"Well Lindsey, I must thank you for lunch. It was positively marvelous." Commented Buffy as she sipped her after dinner drink, a brandy Alexander. "It was positively delightful, wasn't it? Of course, the pleasure was all mine." He replied. Buffy raised her eyebrow and placed her drink back on the table. "I believe we have some business to discuss, Mr. McDonald. If you would accompany me back to my office, I would be delighted to hear about your proposal." Lindsey tilted his head as he gazed at her, and after a moment, nodded his head. He signaled the waiter over to the table and quickly paid for the whole meal. Buffy smiled, "A gentleman to the core. No wonder Darla sticks with you." Lindsey chuckled as he signed the receipt with a flourish and stood up. He pulled out her chair for her and offered her his arm. The blonde laughed outright at this as she looped her arm through his. "You are a comedian, Mr. McDonald." Lindsey smiled back at her, "Of course, that's why you love me."
As they stepped out into the daylight, Lindsey put his sunglasses on. "Where is your car?" Buffy replied as she looked out at the cars buzzing by them on the busy street, "I told you, traffic was horrendous. Must have been an accident or something. I naturally parked a few blocks away at Le Aliment. They have valet there. Don't want my car scratched." "Naturally," said Lindsey as he turned and led her down the sidewalk. "I shall, of course, chauffer you to your car. Mine is parked over here. As luck would have it, someone chose to leave right when I came around." Buffy chuckled, "Ah, but what would your darling Darla think when she discovers that another woman was in your car?" Lindsey grinned boyishly at her, "She would of course through a fit, until I told her it was you. Then, she would through a fit because I did not invite you over for supper." They laughed together at this as they came upon his car, a black BMW beamer. "Men and their cars," dramatically sighed Buffy as she noticed the waxed vehicle. "You're one to talk darling. If I remember correctly, the last car you bought was worth more than many make their whole lives. But, you just had to have it as part of your fleet of impossibly expensive and daring cars." Ribbed Lindsey as he opened the passenger door for her. "I do not have a fleet of cars, McDonald. I like to have at least two cars at each of my estates. It is not my fault that I have numerous estates to equip." She explained with a small smile as she gracefully sat. Lindsey just rolled his eyes as he hopped into his seat and started the car. They drove in comfortable silence, occasionally talking about old friends and acquaintances; when they arrived at her car after a long wait in traffic, Buffy stepped out of the car and within a minute, was buckling into her own vehicle. She smiled as she felt the soft purr of her 1956 Ferrari 860 Monza. She followed Lindsey through the downtown area, swiftly maneuvering her vehicle through the jammed up lanes. Arriving quickly at her office building, they pulled up to the curb, jumping out of their cars at the same time. "How does she run?" asked Lindsey, indicating her car as two men ran up to park their cars for them. "Like a dream, Linds." Replied Buffy with a laugh. "You know," began Lindsey as they walked inside the dominating building, "last I heard that car was sold at an auction for 2.5 million, to a man in Sweden." The girl glanced at him with an innocent shrug as they entered the glass elevator.
When they arrived at the top floor, Buffy quickly ushered her friend into her office. "Drink?" asked Buffy as she moved over to the bar setup near the right wall. The man declined as he sat down in one of the soft leather chairs in front of the large black steel desk that held only a small wooden box and a telephone. "What can I do for you, Mr. McDonald?" asked the blonde as she sat down in the black leather chair behind the desk. "It's not for me, so much as for a friend of mine." "A friend of yours? Might I know this friend?" asked Buffy as she reached for the box and pulled out a small cigar and match pack. Lighting the cigar, she sat back in her chair and studied her long time friend. "Yes you might. His name is Travers, Quinton Travers. He runs a large brokerage firm in London. Quite the old Englishman, if I do say so myself." Lindsey answered and added almost unconsciously, "I thought you quit smoking." Buffy smiled, "I did, for a little while. Found it most unpleasant after about a week. Next think I know I'm in Lou's shop buying every package I could find. What can I say, everyone has weaknesses." "And yours is smoking?" questioned Lindsey with a raised eyebrow. "I never said that, Mr. McDonald." She retorted with a puff of smoke.
"Well, back to the matter at hand," said McDonald, "Mr. Travers has been looking for a certain piece of jewelry for a number of years. It seems he has finally pinpointed the exact location o his prize, but there is a problem." "He can't get the prize." Finished Buffy as she tapped the ashes from her cigar. "Yes, and it seems he believes that you are capable of retrieving this piece." "And he's willing to pay forty million for me to steal a piece of jewelry, come now Linds. Even I know that is preposterous. What are the stipulations, the catch?" Her friend smiled as he was hoping for her to ask, "It seems that this piece of jewelry is none other than the Trebel Diamond."
He held his breath and stared at her. Buffy just looked back at him and took another puff of the cigar. "The Trebel Diamond." He tried again. Still nothing. "One of the most well known diamonds in the world, and certainly one of the largest. It's priceless." Buffy smirked at him as he flicked the butt of the cigar into a trash can across the room. "It cannot be priceless, if he places a price on its retrieval." Lindsey shook his head. "It seems that the Trebel diamond will be arriving in LA in tomorrow and will be showed as part of a traveling display at the Museum of Science and History. It will be under intense surveillance and guards everywhere. It would be like trying to rob a casino in Vegas." Informed Lindsey. Buffy sat back in thought, "When would Travers like the diamond by?" Lindsey grinned, seeing that his friend's interest was piqued, "The display only lasts for three weeks. He would like it before the display moved on." She sat back in her seat, contemplating the task she was being offered. After a few minutes, she looked back at Lindsey, "Please tell Mr. Travers to contact me on my cell phone before the end of the day." Lindsey smiled as he stood up, "Of course Summers, he'll be excited to know that you have agreed to take up his offer. Oh, I'll also tell Darla that you said hello." With a gleeful chuckle, he turned to leave the room. "One more thing Linds," called out Buffy. He turned around with a confused look. "You might want this." She added as she tossed him something. He caught it, and found his brown wallet in his hands. With a slight grin, he turned and left the room.
