Chapter 17 - New Deal (2/2)
Suddenly he saw an Asian woman. She stood watering flowers, wearing a blue T-shirt and short jeans. Long black hair, that sweet and beautiful face made him stare longer than he intended to. Nice pair of legs, more beautiful than the bikini model he just slept with last night.
”Bernardo. please come in.”
John's voice greeted from the front porch. Bernardo turned his eyes from a beautiful woman to John. The debtor was still in pajamas, indicating that he had just woken up. Bernardo stepped on to the porch. His men were standing on the ground.
Bernardo sat on a chair. John poured a fine whiskey, handed it to him, but Bernardo refused.
”Who is that woman?”
Ask what was in his interest immediately without wasting time. John frowned a little bit with no understanding. When he returned to his bedroom this early morning, he fell asleep right away, so he didn't know which woman Bernardo was talking about. John followed Bernardo's eyes then saw Wirata was walking to the faucet to turn the water off.
”Ah. That's Wirata. My step-daughter.”
John gave the answer. He saw the interest in Bernardo's eyes. the powerful mafia always liked beautiful women.
”Ah... I can talk to her if you're interested.”
John said openly. In his mind, he was creating new hope. If Bernardo was interested in Wirata. He would get her to negotiate the payment.
Bernardo turned to look at the slender figure again, she was walking to the back of the garden.
”Ask her to have dinner with me at Firomina restaurant tonight at 7.”
Bernardo said with a relaxed tone.
”Okay, I'll ask her first. If I can get her to have dinner with you, can you give me a little more time, like a week?”
John didn't let opportunity slipped out of his hands, he asked to make it clear with Bernardo.
”Ask her to have dinner with me first, and I will decide later.”
Bernardo said smartly with a smile on his face.
John nodded, had hope in his eyes.
”This house looks nice.”
Bernardo said, his eyes looked around, didn't fail to remind John about the contract, if he couldn't pay back, this house will be taken over by him. John's face turned pale.
”I'll give you a call when I have the answer about Wirata.”
John said. Bernardo nodded and stood up, looked around, but didn't see that pretty woman anywhere.
Wirata watched the parade of cars drove out of the gate. That was Sin City for you. These influential godfathers could visit people's house any time they liked!
”Wine, do you have a minute?”
John asked when Wirata came into the living room. Wirata went to sit opposite to him. Her step-father looked tired and worn out because he overwhelmed with gambling.
Wirata recalled that many years ago when he just married her mother He wasn't like this. He used to be a nice Uncle John, who looked good and very kind to her. He's still a kind man, but he didn't look fit enough anymore.
”What is it, Uncle John?”
Wirata asked, seeing John had a glass of whiskey in his hand, he looked up at her.
”That man is Bernardo Costa, the owner of the Grand Costa casino.”
John said. Wirata listened with full attention.
”He's asking if you could have dinner with him tonight. He's very rich.”
The next sentence continued.
”If he is seriously interested in you, you will be comfortable all your life.”
”Stop now! John! Don't mess with my daughter!”
The serious voice of Wilaiwan said loudly. She came into the room.
”I haven't done anything, just asking.”
John said back with a frustrated voice.
”Don't want you to involve with Wine. You've put yourself in troubles, I've warned you so many times, and I'll warn you again that don't even think about it! Whatever you're thinking to do in your head right now!”
Wilaiwan said in a dark tone and was not afraid of her husband's angry face.
”It's just a dinner, Wilai. There is nothing more than that.” He confirmed.
”You think I'm stupid huh? Thinking that I don't know these mafias? I know too well what they want from women!”
”Okay, stop shouting. Listen to me!”
John battled his wife back, the way he had never done before. He loved her so much, never did anything to trouble her and try to make her happy. But this time he made mistakes, by deeply involved in gambles. And now he was about to lose his house and his pub, very soon.
”This house is going, you know? I am in debt, I'm bad, Wilai, you can shout and scold at me if you want. But the truth is we are losing this house!
The tone was angry, frustrated and disappointed in himself. Wilaiwan and Wirata were shocked.
”I am addicted to gambling as you know. Used this house to guarantee some loans with Bernardo. I think I can play him back, but ... I am exhausted now, Wilai. I don't know what to do. I have nothing left. You can leave me if you want. I won't blame you at all.”
John confessed and was crying when he finished. That made Wilaiwan quiet, she felt pity for him but got to make it clear to him too about Wirata. The mother had to protect her baby as always. She loved this house, been living here for so long, but she loved her daughter the most.
”Where does Bernardo want to have dinner, uncle John?”
Wirata inserted in with smooth tone, saw her mother's face was as pale as paper. Wirata knew in her heart how much she loved this house.
”At the Firomina, Italian restaurant in town If you go, he will send the car to pick you up.”
”What will you get from the deal?”
The smooth voice asked again. Wirata knew there must be some kind of deals. She had learned that business people always made deals, everything was about negotiations to see what they can get.
”He will extend the payment time for me... for a week.”
”Does it mean that you have to find money to pay him next week?”
”Yes...”
John answered with a barren voice and fret. Saw the step-daughter sitting with a concentration in thinking and working something out in her head. John felt a bit better when she didn't shout at him like her mother.
”If you can't pay, he will seize this house, right?”
”Yes.”
”It's okay, honey. We can go to live somewhere else. ”
Wilaiwan said with a strong voice, stood her ground that she didn't want her daughter to involve with John's personal matters.
”You call and tell him that if I join him tonight, he will give you a one-month extension. If he agrees, I'll have dinner with him.” Wirata said.
John lifted up his eyes and looked at Wirata, with hope in his face, he nodded and picked up the phone immediately, press the button that minute. Then he was talking to the man.
”Bernardo wants to talk to you.”
John said and handed the phone to Wirata. She took it, put it close to her ear.
”Hello. It's Wirata.” She said.
”You are very brave to negotiate with me. But I like smart women. So I will send the car to pick you up at six o'clock if that's okay with you.”
Bernardo said with smooth relaxed voice.
”Okay.”
Wirata replied.
****
At the Italian restaurant, Firomina in the city center.
Wirata stepped out of the car that Bernardo sent to pick her up. She followed the bodyguard into the high-end restaurant. Bernardo was waiting in there. The slender figure was wearing plain black evening dress at knee length, letting her silky hair down naturally, her lips were nude, no color added on her face, but the natural beauty was striking and caught men's eyes, they turned to look at her when she walked past.
Bernardo stood up when seeing that his bodyguard was leading a woman this way. He lifted his lips and gave her a smile with satisfaction. The slender figure walked with confidence. She did not show any signs of nervousness. Bernardo thought that for once, he had found a woman who didn't wear brand names but looked so beautiful in just a plain black dress.
At the same time, Stefan was walking into this place as well, with a French model he knew from the party last night. The tall with an impressive amount of tough testosterone was wearing an expensive suit, looked so handsome from head to toes.
Stefan stopped dead right at the door when he saw the back of a woman who was walking to Bernardo's table. His number one enemy!
The slender figure which Stefan remembered very well even when he closed his eyes!
”Wirata!”