Dove suddenly appears and whispers something in her boss' ear — Take him to my office — Alexander replies. Tadeus feels a chill run down his spine at those words.
— It won't take me long — Strauss says after swallowing that bite and passes his hand through the journalist's chest. He leans in to kiss him, but decides against it at last second and leaves.
Then, he goes down to his office and pours a glass of whiskey for both his guest and himself — I'm here — says, leaning back on his desk in front of his subordinate, who takes a seat.
— Apparently, the Spanish and Scots knew nothing about the incident —Leonard says — It was definitely an internal matter limited to the stones. The most likely theory is that someone was trying to track their route, but I doubt they were successful.
— What makes you say that? — Alexander asks.
— There's no signal at that depth. I've made several trips myself to ensure the Greeks receive the stones. I don't think such a small chip has that much range.
— Then, that means the chip must have been placed there by someone who received the shipment in Greece — Alexander says.
— Or someone smuggled him onto the submarine before it arrived — Leonard speculates. Alexander downs his drink in one gulp and pours himself another.
— I suppose I'll have to talk to Minos. Stay hidden. I don't need you in the country anymore — he orders as they leave the office. Tadeus, who is heading for the door, is stopped by Alexander's call — What are you doing? You said you weren't leaving.
Leonard remains silent, but the journalist's scrutinizing gaze doesn't escape his notice. Alexander glances in his direction, at which point the man decides to continue toward the exit.
— What's wrong? — Alexander asks when Tadeus takes a step back.
—I have to go.
— Let my bodyguard take you.
— But why so much security? You have plenty of bodyguards.
— Not to mention the cameras — Alexander says.
— What? — Tadeus asks — Have you been filming us this whole time?
— Don't worry, the bedroom cameras are deactivated immediately after nine o'clock at night — Alexander says, pressing his lips to Tadeus' — Don't go.
— Okay, you convinced me — Tadeus says with a smile, his gaze lingering on Alexander's lips for a few seconds before meeting his eyes.
Once in the bedroom, Alexander kneels before the bed with his hands over Tadeus' abdomen to keep the shirt up and avoid any obstacle while his mouth savors his member. The man can't help but moan every time the heat of his mouth embraces him and the moisture under the lips touches his testicles — For fucks sake, Alexander! — He sighs, thinking that not even thirty seconds have passed and he's about to come. Those tongue movements compel him to hold his lover's head and ejaculate into his throat.
Rapidly, Alexander stands up and kisses Tadeus while masturbating his member until the last drop of semen comes out — Kneel for me — He whispers in his ear after separating his lips. Tadeus rests his knees on the bed where Alexander takes him as his own, where he pants and moans with pleasure until he no longer has the energy therefore he rests his chest on the bed when he feels the weight of his owner on his back and the sighs in his ear.
Tadeus wakes up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Each step feels heavy because of how exhausted his body is. "Am I really sleeping with this man for nothing?" he whispers to himself in front of the mirror and sighs. He promises himself at that moment that this will be the last time he sleeps with him because there's no need to continue with this charade.
"Look at me, stay with me tonight" are words that echo in Tadeus' mind. Every time he looks at his eyes in the mirror, he sees him.
The journalist is pulled from his thoughts by the ringing of his phone. — It's two in the morning! — he whispers, surprised, but annoyed.
— Were you sleeping? — Gustaph asks — Sorry, I forget about the time difference.
— Well, I'm glad to hear you're okay.
— I'll be back in a day — Gustaph says — Your father expects us to meet him when I return.
Gustaph hangs up, and Tadeus leaves the bathroom. He leaves the room when he sees Alexander is still asleep, determined to find the security room in the house. He opens and closes doors, but can't find any room with monitors; even Alexander's office doesn't have a computer or tablet. He decides to go down to the dining room and pulls a chair up to the wall where there's a camera to see if it has the security company's logo. There's nothing. Suddenly, because of the pressure he exerts to turn the camera beyond its limit, it breaks — No, no, no! — he whispers, trying to put it back in place, but it doesn't work. He gets down from the chair, puts it back, and looks in Alexander's office for an invoice, but finds nothing.
