Chapter 42: Tyler's Move

 It was Thursday afternoon and Jason was at a nearby hotel having a meal. Everytime he had the flashback to the last few days that he talked to Yuri, it always lingered in his head that it was his fault. But the day that Yuri died marked the start of darker days for him.. As he sat there Marla popped her head next to his and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Hey you" she said as she came round and stood opposite to him. "Is this seat taken?" 

"No it's not" Jason answered as he woke up to pull the seat back for her

"Oh, such a gentleman" she said as she shared down

"Mama raised a gentleman" Jason said as he got back to his seat." Wasn't expecting you here"

" Well I happen to have asked Kayla where you were at and when she told me you are here, I thought I could pop in and give you some company" she said

"Well ain't that thoughtful of you" Jason said as he looked at the menu, "I'm sure you're hungry" he said

"Very, I'm wondering what I can get to eat in here that will at least keep me functioning till evening" she replied

"Let me see if I can guess what you will like" Jason said as he looked at the menu better

"Surprise me," she said

"If I get it right, what do I get?" He asked as he tilted the menu a bit so that he could look at her

"Uhhm, how about you leave that to me" she answered

"Ok then." Jason said as he called the waiter over. "Get her some........ Fried rice, with chicken stew. Add steamed cabbage on the side. Make it well garnished and prepare some ice cream for dessert." He said

"Well well well, you definitely know your choice of meals" Marla said as she looked at him

"I know a few things about the kitchen, so I know the kind of food one needs when they're really hungry" Jason said as the waiter still stood there finishing writing the order down." And while you prepare that, please get the lady some pineapple juice" Jason added on as the waiter finished writing the order and went back to deliver the order

"Pineapple juice?" She asked him

"It gives your mouth a kick, like a stimulant making your taste glands more hyper. It also makes you energized, like caffeine but just natural." Jason said

"I'm impressed" Marla said. "And where did you learn all these?" She asked

"A thing or two that I picked up from my mom" Jason answered

"She must be a good teacher" Marla said

"She was" Jason said

"Oh, I'm sorry about that.... I didn't know" she said

"It's alright, things happen" Jason said

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked

"Not really, I would rather we talk about how why you were looking for me in the first place" Jason said

"No problem, can't I be looking for such a fine handsome young man?" She asked

"You sure have a way of running away from my questions" Jason said

"Ok you got me. Something's been bothering me" she said

"And what's that?" Jason asked

"Since that date, I've been wondering how such a young man at the peak of his career afford a yacht that costs millions but still, for some reason, not even drive a motorbike?" She asked

"Are you sure that's the question you want to ask?" Jason fired a question back at her

"Yes I'm sure, why would I have any other question and not ask it?" She said as she looked at him straight in the eyes

"Come on Marla,I know you want to ask it. So go ahead" Jason answered as he stared right back at her

"Fine. How in the hell can you afford such luxury? For anyone in this line of work to even think of getting to that level, they have to work till he's in his eighties so that they even think of living like that" she said

"Let's just say that my previous job used to pay me pretty well" Jason told her

"So why come here if you already have someone paying you good money?" She asked

"I was brought here for a reason" Jason answered

"By here to mean Sin City or LA associates?" She asked

"A little bit of both" Jason answered

"So about LA associates?" She asked

"That was my means of coming here" he answered

"And Sin City?" She asked

"It called me here" he answered

"Why would the city call you here?" She pressed on asking

"It kinda said it had one last job for me" Jason said as he forced a smile

"So you're saying you came here for just one last job?" She curiously asked

"Something like that" he answered

"And you left you perfectly paying job for working in Sin City just because something you to come here" she clarified

"Sounds odd doesn't it" he said

"Well that's one hell of turn around in a career that you just can't hear anyone saying" Marla said

"The reason was more important than the pay" Jason said

"As you say" Marla replied

"Now to you, what's up with Marla?" Jason asked

"What do you mean what's up with me?" She asked

"Well for one, you take your time with a guy which I respect. But given the name of the city that characterizes it's inhabitants, I'm surprised" Jason said

"I just like to take things with my own pace" Marla said

"Everything is done with a reason. I'm thinking a broken heart" Jason said as the food was being brought

"Noo.... I've not been heartbroken before" Marla said as she shyly looked away

"Wait a minute," Jason said with realization. "You have never fallen in love before". Immediately these words came out of his mouth he saw her face flush red as she tried hiding it as she ate

"Maybe" she whispered

"Well now it makes a lot of sense" Jason said

"How many girls have you dated be Mr West?" She asked

"Not that I can remember" he answered as he took a bite of his food

"Ooh" she said absentmindedly. Her heart was about to sink. No girl ever wants to hear the guy she likes has a dating list with more people than the ones going to hell, if you know what I mean

"I'm kidding, I'm just kidding" Jason said as he had waited for her reaction and see how she'd look

"As if, I know you're saying that so that I ease up and don't get alarmed" she said

"No no, I'm serious, I've not dated that many girls" he assured her.

As they continued talking and eating Jason received a phone call, at first he decided to ignore it. But then it rang again, and again, and again.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" She asked

"I'm on my lunch break, and I'm also on this impromptu date with you, I don't think I'm in the mood to cut the date short and bother with work." Jason answered

"You could atleast just answer it and tell them you well call later" she said

"You're sure you are good with me picking this call?" Jason asked

"Yes" Marla answered

"Ok, give me a sec" Jason said as he got up and went to pick the call since his phone was still ringing. When he checked and saw that it was Tyler calling he picked up

"You sure do have a habit of picking just the worst moments to call, don't you" he said

"Well if you had picked up the first time I would not have continuously called "Tyler responded

"What's this about?" He asked

"I'm calling you to tell you that you have a 4pm meeting with the president's main opponent in the coming elections,as his lawyer" Tyler said

"Wait a minute,I'm not his lawyer" Jason said

"You are now" Tyler said.