Johannesburg, South Africa was Eyal's final destination, he had business to take care of with his diamond exchange, the investment he set-up several years ago to give him income when the day came that he was no longer with Mossad. The diamond exchange had proven to be very lucrative and he had invested the resources wisely. It was time for him to set up his exchange with a London office, expand the business.
It had been almost year since that cold bleak miserable day in Winchester, Virginia and his last meeting with Annie. From time to time he would still think about the final goodbye. He had not heard anything about how she was doing but only hoped she had fully recovered. It was still summer time in Johannesburg with temperature around 75o, that afternoon Eyal decided to take in the sights. Johannesburg is one of the most modern and prosperous cities in South Africa. The was an international flair and the hub of South Africa's commercial, financial, industrial, and mining undertakings. His diamond exchange headquarters was based there and Eyal had been to South Africa many times but never had taken the time to just sightsee, nowhere important, just walking and looking. He stopped at a small sidewalk cafe to have a cool drink when.
"I can't believe it, Eyal Lavin."
He looked up to see a familiar face, Lauren Southall smiling at him. He stood, holding a chair for her to be seated; she was beautiful and carried herself with poise and elegance. She had a way of slanting her head downward and cutting her eyes to make a point. He was delighted to see a familiar face.
"Lauren, what a pleasant surprise, please join me."
"Love to. It must be fate to see you here." She said with her beautiful smile.
"Kismet" was Eyal remark.
"How have you been? You still working off book?" she asked.
"One question at a time. I have been fine, keep remembering our night together keeps me going."
"You are still the big flirt." she wrinkled her nose at him. "Keep it up, this could be a repeat."
Eyal with a smile, "Yeah, now you have my interest up."
Lauren leaning in closer, "You didn't answer my second question, still working off book?"
Eyal took a sip of his drink, "Yeah, I still do some jobs, spy for hire - will travel."
"Jackson told me you were engaged to be married, I don't see a ring did you got through with the marriage?" Lauren had given Eyal the once over inspection, no ring meant fair game and oh was he worth the hunt.
"Nope, it blew up in a big puff of smoke about two years ago. Still single. How about you? Ever find your Prince Charming?"
"Sure did, he is sitting right here." She laughed and said, "I'm really glad I ran into you, let me ask, are you on an assignment now?"
Eyal shaking his head, "No."
"I need a date for tonight, someone I can trust to have my back. You gamed?"
"Sounds interesting, tell me what's shaking down." Eyal interest was high, he hadn't been on a fun type mission in quite a while and it sounded exciding to him.
"You ever heard of Aileen Davy-Eliades?"
"Yeah, diamond smuggling for arms."
"There is a high rollers party tonight and she will be there. My MI6 date for tonight came down with the flu and we were ready to abort the mission. I hate to do that, she is a hard person to meet and this is a good opportunity."
"Yeah, could be a fun evening."
Lauren calling MI6, "Jackson, you know that problem I was having with this assignment, I have found the answer, Eyal Lavin... Yes, he is here in South Africa and is willing to help... sure, hold the phone." Lauren handed the phone to Eyal.
Eyal taking the phone, "Hello Jackson, we talk again."
Jackson, "I'll have Lauren read you in on the mission. You are still a green badge for MI6 and I'll transfer 25 thousand for your assistance tonight and if it has to go another night, another twenty-five. Watch Lauren back, she is one of the best we have in the field and thanks for stepping in."
"No problem Jackson, have you covered."
"Also talked with Christine about the Mexico deal and Jack is headed back down there with a few others to take care of our little crisis."
"I think it all will work out just fine. So the Mexico intel was good?" Eyal had spent a week in Mexico gathering information on a drug cartel shipping drugs to North Africa countries.
Jackson sounded happy, "Couldn't been better and now going after the root cause. Thanks, a job well done. Put Lauren on the line."
Eyal handed the phone back to Lauren, "He wants to talk to you."
They stayed at the little cafe talking a about the assignment. Aileen Davy-Eliades - born 1960 - the daughter of Paulos Eliades, a Greek shipping tycoon and Poppy Davy, the daughter of a South African diamond operator. Aileen has inherit diamond mines from her mother and is now a diamond and gold smugger - she is the owner and operator of two diamond mines and one gold mine. While her business trade is well respected and above board, she also is a smugger of a vast network of diamonds mined in Angola and Sierra Leone and hiding the illegal diamond within her legal diamond export. She also owns a small shipping line her Greek father established for her shipping out of South Africa - Eliades Lines. She also smuggles gold from her mine that exceeds government regulations of export. She had a close association several weapon dealers in trading diamonds and guns to several African and Arab countries of Egypt, Western Sahara, Libya, Lebanon, Seria and now Iran.
