Taking the Measure of a Man
Pass or Fail
Simo watched Xander’s mouth actually fall open when he saw Halo’s mother, Jillian, appear from the doorway, smiling.
“Jillian Raines? No...”
“Yes, Xander. The one and only. Please, Love, release poor Sagar. You have my word no one here will harm you.”
Simo watched as Xander glanced at his knife at Sagar’s neck and his face turned red. He moved the knife away, closed it, and had it back in his pocket in a flash. Simo felt himself nodding.
“Xander, do you want your letter back now?” Simo chuckled.
Xander shook his head and walked toward Jillian and Ronson Raines, red-faced with his hand out.
Jillian pushed his hand away and embraced him fully as Ari and Vicente, Virgo Airlines owner and Ari’s partner, came in.
As the Raines family were hugging Xander and thanking him with everything they had for saving their daughter, Simo turned to Sagar, who was wiping his face with a silk handkerchief.
“Why would you even mention Halo?” Simo whispered.
“Well, it got him moving, did it not?”
“Good thing for you he’s a boy scout.” Sagar nodded, and they turned to see Xander, still red-faced, as he explained how well the captain landed the plane to Vicente.
Next, Jillian was ushering Xander into the conference room. Simo stood up and met Ari and Ronson.
“He’s fast.” Ronson laughed.
“I was expecting the jacket in my face. There are some decent instincts there.” Simo chuckled.
Ari patted Simo’s shoulder, pulled Ronson in close, and turned to him. “When you are done speaking with him, Simo and I will sit down with him. Your thoughts, since Halo is your daughter?”
“I owe that man everything, Ari. If he hadn’t been there or be half the man he is… I hate to consider what would have happened. Promise me you’ll take care of him.” Ronson turned to Simo, who nodded. “Ah, Jillian is coming out. My turn.” Ronson went in as his wife came out.
“Jillian?” Ari asked her as she brushed a blonde lock from her forehead.
“I’m fine. That poor man… his heart is broken, but I can tell he loves Halo down to his soul. It’s going to take some time for him to heal.”
Simo leaned close. “Does he know about Halo?” Simo discreetly pointed to his belly, and Jillian shook her head.
“She desperately wants to be the one to explain and tell him. It’s only right.”
“They went through so much… Halo told me before she left that she thinks she actually died or was so close to dying, and Xander pulled her back.”
Simo eyed her and didn’t know what to think.
Ari spoke up, looking at Simo. “The things we do for love… ah, here comes Ronson.”
“My boy!” Ronson smiled as he strode into the conference room.
“Jillian gave me one minute to say thanks and then we need to leave, she said. Hah! Women...” He laughed and rolled his eyes in his handsome face.
He stepped up to Xander and gave him another hug, this time much gentler than the last bear hug.
“Sir, it was an honor to meet you.”
Ronson let go of Xander and pointed at him with his finger, smiling. “What did I say to call me?”
Xander smiled. “I mean Ronson.”
“That's more like it. Just want to say thank you again. You did one hell of a job saving my baby girl. I am indebted to you, son. My door is always open to you!” Ronson reached up and placed his hand on Xander's shoulder and gently rocked him back and forth.
“As a father myself, I can say this: I am damn proud of you, and I am sure as heaven above that your father would be just as proud of you as I am!” Ronson let go of his shoulder and held out his hand to him.
Xander took Ronson's hand and felt the firm, strong grip. “Thank you, Ronson, I really appreciate what you said.” Xander's eyes welled up as he shook her father's hand.
“Atta boy!” Ronson said and gave him a solid pat on his shoulder. “Well, I better skedaddle before Jill sets in on me. We will see you soon, son. Take care of yourself.”
“Thank you, you too, er, Ronson.”
Ronson was quickly gone, and the door shut behind him.
Xander sat down with a sigh and finished off his water.
He felt tired and wrung out; he just wanted to go home and sleep.
Then the thought hit him: where the hell is home?
He put his head in his hands. What's with all this 'son' and 'my boy' stuff?
And Jillian? Calling him her newly adopted son?
Wow. If he had gotten socked in the face for sleeping with their daughter, he could accept that.
This whole ‘family’ thing was bizarre...
He turned to the door as Ari came in with Simo following at his heels, the briefcase in his hand. He pushed himself slowly up to meet them.
“Xander! Please have a seat,” Ari offered as he came around to the opposite side from Xander and sat down. Simo sat four chairs away at the head of the table. Ari turned to Simo. “Would you please buzz Deepa?”
Xander saw Simo reach under the desk, and very quickly Deepa came gracefully walking in with a pitcher of water and two glasses.
