DIRTY RHYTHM

THE DIRTY ENCOUNTER 4

Even though Room 57 was bleak, cold, and completely dim, Cornelius could clearly see Clair's dark and straight face pierce on him. He knew they could never get out of here until he said nothing that would satisfy his daughter. He has done a lot of things that are quite questionable these past few months and he did not give an explanation to his wife and daughter who are always waiting for him at their home. 'I focus too much on the proposal I vaguely get...', sometimes Cornelius wonders if he is still doing the right thing or he will just put this to stop because he sees little hope for Creux to approve his proposal.

"I just want to give my wife a present..."

Cornelius helplessly utters in a low tone while staring back at Clair before looking up. By then a flashback flashes where all this was started.

FLASHBACK:

The black sky gave birth to a hundredth of tiny precious snowflakes dancing on the red lamp lights of a cold winter night. A group of families, peers, friends, sauntered down the place, hissing and swishing with their skates, they swooped and whooped across the ice. The screeching wind sweeps across the street under the lined-up pine trees leaving a terrible calmness. Cornelius, wearing a black duffle coat with a white winter faux tidying encircled his neck strode forward the place, fluttery crystalline snowflakes puffed down on him, sylph-like in their airy silence. Across the street stood the famous Vicinni house, an auction house.

Cornelius entered the house where famous businessmen gather together for some certain reason. As he stroll down the hallway, the house was sophistically designed in black where famous arts and paintings were exhibited in the spiral, simply hanging on the golden wall. The group of businessmen and women wearing their extravagant suits and dresses sauntered up the golden stairway.

Men wear their signature plain black mask that only covers their eyes and women wear their embellish golden half-mask with intricate design to hide their identity. Garrulous speeches and chatterings from the horde of businessmen quickly filled inside the auction house. Cornelius walks among them can't help but astonish to see the simple yet elegant black handrail and golden baluster artistically drawn on the spiral stair.

They all arrive at the auction hall where they were given an auction catalog by the auction house manager personnel at the entrance. All the businessmen were seated in their respective chairs so as Cornelius, he was about to open up the catalog when a man in a black suit with a woman seductively dressed in glittering gold with a full mask on entered the spiral stage. After their short introduction, a flash of light pointed where all the items to be sold were arranged and placed in a golden pedestal.

The man in full black mask on which enhanced his captivating golden eyes continued and proceeded as the woman with him sashayed on the displayed items on the stage with her 6-inch killer hills.

"...these are the items you see in the catalog." The auctioneer continued.

Cornelius preceded to scan the catalog. He curiously scrutiny each of the items that might captivate his attention. It was a gift for his wife, for their wedding anniversary. He wants it to be special.

"Ladies and gents, I present to you the first item for tonight. The five paintings from the famous painter, Death..."

A bolt of light pointed directly at the center pedestal where the painting was placed. The crowd wowed as their eyes cruises the intricate form of tenebrism art.

Cornelius return his attention to the catalog as he was not interested in the item. He surely knows his wife was not into this kind of painting.

And the bidding for the first item starts.

"I bid for 50 million for the painting."

A short shout coming from the crowd capture Cornelius' attention. He curiously turns around and saw the woman holding an 8 placard, she was wearing gorgeous royal gold with delicate embellishment such as feathers and sequins that beautifully design matches with her midnight eyes that adding mystery.

"I think I heard my niece's voice."

The bids continues until the winning bidder was the woman that sounded like his niece, Sumire. The light from the stage was bolted to the next item.

"Second item. The Curse Crown. It was the crown from the legend that was cursed and has been passed down from the Royal family for 13 centuries. "

The golden-eyed auctioneer preceded to the next items on the list.

"Third for the list, the Aztec Coin...."

The auctioneer continued.

"Fourth. The rarest purple Human eyeball."

"A Fifth of the list. The infamous hand of Jack the Reaper."

"Sixth of the list. The heart of the Ocean Necklace."

The crowd began to excite, bidders started to get aggressive to win the item. No matter how much their money coming out from their pockets doesn't matter to them. Cornelius just keeps watching the bids as it getting higher and higher. He is patiently waiting for a certain item.

"Seventh of the list. The infamous Pirate's skull of J.S"

"Eighth. The Handwritten piano sheet music from the famous pianist, Mozarte."

"Ninth. The Black Panther with its glowing green eyes."

"Now, the last but not the least. The next item on the list. But wait, here's the thrill..."

The auctioneer stop midway that made the auction hall silent, with their hearts thudding soundly. Women were now eyeing the last item, eager to get it for a higher price. Cornelius's eyes have now glistened on the item that captures his attention. It was a perfect gift for his wife.

"The consignor of this item has a condition for the winning bidder..."

The auctioneer eyed each one of the potential bidders and gaze straight at him which made Cornelius flinch. The man in a black mask on the stage smiled at him meaningfully.

"The winning bidder must make a business proposal to the consignor of the item. Further information will be given in private conversation."

Cornelius can now hear his heart beating erratically that his hands unconsciously crawled on his chest.

"The last item is... The Ancient Golden Kanzashi Hairpin."

A hand raised coming from the crowd. Cornelius quickly finds the mysterious man who's holding a placard that was rising.

"Okay, the start bidding price, number 7..."

The auctioneer joyously smiled. The bidder wasted no time and gave him the satisfying price.

