Chapter 5 The Arrangements

As King got home, he heard noise from Maya's room and quickly entered to check on her. When he entered the room, he saw her struggled on the bed as she begged King not to kill her.

He walked into the dim room, got nearer, sat on the bed beside her, and woke her."

"Maya, it was just a nightmare, everything is fine."

She sat upright and hugged herself as she shook and sweat profusely. And then her heartbeat began to normalize.

Out of the blue, she hugged King and held onto him so tight that he could not free himself when he tried.

She dug her fingers and clenched his shirt tighter. She spoke, and her trembled voice made her stammer.

"Thank God you are here. Kin_ King..."

King frowned and then smirked, "what did the King do?"

"King, King...he, he, wanted to kill me, please don't leave me here...he, he will kill me."

King pulled her out of his embrace and got up.

"Maya, can you stop with this drama?"

She begged and King watched as if he was shocked.

"Please don't leave me here alone."

He passed his hand through his unruly hair. "What the fuck," he cursed.

"Hey listen, it was just a nightmare, King is going to destroy you for sure but not now. Stop putting on this act and sleep."

"Holy cow, why was she still trembling? I didn't know she was this vulnerable. How could just a dream make her this helpless?" He paced up and down as he thought of a way.

He reached for his phone and called Louis, he answered with instantaneous effect.

"Come up to my Maya's room," he commanded and hung up.

"Sir, what would you want me to do for you?" He questioned.

"I need you to stay here with Maya, she is exaggerating and I don't know what to do with her,"

King watched her for a while and sighed, "she's trembling and all sweaty..."

He bowed his head, "but, Sir_" He cut in.

The corners of King's mouth twitched with anger.

"What should I do? Do you want me to penetrate into her head and backfire the nightmare?"

"I mean..." He said defensively.

"I don't want to listen to anything. Come here now and do what I have bid you."

"Watch her closely," he commanded and left them.

On the stairs, he dialed Drake's number and he answered on the second ring.

"Drake, come to the house immediately," he dropped his mouth and then went to sit down.

After a few minutes, a knock came at the door and he reluctantly went for it.

"King, what the hell! Can't you just let me sleep?" They banged the door and walked briskly to sit.

He yawned repeatedly and then rubbed his droopy eyes.

"Why did you call me at the time? And what has made you this angry? You look like a volcano ready to erupt."

He helped himself to a glass of wine and sat down quietly.

"King, I have been here for minutes, you are not speaking, all you are doing is drinking," Drake said out of boredom.

He sipped his wine and darted his tongue to add moisture to his lips.

"Maya had a nightmare,"

"And is that why you called me?"

"Shut up and listen to me," King castigated in a harsh tone.

He relaxed on the sofa and glared at King.

"I'm sorry Don, what was the nightmare about?"

He sighed, "I don't know, she was just shouting, shouting King don't, King don't kill me, please," he said as he mimicked Maya's words.

Drake rubbed the nap of his neck.

"What else?"

He maintained an expressionless face as he spoke, Drake could hardly read him.

"She begged me to stay with her, if not the King would kill her. Can you believe she was trembling and all sweaty?"

"What did you do then?" He asked, he sat upright and maintained eye contact with King.

"Are you crazy? What did you want me to do? She hugged me but I pulled away, she was exaggerating."

Drake couldn't control himself, he laughed so hard. King threw the glass, and Drake saved it with his hand and had a sharp cut.

"That was nothing, if you don't stop laughing, I will pull your throat out."

Drake removed a handkerchief from his pocket and then wrapped it on the cut to stop the blood.

"Sorry, I won't laugh. On a more serious note, did you tell her you are King?"

"No!" He exclaimed.

He moved from his seat and sat by the King. "This is a big opportunity you shouldn't miss."

"Drake, what do you mean? He asked with his gaze fixed on Drake.

Drake sat up, such that he could look King straight in the eyes.

"Isn't it apparent? Since she seems to find refuge in you, take advantage. He proclaimed and flinched out of pain.

King eyed and shook his head. "Hell no! Are you crazy?"

"Think about it, King. You will be her friend." Drake replied seriously with a straight face.

He frowned, "and then?"

"You will know all her plans and movements."

"This won't work. I am marrying her tomorrow and I have many workers, she will hear them say my name." King replied reasonably.

"This is not something to worry about, first, you won't be present at the wedding but the papers will have your signature. And your workers? I will warn all of them not to call you King. They will call you sir or boss. Fine with you?." He said convincingly.

He blew the cigar through his nose and gritted his teeth. "Yes, and what will Maya call me?"

"Raphael." He replied as the King squinted his eyes in displeasure.

King raised his voice, "what the fuck, you know I don't like to be called that!"

"Bear with me, good things don't come easily, you have to relate, you taught me that. " He replied and then leaned back on the sofa.

"Be positive, I have never failed. Deal or no deal?" He asked.

He stood up, ready to leave, "deal! Drake, nothing should go wrong."

"Make arrangements for the signing, everything will happen here. And send my lawyer over." He said and walked out on Drake.

"Count me on that, have a goodnight," Drake said at the door and hopped into his car where he drove with one hand.

*****

The morning sun fell in through the light curtains on Drake's face, he flipped on his other side and groaned.

He opened his eyes and dragged his ass into the shower. After he took a shower, his eyes darted to the alarm clock on his bedside and it read exactly 10: 30am.

He swayed gracefully as his muscled back moved on its own accord with his legs. In front of his mirror, he fetched his phone and dialed King's lawyer's number."

"Hey! Good morning Steve, how are you doing?" He asked while he kept his other hand tightly to the towel wrapped around his firm waist.

"Estoy bie." He answered in Spanish.

He consistently checked himself in the mirror. "I would like us to meet, would you spare me some time?"

"Well, I have a tight schedule but let's see, I will call you in a while. Is that okay with you?" He asked.

He swept his hand through his wet hair before he strolled to sit on his bed.

"No! It's urgent, it has something to do with King. We have to meet immediately."

"You have left me with no choice, I guess I can't say no. Where would you want us to meet?" He asked.

Drake smiled, "good! Meet me at my house. Don't be late."

"I have heard you, Drake? I will see you in an hour. Hasta pronto." He said and Drake hung up.

He shook his head and thought, "King, I am sorry but this time around, I am not on your side. I will make sure I play this game very well. Wait and watch how I twist your life."

"Oh, my dear best friend? You cannot tell how happy I am now. Its so sad I would have to celebrate alone."

He pulled on a Hawaiian Shirt and pants and then he wore a John Vertos Artisan spray. After he was done, he laid in bed and waited for Steve.

He heard the doorbell ring and he briskly went for it.

"Steve, you are here already?"

A middle-aged man entered, and they shook hands.

He wore a blue shirt, and a black tie. He held his black suit over his suitcase.

"It's obvious I am, Drake. Get me something to calm me down." He smiled, "water, to be specific." He sat on the green sofa.

Drake returned from the kitchen with the glass of water. "Here you go."

Drake sat down and faced him.

"Thank you. So now, can you get to the point?" He said after he had a gulp down his dried throat.

Drake nodded, "yeah yeah...sure! King is getting married today." He said bluntly.

Hd brows creased and he raised his voice automatically. "What the hell!"

Drake frowned and leaned forward.

"I didn't finish, allow me."

He nodded, "even if you had, it would have meant the same thing anyway."

Drake chuckled and said calmly, "Steve, yours is to shut up, listen and do what I bid you."

"Perdón." He replied with a smile.

"Good, now listen..."