Chapter 130 - The Drunken Master (2/2)

Miguel stares at the doorman from head to toe, then decides why must he bother with these people. So he proceeds to push his way into the lobby.

The guard is under instructions to hold Miguel right where he is, so finally, he grabs Miguel's arm to stop him.

Despite his whisky-addled brain, Miguel registers shock at the guard's impudence—and it appears plainly on his face. ”Do you know who I am?”

Somehow, the guard understands it. ”Y-yes, Sir, but you can't really go in there, Sir.”

”I own this building, do you know that? I mean, this is my brother's building. And we're family. So technically, this is mine, too. And if you work here, your ȧss is mine, too.”

Whether or not the guard understood Miguel's long-ish drunken diatribe, he doesn't show it. He smiles, trying a different tactic. ”Mr. Miguel, if you can understand me, I was instructed to let you stay in the lounge, sir.”

”Who instructed you?” he slurs.

The guard pauses. He has been properly briefed, and although the brief did not include the juicy bits about the whole drama and why they're ”protecting” Miss Claire from the Big Boss's own brother, he's not an idiot. He has seen Claire up-close; any man would fall for her. It's easy to connect the dots.

”Miss Claire, sir,” the guard says, hoping the ruse would work. ”She told us to let you wait in the lounge when you arrive.”

In Miguel's mind, he thinks he is smiling widely. ”Really? Have you let her know I'm here already?”

”Yes, Sir.”

A pause. Miguel looks at the guard's face, and although his sufficient drunkenness makes his vision come in and out of focus, he could see that the guard looks trustworthy. And besides, he's sure Claire misses him so, and would only like a most appropriate place to see him. What could be more perfect than the lounge area—dim, private, intimate?

”Show me the way,” Miguel finally says. ”Where on this good green Earth is the lounge? And can you place me in the coziest spot?”

”Yes, Sir,” the guard says. He presses his earpiece, and manages to sneak in a little update to his commander. Then holding Miguel by the arm to half-support him, and half-guide him to the lounge's direction, he says, ”Let me just find you the perfect spot.”