CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Jack
Oliver Roux’s henchman was pointing a gun at me, and I was rabbit-in-the-headlights frozen.
The weapon wasn’t a prop, and Xander wasn’t an actor.
He was pointing a real fucking gun at me!
And now Nate, with his hands up in surrender had stepped in front to shield me.
If I wasn’t so terrified, I would have swooned.
“You know he’s alive, right, your father?” Roux stated.
“So I’ve heard,” Nate replied flatly.
“Curtis is an intelligent man; very specific skills…his services are highly sought after. But, he refuses to work for me.”
“My dad has standards! What of it?”
“Shame that, he’d be quite the asset…Look, do you by any chance know where he is?” Roux said in that lazy Boston drawl as if his question was a casual enquiry and not the very reason for this invitation. “Curtis obtained something that belongs to me, and I want it back,” Roux stated.
“Sorry, I don’t know where he is, can’t help you,” Nate replied. “I’m just here in Berlin for a little down time before our promos. You know what it’s like, all work and no play…it’s not good for the soul.”
“Huh! He’d have to possess a fuckin’ soul to understand that!” I sniped.
Roux sneered, “Let’s cut the bullshit. I know Curtis escaped from China. We’ve been tracking him around Europe for weeks. Somehow, he got the Téng hú chips to you.”
“What’s a Téng hú chip, some kind of food?” Nate said nonchalantly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know for a fact that’s bullshit. You know exactly what I’m talking about, both of you do. The chips in question are in the safe in your suite,” Roux countered.
“Where did you get your Intel?”
“As I said, everyone’s got a hole! Someone wanted theirs filled with my money.
” Roux gave a malevolent smile. I’d called it earlier…
there was definitely a mole in Special Agent Porter’s team…
and now the international law enforcement agencies watching our button surveillance footage knew that too!
How embarrassing! Someone was in deep trouble.
“If your father would have followed orders and passed the chips on to Rivera, my lab could have developed working replicas in time for my launch today. Now I’m gonna have to wing it with an AI-generated demo!” Roux grumbled.
“My father was working for the US government. He hasn’t stolen a damn thing from you,” Nate insisted.
“And the US government work for me!” Roux roared, his face purpling with outrage.
At the raised tone of voice, the cat, Lolita, scrambled from under the couch and scurried to the dining table where she leaped up and then leisurely tip-toed her way between the charging cradles.
She seemed to take glee in using the wooden spoon protruding through her harness to knock over the Satellite phone.
“I thought that your years with Erik would have made you smarter, educated you a little about the way the world works! You’ve made a fatal error, Nate!
I want those goddamn chips. If I don’t get my chips I will ruin your fucking life.
I’ll ensure no one in the entertainment industry would piss on you if you were on fire, let alone green-light any of your future vanity projects. ”
Sure, Roux had unlimited resources, he could do this. He was malicious enough to find interesting ways to discredit those who denied him. Nate’s jaw stiffened with anger, but before he could retort, Roux spoke again.
“I could,” he grinned, and his sudden change in mood gave me whiplash. “But…I’d say there’s a deal to be made, don’t you think Nate…Jack? You really do not want to test me.” Neither Nate nor I had a chance to respond.
“Which is it? Who supplied the password, and whose biometrics opens the safe?” the billionaire demanded.
But before either of us could tell Roux to piss-off straight to hell, do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars; there was a triple knock on the front door. Nate and I eyed one another.
Who was the third guest?
The door was opened by Roux’s security, and then there were murmurs of voices in the hall. Moments later the hall guard appeared. “Sir, the two security details are carrying. Do you want me to disarm?” he asked.
“No, no, its fine, let them come in,” Roux ordered.
Three people strode into the lounge; two stony-faced, sharp-suited Chinese men flanking a svelte, delicate young Chinese woman.
She looked like a doll, dressed perfectly for a tea party, wearing a pink layered tulle dress and flat pink silk pumps.
Her obsidian hair was styled in a classy bob cut.
“Ah, the special guest, please come in, come in, take a seat Dr. Mai. Why, don’t you look…
delightful,” Roux said with a predatory growl, his eyes bright and lecherous.
“Your bodyguards can wait in the hall. We’re just going to have a little conversation.
I can assure you’ll come to no harm,” he said in a softer tone than before.
The seventeen-year-old genius Dr. Ling Mai respectfully bowed a little as she spoke in a sweet, innocent stuttering voice, as if she was feeling her way over the English words.
“Mr. Roux, thank you for the most generous invitation. My guards will stay with me,” she said, sounding a little disappointed.
I imagine she’d love to explore the city without her government sanctioned guard dogs in tow.
“I seem to have arrived in time for the entertainment,” she said, eyeing the gun pointed at me and Nate.
“Oh! Mr. Roux, you did not say you knew such famous actors, I am impressed.” Dr Mai turned to me and bowed, “Mr. Jack Boyd, I am very much a fan,” she said as she gazed at me with heart-eyes and a wide smile.
“Lord Bertie, he is such a gentleman, my favourite romantic hero.” I didn’t realize Harmon Hall had reached China!
Then she pivoted to Nate and bowed. “Mr. Nate Linden, I am much looking forward to your new movie.” Neither Nate nor I responded…
after all there was a fucking gun pointed at us!
A long, awkward pause followed, where everyone in the room exchanged glances.
Roux’s mouth pinched, as if he’d smelled something unpleasant.
Maybe he was a little aggrieved that Dr. Mai was my fan, and not his!
This sweet, feminine confection had walked in on dangerous business.
The Chinese bodyguard’s hands twitched, as if they were seconds from drawing the weapons that Roux had foolishly let them keep.
