3: The First Interaction

Faith doesn’t know how she managed to reach the address her father wrote in the letter. The adrenaline rushed throughout her body as she drove the cab, constantly looking out of the car – making sure she was not followed. Her breathing was irregular and even though it was very cold outside, she was sweating.

The young cab driver noticed Faith’s lack of composure through the rear-view mirror and after witnessing her apprehension, he spoke. “Madam, if you are in trouble and need help, just let me know – I will drive around till you talk to the police. You can use my phone for it,” He said softly – not trying to appall her further.

Faith was grateful for the young man driving her to the club, but she couldn’t bring the police in – she was advised not to. And after she was visited by men dressed as police officers twice, she wasn’t sure if she could gamble it more especially when one broke into her room which she believes was to kill her. She wasn’t so sure about Mateo Nixon either, but for one last time, she wanted to believe her father and follow his instructions.

The young driver drove her to the club – he skeptically looked at Xon, he still believed that this woman was in danger, so being the nice person, he was – when she offered her the last twenty dollars she had in her pocket – he passed her the phone number that was written on a small piece of paper, “Here,” he offered it.

Faith was reluctant to accept it, but she did nevertheless. “My name is Ethan; this is my number. If you need a ride back home or if you need any help – just call this number. You can trust me,” He softly smiled. He gave her back half of the money she handed to him, “I am only charging you half – have a good – night?” He chuckled – he wasn’t sure how to greet her as it was nearly dawn.

Faith gulped down as she was at ease since she reached where she was supposed to be and also, she was not followed as she expected. “No, please – keep it. You have been very kind to me, Ethan.” She told him. “And please keep the change,” she added as she handed him all the money she had back.

Ethan was about to decline but Faith continued, “Please, believe me – I am fine. Just a little upset,” she tried to assure the young kind man but Ethan knew better – he didn’t say it to her, but he knew that something was off. “I will surely call you when I need your help, again thank you so much.” She said to him.

After Ethan drove away, Faith tried to walk into the club when a tall man, dressed in a black leather jacket and black jeans stopped her, “You cannot walk in, madam – the club has closed.” He told her while she stopped her by placing his hand ahead of her – blocking her way in.

Will, one of the bouncers of the club, glanced at Faith’s appearance. She was wearing jeans and a simple blue t-shirt while her long brown hair was messy and undone. Her big brown eyes were filled with anticipation and fear, and her small nose has turned slightly red, probably from crying. Her lips were dried and chapped – after every other minute, Faith would run her tongue to keep them moist. His eyes ran to her feet to see that she was bare feet. “I am here to see Mateo Nixon,” She told Will – who all of the sudden looked taken back by her request.

“You what?” Will question, raising his perfect eyebrow in perplexity.

Faith thought that this would happen so instead of repeating her words. She handed Will the old business card to him – she flipped it for him to see Mateo’s signature on it, “Can you please give this to Mateo Nixon and tell him that Faith Merchant is here to see him,” she told Will, who glanced at the card before his eyes went back on the young woman.

“He will probably know who I am,” She added. Will wasn’t sure what to say or do. The girl was breathing fast as if she had run a marathon – although she had just exited the cab in front of his eyes.

There was complete silence while Will had his eyes fixed on the signature that seemed like Mr. Nixon had scribed – the font had his careless curves. “Why would you like to see Mr. Nixon, Miss Merchant?” He couldn’t help but ask – also it was his duty to investigate before letting anyone in. Faith licked her lips and uncomfortably spoke, “He is my guardian, I need to see him. I can’t tell anyone why – I just want to talk to him. Please, let him know about me,” She said – almost desperately.

Will almost snort at her, the woman was clearly over eighteen – she did not need a guardian now. Also, he hardly believes that Mateo Nixon would ever agree to be someone’s guardian.

Faith was trying to stay composed but she poorly failed as tears sprint out of her eyes – her lower lip wobbled before she looked behind her to see the empty street, “I am being followed,” she lied. She had to get into the club to ensure her safety – she wasn’t sure if that man was following her or not but there was a big possibility that he would find her and hurt her. “Someone was trying to kill me. Please, let me meet Mateo Nixon – please tell him it is urgent.” She said gravely.

