Chapter 6
Hunter
I pulled my pants up, and hissed in pain as the crotch of my slacks brushed up against my balls. That little crazy maid!!
I just shook my head at the ridiculousness of it all. I called the hotel lobby to file a complaint, but they said my description didn’t match any of their staff.
I fixed my suit, and then stared at myself in the mirror before combing my hair up with my fingers to spike the fringes up a bit. I had contemplated wearing a tie, but doing Windsor knots were never my forte. I decided to go without, and popped open the top button of my shirt, and left my suit jacket unbuttoned instead. I doubt these kinds of gatherings require full-on formal attire, and even then, I was confident in my choice.
This was just another meeting for me. Lark had sent me a list of potential attendees yesterday, and I was surprised to see a few names with questionable reputations.
I had a feeling this auction was not going to be typical. It’s probably going to sell a lot of rare items, and even more stuff bordering on illegal.
I heard a light tapping coming from my door and frowned. I wasn’t expecting anybody, so I put my phone in my pocket and walked over to open the door, revealing a short, curvaceous blonde wearing the skimpiest outfit I’d ever seen. She immediately batted her eyelashes at me, and gave me what she probably thought was a seductive smile.
“Hello, Sir Drake,” she said, her voice a little raspy. “As one of our most honored guest, I’ve been instructed to escort you to the venue.”
I went out of the room and closed the door behind me, and she took it upon herself to wrap her arm around mine, pushing her breasts into the sides of my arms. I didn’t say a word and just went with it.
We entered the elevator, and she let go of me for a second to press the 2nd floor. As the elevator doors closed, she turned around to look at me, biting her lip as she stared at me from head to toe. I leaned my back against the wall and stared back at her, still not saying a word. Once again, she took it as a sign to push further, placing her hands on my chest so she could lean forward and stare up into my eyes. The tops of her breasts were almost popping out of her dress, and I was having a hard time keeping my eyes away from them.
“Maybe once the auction’s over, I could help you out with something else?” she suggested playfully, her index finger dipping into the open part of my shirt, touching the sliver of skin peeking through.
The elevator doors opened, and I smirked at her, grabbing her at her upper arms. She gasped, and her eyes widened with excitement, probably thinking I was going to take her up on her offer and kiss her, but I just pushed her lightly away from me.
“Thanks, but I’m not in the mood for some easy fish tonight,” I told her. I took my eyes away from her, and walked out of the elevator, dismissing her completely while she blubbered.
What a waste. She was a really sultry-looking one, too. Too bad she was so desperate.
I looked around at the ballroom that was converted for the auction tonight. There was a huge rectangular panel at the far side of one wall, and a podium and a table on top of it. A large screen hung overhead, and a long table at the adjacent wall where several telephones were lined up, and people sitting in front of them wearing uniformed suits and tux.
“Hunter Drake! Is that you?” I turned around and narrowed my eyes as a stout man of average height walked toward me, followed by two hulking guys in black suits and sunglasses. I put on a neutral façade, and placed my hands behind my back as I waited for him to come closer. Upon further scrutiny, I realized the man was Gregory Westleton, a wealthy businessman who owned a chain of fast-food places called “Big Burgers”.
“Westleton,” I said, calling him by his last name. I caught a look of irritation flash across his face for a moment. He was older than me, and deserved a degree of respect, but in the world he and I navigated, I was king.
We were in talks long ago to partner up on Big Burgers. Unfortunately for them, I already had Lark working for me. She managed to find out Big Burgers had a lot of back-door dealings, and under-the-table cuts to keep their business going despite breaking several sanitation rules, as well as running their employers into the ground.
Gregory Westleton was not the kind of man I wanted to do business with, and Big Burgers reputation was rocky at best, so I pulled back from our talks. I heard Westleton didn’t take it very well at all, so I assume this cordial behavior on his part is just an act.
Without a hand to shake, he placed both of his hands on my arms and squeezed me a little, like how a father greeted his son but without the affection. He looked up at me with a forced smile.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here!” he said loudly, his nasally voice grating in my ears. “Are you a collector of historical artifacts as well, or are you after something else?”
“I’m a man of many interests, Westleton,” I said simply, unwilling to tell anyone the reason why I came.
“Oh, that sounds awfully ominous, Mr. Drake,” he said, his voice lowering a decibel as he tried to gauge me with his narrowed eyes. “Are you sure you’re not after something illicit? I’ve heard such auctions are infamous for those kinds of things.”
I raised my eyebrows at him, pretending to be shocked by his words. “I wasn’t aware such an auction catered to your kind! Let’s hope word doesn’t get out, wouldn’t want to tarnish your grand reputation.” I said.
His eyes were wide, and his hold on me slackened, so I stepped away from him. I kept up the charade and tapped my finger on my lips as I furrowed my eyebrows.
“It’s funny how you know so much about this, Westleton,” I said, going in for the kill. “Does this mean you’re after smuggled goods, too?”
“Certainly not!” he exclaimed, blood rushing to his face. “I was just extending my kindness to warn you! After all, we could’ve been business partners before.”
“Then I am truly grateful for the warning. I’ll be sure to tell a friend of mine working in law enforcement to take care of this matter,” I told him. I nodded goodbye at him, and began mingling with the other guests, making small talk here and there until I was sure I had socialized enough. I looked around and saw Westleton seated a few tables by the front, boisterously laughing with one of the bidders seated beside him.
I wasn’t in the mood to bond with the others during dinner, so I walked towards the ushers, and asked if they could transfer me somewhere private. They led me to one of the private seats in the balcony, and there was a phone placed right next to my seat connected to the operators below.
If I did choose to bid on something, there was little chance of anyone knowing it was me up here.
All the guests were settled, and the lights dimmed. Only spotlights lit the stage as the auctioneer went to the panel.
“Let the bidding begin.” He said.