CHAPTER FOUR
Nathan Chase walked past the long line of people in front of The Crown and silently made his way towards the back of the building. The Crown was one of the most popular clubs in town and the queue was always extra long on Friday nights. But that wasn't where he was going.
The Crown was for humans who liked loud music, pretentious décor and being seen in the right place with the right company.
The jarring noise which tried to pass itself off as music wafted out when the door to the club opened to let in a group of excited, well-dressed yuppies. The thick scent of human sweat coated the air all around him, but his wolf had long learned to ignore the oppressive scent and noise. It was either that or get out of the city and move to a remote shifter town.
As a werewolf living in the city, Nathan didn't have much choice regarding his neighbors. He had to get used to living in close proximity with loud, noise-loving humans. Nathan didn't dislike humans. In fact, he found them intriguing and interesting, and he'd learned a thing or two from them.
Nathan had a healthy respect for humans. He had made his first million working for a human and he knew how humans functioned, what they liked and valued. It enabled him to always be one step ahead, to anticipate the needs of his clients and preempt the moves of his competitors.
Chase Security Inc., was now one of the largest security firms in the city. Nathan didn't involve himself in the day-to-day running of the firm any more. He had a very good team in place, but he would occasionally conduct spot checks on the new recruits to see how they performed in the field.
Nathan strolled round the back and stood in front of an inconspicuous black door. The iris scanner scanned his eyes and a soft beep sounded. Once the door clicked open, Nathan quietly let himself into the dim interior of The Ring.
“Good evening, Mr Chase,” a burly man in a suit drawled and parted the heavy curtains for him.
Nathan nodded. “Good evening, Faz.”
The auction hadn't started but the room was filled to capacity. Nathan strolled to the last empty table and took his seat.
Nathan unbuttoned his black jacket and leaned back in his chair. Quickly he swept his eyes across the circular room before glancing at the revolving stage in the middle of the room.
There were seven gilded chairs arranged in a circle. Nathan had attended a few auctions at The Ring and every auction had a different theme.
Sometimes the Gems were presented on cushions or beds of flowers. Sometimes they were cuffed to poles or tied up in bows and ribbons. Madam Patricia Jen liked to keep things interesting for her patrons. Patricia Jen owned both The Crown and The Ring, and she was an astute businesswomen who knew exactly what her clients liked. She was a fair employer and she made sure all her staff were well taken care of.
A young woman appeared and soundlessly placed a glass of champagne on the table in front of Nathan. All Patricia's permanent staff were highly efficient, discreet and well trained. They had been handpicked by Patricia herself and they'd been put through a thorough and rigorous training program. They were attentive to the clients, but they were also highly alert to potential threats. Most of them could disarm a man and knock him unconscious in ten seconds flat. Nathan had considered recruiting some of them for his security business but he would never poach someone else's staff. Besides, Patricia was an old friend.
Nathan leaned back and casually surveyed the patrons at the other tables. He saw his guy immediately.
Roland Nox, real estate magnate and werefox, was sipping his champagne and puffing on his cigar. Beside him was his brand new bodyguard from Chase Security. Jim Gonzalez was a strapping young human, a karate champion and an ex-marine. Jim's trainers had assured Nathan that he was ready, so he was assigned to Roland Nox.
Nathan watched Jim's sharp, black eyes make a sweep of the room. Jim's assessing gaze landed on Nathan but it was clear that the young man didn't recognize his big boss. Only the top management of Chase Security interacted with Nathan personally. And Nathan much preferred moving around the office incognito.
Nathan smiled to himself as Jim's eyes narrowed slightly. The young man flicked his eyes down the length of Nathan's body, trying to determine if Nathan was hiding a weapon under his clothes.
Nathan gave a small nod of approval. Jim had correctly marked him as a potential threat.
Well done. The young man had the instincts of a good bodyguard.
Nathan wasn't carrying a weapon right now, but he was certainly armed and dangerous. His wolf was faster and more lethal than any gun or blade.
As Nathan continued watching the young bodyguard, he realized that Jim's trainers were right. Jim Gonzalez was human, but the young man was way sharper than many of the shifters in the room. All the patrons of The Ring were shifters, but some of their assistants, attendants and bodyguards were human. There were some very capable humans around, and Nathan was always on the lookout for good people to join his team.
There was a soft rustle as Madam Patricia Jen entered the auction room. She was wearing her usual enigmatic smile as she sauntered up the stage.
Patricia Jen was a stunning woman in her sixties, and her shrewd eyes saw everything and missed nothing.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” Patricia cooed in a silken voice. “I see some new faces and many old friends tonight.” She paused and blew a kiss to the audience. There were answering chuckles and some called out salutations in various languages.
“Twenty tables have been booked tonight. But we only have seven lovely Gems.” Patricia winked and lowered her voice as if she were sharing a secret with her audience. “So you'll have to bid aggressively to secure the Gem of your choice.”
As some of the patrons leaned forward in their seats, Patricia stepped to the side of the stage and announced with a flourish, “So without further ado, let me show you tonight's selection. Here they are! Your beautiful Gems.”