Santi's Downfall

Chapter 37: The Travel

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

Confucius

Haven Pierce's POV

I gazed out at the plane window excited as we were about to land in the desert country of Saqr. I've never been to middle-east before that was why I couldn't contain my excitement to explore such a country I'd only heard about before.

As Santi's private jet landed on the tarmac I waited until it was safe to unbuckle my seatbelt and go out of the aircraft. I still don't know who won the bet and what would I want if I emerge as the winner. I am not into fancy things or designer labels for me, clothes are still clothes, the bag is still a bag, and shoes are still shoes whatever their label was.

As we exited on his plane, I was unprepared for the scorching weather. Summer in California was a pale comparison to the weather here. Thankfully, there was an air-conditioned car waiting for us on the tarmac and I sighed with relief when I slid inside the luxurious car.

"I didn't expect that this will be this hot in here," I commented once the car fled out of the airstrip. I was thankful that we didn't have to need to line in the customs just like the normal tourist. I guess I have to be grateful for this man's influence.

"Yes," Santi answered, summer here in Saqr could be so harsh during the day but when nighttime comes it can be so cold."

"Really? I didn't know that."

He looked at me with amused eyes. "You seem very excited about our trip. Are you eager to explore the city?"

"Yes." I looked at the car's tinted window. "I didn't know that there are so many skyscrapers in the capital. I thought I would see ancient-looking buildings just like in Sicily. I could also see soon-to-rise more modern buildings around."

"The improvement of this country didn't take place until two years ago when a new king was crowned after his father's death. He pushed their nation towards modernization and amended some laws to allow him—"

I glanced at him while tilting my head to the side. "You seem knowledgeable about this country when it was miles away from Sicily. Do you travel here often?"

His mouth curved with an enigmatic smile. He was, as if, enjoying a private joke he doesn't like to share with me. "From time to time when I have time. As I said, I have a friend who lives here."

"You mean the 'powerful man' who you are boasting about?" I reminded him dryly.

He chuckled softly, that deep resonating sound made me shiver. I rarely heard him be amused like that so it's no wonder that its effect on me was different. "Yes, that's the man I am talking about, mia amore."

Now it made me curious about what kind of man his friend was. "What's his work? Is he a wealthy businessman here?"

"Nope." He replied with a smile still playing on his handsome face. "He works for the government."

"Oh..." that explains the influence of this man in this country. I wonder how Santi became friends with that man. Is he a corrupt government official to be friends with a mafia boss from Sicily? Is he involved in this man's illegal business?

"I could almost see how your brain works. Are you thinking about how I was related to him and if he was involved with my business? Perhaps, he was my supplier in this country, isn't that right?"

I blushed slightly as I looked away from his knowing gaze. Am I that transparent? Now I feel slightly embarrassed because I was caught judging him and his friend. "Uh...not really. I am just wondering how the two became friends."