TS 2 Chapter 10

Chapter 10

May 4^th, 2009

Monday night.

If there was something Guntram hated with passion, an abridged SMS could rank among the first positions: “delayed meeting. K.” 'He has a full QWERTY keyboard in his phone and he can't be more specific, like giving me an estimated arrival time? Should I give the boys dinner? Put them into their pyjamas and make them sleep or what?'

'It's chicken with carrots casserole time. I will not risk to have them hungry and assaulting the cookies jar.'

“Come on boys, your father will be late and you have to help me with your dinner,” Guntram said with more spirits than he really possessed; facing his children in the kitchen was going to be a thought moment for him and a test for his abilities. He watched as both boys ran excitedly toward the kitchen to wash their hands and take their places in the stools at the counter.

Amazon

To the old Kindle edition of Into the Lion's Den, I added another of Do Not Feed the Platypus Please.
Both books can be taken on loan (for a month) through  the  Kindle Owners Lending Library if you have an Amazon Premium Membership. Unfortunately this service is only avalaible for the USA. Please check the conditions for further information.

Encounters

October 28^th, 2000

Buenos Aires

Closing a thick folder with a dry thud was in general a very bad omen for all Constantin Repin's men. “Boss, maybe there's something on the next property,” his henchman, Ivan Oblomov spoke with a conciliatory tone.

“Number seventy-two or seventy-three?” Constantin asked with that acrid tone that forewarned of nothing good for his people. “This is a pathetic waste of my time!”

“Boss, it isn't that bad. You only saw a few photos,” Ivan said lamely. “I helped with the other folders too.”

“It's the least you can do “Mr. Romanov”,” Constantin barked in a low tone.

“Ouch! Boss, you can't still be cross about that! It's for the best! Imagine if you would have to deal with all these vulgar people.”

“Am I your secretary? Your secretary?” Constantin hissed incensed.

“I said Personal Assistant, boss. Better than secretary.”

“Ivan Ivanovich, you do like to play with fire.”

“But it saves you a boring night with these three monkey Senators. I heard they will bring girls along.” Oblomov gnarled. “Very typical, don't you think? A little slut to spy on us.”

“Oldest trick in mankind history.” Constantin smirked slightly appeased. “But you are right, the less I want in this life is to spend a night with a brainless bimbo with airs of grandeur. Reminds me to Olga.”

“She's not a bimbo, Constantin. Remember that well or she will slit your throat one night,” Oblomov said with a stern voice, a sharp contrast with the playful tone had used before.

“I know my friend, but this whole thing is simply frustrating,” Constantin backed off and eased his stance. “In the morning, useless meetings and stupid marchands. Now, more watching and watching photos of properties and nothing interesting comes up.”

“I think you need a coffee boss, and I some fresh air.” Oblomov said and rose from the ample leather chair.

“Call the girl. She abandoned us here; the least she can do is to fetch me a coffee,” Constantin growled.

“You barked at real estate agent, boss. She ran for her life,” Oblomov chuckled.

“Christies' should hire more qualified people. I'm certainly complaining to Peters when I'm back in London,” Constantin said very irked and jerked the folder open once more Oblomov's soft chuckles boomed in the room.

The Vladimirka Road by Isaak Levitan,
Oil on canvas, 1892, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

TS 2 Chapter 9

Chapter 9

April 23^rd, 2009

Geneva

Guntram sat at seven in the morning in the second class compartment, keeping his overcoat on as the weather was still very cold. 'The big boys were still sleeping when I left the building. Bodyguards also need their beauty sleep. I have to send the bloody seal back to Konrad.' He tried to look through the window, but preferred instead to dedicate his attention to his cousin's poetry book.

The air was colder in Geneva when he got down from the train and walked through the platform.

“Mr. de Lisle? I'm Thabo Haymanot, Mr. Lacroix's Head of Security.” A very tall black man cut Guntram's path, surprising him a bit.

“Hello,” the young man answered and extended his hand for a brief shake.

“Where are your men?”

“I don't know, somewhere around,” Guntram shrugged. “They don't want to be seen today.”

“Very well, they'll miss the donuts at the office,” the large man chuckled with a big grin that made Guntram smile. 'No matter what Mr. Lacroix tells, this boy's mother's was truthful to him. The son, no doubt.'

“I need to go to a place in Geneva before as my meeting is at twelve.”

“I can accompany you, sir.”

“All right. It's a company which sells mobile phones.”

“Would it not better to buy one in Zurich?”

“I want a special kind. A Sectera.”

“Those are expensive machines and you need to wait for about two weeks to get one. If you want, we can yield one of our company and you place the order to replace it. It will be a brand new terminal and you will not have to wait.”

“Will you not have problems with your boss?”

“No, Mr. Lacroix will say nothing as long as I keep the available stock steady.”

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