The Don's Kitten | PAUSED

Two

James

I'm sitting in my office at the mansion when I hear a knock on my door. I utter a come in and the person opens. It's one of my guards. He bows his head before speaking.

"Sorry to disturb you, boss. There is a man who's here to see you, one Matías Carillo." He says.

Ava's father.

"Let him in," I say and he nods before leaving the room. I avert my gaze back to the cigarette in my hand. It's a bad habit that Ava dislikes, at least when I do it inside. She says it's unhygienic and unhealthy.

"James, is this a bad time?" I hear a familiar voice say from the doorway. He glances around my office and I shake my head.

"Not at all, come on in."

The suited man walks in and takes a seat opposite me. There had been a while since I had last seen him, the last time was when they invited me to dinner after receiving the news about me and Ava.

"What's on your mind, Mr, Carillo?" I ask politely —he was after all my girlfriend's father. He chuckles and waves his hand dismissively.

"No need for such formalities now that you're dating my daughter." He chuckles.

Matías and I have known each other for around a year now, as a result of our companies partnering together from time to time. And it's been seven months since I first met Ava. Time really runs by.

"Very well, what did you want to discuss?" I ask, taking another drag off the cigarette. He shifts in his seat, making me wonder if this is more important than I had guessed.

"Well," He starts. "I have had some minor...issues lately, and I didn't know anyone better to go to. I know you're a powerful man, maybe even more than you let show, and wanted your advice." His tone has changed into a more serious one, yet they spill from his mouth rather carefully.

There is a look in his eyes that I cannot with certainty decipher, perhaps trepidation and unease.

"Whatever it is you want my help with, I think I'll need a more complex description," I say. He lets out an anxious exhale before leaning forward in his seat.

"I owe some people a big sum of money, which I don't have. And these people is..."He drifts off. "Look, James. I have heard some rumors about you and I think you're the only one who can help me." He says lowly as if people are eavesdropping outside the door. My guards know better than to do that.