Present: Good Luck

We are here!" Leo's train of thought was broken by Dylan's enthusiastic voice announcing their arrival to wherever it was that they had been going.

It was ‘The Tyde’.

The Tyde was one of the biggest five star hotels in the city. Leo looked at it with a look of nostalgia. He remembered when they went for a vacation in the big city with his whole family and they stayed in this hotel. That seemed like a whole other world and a long time ago.

They got out of the vehicle and Dylan handed the keys to a valet.

"Come on, let's go in," Dylan said as he pulled Leo towards the entrance.

"What are we doing here?" Leo asked, almost afraid to go in because he now felt as if he didn't belong to this world.

"To eat, of course, and maybe enjoy ourselves a tad bit. I didn't want you to tire yourself today and I thought that I would treat you to a nice meal," Dylan said as he smiled at Leo.

Dylan wanted to make tonight special and he thought this hotel: the first ever his father built, was the perfect spot. Their dad told him that this was where he first met their mother and fell in love. Dylan hoped it would work magic like it had done for his parents.

When they entered the lobby, a waitress was already there waiting for them.

"Welcome to our hotel, sirs," she said as she curtsied to them and gave them the best smoke she could conjure.

She looked at them wondering why she has never met such handsome men. Were they really from this world? She forgot that she was supposed to be waiting on them as she stared at them with her mouth slightly open. She couldn't help but drool and that didn't go well with a certain someone who turned green with envy and the smell of vinegar filled the lobby.

"Call me the manager!" Dylan commanded, pulling her out of her trance.

"Is anything the matter?" She asked worriedly.

"No, nothing's the matter. I just want to talk to him. Be quick," he commanded as he gave her a frightening look that made her scurry away in a hurry to call the manager.

A short, middle aged man, who had a bald head with the only hair remaining on his head being from one ear round the back of the head to the other ear forming a crescent shape, came towards them hurriedly.

"Dylan my boy, how are you? It's been so long since I last saw you here," the old man said joyously as he shook their hands.

"I'm okay uncle. I know you are well since we talked yesterday. And I have also been well and blessed as you can see. How is everything?" He asked.

"All is set. As per your instructions."

"Good. Oh, by the way, this is Leo. My… er... My friend," he blushed as he said that giving the old man a side look. "Leo, this is Uncle Rob, the manager of The Tyde."

"Nice to meet you sir," Leo said to the man and the man shook his hand again.

The man looked at them as he smiled knowingly, "this way, I will take you there," the manager said as he started walking towards the elevators.

Dylan thanked him, took Leo's hand and they followed him. When they entered the outlet cube, the manager pressed a button and up they went. When the elevator doors opened, they were met by a beautifully decorated terrace and Leo stood rooted to the ground as he took in everything he was seeing.

From the elevator doors to everywhere Leo could see, there were rose petals on the ground blanketing the whole floor.

Around ten feet from where he was standing, there were neatly and beautifully arranged bougainvillaea and rose flowers arranged in an arch forming an entrance. Leo started walking as one whose body was being controlled by an alien force. Beyond the entrance was a table at the centre.

On it were beautiful plates, wine glasses and water glasses and other utensils and cutlery beautifully arranged as if the president was coming to dine there. Rose petals covered the whole ground and everything looked beautiful. On the railings of the terrace were more flowers.

"I will be downstairs in my office if you need me. Which I hope you don't because my old bones can't keep up with you young ones," the manager said as he bid Dylan goodbye. "Your waiters are ready. Press the button when you are ready to eat. Good luck!" He smiled at Dylan knowingly and left.

Dylan thanked the manager and walked towards where Leo was standing still taking in the breathtaking scene before him.

All this had been long coming and Dylan had waited and cultivated long enough. He looked at Leo and s

miled.

He hoped that nothing would go with tonight.