Chapter 11
Carlos stood in the middle of the restaurant waiting for an answer but the room was silent.
“I said, where is the man that confronted my son?” Scott’s stomach sank. Behind him, by the entrance, stood one of Carlos’s dogs, a tall man with a cowboy hat, mustache, and steel-toed cowboy boots.
The eyes in the room shifted to Scott. “You?” Carlos said to Scott. “Javier, bring him outside.” The man with the mustache walked over to Scott and pointed toward the door. Scott’s heart was in his throat.
“Carlos, he didn’t know,” Daniela protested as she stepped forward. Carlos raised his hand to cut her off.
“Quiet,” Carlos said. “I will deal with him.”
Scott swallowed hard. “What do you want with me?” he said.
“Move,” Javier said coldly. With heavy steps, Scott did as he was told and followed Carlos out of Oceania. A dead man walking.
Carlos led him to the plaza in front of the restaurant. Not a word was said. Javier stayed in the shadows, while Carlos turned to face Scott, staring a hole in him under the buzzing iridescent lights.
Here Scott was, having only arrived in Acapulco earlier that day, already in a Mexican standoff. The only thing missing was the music from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and maybe some tumbleweed.
Suddenly, Carlos’s face softened and he smiled, like someone flipped his switch from kill to chill. “I want to thank you for putting my son in his place. I can't have Cristiano causing so much trouble in the hotel. Finally, someone had the guts to speak up to him. Please accept my apology.”
Carlos extended his hand. Scott looked at it like it was a snake ready to bite him. Carlos laughed. “I know what you must have heard about me, but I’m not so bad.” Scott reluctantly shook his hand.
“Everything alright here?” Contessa said, appearing from the doorway of the restaurant.
“Yes, of course, Contessa,” Carlos said. “I’m sorry for tonight’s disturbance. Please allow me to pay for everyone’s tab this evening.”
Contessa looked at Carlos suspiciously. “Scott, I’ll be right inside if you need me.” She disappeared back into Oceania.
Carlos turned back to Scott. “What makes you so brave?” Carlos asked.
“I’m really nobody, Se?or?—"
“Please, call me Carlos.”
“Ok, Carlos. I’m just a New Yorker.”
“What can I do to make it up to you?”
“I’m fine.”
“What are you doing here in Acapulco?” Carlos said.
“I was here to meet with Contessa. I work in advertising."
“How did that go?”
“I don’t think she’s interested in our services.” Scott was careful not to reveal too much.
Carlos looked him over. “Something tells me you’re good with technology, Scott. You have that look about you.”
“I guess.”
“What do you know about cryptocurrency?”
“Not much. I guess about as much as the next guy.”
“Have you ever bought or sold any crypto?”
“Sure, not that it’s a special skill. A lot of people have done that. What’s this all about anyway?”
“Maybe there is something I can do for you. I am having my own Christmas Party the day after Christmas. I would like you to come. I have an opportunity for you, something that could be very profitable for you.”
“A Christmas Party the day after Christmas?”
“That’s right. My party is a little too hot for Christmas Day, so I do it the day after.
I insist you come. My associate Javier will put you on the guest list.” The man waiting in the shadows nodded.
“I live in the penthouse at the top of the hill. Be there at 8 p.m.” Carlos turned and walked off into the night and Javier followed him.
Scott closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Just as his heartbeat began to slow, Tom and the others arrived.
“Hey, Scott! Why are you standing out here?” Blaine said. “Don’t you know there’s a Christmas party going on? C’mon, kid, let’s go.”