Vera and the Octopus

2 - XAVIER

Thanks to my overly supportive family, I own a multi-million dollar company that specialises in discreet security, such as hidden microphones and cameras, positioning disguised security guards, and much more. As the CEO of Blackmore Secret Security, I had built up an excellent reputation for myself and my company over the 3 years I had been running it.

Because of my family's constant nagging about a break and a coincidental business request, I was in a small village in the middle of nowhere. The village had quite a peculiar name, 'Snapdragon Village'. However, I can see why it's called such a name, as there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of snapdragons everywhere.

Even though I was there on business, this gave me the chance to have a slight break, to stop my parents pestering me about relaxing. I had taken two of my most trusted employees and friends, Danny Cliffman and Kourtney Griffin, with me, which pleased my parents, as I'm not one for leisure, and I'd be more inclined to relax with them there.

The village was only small, with maybe a hundred people living there. There were four or five shops in total that included a bakery, a general store that had a post office attached to it, a gift store, a small clothes shop that would only really count as half a shop, and a butcher's. There were also one or two restaurants or cafés. I also noticed a rather big park that included a large swing, a huge trampoline, and about three different slides. But I noticed it looked as if a small hurricane had run through it, which was strange as this area wasn't known for hurricane outbreaks. The park was almost completely destroyed, the slides were bent in half, and the trampoline ripped. However, the swing was completely untouched. I wondered if this was part of the reason I had been called over. Was there something deeper going on?

As we passed the bakery, Kourtney pointed it out and joked, "Hey Danny, look, it's your favourite place!"

"Haha, you are just so funny," He retorted sarcastically.

"I was just pointing it out so you know where it is." Kourtney held his hands up in surrender.

Danny turned towards Kourtney, a sceptical look on his face. "Yeah, right, just admit you never actually wanted to be my friend." He put a hand on his heart overdramatically.

"You really think I'd put up with your nonsense if I didn't want to be your friend?" Kourtney questioned.

"We're friends? Are yo-"

"Enough! Both of you!" A headache had started to form from listening to their bickering.

The hotel I was staying in was a completely different situation. It was a decently sized hotel that looked like it belonged in a Hollywood movie. It had a gorgeous red carpet that was laid on top of beautiful white marble. There were 2 large black leather sofas facing each other, with a nicely sized coffee table separating them. There was a rather small café near the reception area. It served many drinks and foods, such as coffee, tea, muffins, cakes, sandwiches and soups.

I had paid extra for the VIP suite. My room had a red carpet, exactly like the one at the reception. A queen-sized bed was set in the middle of the large room with two bedside tables, one on each side, and there was one lamp on each of them.

There was a 90 cm flat screen TV connected to the wall opposite the bed with a low cabinet underneath. In that low cabinet was a safe and a mini fridge, as well as some extra storage. On the cabinet was an expensive bottle of wine, the controller for the TV and the phone to call reception.

Coming into the main room, the bathroom was to the right, and a miniature wardrobe was on the left. The bathroom had marble-type tiles on the walls and floor, and an ornate mirror hung on the wall above a freestanding sink. There was a large quarter-circle bath with a shower attachment in the ceiling.

Kourtney's and Danny's rooms were a lot less extravagant. They each had a double bed in the middle of the room with two bedside tables, one on each side of the bed, and two lamps. It was pretty similar to my room, but the entire room, in general, was smaller. They each had a 60 cm flat screen TV that was connected to the wall opposite the bed. Their rooms were set out the same as mine, but it was all smaller. Their bathrooms still had the marble-type tile floor, but they didn't have the quarter-circle bathtub. They had a normal bath with a shower attachment. Their rooms were still coloured in red with gold edges, but the edges were thinner and their windows didn't have as nice a view as mine.

"WHAT?" Danny shouted when he saw my hotel room. "You got all of this?"

"Jeez, dude, this is..." Kourtney paused for a minute "Extremely over the top."

Danny walked over to the wine and took it. "I'm taking this." He put the bottle in his jacket and turned on the TV.

"Fine by me." I retorted, unbothered by their reactions to my room; it was always the same. I took the remote from Danny and turned the TV off. "Now get out. I need to shower and, no, you aren't staying in my room."

"Come on, man!" Danny complained as Kourtney dragged him out of my room and back to their own rooms.

We had all agreed to meet in the Hotel's cafe at around 7, for drinks, food, and to discuss what we saw today and how to best set up the security.

We all spent the time before meeting up, unpacking and settling in, doing whatever we wanted until the agreed-upon time.

                                                                                           ❊

I had been waiting for Kourtney and Danny for around 15 minutes, even though I knew they were both well known for being late. I finished the coffee I was nursing, and I got up to order another. As I stood, Danny and Kourtney came into view. I walked to the counter and ordered everyone's desired drink. When I got back to the table, the others had already taken a seat.

The tray of drinks immediately intrigued Danny. "Ooooo, what ya got us? Is it my hot chocolate?"

I placed Kourtney's iced latte in front of him with the slice of brownie I ordered for him. "No, I got you coffee. I didn't know you liked hot chocolate." I next put my drink down at my place, along with the cupcake I got for myself, all while holding up the tray so that Danny couldn't see what I got.

Danny had an astonished look plastered on his face. "Wha- how- how could you not know I'd want hot chocolate? I get hot chocolate every time we order hot drinks!" He exclaimed.

"Must've slipped my mind." I shrugged him off nonchalantly. I put his cake down in front of him, and as he continued complaining about my "forgetfulness", I put a hot chocolate with marshmallows, whipped cream, and a Flake down in front of him, effectively shutting him up.

I gave the tray back to the person behind the counter before sitting down in the only available seat between the two others. We sat in companionable silence for a few minutes while we drank. As I continued to sip my drink, the duo began talking about what they were going to drag me into doing; however, I wasn't listening; my mind had wandered off, thinking about what work needed to be done here.