take the note kept beside the glass. She takes it and also the drink.

Casually moving, she stops at a corner and unfolds the chit.

I AM HONOURED THAT YOU ARE HERE, MISS ATHENA. WITHOUT ANY DELAY, PLEASE FOLLOW THE WAITER. I'LL BE WAITING ;)

So he wants her to chase? She scoffs and crushes the paper, keeping it under her fist.

She then finds the waiter waiting for her. Athena signals Cynthia and they both follow the waiter. "Você encontrou algo?" Athena speaks in Portuguese to not let the man hear what they are talking about but Cynthia can completely understand her. [Meaning:- Did you find anything? ]

"Três homens no canto direito. Dois à esquerda. A festa é uma fachada." Cynthia replies, alert as she looks around. [Meaning:- Three men at the right corner. Two at the left. The party is a facade.]

The waiter leads them to the stairway. They follow him without any talking and reaching the foyer, he tells them to take the right turn. "There will be another one of us waiting for you." He left saying that. Athena dies what he says and as he said there is another man dressed in a suit waiting. "Follow me" he speaks stiffly and walks fast.

Damn this man for walking so fast. She cannot walk fast wearing heels!

He stops in front of a closed door. The black door with gold lining at the corners looks formidable. He knocks and waits for the door to open.

The door opens just slightly. "I have brought them, safely," he says and the door opens up more.

This hotel is definitely more than just a hotel. Athena thinks and takes steps further. The room is dimly lit and on top of that, their black clothing makes it even darker.

She thought it will be a normal room but the inside is huge. With wide space, big rectangular windows from which you can see how beautiful Arcillia is during the night. The man asks firmly, "Which one of you is the leader?"

Athena and Cynthia share a look. They knew the person will do something like this. Athena takes a step forward, "I am."

The man sneers, "Thought so." He then looks at Cynthia and tells her to leave. "Other than the main, no one else is allowed in here. You must leave."

Cynthia has this urge to shoot this man right away but she controls her rage and leaves.

The door closes and suddenly it is very quiet. One by one the lights start to appear and the room now is fully lit.

She observes the place, from the placing of red velvet couches in the center, a pool table beside. Then to the other side, two low steps that lead to the other room are set up differently from the room she is in. The room she is in is painter red while the other one is black. Even the pieces of furniture were matte black.

"I suppose, you call your boss to save both our times," she says, facing the man.

He sneers, "No thoughts that it can be me?"

She scoffs, "Never. Now call him before I change my mind."

The man acts hurt but gets serious. He whistles, while having his eyes on her. "The lady doesn't like waiting. Please pass the message" he tells in a mocking tone to another man who appears. He has a mask, unlike the one who is talking. The other man nods and disappears from where he came.

"I must say, you are much more different than what I heard" he muses, taking a step closer to her. Athena can smell the strong Cologne coming from him and she just wants to get as far away as she can. The smell is unstandable.

"Enlighten me as well" she speaks, a small playful smile on her lips.

With his index finger, he brushes her cheeks, lining down to tilt her chin. How dare he? She can easily finish this man in one go but if she gets physical here, the thing she came here for won't happen.

She jerks away his hand sternly and goes to sit on the couch. Crossing her legs, she gives him a challenging look. "You are bold, lady." He points, frowning.

She does not care. "Now, what were you saying?" she asks haughtily.

"You aren't allowed to sit unless you are told to," he says stiffly, sounding panicked as well as angry. Athena smirks and has no intention of getting up. A minion like him is nothing in front of her.

He fumes and steps towards her to make her get up but just as he reaches out to catch her arm, he freezes. His eyes wide and suddenly he fells on the ground. This is not what she was expecting. She inspected lowering herself and found him dead. Blood is oozing out from his mouth and she notices the place on his body where he is hit, where the gun went in. Silencer.

"Is this how you are welcoming me here?" she bellows knowing that the boss is here and rises from the seat, standing at a distance from the dead man.

She looks around the room but can find nothing. This is pissing her off.

"Apologies, Miss Athena. This wasn't my plan either" a manly voice came but from here. She turned, looked at the other side of the room as well, but there is no one. Just what is going on?