"I will bid 10 million."

PRESENT...

After Cornelius reveals everything to his daughter, he helplessly sighed and drop off his shoulder in disappointment. Clair can't help but feel pity for her dad, she saw how dismayed her father was. The disappointment is now visible in his weary eyes. She was also felt defeated. Clair unconsciously eyed Creux with dismayed eyes and turn to face around. She saw the men in black suits remain in their respective position, without moving even a flinch.

"I was the winning bidder. And for me to get the Ancient Golden Kanzashi hairpin that I would have given as a wedding anniversary gift to your mother, I need to make a business proposal that will be approved by Mr. Morosov. So I was always away from home. I'm sorry."

Cornelius calmly explained but the exhaustion can be heard in his tone.

Clair's chest tightened up, she didn't know what to say to her dad. If her mom heard this, she will also feel bad for her father. She knew how her dad loves his mother so much, and he will give everything to her. Clair felt sorry for him when she doubted him. And it was all a big misunderstanding. Her dad only wants a present for her mother, but not having an affair.

Clair heavily sighed and tap her dad's shoulder. She didn't know how to make him feel at ease. She throws Creux a stare who looks like in deep thought while peeking at the business proposal Cornelius was holding.

"Dad, you know I can help-"

She was stopped halfway when Creux suddenly butts in. The father and daughter quickly turn faced him.

"I have a proposal."

Creux announces to which capture their attention. He meaningfully look at Cornelius and playfully smiled next to her daughter, Clair.

"How about you will be my business partner and I will give you the Ancient Golden Kanzashi Hairpin for free?"

Creux added that his curled mischievous lips getting wider and wider made Cornelius and Clair unbelievably look at him with their mouths hanging open. Cornelius can't help but think Creux is a sly bastard. 'This man will do no good'

Cornelius knew his daughter captures the heart of Casanova in town. He couldn't believe the man could be so direct with what he wanted. With Clair's beauty, no men can turn their heads away from her bewitching beauty but the woman clearly doesn't show interest in men. Cornelius and his wife had no problem with her since Clair is intellectually strong and cannot be easily deceived, but this time is a wrong time. She captivates the cunning man, named Creux.

But, no matter how desperate Cornelius is to get the Ancient Golden Kanzashi Hairpin for his wife, he will never give his daughter to a stranger for such a cheap request. He can find another gift for his wife even if Creux's item is more appealing and one of a kind that his wife will surely love it.

"No."

Cornelius quickly rejected Creux's tempting proposal. As much as possible he will never let Clair and this man will meet each other again. He has to protect her from this man at all costs.

"Dad, I wanna be his business partner. I don't want your effort to be wasted, let me-"

Cornelius suddenly raises his tone, his jaw tense as he looks Clair in the eye scorchingly. This is the first time Clair saw her father's angry piercing stare. Usually, her dad is a gentle kind of man.

"A NO is a no"

He mutters furiously under his breath. Cornelius' lips formed into an unpleasant twist. He knew how Clair was a stubborn girl and he have to stop her for her good.

"But dad-"

Clair couldn't continue with what she said when her dad stop her once again.

"Let's go."

Cornelius rose up from his chair and approach her and took Clair's hand protectively from the pair of predator's eyes in the room.

"Mr. Morosov, you can do whatever you want to that item but I will not let you and my daughter cross paths again. And this will be the last time you'll see me. I am not going to write another proposal for you. Goodbye."

By then Clair was pulled out of room 57 by her dad. Before they could finally leave the place, Clair and Creux's eyes entangled once more in slow-motion. Creux gave her a sultry gaze which made Clair's face burn in red.

"See you soon..."

The man mouthed to her that Clair couldn't help but gulp hard and felt excitement. She was also willing to take a risk just to see him again under any different circumstances.

Clair left the brothel with her father, with a strange small smile on her face. This is her first time taking a liking for a man.

On their way home, inside the family car, no one speaks between the two of them. The heavy aura gets heavier and engulfs inside the car suffocating them every second. They had to settle the score in their home.

When they arrive at their casa manor, Cornelius slams the car's door shut without turning his back to her and strides to their home with a loud thump on the floor. Clair attempt to talk and followed him inside. Hoping to have a nice talk with her dad this time.

In the living room, Clair quickly confronted her father.

"Dad, listen--"

"No, don't dare say it. I'll take care of this and I'll have to explain to your mother."

Cornelius interrupted what his daughter had to say. Clair fell into silence before finally entering her room, leaving his father walking back and forth in the living room.

Before Clair's body could finally touch the bed, fresh coming from the bathroom, her business phone suddenly rang in the bedroom. Her eyes widened immediately when she realized she didn't have the phone he had brought to Creux's brothel.

When she looked at the caller, it was her missing phone number, so Clair quickly pick it up and answered it while holding the towel on her chest that covers her nakedness.

"Clair, you left your phone in my brothel, when we meet again I want to hear from you your final decision on my proposal. Goodnight, Darling!"

Hearing from the man's husky voice on the other side gives Clair a flutters in the stomach. Her head spinning and her heart pounding fast that she can hardly calm herself, the same moment the first time he meet that gorgeous man. The call was cut off and even though the caller didn't introduce himself, Clair already knew who it was from the heart.

"I don't care anymore."

To be continued...