*Alejandro's P.O.V*
His eyes dared me to make a move. Not just any move. An erroneous one. Those eyes I've known since I was a but a child. Those eyes that always portrayed emotions and messages clearly hidden from a regular human. The eyes of my best childhood best friend and part time rival, Tito Martinez. They taunted me from the opposite end of the table as a small smirk crossed his lips. The chess board sat on the table between us. The game was going at an even pace and this was the tenth between us. I led overall by eight wins to one.
"Your move, Amigo." Tito said plainly.
I shook my head slightly and obliged, displacing his queen and putting his king on checkmate. His mouth went as wide as a fish. Quite the amusing sight.
"Dos mio'." He muttered angrily.
"You've been unusually sloppy today, Amigo." I leaned back into my seat. "What is the matter?"
Tito sighed and mirrored my action. He looked around the garden and then back to the board, a faraway demeanour on his face.
"Tito?" My smug look shifted to concern.
"I fired one of my strippers yesterday." He finally said, looking at me.
"Which one?" I asked.
He stared plainly at me without a reply. His eyes delivered the message.
"Crystal?" I raised my eyebrows in utter surprise.
"Yes." He nodded.
I frowned a bit. Tito, like myself, was a billionaire and the owner of the strip club, CLUB MARTINEZ, which was a stone's throw from my company. He inherited it from his father two years ago and with his wits and business acumen, he had transformed it into the best club in San Diego. An one could unarguably say that the best asset of his club were the strippers. Tito's recruitment skills were top notch. One of the things I respected him for was his sharpness. He was always able to spot the best from a mile. Seventy percent of the strippers who worked in the club were recruited personally by himself. And they managed to always gather large customers at a stretch.
"I don't understand,Amigo." I said. "Why would you fire Crystal?"
"Because she got knocked up." Tito almost exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration.
"What." I didn't believe my ears.
"You heard me, my friend." Tito replied. "Stupid puta' had to get knocked up despite the fact that she knows the policy. My policy! No matter how tempting the offer is from a client, do not go raw. Always make sure they use protection. They all know this!"
I shook my head with a heavy sigh. We both glanced to the side at the pond nearby in time to see a fish jump out to swallow a passing dragonfly. It was poetic and amusing. I turned my attention back to him.
"It is quite a pity." I said. "Crystal was your number one."
"Tell me something I don't know." Tito replied grimly. "It was a tough decision but it had to be made to send a message to the rest of them. It still hurts though. She is the sexiest woman in San Diego."
I raised an eyebrow at his debatable claim but I didn't interrupt.
"What could he have offer that could have made her go raw?" He rambled on. "Whatever it was, it can never be half of what I pay her and the rest."
"That's the thing with women, my friend." I shrugged. "They are insatiable creatures."
He nodded in agreement.
"But we need them anyway." He said.
I frowned at his statement but didn't counter it. He made to add to it but was interrupted by the ringtone of his phone. He picked it up and answered it.
"Hola." He said. "...No, I'm not available at the moment...Now?...But I thought it was adjourned till....Okay, is he there right now?....Alright."
Tito cut the call and put the phone back in his pocket. He stood up and straightened his blazer.
"I have to be on my way." He said. "Business matters."
I nodded in understanding and stood up.
"I'll see you around, Amigo." I said, excorting him out of the garden.
"Oh, you definitely will." He smirked. "You owe me a rematch and I owe you a beating."
"That remains to be seen." I clapped a hand over his shoulder.
Five minutes later, he zoomed out of my mansion and I made my way back inside. I passed the hallway,making my way towards the living room.
"Alejandro."
I paused at the sound of my name. I glanced towards the left to find my father standing in front of a window. He was staring at the moon.
A sigh escaped my lips. Every night for the past twenty years, he did that. The outside world knew him as Armando Gonzalez, the billionaire chairman and sole owner of Gonzalez Industries. A man who was the personification of power and charisma. And as such, he kept that image outside when he made the rare appearances. But inside the mansion, his real self surfaced. Broken, disturbed and disoriented. He had been like that since the incident that happened twenty years ago. And it hurt me. It hurt me to see my father and role model looking that way. The hurt and anger I felt was what pushed me to be the man I am today. And as much as I adored my father, I made a vow never to end up avoiding his fate.