Lauren was continuing to explain to Eyal about Aileen, "One of her main customers - a man named Ariel Heber, Jewish diamond dealer with offices in Amsterdam, London and Tel Aviv."
"I know the man, I have done business with him in the past. He thinks I'm a diamond merchant."
"This is perfect, he will be there tonight, it is his party."
"I guess I need to fill you in on who I'm. He knows I'm from Tel Aviv but now making my home in Athens."
"A Greek too, oh this can't get any better. Do you have a cover name?"
"Believe it or not but no, to him I'm Eyal Lavin, diamond merchant."
"I need to be going, I have an appointment at the American Consulate to receive some more intel. They have been working with MI6 on this mission, it is a coordinated endeavor between MI6 and CIA. Pick me up at eight and dress sexy." She was on her way to gather more information.
Eyal sitting there, thinking - dress sexy was her last words. He paid the tab and set out to buy something tastefully sexy for a man to wear. Damn, it's been a long time.
Later that night, Eyal dressed in a black open neck silk shirt, black slacks and leaving his boxers in the drawer, set out to pickup Lauren. He reached her hotel and she was waiting for him with a light cape wrapped around her.
Eyal smiled as he held the car door open for her, "Keeping things under wraps."
"Don't think for one minute I would walk through the hotel lobby dress like this," she took off the cape and reveled one of the sexiest outfits he had seen in a long, long time. She look ever inch a sultry lady that was beckoning for sexual encounters. It was that type of party, lots of skin showing with the ladies.
Lauren Southall with her golden tan, long dark brown almost black hair and dancing green eyes stood about 5'6'' and well developed breast that she was careful not to show off. She had a valuable asset and knew it but didn't flaunt it - there was no need until tonight. She was wearing a yellow summer print grown with a halter style neck and crossover front. The back is mostly open and in the front, a sexy slit to show off a little leg and a great pair of Jimmy Choo's platform shoes. The grown was form fitting and showed off her gorgeous curves.
"Wow Shayna, you are one smoking hot lady, too bad it's for a mission and not me." The pet name he had called her with their first encounter back in New York, Shayna is Yiddish for beautiful.
Lauren smiled, "It could be for both."
"Hey, you getting to be as flirty as I am. Looks like it's time to get this show on the road." Eyal suggested.
The air of the party was lavish and sexy, model type girls with slim figures and slight clad clothing serving an endless amount of drinks. As they entered, one of the heavies checking for any type of weapons frisk Eyal and check Lauren's clutch. She showed them the invitation she had for the party and they were allowed to enter. Music was soft rock playing in the background - guest were enjoying their drinks and mingling.
They walked to the bar and Lauren ordered a Amarula Colada and Eyal ordered Sunset Cocktail - clean, a non-alcoholic drink. Lauren looked at Eyal, "You not drinking?"
"Not anymore, that was my past life." He took her by the waist and led the way to the balcony overlooking the city. "I just saw Ariel Heber, time for an accidental encounter."
Standing by the railing not far from Ariel Heber, Eyal was pointing out some land marks to Lauren when, "Eyal Lavin, damn I didn't know you were in town." Ariel was walking to greet Eyal.
"Shalom, ma kore?" Eyal was answering in Hebrew and extending his hand.
"Happy you came tonight, and who is this lovely lady?" Ariel had set his eyes on the loveliness of Lauren.
"Business associate of mine from Tangier, Jalilah Shahi."
"The gateway to the Mediterranean. My pleasure." He lifting her hand and kissing it gently. "You in the diamond business too?"
"Payments in diamonds, I'm in the import-export of hardware." She smiled at him and he was being mesmerized with her exquisiteness.
The evening was going well, after spending time talking with Heber, their target, Aileen Davy-Eliades joined them and it was time for Eyal to turn on his charm. Both being from Athens was a perfect fit and the four spent nearly the whole evening dancing and enjoying each other. Enough was said for Aileen to pick up on the fact that Jalilah Shahi might be an arms dealer and wanted to explore more. As for Eyal, Aileen adored this handsome smooth talking Greek and wanted to see him again. Ariel had to excuse himself and play host, after all it was his party.
Watching him walk away Aileen, "He is such a bore but a good business partner." Turning back to Eyal and Lauren, "This has been delightful chatting with the two of you, please join me tomorrow night for dinner. We can get to know each other better."
