Chapter Nine: Same night at Jerome’s Place

Jerome Cruz Sat on his sofa with Kyra resting her back on his lap, she was his idea of passing this long night with. Boss had instructed him not to leave his flat that whole evening until after the operation. His assignment was to receive all updates from the airport and pass them to Boss, who later profanes a solution or action best fit for the issue.

 He respects Boss and respects his decision; to him, Boss' decisions are like that of a god.

 Earlier that evening, he'd gone to the ocean-high adult club, which was also used as a bar; this has been his regular joint since he first met Kyra Rajendra. Kyra was a half-India-American, who works at the club as a bargirl, and she also does strip dance for it's adult club at night.

 After their first night, he had developed an inclination to always be with her. He often comes to pick her most time doing her break hours, before she resumed the strip club at 22:00, and most time she comes on her own to his place to pass the time before going back to the club.

 Jerome watched her sexy young curvy and beautiful body, as it rests completely nude on his lap.

 Her head, rest on the hand of the sofa, while her back, rested on his lap, with her youthful breast pointing at his face. Her legs stretch out, occupying the remaining space on the sofa. He caresses her nipples in a tender but pleasant manner. He'd come to grow fond of her, in spite of their age difference. She has just turned twenty, but life has thought her more than her age.

 She rests dreamily on his lap relaxing. Although he loves her, however, he'd never had any intention of marrying her. Right now, all he cares for was to see this operation succeed, and with his share from the lot; he had planned to move to the South-African and start a new life there. He perceived that would be the last place the Feds would ever expect him to be, should things go wrong hereafter.

 The news would soon be aired on the TV any moment from now. He turns his attention from Kyra's body and stares fixedly at the TV, watching fox news quietly. Kyra open her eyes and gaze at him briefly, she noticed how unsteady he has been since he had received the first call that evening.

 They had been making love but not until Hugo's call came through at 19:45. He has left her in the living room and went into the bedroom to receive the call; however, she heard him call somebody's Boss or something and mention something about a problem at the airport. He had also called another person to take care of it that night, telling him it was Boss' idea. Whatever it was, she never cares to know, as far as she was concerned, he was the only man that has ever taken good care of her and nurture her like a princess since she'd lost both her parent to a ghastly car accident that had left her as an orphan.

 However, she had always wanted to know if she still had any relatives left that she could go to after the accident five years ago; moreover, she already knew that her mother had no surviving relatives alive, as she was the only survivor of an earthquake which had claimed the lives of her entire family. And as for her father; she had never met with any of his relatives before the accident. She'd worked in various places, trying hard as a young girl to meet with ends and as well stay alive, and through that time, she had faced many tough times, coupled with several waves of abuse. But not until one day; she'd come to the ocean high adult club through a job ad she had seen. Moreover, she had influenced her age at the time before she was employed; and with her beauty and charisma, it didn't take Miguel Rodrigo (her boss) long before he persuades her into joining the late-night strip dancer at his club, seeing the prospect of earning more money by turning her into a strip dancer too.

 At first, she'd declined the offer, course she never wants to go nude in front of male customers and do things she detests doing. But as time passed by, and with her little earnings and a huge bill to foot, she had no option, and she had reluctantly accepted the offer.

 Nevertheless, Miguel was right about her, for in no time, her presence attracted more customers to his bar and club. There was a night she had taken ill and didn't come to perform, and most of the customers had taken offense at her absence and they'd left disappointed. He'd taken every necessary step to make sure that never happens again.

 Although most of his male customers had taken her out, either to a hotel or some cheap motel, however, after they'd got what they want from her, they'd often treat her like trash, except for Jerome, who aside from letting her in his flat; he'd also given her an extra key to his house. And that was something she'd never expect from any man.

 She'd come to know him for quite some time now, and in all those times, she'd never seen him this worried or disturbed. He always looks calm and relaxed, but not this night, something seems to be biting him hard. And whatever it was, she could tell that it all started from the phone call that he'd received that evening, course before then, he was cool and very much at ease.

 "Honey, is anything the problem?" she asked with genuine concern.

 Jerome who was in deep thought and oblivious of her, turns to look at her as she rests on his lap, he smiles his usual charming smile at her trying to conceal his anxiety; "nothing really sweetie, just a little issue with business...," he replied calmly.

 She was tempted to ask if the issue has to do with the business at the airport, but on a second thought, she'd waved against the idea, since he hasn't discussed it with her, besides, he might take offense thinking her to be intruding in his privacy.

