Welcome to the Club #2
Simo sighed, but Chen smiled and gestured to Jessie to go ahead.
“Why am I going to work for a nightclub that Ari Ascher does not own… and why do you work at Club Aurae, that Ari does not own, and why do you say that Ari Ascher, who is one of the biggest movie producers in Hollywood, you both claim is your boss?”
Simo turned to her. “It’s complicated. Ari will tell you what you need to know.”
“There you have it.” Chen smiled.
Jessie realized that Chen was trying to run interference for Simo’s gruffness.
She had already worked out what was going on.
A Hollywood producer would not even be able to get a message to the Director of the CIA, let alone a call.
She was intrigued. It could explain some of Simo’s stress.
Perhaps it was that Ari loaned Simo out to the CIA, rather than Simo simply being a contractor as she was told before her Op?
Her clearance never was high enough to discover why Simo had done repeated jobs for the CIA.
At first, she thought it was because of him helping her back in Athens, and that he owed the CIA, but there were multiple operations that involved Simo.
Furthermore, she surmised that Ari Ascher was a spy of some sort, or someone who had a lot of clout with people high up. Perhaps he used to be CIA himself…
Chen pointed out of the window. “That house there is Halo Raines's home.”
“Oh? Really?” She saw how beautiful and expansive Halo’s home was and suddenly was transported back years ago to the retail store outside of Athens.
She recalled Halo’s face on the Givenchy perfume ad and that her perfume was too expensive for her to buy…
the salesgirl gave her free samples to wear for her ‘man’.
She smiled inwardly as she recalled that she wore Halo’s perfume when she and Simo made love.
She smiled at the thought of how Halo keeps popping up in her life with Simo.
Jessie watched the house as they drove by. “It’s a beautiful home. Do you both know Halo personally?”
“I do,” Simo grumbled.
“Oh? Is she a diva?”
Simo turned to her. “No. She lives in that house alone, like some hermit. She’s very generous… her heart is very fragile.” Simo clamped his lips together and wondered why he said that.
“That is sad.”
Chen nodded. “Yes, it is. She has thrown herself into her new project. A new film, it could land her an Academy Award… I’ve been told.”
“And you know this because of Ari Ascher?”
“Yes. Simo and most of our team are secret investors in her picture.”
“And don’t tell her, or anyone else, if you ever meet her,” Simo added gruffly.
“That is peculiar…”
“Halo and her partner…”
“I thought you said she lives alone?”
“Halo and her ‘business’ partner want to do this all on their…”
Simo interrupted. “That malaka… Joel Miller,” Simo huffed.
Jessie saw the distaste on Simo’s face; it surprised her. She turned to Chen as he continued.
“Yes, Joel Miller is… not an ideal choice. He is a competent producer, but he is a very damaged and misguided young man. Ari and Ronson Raines wanted to help Halo in a very surreptitious manner. We all were invited to invest.”
“Wow… you all have a lot going on out here.” Jessie smiled.
“No kidding…” Simo mumbled.
“Lest I forget, the meeting with Ari Ascher is held formally… it is just how he does things. He likes to keep some of the old-world ways alive.”
“I see… so Head of State type of thing?”
“Precisely.”
Jessie watched as they turned down the drive to Ari’s home.
Saying it was huge was an understatement.
As they pulled up, several people in black polo shirts filed out.
Then a stately looking man in a very expensive black suit waited at the head of the line.
Jessie pointed out the window. “That does not look like Ari Ascher.”
“Correct. That, my dear, is Andrew Wilcox. He is the manager of the estate and a former SAS Master Sergeant.”
“Interesting.”
Jessie was helped out by Larry, and soon the formalities of meeting Ari Ascher were complete, and they were all sitting in the living room, enjoying 12 Ouzo. Ari was smiling at her as he addressed her.
“Miss James, I have heard that the alcoholic beverage of your choice is Ouzo. Specifically, number 12.”
“Yes, Mr. Ascher, it is… and I am guessing you already know why.”
Ari grinned and gestured to Simo, who was acting disinterested. “All due to our illustrious Simo?”
“Yes, Mr. Ascher. I drink Ouzo in honor of Simo saving my life. Thank you again, Simo, for your sacrifices.”
Simo nodded and followed suit as everyone lifted their glasses in salute.
“So, tell me, Miss James. What do you think of all this?”
“Very complicated. So many levels of subterfuge… are in play.”
Ari smiled. “Care to enlighten us on your observations?”
“Well… it seems you are the real owner of all the Club Aurae. And you must either be former British MI5 or MI6 or perhaps CIA or even Israeli Mossad. What you do besides producing great movies… is perplexing.”
“Perceptive.”
“Didn’t spend all that time at university, the Farm, and the Point for nothing, I guess.”
Chen spoke up. “Jessie, I must ask… how did you pass all the psychological testing?”
Jessie sighed and looked down at her shoes for a long moment, then looked up. “Simo helped.”
“I did not,” Simo shot back.
“I mean, you helped by discussing the possibility of me being programmed with Booker back in Athens. The voice in my head to kill, along with my own compelling desire to kill the people who were responsible for taking me from my home… it became apparent that someone had fu… er, messed with my mind. I think I was in captivity longer than I knew. Their torture was a way of solidifying Ivanov’s suggestions to kill his targets, ultimately the ones responsible for buying me.
Given the chance, I would have ended them anyway.
Ivanov and his goon knew my personality type and my history.
He knew how to get his payback. So, to answer your question, I made his suggestions my own.
Yes, the voice was driving me nuts, but I knew not to disclose it and I was careful to not divulge it under… their psychological attacks.”
“Attacks?” Simo interjected.
“Yes. It was brutal, Simo. Sleep deprivation. Food deprivation. Stress encounters. Vanity deprivation. I must say, though, that none of it was worse than what I went through on that ship. So, for how brutal and exhausting the CIA testing was… it didn’t compare.” Jessie shrugged.
“The CIA lost when they cut their ties with you.” Ari smiled.
“Don’t count them out yet,” Simo sighed.
“I won’t allow them to interfere, unless you are willing,” Ari assured Simo.
“Mr. Ascher? I was under the impression you owed the CIA because of me…”
“Miss James, I do… but they owe me much, much more in the end.”
“I guess my thanks are in order, Mr. Ascher.”
“You are most welcome. In return, I expect your utmost loyalty and honesty. Understood?”
“Sir, you have that… well, unless…”
“Yes, Miss James?”
“Unless it comes to harming the… uh, people I care most about. I told this to the CIA as well.”
Ari smiled. “Well spoken. I would never ask you to harm your loved ones. In that case, it would become my job. Clear?”
“Crystal, Sir.”