Chapter 21

A red lipstick completed her look and she smoothened over her dyed blonde hair again, marveling at how well the stylist made the highlights look real, natural and simply perfect. She was the queen of deceit and disguise and she was certain she could pull this one off too, even as she thought, she couldn't wait to go back home to Moses. As stupid as that sounded, it was true. She'd long discovered that as a woman, you just couldn't help being endeared to children. She'd thought it was all a sham when she was younger, she always saw women cooing at her, touching her hair and fawning over her, well as she grew older, despite her line of work and the life of crime she lived, she couldn't help being drawn to children, especially ones that were left in her care of protection for what ever reason.
She could remember her much younger days, when she was working a 9 - 5 job in a clothing shop her colleague at work had often entrusted her with her four year-old son. He didn't like the way he talked incessantly and messed the whole shop up, nor did she like the way he cried whenever he didn't get his way or whenever his mother left him for a couple minutes, infact, she could have said she disliked the boy as a whole. But then, one day he'd fallen ill after and she had begun to worry for him, asking the mother if he was fine and could come to the shop anytime soon. Well, after a successful lungs surgery, he was okay and Valeria was happy to have joined in the donation that saved the little boy's life. He had returned to the shop, his usual crying and whining self but Valeria had looked at him differently, infact she had looked at children differently. They were just naive humans that needed to be taken care of for just a couple years until they could buckle their own shoes and make their own mistakes.
If she was being honest, she would admit that the boy, Darren or Dylan his name had been way one of the reasons she had resolved to keep her child when she found out she was a few weeks pregnant by God know's who. Well, the pills she had been taking was expired and she hadn't quite taken note of it seeing as she was going from one job to another and always being in bed with men when the job demanded it. She had discovered of the pregnancy and decided to keep it, maybe she could have her very own Dylan/Darren and experience the joy that every woman was gushing about.
Did her pregnancy stop her from doing her jobs, yes and no. Well, at first she thought the men would mind, her being pregnant was a clear sign that she had been with someone and men were not okay with that. She had discovered really early that it doesn't matter if a woman was a virgin or an alley whore, men liked feeling like whoever they were having sex with was just for them, they didn't like the concept of sharing and even if it was apparent that you were no virgin, it didn't matter, they didn't want you seen on another man - unless of course it was part of the sexual game.
But as it turned out, she looked better during her pregnancy and miraculously men still fancied her. She had discovered then also that men had a whole weird level of fetishes. It was a wonder and a thing of amazement and astonishment the things that men liked and would salivate for in bed. Her rounded stomach turned out to be what they craved and asked to touch or kiss during sex. It was disturbing and exhilarating at the same time and Valeria had learnt that men could literally buy anything you cold them, all you had to do was market if well, present it in a gold plated and make it look like some priced diamond, then watch them grovel and run over each other to get it first. It was infact their competitive and territorial nature that made them the easiest prey. Women weren't as easy to play, they weren't really passionate about much and they rarely went all out for anything, only a handful of them ever really went to lengths to get a thing done and most times it was a man fueling their intentions and their need to succeed.
It was 11:05 AM she she got the signal, a single red ribbon slipped under the bathroom door after a small tap. She took her purse, smacked her lips together lightly and trotted out of the bathroom stall after about an hour of being locked in there.
As she walked to the entrance of the conference room, she changed her steps into a lightly unattractive stick-like walk, one that was associated with the uptight and business-minded members of society.
In her line of work as a con artist, one of the first ethics had been knowing how to walk and talk for perfect character impersonation. She learnt that Latinos had a way of walking and so did Americans, Africans and Asians. Infact, many states in U.S had a walking step peculiar go it's natives and although one may not know this at once, many security eyes were trained to pick out oddities and so one had to blend in exceptionally well.
For the job that morning, she was Barr. Avriel Louis, practicing lawyer Female right advocate. The task had been simple, first she was let in by a fake security officer who would easily grant her access at the gate. The conference room security though was a little tactical so she would have to wait the time out somewhere until the real Barr. Louis left the conference room to pick a prank call that would reach her at exactly 11:02AM that her child had a head injury and needed to be taken home. Immediately she left, Valeria would be alerted and she would slip into the Conference room since the Barrister had already checked in and her records were in the server for the meeting, once she mentioned her name, she would be allowed in.
The sequin dress had to be cloned as soon as Barr. Louis arrived the airport that morning and Valeria didn't need anything more. No one really laid attention in a conference anywhere, not when there were over twenty members in attendance, she would blend in perfectly with some jargons and a learning when to just shut up.