 She regards him for a while, noticing how he'd hardly take his eyes off the TV. She took a glance at her wristwatch, and it shows some twenty minutes before 22:00, she has some fifteen minutes to get to the club. She raised herself from his lap quickly, picking her clothes from the floor and standing to her feet, she stares still at him for a moment.

 "I'll go take a shower!" she said to him.

 He nods his head in reply to her without taking his attention off the screen.

 She walks to the bedroom and goes into his personal restroom and shower, after which she picked a tower and dried herself. And as she was doing her make-up, she heard his cell phone buzz again.

"Is alright Peter," she heard him say, "just stay put, and stick to our arrangement and you'll see it'll all end fine, ok?" he asks.

 And everything went quiet again, except for the faint tickling sound of the wall clock inside the bedroom and the faint sound coming from the TV in the living room.

 She put on her wristwatch and checked it again, and it read 09:51pm, 'so much for a business night, she muttered to herself as she walked back to the living room.

 Now in the living room, she picked up her handbag and gaze at him for a moment.

 "Aren't you coming with me?" She asked curiously.

 He turned his gaze at her with some admiration for a moment; he observed she was still wearing the silk that she had worn that evening, and she looks even younger, beautiful, and magnificent. He felt the urge to go with her, but then he remembers he still had a job to do.

 "Sorry baby!" He said, "I'm not feeling too well today," he lied.

 "Oh no.., I'm sorry about that," she said while walking to him and kneeling closer to feel his pulse, "you've got a fever, and I think you should go out and get some little fresh air." She suggested.

 He shook his head at her; "I only needed to rest." He said.

 "But you don't like staying alone." She said while gaping at him, "besides, going out will do you some good and probably get your mind off that business or whatever it is. Course I'm certain that it's responsible for this sudden fever." She put in.

 "I'm not coming today." He retorts firmly.

 She regarded him for a while and then shrugs; he'd made up his mind she concurred. She went up to him and kissed him on the face and she took a couple of steps toward the door, and he calls her name.

 "You can come back and spend the night with me...," he said to her, in an attempt not to hurt her feelings.

 "I'll be staying at my apartment; my friend Andréa, she's celebrating her birthday today." She explains, "but thanks anyway." she said.

 She opened the door as his phone begins to buzz again, and she walks out of the room into the dark night wondering how she would get to the club in time, especially at this hour of the night. She has just seven minutes before she gets to the bar, and a drive from here, will take her another ten minutes there. She perceives that she would absolutely be late today, especially with the scarcity of cabs at the hour.

 Meanwhile, Jerome received the call as she shut the door from behind, he hates himself for not seeing her off as his usual habit whenever he wasn't driving her there himself. He felt remorseful, but he has to stay back. The call was from Boss, and it isn't safe discussing with Boss in front of her.

"Have you heard the news?" Boss asks with some anxiety in his voice.

 "Yap, I did! Peter called, to let me know the plane is already crashed." He replied.

 "Idiot...!" Boss barked, yelling at him, "It was all in the news now, haven't you been watching the TV?" He asked angrily.

 "I have been watching fox news and nothing yet!" he replied calmly.

 "Well, tune in to CNN." he retorts.

 Jerome picked up his remote and tuned the channel as he was ordered, and he saw the headlines; "still on the breaking news!" The reporter said "the airborne VM215, designed for transporting the U.S two billion dollars, was reported to have exploded mid in the air; the course of the incident is yet to be known. However, terrorist involvement is suspected for now. We will be bringing you more on the update," "stay tuned with us."

 "Everything is just as we planned." He said.

 "Fool!" Boss muttered through the phone again "don't you think is more complicated than we'd anticipated now?" He asked. 

 "Well, I don't see how," Jerome replied.

 "And what do you make of Hugo and Duff? Boss asked in a casual tone, knowing quite well that they were his close friends.

 "They are very reliable and confidential." He replied wondering what Boss was scheming again at the moment.

 "Well, if you say so!" Boss replied and the line went dead.

 "Hello!!" He called, he checked the connection, and he was sure Boss had hung up on him from the other end. He gazes at the TV as some financial analysts, analyzed how the lost money might lead the U.S. into bankruptcy in the nearest future.

 He wonders what Boss meant when he'd asked him what he makes of Hugo and Duff? Could he have doubted their merit? Well, if that was it, then that was another problem that he wouldn't want to get involved in.

 He sat back and relaxed, setting his alarm for 00:00, and he doze off on the sofa for a little while.

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