Now the date was set, the three would meet for dinner the next night. Aileen said her goodbyes and left the party with two strapping young men - body guards.
"That was easy." Eyal guiding Lauren to the dance floor, "Time for us to enjoy the rest of the evening." She stepped closed into his arms as they dance, he could smell the subtle fragrance of the delicate expensive perfume she was wearing. It had been a long time since Eyal held a woman in his arms and he was savoring each moment.
The party was still going strong when they decided to call it a night. Eyal walking Lauren into the lobby of her hotel to say good night and while standing at the elevator, she looked at him, touched his face gently, "I have some Colombian coffee in by room, you want to join me for a great cup of coffee?"
Eyal knew he shouldn't but could not resist, "Love to."
In her room, Eyal found a chair and sat, watching Lauren busying herself with brewing a pot of rich Colombian coffee. Once she had it going, Lauren found a robe and headed to the bathroom, "I need to get out of this very uncomfortable dress - something more relaxing."
"I available to help if you need me." Eyal raising his eye brows and his playful smirk.
"Think I can manage this on my own." she disappearing into the bathroom.
Eyal thinking he needed to stop the flirting and be a gentleman but watching Lauren it was hard. The images of their romp in New York came dancing back in his mind. She had known all the right buttons to push. Soon the bathroom door open and Lauren walked over to the coffee pot. She was wearing a floor length silk Japanese Kimono style robe in shades of green, matching her eyes. No longer the sex pot but a lady of grace and refinement.
Handing Eyal his cup of coffee, "So tell me how long you've been in the diamond business. You knew way too much tonight for it just to be a cover."
"Several years now, that is why I'm in Johannesburg. Income for me after my Mossad days had ended. You were excellent tonight with your cover."
"I have used it many times in the past, it has always worked and I've spent countless long hours studying the arms trade here in Africa."
"You enjoy your field work?" Eyal liking his Colombian coffee.
"Aileen Davy-Eliades is my last mission. Once we establish her weapons depot and sources, I'm headed to a liaison officer's job in London covering the Mediterranean area."
"Hope you like you new assignment, hard to picture you behind a desk."
She raising her cup to take a slip, "I believe I met someone today that you know."
"Oh, who."
"Her name was Walker, she looked like the same blond that was with you in Miami."
Eyal was completely stunned, Annie being in South Africa was the totally unforeseen. "Where did you see her?"
"At the American Consulate, she was part of the CIA group debriefing me. Was she the one with you in Miami?"
"Yeah and I'm sorry I was such an ass back then. Should have introduced the two of you."
"That's alright, no need to be subject to delicate questions of knowing me."
"She had already figured it out by the time you walked away. Later we became engaged but that was very short lived."
"I'm sorry, you seeing anyone else now?"
"Nope, how about you? Any lucky man been able to steal your heart."
"Don't have the time but hopefully that will all change when I put down roots in London."
"And someday, you will find that true love you deserve and I will dance at your wedding." Eyal stood to get himself another cup of coffee. "Want another cup?"
"Yes please." She stood - followed him to the little kitchenette and standing close to him as he poured their second cup, his elbow lightly touching her breast.
He looked down and saw her warm dancing green eyes gazing at him as she reached to unbutton his shirt. Eyal putting the coffee pot down, gently ran his hand up her side and then around her back pulling Lauren closed to him. Holding the side of her face with his other hand he softly kissed her, becoming more intense. His manly desire was rising and there was no turning back. That night was pure ecstasy for both of them and there was no feeling of guilt on his part. Lauren was the first woman he had been with since Annie and it was good for him. He was now getting on with his life, Annie would always have a place in his heart but she had rejected him not once but twice.
The next afternoon, Eyal drove by the American Consulate and parked. Why in the hell was he doing this - it is over with, damn it move on Eyal mulled over to himself. Just as he started to pull away, a blond woman walked down to side toward the door. He felt his heart skip a slight beat, but it wasn't Annie. Remaining feelings still lingered - those feelings he had to put away and last night, Lauren help to put aside some of those feelings, she had been his needed therapy.
The mission was a success, that evening with Aileen Davy-Eliades went perfect. Eyal was back to being his enchanting self and Lauren had worked her way into more meetings with Aileen. Taking Lauren back to her hotel that night, they parted with a sweet goodnight kiss and a promise from Eyal to look her up when he was in London for dinner.
Six months later, Eyal was in London to dance at her wedding. A charming wedding and beautiful bride. Lauren was marring John Morgan-Burgess, Earl of Sexton-Essex and retiring from MI6. That chapter in Eyal's life now was closed and he was happy for her.