“Dr. Mai, I understand the tech security conference has kept you busy. It’s wonderful you could spare the time to join us. Please take a seat,” Oliver Roux repeated. “We have some business to discuss. Can I offer you refreshment?”
Dr. Mai spoke up. “Mr. Roux. I am only here because you hinted that you know the whereabouts of my Téng hú. But I will not discuss anything with you if dear Mr. Boyd and Mr. Linden are in danger. Tell your man to put his weapon away,” Dr. Mai said brooking no argument.
Well, well, well, Dr. Mai had backbone, I liked her.
Roux sent a glare to his man and gave a near imperceptible nod.
The safety catch on the Heckler & Koch pistol was pressed, and then Xander pushed the weapon back into his waistband.
Dr. Mai then nodded in approval and moved on dainty feet to take a seat on the couch, one bodyguard joining to stand at her side, the other remaining beside the doorway to the entrance hall. Nate took my hand. I was grateful to feel his skin against mine.
Oliver Roux sat on the second couch, directly opposite Dr. Mai. He blatantly eye fucked her, but she did not squirm, or take on a shy, coquettish head tilt and look away. She met his gaze head on.
“You are busy man, Mr. Roux, and I am also busy. Please tell me about this business so I can get to my next meeting.”
“I like a woman who knows how to take charge,” Roux grinned. “Okay then. These men have your Téng hú chips. I’ve invited you all here to broker a deal to get us all what we want.”
“Is that right?” Dr. Mai replied a light laugh in her voice.
“America is far too conceited with their blatant attempts to steal China’s advanced technology.
True competition requires honesty and openness, Mr. Roux.
We will not stand for this theft. The Chinese government wants our stolen technology returned immediately!
Now, tell me, what do you want Mr. Roux? ”
“What do I want?” Roux said, a ponderous finger tapping his lips. “Well, as you refused to work for me, may I suggest a date?” he chuckled.
“You are not a serious man, Mr Roux,” Dr. Mai said disdainfully and she began to rise from the couch.
Roux put a placating hand up. “No, no, forgive me and my sense of humour,” he wheedled. Dr. Mai sat back down.
“I hear there are ten missing chips. I’m not a greedy man, Dr. Mai,” Roux stated, and both Nate and I snorted involuntarily. Oliver Roux scowled, but kept his composure and his eyes on Dr. Mai.
“Give me one Téng hú, that’s all. Let me keep one for research and I’ll give the rest back to you.”
In a stern, deep voice the bodyguard beside Dr. Mai spoke up.
“Mr. Roux. Forgive me, but we have not yet been introduced. I am Shen Szi, Ministry for State Security. Tell me, Mr. Roux…are you quite mad? You cannot broker what you do not possess. Why would we give the property of the Chinese government to you? We know Mr. Boyd and Mr. Linden are in possession of the missing Téng hú. We can retrieve the Téng hú without your assistance. Maybe you should leave and we will take a meeting with Mr. Linden and Mr. Boyd!”
Oliver Roux rose from the couch and started pacing furiously. “Man…has everyone forgotten their goddamn manners?” Wow, Roux’s temper was a thing to behold. He did not like losing control of a situation.
“This is my suite, my meeting, my deal,” Roux shouted like a kid whose birthday party had been usurped by another, more interesting child.
At that Agent Szi swiftly drew a gun and pointed it at Oliver Roux.
His compatriot also pulled his gun and pointed it at us, the barrel wavering between Xander, Nate, and me.
“Again? You have got to be fucking kidding me!” I exclaimed, putting my hands up.
The Chinese guard by the door produced a cable tie and headed for Xander.
He took the man’s weapon and tied his hands behind his back, and then his ankles, lowering him to the floor to lie on his side, one pawn out of the game.
“Mr. Roux, call your people to come out of their rooms. Do not test me. If you were to…suddenly be killed by my gun, do not doubt I would be a hero in my country and my dear leader would shower me with accolades. Remember this. Call your people. Do IT!” Agent Szi snapped.
With the pout of a thwarted toddler Roux did as he was told.
“Amber, Ricardo, we’ve got a situation. Come into the lounge with your hands up, that is an order.
No weapons, no sudden movements,” Roux called.
“Seriously, they’ve got guns…do as you’re told, there’s no need for this to get out of hand,” he scowled.
It seemed Roux truly realized that he’d been out manoeuvred.
He’d made a huge error in allowing Dr. Mai’s men to keep their weapons.
Even though we were all in danger, everyone here was expendable, except for Nate and me.
Roux seethed, and it amused me to see him so crestfallen at losing control!
Amber and Ricardo both came into the lounge with their hands on display.
“Ricardo, no heroics, just give him your side arm,” Roux directed.
The second Chinese agent took the weapon and made the pair stand with their arms out for a pat down, and then a check with the metal detector wand.
The gun wasn’t the only weapon Ricardo had on him.
He had small telescopic baton on his belt, a compact pistol in a leather holster secreted at this left ankle, and a flick knife strapped to his right wrist. The weapons were confiscated and the guard’s hands were secured behind his back with cable ties, and then his ankles were tied.
He was deposited on his side next to Xander.
The most dangerous thing Amber Carrigan had on her was the ultra-thin metal six-inch stiletto heels.
If things went tits up, she was the best bet.
I’d knock her down in a pinch and take my weapon of choice!
It seemed that only those who had been armed would be restrained.
Roux, Amber, Nate, and I remained untied!
“Go and stand with the others,” Dr. Mai instructed Amber. She grinned triumphantly at her handiwork, the humiliated guards, and the rest of us fearfully at gunpoint. Dr. Mai’s English was no longer stilted and her voice was not the sweet, innocent lilt of before! We had all been played!
****