Ch7
Bella walked into the hotel room she was sharing with Luke. It was a spacious room on the top floor complete with a kitchen, two bathrooms and two bedrooms. As she flipped the light switch she noticed the furniture had been moved to the side and the clock on the wall that said 9 pm.
“Luke?” She called out to him as she put down her shopping bags. “You here?”
Luke entered through the window. “Hi.”
“Where’d you come from?”
“The roof.”
“What’s on the roof?”
He smiled softly and held his hand out to her. “Care to find out?”
She looked around the room, looking for a reason not to before she hesitantly placed her hand in his. He helped her step through the window then followed her up the ladder that went up to the roof. Sitting on the roof next to the skylight was a pallet with a picnic basket and candles on top of it.
“What is all this?” She said with a half-smile.
“Bella,” he started as he offered her a single red rose. “you’re my best friend, you know that right?”
“I know”
“And I really love and care about you. I would do anything for you, you know that.”
“Luke, if this is about my birthday, it’s fine. You don’t have to make it up to me, I was just angry.”
“I know, and you have every right to be angry, because it’s not okay. As your best friend it’s my job to remember those things. I can’t tell you why I forgot, and I won’t make excuses for myself, but what I can do, is try and make it up to you.” He smiled softly. “Are you hungry?”
“Actually, I ate a few hours ago.” She said hesitantly as she bit her lip. His bright face fell into a frown. “But, I’m sure I can force something down.”
“That’s what I like to hear!” He exclaimed as they sat down on the pallet. “It’s nothing too fancy, just some lobster, salad, and strawberry cheesecake from room service. Oh, and some Chat De Neuf Du Pape. I know you only drink on special occasions, but this seems like one of those.”
“That’s sweet, but maybe after the mission. What good would we be to the world if we’re buzzed?”
Luke bit his lip, questioning himself.
“Hey, it’s a nice and thoughtful gesture, and we’ll drink it up later. Don’t worry, I’m not shooting you down on purpose.” She winked playfully at him. “Now, how ‘bout some of that lobster?”
It seemed that everything was going well as Bella and Luke scaled the outer walls of the wine factory. Luke got set on the roof first then pulled Bella up after. With a GPS in hand, she pointed forward. Quietly, they sprinted to the other side of the roof and peered over. They spotted a truck pulling into a parking space and a man step out of the truck.
He walked over to another man who was holding a brief case and they began to converse.
“Can you hear what they’re saying?” Luke asked with a whisper.
“Sh.” She hushed as she stared at his moving lips that spoke French. “…Did you bring the money…It’s in the truck” she repeated to him. “Alright, I’m guessing the elixir is in the truck.”
“So what’s our move?” Luke asked as Bella already began strapping herself into a harness.
“Lower me in, cut the rope when I tell you to.” She ordered as she placed her foot on the edge of the wall around the roof.
