A/N: Thank you so much for all your support. X
I couldn't help but stare at the bustling city around us. People from every race, nationality, age, orientation hurried passed; unaware of the dragons in their midst. New York was a completely different test for us, having never stepped outside of Ohio prior to this journey. My phone buzzed in my jeans, signifying a text message. I pulled the device out and swiped the screen, smiling when my daughter's name appeared.
Tana: Landed in London. Wish me luck, mami. Xx
I fired off a reply then returned the phone to my pocket. Victor took my hand and led me into a stylish high-rise; covered in chrome and glass, it looked like something taken from a futuristic movie. We approached the reception desk and I shifted uncomfortably under the harsh glare of the immaculate young lady. Her dark brown hair was slicked back into a tight bun that emphasised the harsh angles of her cheek bones and jaw. The crisp lines of her perfectly pressed black suit popped against the stark white of the shirt beneath the jacket. I was acutely aware of the wrinkles in my smart blue blouse and dark jeans. Her judgemental gaze swept over us before she raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"Can I help you?" Her voice was pure ice, laced with just a smudge of discontent. Victor rolled his shoulders back and cleared his throat.
"We are here to see Marino Díaz." His voice boomed and echoed in the capacious lobby. The slight sneer that twisted the girl's lips set the anger bubbling in my stomach.
"Do you have an appointment?" The inflection in her tone suggested she knew very well that we didn't. I hoped that the receptionist was human, that no Schian could ever be this insolent.
"He'll see us regardless," Victor told her. She had the audacity to scoff loudly at him before leaning forward on the desk, her forearms taking her weight as she peered down from the slightly elevated platform.
"Clearly you don't understand the type of business Mr Díaz is running. I can provide you with a pamphlet if needed." I rolled my eyes and stepped forward, allowing my anger to fill my eyes, changing my normally brown orbs to black.
"I'd recommend you call him down. This is a conversation he will not want to miss." Uncertainty flickered in the girl's face before she twitched her nose stood back up.
"If I found you are wasting my time, I'll have security escort you out." I resisted the urge to express my impatience but Victor's hand on my arm stopped me. Instead I shot a sarcastic smile at her and waited for the line to connect. I heard the tinny voice filter through the speaker against her ear.
"Liz; how can I help?"
"Hi Liz, it's Sandy. I have two people here that are insisting on seeing Mr Díaz, but they don't have an appointment." She sent an annoyed glare our way before huffing lightly.
"I'll patch you through." Sandy covered the mouthpiece with hand and glanced at us.
"Names?" My stony expression remained until Victor filled her in.
"Victor and Maribel Lopez." She turned back to the phone and allowed a nervous smile.
"Morning Mr Díaz, sorry to bother you with something so trivial but I have a Victor and Maribel Lopez here to see you. They don't have an appoint-"
"Can I speak to them?" came through the tiny speaker. Her pale cheeks flushed and she handed the phone over to Victor.
"Marino Díaz? Alggren sent us."
"Very well. Come on up. The girl on reception can give you directions." The line clicked as he hung up. A victorious smirk lifted the corner of my mouth as my husband dropped the receiver into the slot and returned to my side.
"Which way?" I asked politely, a wide fake grin on my face. She clicked her jaw to the side before giving succinct instructions.
"Far left elevator, twenty-first floor, office at the end." She turned back to her computer abruptly and I stifled a chuckle at Victor's roll of the eyes then followed him to the correct elevator. We stepped through the steel doors and noted with a wry smile that the floor and walls were marble. My husband pressed the toughened glass button marked 21 and soon the shiny doors slid open to reveal a short corridor. There were two doors either side of us, which we ignored in favour of the double wide wooden doors at the end. I knocked twice and waited for the faint, "come in," before opened them. A middle aged woman with tightly curled blond hair sat behind a wide desk between two doors. A neat, black sofa was set to our left; against the wall, with a low glass coffee table in front of it.
"Mr Díaz is expecting you," she smiled warmly, gesturing to the door to our right. I smiled our thanks before following Victor through the door and into a large office. Glass lined two of the walls, floor to ceiling, providing amazing views of the city and Central Park. Marino Díaz stood to the left at a tall oak cabinet, pouring a sweet smelling amber liquid into three tumblers.
"Victor, Maribel. Nice to see you. Please, have a seat." We obliged and sat in to the two chairs facing the deep mahogany desk. Marino took the single seat behind it, pushing two crystal highball glasses towards us. "It's a good age and cask." I took a sip, not particularly keen on whisky, but found the spirit to be smooth and easy to drink. Marino chuckled when I gladly took another long swallow.
"We're sorry to barge in here unannounced like this, but it's imperative we speak," Victor began, swirling the liquor around the glass. I sat quietly while he explained the situation for the fourth time in four days.
"How many know?" Marino asked when he'd finished.
"You're the fourth Head of State we've spoken to so far. Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have been alerted. From here will continue to Virginia. Have you someone trusted that can carry the message as far as Maine?" He nodded tersely at me, his whisky all but forgotten on the black slate coaster.
"Consider it done." We finished the, undoubtedly expensive, liquor and shook his hand before making our way back down to the spectacular lobby. Sandy, the brunette receptionist, eyed us with contempt as we strolled out into the warm sun hand in hand.
"Ready for Virginia?" Victor asked optimistically. I nodded and sighed as the weariness weighed my body down. I longed for the simple days back in Lima, knowing that a future there was far from certain, but hoping that we may once again be able to settle in peace back in our home.