52. Handling Affairs

Laura - Bucharest
Taking care of the alpha summit preparations is taking longer than I anticipated. Despite reserving the venue in advance, accommodations for all attendees proved problematic.
No hotel had enough rooms to accommodate all of the guests. Splitting them into groups is possible, but only if I avoid dividing members of the same pack. If they believe I do such a thing on purpose, I will create much more issues.
I should proceed with caution and ensure that everything is in order. Maybe I demanded too much in terms of additional services and VIP treatment. However, Paul's bank account seems to be endless, and he handed me his platinum credit card, so my spending binge continues.
Finally, I'm doing something useful, and even though I know I'm going to overdo it, the least I can hope for is that everything will be fine and Paul will approve of my choices.
I've already made the final decisions regarding the menu, entertainment, and the overall look and feel of the event. I couldn't afford any mistakes, so I asked for the help of the best caterers in town, which resulted in a price tag that made my blood boil.
The caterer I found has several locations, and I met with the owner at the restaurant downtown. Although it's a bit too crowded for my taste, I stay for an early dinner. Hopefully, until I finish, the sparkling sun will lower behind the buildings. It doesn’t harm me, but the heat is unbearable already.
I didn't have time to go to the hospital to check on my sister, who collapsed yesterday, since I'm working continuously. The doctors claimed she was ok. She told me she was fine when I called her. I didn’t inform Paul about anything because he wouldn’t have let me take care of the summit.
During the meetings today, I muted my phone. I check it now to see if someone called. No missed calls from Paul or from the hospital, but there are three from Bogdan. Some men don’t know when to let go.
When I leave the restaurant, I decide to have a stroll to the hospital. It’ll take a while, but the air is more breathable and I’d prefer to take a walk to clear my head.
After just a few paces, a magnificent black Mercedes pulls up right next to me. The passenger window drops, allowing me to view the driver. Bogdan Badea.
“Do you need a ride?”
Despite the loud honking from behind his car, he smiles pleasantly. Because there are no available parking places, his SUV takes up a whole lane. Is this a ploy to make me feel terrible and push me into getting into his vehicle as soon as possible?
I approach the car and lower my head to the window. If I get closer, maybe I can hear his thoughts. His mind isn’t as silent as he is.
‘I’m fed up with this fuckin’ gentlemanly act I have to pull off for you. And you didn't give me the light of day. But everything ends now.’
"I was thinking about eating supper at a local restaurant," I respond, picking his mind for additional hints about his plans.
“Get in, and I’ll buy you dinner.”
His inner voice is much more bitter than his loud one. 'Please come inside so I can put you to sleep and take you right now.'
My first reaction is to flee. Come on, Laura! You’re a strigoi and he’s a mere human. Besides, what if the next time he tries something, I don’t see it coming?
This is the perfect argument that makes me get inside the car. I close the door and when I turn to him, he covers my mouth and nose with his hand. Inside it, he has a handkerchief. The smell is pungent.
His expression is more perplexed than mine. Oh, I think I should have been sleeping by now. Okay, I'll play this game. My body weakens, and I collapse into the passenger seat as if I have fainted.
Bogdan removes his hand and reaches for the ignition. He starts the engine and drives away without saying a word. After maybe around half an hour, he stops.
I continue to play along and let him carry me inside a house. The scent of mold inside it clearly shows he doesn’t deem me worthy of a five-star hotel.
Ah, right. I suddenly remember why I stopped dating more than a decade ago.
He throws me on a bed. Dust flies through the air, tickling my nostrils. The mattress lowers to a side, and his hand touches my neck.
"You have such smooth skin. I start to understand why Paul likes you so much." His hand drops lower over my blouse. "Quite titillating. But this is just a bonus. I’ll have Paul looking for you for a few weeks, and then I’ll make you write a suicide note, telling him it’s his fault. It will hurt him more this way."
His fingers start unbuttoning my blouse. I guess this is the moment to stop this charade.
I lift my head and open my eyes. "Why do you despise Paul so much?" I ask, looking him in the eyes.
"He destroyed my family." As he battles my glamour, words are difficult to come by. "Paul took over my family company and drove my parents insane. They killed themselves."
“What was the name of the company?”
“B&B Electronics.”
"Thank you so much, Bogdan. Now, hand me your phone, and don't move an inch till I say so."
With his phone in hand, I raise from the bed and pace through the room as I dial Paul’s number.
He finally answers. “Yes?”
“Paul, I need you to answer some questions.”
“I don’t understand.” He pauses for a while, and crickets take the stage with their melody. “Laura, is there something wrong?”
“Nothing to worry about. I’ve just been kidnapped.”
“What? Where are you?”
He seems worried, but I don’t have time for this.
“Don’t worry. I’ve taken control of the situation. Tell me everything you know about B&B Electronics.”
"What?" Paul pauses once more, humming. "I believe it was a firm I purchased a long time ago, but I outsourced the takeover to someone else. Why?"
“Do you remember anything else?”
“Not much. It was a mess. That was why I didn’t want to have anything to do with it personally.”
“I’ll hang up now and take care of this. Call me tomorrow.”
“Laura.” A pause follows, and I wait for him to continue. “I miss you.”
I simply end the conversation without saying anything else. What was I supposed to say? Oh, Paul, it's not fair how you've entered into my heart so easily yet so forcibly, swaying my feelings toward you.
Bogdan is still exactly how I left him.
I smile. “Where were we?”