Mateo Nixon, when people come to know about Xon clubs – they wonder if the owner of the multinational nightclubs would be a party animal. Someone who would drink, gamble, and party every night. Someone who is surrounded by women – who would sleep around with a new woman every day, Mateo was anything but that.

He doesn’t sleep around like a man-whore – no one has ever seen him with girls or even guys. He drinks, but no one has ever seen him drunk. People know him for owning the Xon nightclub chain, but only some influential sources, his workers and his clients know about his drug dealing business.

He is a criminal – he knows that, but he doesn’t like to be dragged into brutality. He rather just peacefully conducts his business than get into feuds or put others in danger. He never initiates the fights, but when they do begin, he always retaliates. He retaliates and finishes what might bring danger to his workers, business, or family.

Mateo walked out of the airport after arriving back in New York from Valencia. He strode to the car that was waiting for him to take him to his desired destination. He was visiting Valencia – not for his dirty business but to meet the franchisee for his nightclub in Valencia. He always meets the franchisee before sealing the deal – his clubs aren’t just nightclubs, it is also a premise of illegal drug deals, strictly confidential meetings, and a relaxing establishment for well-known names.

He has been so successful only because of his integrity with his clients – legal or illegal. The only things that he does not approve of inside his club are sex, fights, guns, harassment, and pulling strings of influential backgrounds to get things done their way.

Steve smiled as he opened the door of the car for Mateo, “Good morning, sir.” Steve greeted his boss.

Steven Mills is Mateo’s assistant – he has been working for him for the past six years. Mateo couldn’t ask for a better assistant – he was loyal, hardworking, and trustworthy. Mateo loosened the tie around his neck before he quickly gets into the car. Steve closes the door behind him before he gets in the car with the driver already waiting for his instructions to drive.

Steven turned his head to look at his employer before he nodded at the driver, to push the paddle. Mateo’s single carrier was already in the trunk of the car. He heaved a sigh and he looked out the window to see the sky coming back to life.

Mateo undid the cuffs of his sleeves and spoke, “Mills, didn’t I ask you not to come to receive me at the airport,” Mateo mumbled while he was focused on the cuffs while his eyebrows were knitted. Steven chuckled, “I wanted to, sir.” Steven replied short.

Mateo didn’t answer him back – he only glanced at Steve. From the side, Mateo could see his assistant smiling. “Where to, sir?” Steve asked. “Home,” Mateo replied.

The car was headed to take Mateo to his penthouse when his phone rang. He thought about ignoring it since he was extremely tired. He didn’t blink his eyes the whole flight back to New York.

He didn’t want to take phone calls or deal with his business until he is rested for a few hours. His phone stopped ringing. He heaved another sigh and leaned back as he looked out of the window, He had an urge to close his eyes, but he didn’t.

Mateo doesn’t sleep while traveling. He glanced at Steve as his phone buzzed – he saw him taking his phone out of his pocket before he averted his eyes out of the window. The city was already coming to life. He saw people walking on the sidewalk, properly heading to work, while some were opening their shops for business – it was too early yet many had already started their day.

“Sir?” Steve called him out. Mateo averted his gaze to his assistant who had his head turned around, “Uh, it is Mr. Khari – he wants to know if you have reached yet.” Steve told Mateo.

Mateo took his phone from his pocket to see a few messages and one missed call from Levi. He decided to dial Levi back while nodding at Steve – letting him know that he can ignore Levi’s message. Steve nodded his head and turned back around. Mateo is not a man of words. He doesn’t like to speak unnecessarily. It took Steve more than a year to read and understand Mateo’s motion – something Mateo appreciates about his assistant – he doesn’t have to talk unneeded around him. Levi was quick to answer Mateo’s call, “Matt? Are you here yet?” Levi asked. The urgency in his voice didn’t go unnoticed by Mateo.

Mateo brought his eyebrows together – wrinkles creasing into his forehead. “Yes, I am about to reach home,” He replied.

Levi paused for a mere second before he spoke again, “I believe you should come to the club,” Levi’s reply made Mateo sigh as he leaned his head back, “Can’t it wait, Levi?” He asked.

“I don’t think so, Mateo.” He received a reply. “What happened?” Mateo hunched at the solemnity of Levi’s tone.

