Ralph, the young man with grey hair walked into the club. His eyes drifted swiftly in the direction the voice had come from.
He narrowed his eyes, a strange glint flashing within.
A short lady walked toward him. Well, she wasnât actually short but she had a petite frame.
She wore a simple professional business suit that didnât quite match the environment she was in.
What was most captivating about her was her skin which was a shade of green mixed with a variety of colors.
She was completely bald, and definitely not considered beautiful. However, her demeanor and attitude had a certain charm that made her seem more appealing.
She walked fast, wearing a gentle and excited smile on her face.
The club was empty and she wasnât obstructed by anything so she crossed the dance floor in the blink of an eye.
"Tatiana, I thought we discussed my name..." Ralph spoke gruffly, lowering his voice as he covertly glanced to the side where the long bar table was positioned.
"What?" Tatiana chuckled, "Youâre going to get more attention if I keep calling you Silver," She said as she placed her hand on Ralphâs shoulder.
Ralph was far taller than she and much stronger. As she tried to pull him forward, he didnât budge at all. He merely looked down at her green hand which was grabbing his shoulder.
Seeing Ralphâs discontented expression, Tatiana quietly removed her hand.
"Come on, letâs go upstairs, we have much to discuss," Tatiana said as she walked away.
"Whoâs he?" Ralph asked, referring to the bartender standing quietly at the bar table.
The bartender was tall, just like him, but slimmer. He looked to be in his forties and also looked very tired, probably due to the night activities of the club.
From the moment he had entered, the man had been staring at him with caution.
Ralphâs nose twitched, he knew that smell.
Tatiana looked at the bartender before looking away, "Donât worry, heâs an asset placed to watch over this area by the gang that owns the club..."
"Heâs just like me," Ralph interrupted, the frown on his face getting intense.
Tatiana sensed that Ralphâs mood wasnât getting better since he stepped into the club.
"I remember specifically asking you not to get me involved with any werewolves. Are you trying to set me up, Tatiana?" Ralph asked as he took a powerful step forward.
Tatiana subconsciously took a step back, "Why would you think that? If anything happens to you, how will I make a lot of money?
Youâre my best mercenary, you know that," She said.
"Then why arenât you respecting my boundaries?" Ralph took two more steps forward and Tatiana literally disappeared in response.
"Cool the fuck down, Silver," Tatianaâs worried voice echoed from around the corner. She had turned invisible, nowhere to be seen.
"Hey you," Tatiana appeared again next to the bar table and addressed the bartender, "Leave immediately,"
"Miss Tatiana, the boss said that I have to stay to keep watch," The bartender said, a little frightened.
Tatiana was not someone he had the guts to disrespect. She was a big name among mercenaries.
"Okay then, weâll just leave. When your boss asks why he did not receive his remaining payment, you can explain yourself to him," Tatiana said, narrowing her green eyelids.
The bartender gulped. He looked at Ralph who stood silently and watched all this. He didnât know why but this young man seemed very familiar to him.
"Iâll go stand guard outside," The bartender compromised. He couldnât leave this place and disobey his boss but he could at least give the agent and her client some privacy.
"Oh, and give me that bottle over there before you go, yes, that one," Tatiana pointed at an expensive-looking liquor bottle.
"Thatâll be three hundred zalas, Miss Tatiana," The bartender said, already reaching for the bottle.
"Alright, Iâll pay for it separately later," Tatiana said before collecting the bottle. She wasnât able to wrap her one smallish hand around the body so she stylishly held it by the tip.
After that, the bartender left, not before giving a final glance at Ralph.
Ralphâs eyes never left the bartender until he was out of the club.
"Well then, letâs go," Tatiana said, rubbing the wine bottle in her hand with care.
"You canât even say thank you. Did you actually want to kill me back then?" Tatiana asked as she climbed the glass stairs leading to the smaller VIP level.
During the nightly hours, when the club was officially open, this place would be packed with bodyguards, keeping the regular people away from the VIPs.
Now, the whole club had been emptied, an extreme measure to provide extreme privacy.
Ralph did not answer Tatianaâs last question, "The paper..." He started.
