><<><><>><
Next morning, Yenedith wakes up with no appetite, but the persistent knocking on the door makes her get out of bed and answer it. She finds Edwin holding a wooden tray with her breakfast. — I just stopped by to drop this off — he says.
— I'm not hungry — she replies.
— You should eat — Edwin insists, pushing his way through the room to place the tray on the small table on the balcony. They sit in silence as he looks around, until he says, — I'd like to apologize for the way I introduced myself to you. After so many years, during which I thought something terrible must have happened to you for me to lose track of you like that, I suddenly found you, and the last thing I wanted was for you to be afraid of me — He continues — Your mother tried so hard to keep you away from me, and I thought she'd poisoned your minds, that you wouldn't want to meet me. I'd like to start over with you, from now on. What do you think?
Yenedith tilts her head without saying a word, until Edwin decides to leave. She manages to control her sobs, but not the tears that escape her eyes, already red from crying so much. The morning passes quickly for her, locked in that room.
Her brother knocks on the door at midday. Tadeus, as soon as he sees her, hugs her and pats the back of her head. A gesture that always helped calm her when she was a child — You know I would never do anything to put you in danger — he says, with his throat made a knot.
— Grandma told me that man runs illegal businesses. What kind of work have you gotten yourself into, Tadeus? — she asks, breaking the hug — If he manages to catch you in his dirty dealings, there's nothing you can promise me. We'll never be able to leave here.
— I just have to plant some microphones on a man - Tadeo replies — but I have to gain his trust to do it. I have no idea why he's making me do this job, and I don't want to know, but trust me. As soon as I do that, I'll ask him to let us go.
— Are you sure?
— I spent my childhood with him — he replies, nodding to reassure her. Yenedith nods back and takes a deep breath as her brother wipes the tears from her cheeks — I have to go, I won't be in town, but I'll call you, okay?
— Yes, I think I'll go to the company tomorrow. I'm already feeling a little better.
Tadeus hugs her again before leaving the room.
><><
Once on the plane, Tadeus carefully examines the schedule until he finds several invitations in the folder for different dates in November — I thought we were only going to Thanksgiving dinner — he remarks, holding one of the invitations.
— The Animal might show up at one of those as well. We need to secure any chance to approach him — replies Gustaph — We're not going to Necker yet. We must attend these first.
Tadeus nods, downs his drink in one gulp, lowers the window blind, and reclines his seat completely to sleep for the remaining hours of the journey. The hotel where they're staying is, at first glance, quite luxurious. This makes him think about getting something positive out of the trip to keep his spirits up. As soon as he enters his room, he gets into the jacuzzi to soak for about thirty minutes. After that, Tadeus listens to music at full volume, and opens his suitcase. There are four suits, each a different color, but what catches his eye the most is the lace or embroidery detail on the back of the jackets. One of them is completely open, with only lace embroidery around the hexagonal opening — Of course — Tadeus exhales. He opts for the one that looks a bit more covered: a black suit with a wide opening in the back covered with large red roses detailed in sequins.
The place is a nightclub, which gives it a much less serious atmosphere than on the island. As soon as they arrive, Gustaph makes it his mission to introduce him to other people so they can chat and hang out. Tadeus notices several glances, but keeps his distance for a couple of hours, trying to pinpoint the target — Looks like he's not coming — he tells Gustaph. At that moment, he sees a man upstairs leaning against the railing, passionately kissing a woman. — Do you think I should go over? — Tadeus asks. Suddenly, his eyes meet Alexander's for a second, so he looks away.
— Forget about it. There'll be another chance when he's alone — Gustaph replies over the music — Have fun!
Tadeus takes the liberty of dancing and drinking with one of the men who have their eyes on him. Amid the kisses and the lights, he decides to slip away to one of the club's booths for some privacy.
Tadeus kisses the man intensely as he unbuttons his shirt and pushes it off his shoulders. He trails his lips down the man's neck, chest, and sweaty abdomen to his navel, pausing to help him remove his pants. Once the clothing is off, Tadeus returns to kissing the man's lower abdomen, wetting the tip of his penis with his tongue. In the throes of arousal, he places both hands on Tadeus' head, pushing it down while thrusting his hips to pleasure himself. Hearing the man's moans of pleasure only intensifies his excitement, and he sucks in every last drop of semen that ends up in his mouth.
The man then kneels on the modular sofa in the cubicle to receive him. Tadeus' hands on his chest and then his waist, along with the intense friction of his member inside him, cause the man to ejaculate again. The encounter ends with a final kiss on the nape of his neck and the companion's quick departure.
— Wait! — the man stops him and hands him a card — I'll cancel it in a week; the code is on the back — Tadeus puts it in his pocket and returns to the hotel.
The next morning, Tadeus calls his sister to encourage her again before going downstairs to have breakfast with Gustaph — I see you took the 'having fun' thing seriously — the senator mentions.
— It's been a while since I've had good sex — Tadeus replies. He takes a sip of juice and starts on the toast.
— Eat plenty of soup and get a good night's sleep. I need you to be in your five senses for the party tomorrow — Gustavo says — We're going to Necker Island in four days.
— Okay, it's not like I can go anywhere else — Tadeus says. They eat in silence until he mentions — I got a card yesterday. Could I go to an ATM near here?
— So you really got into character — Gustavo says with a teasing smile — I'll go with you.
After spending the afternoon exploring the city's art galleries, having lunch at a restaurant near the central lake, and seeing a performance at one of the most popular theaters according to an internet search, they both return to the hotel to rest. — Invite me next time — Tadeus remarks before parting ways in the hallway to go to his room. — I promise — Gustaph replies with a smile. In the morning, neither of them leaves their room until lunchtime, when they share a meal. — We have to be at the auction house at seven. This time, I'm sure the Animal will be alone.
— I'll do my best to get closer — Tadeus says.