Chapter 82
As city lights began to illuminate, Nash’s stomach rumbled from a day without food. An old-fashioned ringtone pierced the quiet from his mobile phone beside his pillow. It was Theo. Dinner time was approaching, and Theo's call likely signified an invitation. Though Nash suspected as much, he asked, "What's up?"
Theo hesitated, then chuckled. "Nashy, I've reserved a private room at the Chateau Hotel. Let's have a drink." Before Nash could respond, Theo continued, "Where are you? I'll send my wife to pick you up."
Nash politely declined. "No need to trouble anyone. I'll grab a cab downstairs." His injuries weren't fully healed, and he wanted to avoid delay.
"That won't do," Theo countered. "I finally made time for Jonford, and haven't had a drink with you yet. Besides, I have important news."
"What news?" Nash asked.
"Tell me where you are first, then I'll tell you!" Theo replied mysteriously.
Reluctantly, Nash gave Theo his location, adding, "Don't send anyone. I'll take a car myself. You guys are on the verge of exposing my identity…" He hid his identity to avoid jeopardizing the Lewises. He'd executed numerous assassinations, targeting leaders of evil organizations, mostly overseas. But the risk of retribution remained. He wasn't afraid, but the Lewises were ordinary people, defenseless.
Half an hour later, Nash arrived at the Chateau Hotel, Jonford's only five-star establishment. Entrance required a membership card, tiered into Green VIP (minimum $150 million, mostly third-rate families), Black Diamond VIP ($700 million, second and first-rate families), and Purple Supreme VIP ($3 billion, only held by the Lees and Watsons among Jonford's elite five).
Nash's taxi stopped ten miles away. Fortunately, Theo anticipated this and had arrived with a Ferrari. At the hotel entrance, eight hostesses bowed in unison. "Welcome, Mr. Nash! Welcome, Mr. Skye!" Their seductive, low-cut dresses were eye-catching, but Nash remained unmoved.
Theo, noticing Nash's indifference, felt he lacked a certain… something. The hostesses didn't usually behave this way; Theo had instructed them to impress Nash.
Olivia, at the front desk, was surprised by Nash's youth. She'd imagined a burly man in his thirties, not someone younger than herself. It was hard to reconcile this slender young man with the terrifying "Smiling Grim Reaper" from the previous day.
"Nashy, this is my wife, Olivia Lee," Theo said. "My grandfather and Olivia's were sworn brothers; he even took a bullet for mine. Our engagement was arranged at birth."