"That was just my niece, sheâs learning the ways of a spy, wants to be like her dad, can you believe that?" Tatiana blabbed while finding her way to one of the red comfortable sofas in the VIP area.
She placed the wine bottle on the glass table in front of her, beside the black briefcase.
"I didnât detect her at all, sheâs very good," Ralph said.
"Hehehe, I know youâre just trying to assess her threat level. Donât worry, she had to spend two hours by the window just to pass the letter.
It takes a lot of effort to not alert you at all, Iâd give you that...
Ah, I didnât bring any cup," Tatiana said as she noticed that there was no cup for both of them to share the wine.
Ralph sat on the couch on the opposite side of the glass table, "Donât bother, Iâm not drinking,"
Tatiana scoffed, "So focused, loosening up a bit, not everyone is out to get you, you know,"
Ralph frowned, there was just something about that statement that made him feel deeply uncomfortable.
"Iâll pass," Ralph said.
Tatiana shook her head, "I admire your focus, Silver, Iâve told you before. If not that I donât like mixing business with pleasure, I would have chosen you..."
"Please, I donât want to waste time," Ralph said, rolling his eyes at Tatianaâs antics.
Ralphâs interruption almost made Tatiana jump off her couch, "Oooooh, if I could just fuck you right now!"
Ralph looked at her with a deadpan expression, deciding not to give her the reaction he wanted.
Tatiana coughed, mocking fake embarrassment. Her green cheeks turned a slight shade of red.
"Okay, okay, letâs do business," Tatiana said, pushing the bottle of wine aside. She placed her green fingers on the black briefcase and pushed it toward Ralph.
Ralph received the briefcase and opened it. Inside were stacks of blue bills, physical zalas cash, arranged in rows that filled the box.
"The remaining digital half has been paid into the account you gave me, I like this type of insurance.
But I donât think everyone would be able to afford this type of insurance."
As Tatiana spoke, she picked up the one bottle, removed the cap, and began to drink it directly.
"Thatâs why I give you thirty percent commission, so that you can keep getting me quality customers."
Ralph said, picking up the zalas notes and taking a sniff. Directly from the bank, he could tell that the money had not touched a lot of hands.
"If you werenât so good at what you do, commission or not, it wouldnât matter.
You should see how all of them are always trying to reserve you for their dirty work," Tatiana continued, drinking from the wine bottle.
"Reserve me?" Ralph closed the briefcase and looked up.
"Yeah, a couple of clients have been trying to book you for some important stuff. Let me know if youâre ready for another job."
"Iâm ready," Ralph said almost immediately.
"Oh," Tatiana brought the bottle away from her face, showing that she had already downed half of its contents.
"Thereâs one still in the city, but youâll have to work with others,"
"No, another one,"
"Uhm, thereâs that big money inheritance guy job thatâs been lying around. The client has increased the agreed payment, says he needs it done fast," Tatiana said, using her memory to remember the bookings.
"How fast?"
"He needs it done by the end of the week, can you do that?"
"I can try, no promises," Ralph said.
Tatiana smiled, "Oh silver, so humble. You and I know that the target is as good as dead with you taking care of it.
Why donât you want the other job though? Is it because of the guys youâd be working with
No werewolves are among them?"
Ralph, "I donât trust them,"
"You donât trust anyone, except for me of course, hehehe. But seriously, arenât werewolves supposed to work in packs?
Whatâs with you?" Tatiana leaned forward.
Ralph shook his head, preparing to stand up, "I want to be on my own for now," He lied.
Tatiana smirked, "A lone wolf, just how I like them.
Hey, youâre going already? You know, I can make an exception and mix pleasure with business for you!"
Ralph was already walking down the stairs.
Tatiana stood up and rushed to the railing, "Those bitches out there might be prettier than me but theyâre broke as fuck!
I can be your sugar mummy, silver!"
Ralph finally smiled, unable to hide the fact that he found Tatianaâs actions humorous, "Freaky chameleon," He muttered.
Before he walked out of the club with the briefcase...
"Iâll send you the full details for the job, see you later dear!"