Ari looked at her. “Thank you, Deepa.” He turned to Xander, “Can we get you anything besides water?”
“I'm fine with water, thank you.”
Deepa came to him first and filled his glass, then went to Ari and Simo’s glasses. When she was done, she left the room with a smile at Xander.
“Quite the adventure you were on, wouldn't you say?” Ari asked as he sat back in the chair.
Xander smiled, thinking the game was afoot. “You could say that.”
Ari nodded, took a few moments, and watched Xander.
“Never thought I would witness an individual turn down a million dollars in cash. Simo did give us warning. Xander, you look exhausted, so I will forgo the small talk.” Ari rubbed his hands together, placed them on the table, and scooted his chair closer.
“So, how do we get you out of our way concerning Joel?”
Xander pursed his lips and shrugged. “Kill me?”
Ari sighed and shook his head no. “We refuse to participate in this death wish of yours. The Raines family are quite fond of you, and I am as well. None of us wish to see you in harm’s way. Let me just try and understand this: You made a promise to Joel?”
Xander nodded.
“Obviously, it is about if he did not follow directions, you would exact a payment of sorts from him.”
“Of sorts, yes.”
“You are either willing to throw your life away, or you do not care about any repercussions for what you plan.”
“More or less,” Xander replied.
Ari nodded and ran his hand over the table like he was clearing off crumbs. “Let's speak about Halo.”
“Let's not and say we did...” Xander said with an edge in his voice.
“Fearful of convulsions?” Ari asked politely.
“I must admit that it wasn't all that enjoyable.”
Ari nodded and pressed his lips together. “Understandable.” He paused, “Do you love Halo?”
Xander narrowed his eyes at Ari. “Doesn't everyone?”
“Perhaps.”
“Ari, are you done taking measure of me yet? Jillian mentioned that’s what this was all about, and she disagreed with it all.”
Ari smiled, holding out his hands. “Fathers and their daughters.”
Xander sighed. “Ok… yes, I would want to know who the guy really is, too, if the situation were reversed.”
“Brilliant! So, what options do we have so that you do not get into our way concerning Joel Miller?”
“First off. Why don't you tell me why you want him so badly? There is a lot more going on here than meets the eye, and on multiple levels.”
“Fair enough, I'll say what I am able. Here is the skinny, as they say: Annabeth's niece was under my protection here in Los Angeles while she tried making a run at breaking into the acting world. As a Swan, she wanted to try it on her own. Hold that thought and I will give you a backstory: This conglomeration, as Sagar so inelegantly put it, owns many nightclubs… among other businesses across the US, Aurae being one of them. Follow me so far?”
“I do,” Xander replied, and already knew where this was going.
“I asked Elara Swan, Annabeth's niece, to only visit our clubs as she would be safer. The video feed from Aurae shows Elara leaving at the same time as Johnny Stone and Joel Miller. They both were two of the several people last to see Elara. Joel has the investigation tied up with his attorneys and denies he ever heard of her.”
“I see... justice is what you want. Welcome to my club, Ari.” Xander wanted to reach across the table and offer his hand for effect, but he was too tired. So he sat waiting for Ari to respond.
“You are correct, Xander. Joel's father passed away, and Joel will leverage all of Powerhouse and Irwin Miller's personal assets for his own use. He will use every last dime he has, and then some, to stay out of prison. My plan involves leaving nary a loophole for Joel to escape. I desire to produce evidence so complete, so goddamned airtight that he will go to prison for life; however short it may be in the California Penal system.”
Xander looked from Ari to Simo, and an idea came to him. “So, hire me on Simo's team, for one.”
The room remained silent as both Ari and Simo looked at each other, wordless. Simo turned and looked at Xander. “And for the other?”
“I'm there at the end for my promise, and no, I don't plan on killing him... I like Ari's plan,” Xander said with a big, fake smile.
Simo looked at Ari, who held his hand up to Simo to wait.
“Xander, you used the word 'hire'?”
“Sure. I need to make a living while I'm here. What's the standard rate for security? Twenty bucks an hour?”
“I wish...” Ari said, chuckling along with Simo. “Simo? Your thoughts, please.”
Simo chuckled. “No, Ari, I won’t take a pay cut to twenty bucks an hour. Sorry.”
Ari laughed.
Simo leaned forward to accentuate his point. “So, you think you can take my orders and follow them? Even if you are just an observer and, at the most, backup?”
“I was married once, Simo. Yes, I can take orders with one stipulation. If she is in danger at any point? It'll be my turn at bat at whoever poses any danger to her.”