Valeria slipped into the busy conference room just as she saw Avriel exiting the lobby to take her call. The security only asked for her name and sent her in once she said she'd stepped out to take a call. The real Avriel returned later to tell her colleagues she wouldn't be attending the lunch meeting when the security denied her entrance, stating that a Barr. Louis was already in the premises and she would be forced out if she didn't leave.
Meanwhile, Valeria had taken a comfortable seat beside her target, Mrs. Phina Whyte, a consultant for the girl child movement and a candidate for the Deputy Governor of New York State. Although the contract was anonymous, it didn't take Einstein to know that a political opponent was setting Phina up to destroy her repute considering she had staged an Anti-Gay movement in New York City two years ago. It would be the bright of hypocrisy and without a doubt she was failing the election.
Frankly, Valeria had no issues with gayism of any kind, she knew love came in various shapes and sizes but she did prefer a a man any time to a woman. She was straight and wasn't eager to practice the gay movement, not yet. That didn't stop her from taking such jobs in the past, it was just a job and as soon as it was done, she forgot all about the whole thing.
Valeria looked at the wine label and nodded in excitement.
"It's been a long time I saw such good French wine" she said in a thick French accent she'd picked up during her two years stay in Luxembourg.
"I agree. It's an 1867 collection, from France itself" Phina replied with a wide smile, her straight white teeth flashing.
"Nothing beats a good wine, except good company for it that is" Valeria chuckled and with that raised her glass for a brief toast.
"I'm Phina, Phina Whyte" the lady introduced and they shook hands, all the while, her eyes were unable to keep off Valeria's very smooth cleavage slightly covered in the sheer lace, her skin glimmering under the dim light of the lunch room.
"Barr. Avriel Louis" Valeria replied with a smile of her own.
"Came for the conference" Phina asked.
Valeria nodded, taking another sip of her wine which she intentionally spilled onher dress and the cursed in some fancy French efore rising.
"I'm sorry, here, let me help" Phina said and wiped at the fabric with a paper towel.
"Thank you, I think some water will fix it, excuse me" she said and rose.
"The bathroom is that way, let me show you" Phina offered with a coy look and a promising smile.
"Of course" Valeria replied with sultry smile too and the duo left for last bathroom stall, unknown to Phina that cameras had already been hidden there.
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The hotel had rang twice, asking if they wanted to renew their payment and after the second ring, Nick refused to take the call anymore. Pete sat on the single stool in the room, both men ignoring Moses who was on the bed wailing for over an hour. At some point, Pete had stuffed a cloth in his mouth but Nick had insisted they didn't have to choke the poor boy to death.
Pete was tapping his feet impatiently while Nick, never being the anxious one sat on the bed, the slight worry only indicative on his face, his eyes unfocused on the small TV in the bedroom that was only making static noise.
"She's taking so long" Pete stated as he rose and checked the door again.
"You said she had to pick the money up before taking the plane back" Nick replied, trying the calm him.
"It's still taking too damn long"
"Cut her some slacks will you? It's not as easy when you're out there doing it then sitting in a hotel room and plotting it all out" Nick stated.
"Yeah, rught" Pete shrugged, many thoughts ran through his mind. Had she fled with the $25,000? Was such a small amount worth taking away when a stack of over billions was in her name? He trusted Valeria to a degree, it was a game of trust, like some code of 'Honor amongst thieves' trust was the only thing they had, if you didn't trust a fellow thief, it meant you were doing to do deals alone for the rest of your life, honestly, it could not be helped, one had to trust the other. He was still deep in thought and pacing subconsciously when a knock came to the front door, again.
"I'll fucking get pissed! Can't they wait for one minute huh?" Pete snapped and opened the door to tell whoever was at the other end to fuck off.
Valeria stepped in, her gown changed for a bright blue tank top and mini Jean shirt.
"You're late" Pete said, his eyes hard.
"Save me the bullshit, you're not the one who had to fuck in a bathroom stall" she retorted with a scowl and moved into the room, threw her handbag on the bed and grabbed Moses who was still crying.
"Couldn't bother feeding him huh?" Valeria asked with a frown as the baby went for her breasts immediate she picked him up, often a clear indication he was hungry.
"I don't know how to do shit like that Vee and you know me" Pete answered with a nonchalant shrug.
"Couldn't find his food" Nick said lamely and watched as Valeria grabbed the baby formulae just beside the bed and began to mix it up.
Immediately the baby was silently sucking on his bottle, Valeria retrieved the envelope from her purse and threw it at Pete.
"I need a shower" she said and went into the bathroom, shedding her clothes and she went and giving the boys a strip tease.
"What next?" Nick asked
A very distracted Pete still had his eyes on Valeria even after the bathroom door had been slammed shut.
"Pete, I asked what next?" Nick repeated.