74: NEED TO KNOWLUKE’S POVI inade my way out of the strip club, scanning my surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious man. I couldn’t remember what he looked like since I had never seen him before. However, he did mention over the phone that he would be wearing a white hoodie.My eyes finally caught someone putting on the white hoodie, his hands dipped in the pockets of his pants. I did nothing but watch him as he advanced towards me.When he got close, I noticed that he had his face covered. He was putting on a black mask that hid every part of his visage. The two of us, now adjacent, looked at each other.“Luke Reynold, sorry for coming late,” he said. His tone was playful and unserious.“It’s okay,” I told him, and he chuckled. “You want the both of us to meet, right? I’m here. You’re here. So, let’s get this conversation done with.”“Why are you in a hurry, Luke Reynold? We have a lot of time. We can just chill and watch these strippers dance their hearts out. You can even get one for yourself. You know, after we’re done with our discussion.”“Sorry, but I’m not into any of those chicks. Let’s just discuss this outside. So we can get home on time.”“Wow, it’s actually a nice thing for you, huh? You have a family, people waiting for you at home. Spending time with each and every one of them.”“Why are you saying all this?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.“Because I do not have a family. I live my boring life all by myself,” he answered.“Okay,” I uttered slowly. “Well, I’m kind of sorry about that.”He chuckled. “Oh please. Keep your fake sympathy to yourself. I don’t need it.”“Okay then. Now tell me, what is this important information you have for me?” I asked. “I need to know.”“It seems like you’ve forgotten about our conversation on the phone.”“No, I haven’t. I haven’t also forgotten about the fact that you were totally out of your mind.”He let out a light laugh. “Are you talking about the five hundred million dollars I told you to pay?”“That’s a huge amount of money.”“But you’re a billionaire. You’re a motherfucking billionaire. That’s not going to be a problem for you.”“I know, but come on,” I vocalized loudly.“I can see you cherish your wealth more than your life,” he brought out.“That’s not it. It’s just that.”“It’s just that, what?” He cut me off. “Come on now, Luke Reynold. You don’t even have to think twice. This is not a challenge for you. So why are you hesitating?”“You’re not getting the point here, are you?” I crossed my arms.“What’s the point?” He asked.I breathed out deeply. “Just forget about that,” I said underneath my breath. “You haven’t even told me your name.”“You don’t need to know about that. It’s not the main thing around here.”“Yeah, we can just get straight to the point; enough with all of the silly talk.”“You’re right,” he said, with a nod. “So, are you giving me that money or not?”“I’ll think about it,” I enunciated.“Well, you better be fast about that. I’m only being concerned around here. I don’t want you dying or losing one of your loved ones.”I gave him a cold stare. “If you were concerned about me, you wouldn’t be asking for this huge amount of money. You wouldn’t be asking for a dime at all.”“You’re rich, Luke Reynold. But I don’t get why you’re being chintzy.” “No one’s being chintzy around here,” I said slowly. “Give me some time to think about this. I’ll let you know when I’m done.”“Okay then. I guess this meeting was just a waste of time.”“You’re wrong. It isn’t,” I told him.“See you when you’re ready, Luke Reynold,” he vocalized and walked away.This stripper came in my direction, giving me a desirable smile. But as she got closer, I quickly walked away, avoiding her captivating looks.ARIEL’S POVMy mom stood in the spacious kitchen, an apron tied around her waist, ready to impart her culinary wisdom to her daughter, and that’s none other than me.Yeah, she was going to teach me how to prepare a remarkable dish today.We were standing close to the kitchen, and the aroma of spices and fresh ingredients filled the ait, creating an atmosphere of anticipation.“Alright, Ariel,” my mother said, her, feeling like a Sensel. “Today, I’m going to teach you how to make a delicious tuna tartare. It used to be one of my father’s favorite food and I’m sure you’ll love it too.”I nodded, smiling at her. “Yeah, I’m sure I’m going to love it.” I spoke slowly, observing the ingredients. “Where do we start?”“We start by selecting the freshest ingredients,” my mom replied, reaching into the refrigerator.She pulled out a slab of vibrant red tuna and placed it on the cutting board. “A good tuna tartare relies heavily on the quality of the fish.”“Okay,” my slow tone continued. I watched intently as my mom expertly sliced the tuna into small, uniform cubes.“How do you know when the fish is fresh?” I asked, my brow furrowing slightly.My mom smiled, her hands moving swiftly. “Fresh fish should have a vibrant color, firm texture, and a clean, slightly oceanic smell. If it smells fishy or has a dull color, it’s best to avoid it.”I nodded, absorbing the information. “Got it, Mom.”I don’t think I got that. But anyways, I asked, “What’s next?”“Now, we’ll prepare the marinade,” my nom explained, reaching for a bowl. She squeezed fresh lemon juice into it, adding a splash of soy sauce, a drizzle of sesame oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. “This combination of flavors will perfectly complement the tuna.”I watched as she whisked the marinade. “Wow, I think I silly laugh.ould try whisking it too.” I let out a“Of course, sweetheart,” my mom said, handing the whisk to me. “Remember to whisk gentlyTO KNOWand evenly, creating a smooth mixture.”As I began to whisk the marinade, I couldn’t help but wear a delightful grin. “I think I got this.My mom chuckled. “You sure do, Ariel. Now, it’s time to add the diced tuna to the marinade.”I carefully added the tuna cubes to the bowl, gently tossing them with the marinade, ensuring each piece was coated evenly. This looks colorful and delicious.”My mom nodded. “Indeed, it does, sweetheart. Now, we’ll let the flavors meld together in the refrigerator for about fifteen minutes.”“Wow mom. I got to say, you’re an expert in this one.” I clapped. “Like, how are you even good at this? I need to know.”Her face lit up with a reminiscent smile. “Well, when I was about your age, I traveled to Japan with my father and fell in love with their cuisine. Tuna tartare was a dish I tried there, sincemyfather loved it so much.”My eyes widened at that moment. “I never knew you went to Japan!”“Well, you do now.” My mom gave me a silly smile, and the both of us couldn’t help but laugh.“What is going on here?” Mariam queried with a harsh tone.