He could predict that something had gone wrong. “A girl came to our club. She asked to see you. She calls herself Faith Merchant and says that you are her guardian,” Levi said.

Mateo tensed as soon as he heard the name – Faith Merchant. He hadn’t heard of this name since he was twenty. “I will be there,” he replied Levi short before he told the driver to drive him to the club instead. Mateo didn’t speak with urgency – he held his calm while he turned his hands into a tight fist.

Faith wouldn’t be lying if she says that she was intimidated by the tall man standing in front of her. As soon as he sees the man who called himself Levi, she was regretting her decision to listen to her father. She was taken to a small office. It looked more like an interrogating room to her.

There was a small table in the middle of the room with two chairs on each side. A small water dispenser was in the corner and that was it. There was nothing else in the room. By the time Faith was seated in one of the chairs before Levi sat just opposite her, she was sure that she was being interrogated. She gulped fearfully. She should not have come here – she came with an expectation to get some answers instead she was being questioned like a criminal.

Levi asked her one question after another. Why did she come here? How did she know Mateo? If she ever met him before? She answered everything honestly to him. She had a letter that her father gave her before he killed himself but she didn’t share it with him. After a long interrogation, Levi stood up and left the room – leaving her alone.

Hardly a couple of minutes later, the door opened – she lifted her head expecting the same tall man but instead it was a woman – dressed in all black. Everyone she met since she arrived here has been wearing black – she wonders if that is what the employees are supposed to wear. Maybe they had a dress code here.

The woman smiled, “Hey, I am Blair. I need to search you,” She said with a sweet smile – which Faith believed was fake. Faith squinted her eyes, “Search me?” She asked perplexedly. Blair nodded and walked closer, “Yes, just in case – you know, if you are carrying any weapons or anything,” She shrugged. “I am not!” Faith spoke defensively. “Sweetheart, words can be deceiving. Never believe in mere words – they can be void and false,” Blair said. “Now, shall we start?” Blair said while rubbing her hands together.

Faith’s hands were cold as ice – she nervously stood on her feet and let Blair search her. After Blair checked it thoroughly, she walked out of the room to let Levi know that Faith was ‘cleared’. She was about to walk away when she stopped and turned to look at Levi, “Hey, big guy! Go easy on her – she already seems shook,” Blair said. Faith was sitting alone in the room while she fiddled her fingers – no matter how much she stuffed them in between his thighs or rubbed them together, they were warming up. Her leg was continuously shaking from anticipation while her eyes were fixed on the door. She was truly scared.

The tall man came to the room once to check on her before he short left – without saying anything to her. She was waiting – for her faith. She knows that meeting Mateo will either change her life for the best or the absolute worse.

After what felt like hours, the door finally opened but this time it wasn’t Blair or the tall man. It was yet another tall man. Faith slowly got up from the chair while she rested her hands on the table. Her eyes were on the new mysterious man while his eyes were fixed on her. Just by looking at him, she was certain that this was him – this was Mateo Nixon – a man she has never seen before. He was tall and lean; the other tall guy might be just a few inches taller than this one.

He had dark brown deep-set eyes. He unblinkingly looked into her eyes with far-reaching expressions. He looked older than her, maybe a bit younger than the tall man’s age – just maybe approaching his thirties. His lips were pressed into a hardline. His hair was thick and lustrous with hints of grey hair. He was clean shaved - the smell of after-shave must still linger on his skin.

The white button-up shirt he wore fitted his body perfectly – she could see every swell of his toned body. His rolled-up sleeves let the ink on his skin peek through the fabric. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone – she could see the hair on his upper chest. He might be older, but he was a fine-looking man. Faith gulped as he softly closed the door behind him – not taking his eyes off her. She stood arrested by his gaze – his strapping gaze.

When she heard of Mateo Nixon being her guardian – she expected a much older man, but he wasn’t as old as she believed. As he slowly walked closer to her – with each step towards her, her heartbeat accelerated. She was intimidated by this fetching man. He stopped at the other side of the table – he leaned in and placed his firm hands on the top of the table while his eyes perceived her soul.

With a shaky voice, Faith dared to speak, “Hi,” her voice came out in a whisper, he didn’t answer her back as his hard gaze robbed her soul till she felt entailed to sit back on the chair.