In the morning, Tadeus returns home before Alexander wakes up and manages to get one of the bodyguards to drop him off at work, where he enters a state of panic throughout his shift.
He doesn't remember seeing any cameras until Alexander mentioned them. If Alexander has all the videos restricted, Tadeus would have to find a way to hack his phone or delete his account with the security company. If only he knew which one it was and then all the videos would be lost.
<><><><><>
Gustaph arrives at the city's airport in the early morning, where a couple of men escort him to a van and take him to the mansion. Tadeus is already in the van by the time he gets in. — Good to see you, my boy — says with a smile. Tadeus sits next to him and gives him a hug.
— How was the trip?
— I doped up to sleep almost the whole way — he says.
— You have to take care of your health. Aren't you like seventy years old?
— Fifty — he replies — I'm barely halfway through my life.
— Not if you keep doing drugs like you're twenty
— Anyway. Did you follow my instructions? — Gustaph asks. Tadeus doesn't answer for a few seconds, remembering the last thing he'd told him to do.
— I kept my distance — he says. Gustaph observes him, not entirely convinced, but decides to say nothing. Once at the mansion, they meet in an office with Edwin, this time without bodyguards — What was the urgency of a meeting at this hour of the morning? — Tadeus asks as he walks toward one of the armchairs in the living room, facing the desk and the bookshelves that seem to be part of the walls in that room.
— It's good to see you again, Gustaph — Edwin says, handing him a glass of cognac. Tadeus watches them, resting his chin between his thumb and forefinger, his right ankle propped up on his left knee — Did you manage to get anything else from Animal's house? — Edwin asks Tadeus once they're seated facing each other in a triangle — I thought that was why you were at his house tonight.
— I didn't find anything else — Tadeus responds, ignoring Gustaph's disapproving gaze — but a couple of days ago he had a meeting with a man in his office. The conversation seemed important.
— Now that you mention it — Edwin remarks. He pulls out a cell phone and starts playing an audio recording.
"There's no signal at that depth. I've made several trips myself to ensure the Greeks receive the stones. I don't think such a small chip has that much range," a male voice says.
"That means the chip had to have been placed there by someone who received the shipment in Greece," Alexander's voice is heard saying in the audio.
"Or someone put it on the submarine before it arrived," the male voice adds, and the conversation ends when the Animal orders the man to leave the country.
— Do you know when that trip will be? — Gustaph asks.
— I'm afraid, no — Tadeus replies.
— There's your other task — Edwin says.
— I'm not convinced I can go back to that house — Tadeus says — I heard he has cameras there.
— That's a problem — Gustaph comments.
— They have a housekeeper. She's the one who told them about the man on the audio — Tadeus says — She probably knows about Alexander's business dealings and she controls the cameras too. If we get the security footage, that woman won't have any evidence against me.
— You'll have to take care of that yourself — Edwin states.
— What? But she'll realize I work for you — Tadeus argues — That could put my family at risk.
— I can't help you with that. My men are going to find the Animal's partner — Edwin says — Besides, getting those security videos would take too long.
— Look at it this way. That woman is the only one who knows when and where Alexander is going at all times.
— There's no need to keep hiding your existence if we've already got what we need — Coyote says — When we find that man, you can take over your father's business the way it should be — Tadeus stands up and leaves the room.
A pair of bodyguards follow him to the garage where he gets into a van — We're at your service, sir — the passenger says after a few minutes of not receiving any directions.
— I need to get back home — Tadeus says. The driver starts the drive — Well, what I really need is a gun to blow my brains out, or at least get those security videos before that old lady opens her mouth — Tadeus says to himself.
— I'll get you any gun you prefer, sir. Count on it — one of the bodyguards says.
— Just tell us that woman's name and we'll take care of it — another replies, clarifying the message the first one was trying to convey.
— Any gun will do — Tadeus says dismissively. The passenger takes it as an order and hands him one of his own. At that moment, Tadeus understands that these men who work for Edwin have some kind of respect or obedience towards him.