I walked towards the window and stood beside him.
"Yes, Padre?" I queried.
"Has the preparations for tomorrow's meeting been made?" He asked, not taking his eyes away from the moon.
"Si'" I replied.
He didn't say anything after that. He kept on staring at the moon as if waiting for some miracle.
"Will that be all, Padre?" I gave him an inquisitive look.
"No." He finally took his eyes away from the window and gazed at me. Those green exhuberant eyes I've known since I was little still reflected a glint of power, despite the dullness in them at the moment.
"There is a charity event hosting at the city hall next week." He said. "My good friend, Don Horacio will be there. He is one of the donators aside myself and he will be looking forward to meeting you."
"I'll have to admit it has been a while." I said.
"Si'" He said. "The last time he saw you, you were but a child. He is hoping to have a brief chat with you."
"Any idea why?"
"I'm afraid he didn't disclose that. But I may be inclined to believe it could be business matters."
"Okay,Padre."
I turned to leave.
"One more thing." My father called out. I paused.
"Yes, Padre?"
"You will have to bring a significant other." He said plainly.
"You mean like a date?" My eyes widened a bit. "But I thought it was just a charity event. Not some kind of dinner night."
"While you are correct." My father walked towards me. "I want you to give him and everyone the image you are meant to portray."
His look had a deep meaning.
"Padre, you know I don't..." I protested.
"Alejandro." He stopped me. "I'm not getting any younger and my emotional state declines each passing day. With what happened years ago, I haven't gotten over it."
He paused and sighed.
"I haven't gotten over her." He looked me straight in the eye. I felt a twinge of anger at the statement.
"Your frolicking around with women isn't helping matters." Father continued. "But sooner or later, this has to stop. Find a significant other. Someone decent to accompany you. You have one week to do so. Goodnight."
He patted my shoulder and walked out of the hallway. I heard his slow footsteps moments later as he made his way upstairs to his room.
I clenched my fists. A date? Why in the hell should I bring a date? He knew very well that I don't do relationships. It was a waste of time.Women only ever understood one language. Money. And that was the only thing that attracted them to me like bees to honey. Although, I could say my looks could be considered as a driving factor. Women were just my mere playthings. They were just meant for satisfaction. What did they have to offer in a relationship?
My phone rang at that moment cutting into my thoughts. I pulled it out and saw the name displayed on the ID. Natalie.
"Speaking of playthings." I muttered under my breath as I picked the call.
"Hello." I said.
"Alejandro." Her alluring voice rang at the other end. "I've been getting that itch again. I need you."
"I thought we had an agreement that I was not to be called on a business week." I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration.
"I know but it's been too long."
"It has been a week."
"Still too long by my standards. You know no man can get my engines going like you do."
I rolled my eyes. To any normal guy out there, that flattering statement would massage his ego. But I wasn't any normal guy. I could see through her ploy. However, I had to admit that her call came at the perfect time despite our initial agreement. I needed to release some stress. Natalie was one of the many flings I had. Why she stuck with me was because of her killer curves and outspokenness during our romps. Anything else was a zero to me.
"Aren't your vibrators cutting it?" I asked. I still felt like playing around.
"Alejandro." Her voice sounded a bit stern.
"Fine. Book a room at that hotel and text me the number when you're done. I'll be right over."
"Thank you, baby!" I heard her squeal.
"Whatever." I cut the call.
I walked into the living room and sat on one of the large sofas.
"Gustavo!" I called out.
My chauffeur walked in moments later, wiping his hands with a small towel. A middle-aged man with black hair styled neatly, he had been around for as long as I could remember. Probably since I was five or so.
"Yes, senor'?" He looked at me expectantly.
"Get the car ready." I ordered.
"Which one of them, senor'?"
"The Lexus."
"At once." He bowed slightly and made his way out.
I relaxed into my seat. There was time to think of the charity later.