Italy, Palermo docks 8.00 am

 

lender as gorgeous and wrapped in a short black dress, golden blond hair, a hint of a smile on her thick and fleshy lips. I nearly choked on my cigarette when I saw them approaching me. A drop-dead gorgeous chick she was!

"Welcome to Palermo, Mrs Lambert, Mr Lambert, I'm Gero. Can I suggest a short tour of our beautiful city while we head to our destination?"

"So, kind of you, Mr Gero. We prefer to go on without any further delay. "The sharp man's tone and full of detached command and inflexible did not allow a reply. They sat mute, seemingly plunged in each own thought but for when she had a motion of interest passing by the Politeama Theatre just before I turned on a side road to enter a car park. Four men in black stood around a limousine alike on its top floor.

The woman squeezed her mate's hand and got out, swaying softly on high heels, her ponytail matching hips' movements. She stopped long legs wide apart, hands behind the back, and waited, motionlessly.

The moisture-laden air seemed to ignite.

A man came over and torn out her dress, leaving her stark naked and exposed. She did not move nor rebel even when they loaded her in the car, hooded and cuffed.

They switched the engine on, and I prepared to move too.

Lambert had not blinked so far. His smartphone trilled.

"Kaylee's on delivery, Tano." Such a low, persuasive voice unmatched his cold gaze mirroring into the rear-view.

"Take me to the airport."

***

 

KAYLEE

 

They had left behind their hectic business to jump on the first flight to the Côte d'Azur for a few days at Place des Engravers, some candlelit dinners, and hot nights and wild. It worked fine. Kaylee's charms even attracted a suitor; Tano Lofaso, an old-fashioned gentleman and a witty conversationalist, offered them some leisure drink before dinner daily.

It so occurred, within those lusty days and pleasant, that in a sunny afternoon Stephen lured Kaylee scantily clad in a G-string bikini coming out from the waves, kidding Tano who greedily devoured his wife's moves up, a short distance away, when his smartphone rang, taking him on the earth.

"Stephen? Bill here. I should say someone wants to take us on the ground in brief. We have already lost more than four million dollars, and it goes on by now. I released some press about a corporate conversion, faking normality. It is a priority you act yourself, or within a few days, no one will keep his head out of the water. "

"All right, Bill, keep in touch. Fuck!" he shouted. Kaylee jumped backwards and looked at him. It was unusual for Stephen to lose control.

"What's going on, dear? "

"There's trouble looming on the horizon, Honey. Bill reported somewhat like a market crash. It looks like we are going on the ground. We got to do something asap."

"Call Mr Tyler. I will ask my contacts online. See you later. Love" He loved her professional skills as much as her still-damp body wrapped in a sarong, now leaving in a hurry. Kaylee's tiger reflexes saved the Group so many times in the past.

Past some frantic calls, he knew even less than before. Nobody knew where Tyler was now, and Stephen did not trust anybody else in occurrences as such.

And they needed help.

"Stephen, I regret I couldn't but listen to your phone call. I guess that your Group undergoes an attack on the stock market. Whether it is or not, I might be of some help."

"Tano, I would not ask anybody for an instant cash loan of 5 million dollars."

"However, I might come to you, should you have the courtesy to listen to me and not to let you be overwhelmed by your emotions. I must confess your splendid wife tingled my curiosity and pushed me to know you a bit better. My pieces of information tell your business has a remarkably high profile on the market, a pattern that interests me. I offer you a loan in the order of 40 million dollars. You will not repay me until this storm has passed and you would find yourself even more luxurious than before. Would you grant me a 4% percentage on all the profits you will earn from the moment I pay you the first tranche? Should this offer work, we can move on to examine the next condition."

"It's a generous offer Tano, way too liberal. What would your second condition be?" He asked, staring into his eyes. Stephen was perplexed as to how quickly the man had delivered his proposal. However, it was worth letting him throw the cards on the table.

"I've always liked it when a man goes straight to the core point. My second condition regards Kaylee. I want your wife as a slave, for as long as it takes to ward off the storm incumbent on your company. She will not be in danger, and I swear to return her in perfect condition. I would take care of her as the most precious in my jewels, while I would treat her as a mere pleasure toy. Her presence at my home would strengthen our, say, bond. Let's continue this conversation in my flat. I would submit you a draft and an excellent brandy. Is it such a crazy idea? Come on; "