Chapter 11 A Toast To Trouble

"Abby?" The deep, smooth voice of Blake wrapped around her name. Are they even close for him to call her by her obvious nickname? And she didn't even want to wonder how he came to know about her name. "Hi. Hey." Abigail stood up since she had squatted hoping that could help her disappear away from Blake Knight's piercing gaze. Luckily, she hadn't even drawn the barstool closer as a barrier in hiding her as everyone's gaze was already on her. Geez, isn't she too pretty to be acting this way? And hiding away from Blake Knight looks far too suspicious. "What are you doing here?" Blake asked, his voice sounded so gentle. His he really a nice billionaire to the public and ruthless secretly? "Abigail?" He called. "Oh.... You, yes. I was just having a drink. You care to join?" Abigail blurted out punching her gut for that offer. She shouldn't even be saying hi to him; when Jose found out about tonight, he definitely would not forgive her. Hopefully, Blake will reject her offer and go his own way and she will forget about tonight happening--- but that's not happening. She thought as she watched Blake call for one of his guards, and he muttered something to him like an instruction that he was going to have a drink with her. Shit! "I'd have the same drink with her," Blake said calmly to the barman who had served Abigail. Abigail bit her lips, having her seat on the barstool beside Blake whose arm mistakenly touched her bare arms. The barman returned with the tequila, and Blake raised it to Abigail, who gave him a what for reason. "Maybe just for tonight." He answered with a smile that seemed fake like the one she had seen online. "Yeah, it's nice meeting you tonight," Abigail replied, knowing she had just toast to trouble when their glasses clinked. They both took a sip from the drink as Abigail asked. "Uh... You visit here often?" Abigail asked, glancing at Blake, who didn't return the look. "Sometimes." He replied. "I only come here for some personal business." He sipped from the cup again, his eyes moving from one drink to the other from where they were arranged as if finding fault in the drinks. "Ah, I see..." Abigail looked away from him, and she did the same, staring at the drinks, but then someone appeared. Before she knew it, he addressed Blake as boss. "Boss?" Abigail emphasizes taking a glimpse at Blake. If she could remember properly, this man didn't walk into the club with Blake Knight. Abigail glanced at the man who called Blake's boss, and she saw the tag in his breast pocket. Manager. Okay, why, then, is he calling Blake Knight the boss? Abigail wondered as she tried not to listen to their brief conversation. The manager soon left, and Blake turned to her. "You're okay?" He asked wrapping his hand around the cup. "Yeah yeah," Abigail responded. "Uh... I had no idea, you own this place." She pointed out, obviously to satisfy her curiosity. "You haven't heard of Knights liquors?" "Uh... I have." Abigail replied. "Well, this is one of my upscale bars. Serving the company's signature drinks." Blake informed, smirking proudly. "Oh..." She trailed off. He just introduced her to a bit of him right? Abigail thought as she raised the glass to her mouth. And she could swear she has never seen anyone act as professional as he did a minute ago. "You do not need to pay; I already informed them," Blake said, drinking the remains of the liquors. "Thanks." Abigail mouthed, watching him as he rose to his feet. "You're welcome." Blake walked away and the bodyguard who had been waiting for him started following him from behind. He walked up the staircase and stopped on his track when the bodyguard opened the door for him. Blake entered the room, and the one man whom he knew had been waiting for him quickly rose to his feet, his knee shaking at the sight of Blake. "Have your seat, father-in-law." Blake offered. "No... I-I'd prefer to stand," the man stuttered, nervously wiping his sweaty palm on his trousers. Blake's gaze lingered, his expression firm. "I insist," he said, and the man reluctantly nodded, taking a seat after Blake. "How's Spain doing?" Blake asked taking a cigarette and lightening it. "Well, running smoothly." Governor Ricardo answered trying hard not to stutter. "Good," Blake commented as he inhaled the cigar puffing out the smoke that flew towards Governor Ricardo's face. "You must be running the state smoothly with the money you embezzled from me from different partners." "No, please. You have to hear me out, it's a misunderstanding. I don't even know who Fernando is." Ricardo said in one breath. "I didn't even mention anyone's name yet." Blake pointed out as he inhaled from the cigarette again, watching as his wife's father's face grew into dread. Blake tapped the cigar against the ashtray, releasing a cascade of ashes. "I doubt you can repay me," he said, his voice low and even. "And frankly, I don't expect repayment from someone who's betrayed me twice." He said as he continued smoking, the room falling into a dread silence, and only the sound of his soft silent exhaling out the smoke could be heard. Just when the cigarette was almost out. Blake tossed it to the ashtray. "You, of all people, know what I do to betrayals. I'm never at a loss, even if I have to kill you and sell some of your parts." He began, this time keeping a straight strict look at his enemy. Governor Ricardo was his enemy right from when he was chosen to be the leader of the New York Mafia family, and he had lived in Spain where Ricardo had tried arresting him and putting him behind bars following commands by some unknown boss who wanted him dead. "Oh." He paused as though he remembered something leaning forward. "Are you still following the commands of Rizzo?" He asked, and Governor Ricardo's eyes widened, gritting his teeth. "What? Was killing me part of the plan as well?" He asked again. "No, no, please I have nothing to do with that; in fact, another person was hired for that." The man protested, his words tumbling out in a rush, and a sly smirk spread across Blake's face.