All the familiar characters belong to J.E. However the story line and original characters are mine. I don't own them and I'm not making any money from them, I'm just playing with them for a little bit.
Authors Note:
Sorry I missed last week. Everything is good,my daughter graduated from high school and we went on vacation for her graduation present and I had every intention of writing and posting but once we got to our destination I decided to enjoy my time and just relaxed that whole week and did nothing.
I started to write this and realized that in certain parts I had written the word Commander quite a few times so I've decided to shorten it to Cmdr from here on out.
Here we go... we are to the exciting part of the story.
Spanish conversations are italicized.
Universidad de los Andes –Merida Venezuela – Reporting Back to DC
Carlos and Lester rented a house near the college and had been there for almost a month watching Estefania from a distance and figuring out her schedule. They had determined that there were two other men that protected her, aside from the boyfriend.
They had also noticed that any time he saw some guy would try and talk to her or even look at her he would scare them away; so they would have to be careful about that. They were also able to determine by the way he moved around her and how he was always watching what happened around them he did indeed have some type of training. They didn't know what the extent of his training but knew so far it wasn't enough to pick them up on his radar. Even her bodyguards didn't notice them.
Carlos and Lester made sure to stay behind everyone so they wouldn't get noticed but were close enough to still keep her in sight. They didn't always both go out to follow her. Sometimes it was just one of them.
After they had finally decided they knew her schedule well enough they were able to determine the best time to make contact with her. They would do it on a Friday because the boyfriend had more classes than she did and he wouldn't be around, making it the perfect opportunity for them to talk to her alone. They had worked on the plan until they thought they had it down.
Finally the day came to put everything into action. They made it seem like she had "accidentally" bumped into them and it had worked just like they had planned. However they were taken by surprise when the boyfriend showed up. He was supposed to be on his way to his own class that wasn't anywhere near hers.
Carlos and Lester both looked at each other because he had never shown up before and they didn't understand why he was there now. He quickly rushed her away from them. They could already tell that she was fighting with him.
They decided not to let that deter them and quickly came up with a new plan. They figured they would wait until outside of her class and wait until it was over. They'd follow her to see if they could find another opportunity to speak to her again.
Her class ended and they were able to follow her to a pizza place that she frequented. She made a motion to her bodyguards and they stayed outside and waited for her, while she walked in alone. They agreed that this would be the perfect chance to talk to her. They went in and saw sitting her alone at one of the tables.
They walked over to her and sat down beside her and started a conversation. They made sure that the boyfriend wasn't around and she assured them that he wasn't around. By the time she left with her pizza they had gotten a little more information but not as much as they had hoped, although now they knew her full name and it wouldn't be long until they found out everything.
They decided to hang around a little longer trying not to make anything too obvious. They ordered a couple of pizzas to go in case she came back in for some reason and decided they should also start asking around to see if anyone would give them any information about her.
Everyone they talked to wouldn't give them any information about her, but they said the best thing they could do was to stop asking questions about her. So after they got their pizza they left and went back to the house to eat and then report back to the Cmdr what they had learned.
While they were eating Lester could tell that something was bothering Carlos so he finally looked at him and said "What!"
Carlos looked up at Lester with a frustrated look and said "What the hell were you thinking?"
Lester said "Could you be a little more specific, I've had thoughts about a lot of things. Not sure what one you're talking about Cuz?"
Carlos almost growled his reply "You called her beautiful and then flirted with her." Then he added "We're supposed to be maintaining a low profile to gather Intel not date her."
Lester shook his head laughing and said "Dude chill and did you see her? She was fucking beautiful and since we were already talking to her I couldn't resist. Besides, she didn't seem to mind it and isn't that why we went in there in the first place to try and make her feel comfortable with us so we could get information from her."
Carlos grumpily said "Yeah, I guess, but it might be beneficial to try and resist in the future. The last thing we need is for her overbearing boyfriend hearing you say that and blow up at you, because at that point our covers would be blown because we'd have to kick his ass. Yes I saw her, she is absolutely beautiful, but we can't lose focus on what we were sent here to do. Got it?"
Lester just nodded his head but then wiggled his eyebrows and said "Yeah, but it doesn't mean that we can't have a little fun while we're doing it, right? So now that's been covered do you want to stay in for the rest of the night or go and see if we can get into some trouble?"
Halfway through Lester talking Carlos tuned him out because he started thinking about her. It bothered him that Lester gave her that nickname even if it was true, he didn't know why either. There was just something about her and he didn't lie when he said was absolutely beautiful. Not only was she beautiful but she seemed like a genuinely nice person as well. She wasn't conceded and didn't look down on them. He really hated that type. He really would like to get to know her better even if he knows that he shouldn't.
It really burned Carlos that her "boyfriend" man handles her like that, she didn't deserve that and he didn't like it. He would love to show him a thing or two about the proper way to treat a lady and if given the chance he might just do that.
Then he started thinking about why it bothered him so much and he couldn't find an answer except that there was just something about her. Once again he just couldn't explain it, but he wanted to know everything that he possibly could. He pictured her face and the first thing that popped out at him was her eyes, they were mesmerizing. The first time he really noticed them he couldn't stop staring into them. The pictures of her that the Cmdr showed him didn't do her justice.
Suddenly he was brought out of his thoughts by his cousin snapping his fingers in front of his face. Carlos growled "What!"
Lester just laughed and said "I've been trying to talk to you for about 5 minutes, but you looked like you were just staring off in space with a weird look on your face and you didn't answer me." Then he added "Man, are you OK? I've never seen you look like that before."
Carlos slyly replied "I was just thinking." Before he could say anything else Lester interrupted him.
He said "Oh my God you were thinking about her. You big old hypocrite, you yelled at me for flirting with her and here you are fantasizing about her."
Carlos growled at him and put his blank face on and tried to cover it up by saying "No I wasn't. I was thinking about the job that we're here to do and what our next steps should be now that we've made contact."
Lester laughed at him again and yelled back at him "Yeah, yeah whatever gets you through the night." And started to walk away towards his room, Lester decided to get one more dig in and hollered "Lover boy."
Carlos yelled back at him "Shut the fuck up or I won't care what Tia (Aunt) says when I'll kill you. She'll never find you way over here."
Lester just laughed louder and harder from his room.
Carlos stormed into his room and grabbed the satellite phone and pressed the buttons to call his Cmdr number. He knew that he had to get his emotions together before talking to him so while it was ringing he took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Carlos thought fuck Lester and his teasing ass.
Then the Cmdr answered his phone by saying "What do you have for me?"
Carlos replied "Sir, I can 99% guarantee it's her. She has 2 bodyguards with her most of the time and a guy that's her boyfriend and a bodyguard all rolled into one. She said that he lives with her to help keep her safe because her Papi is way over protective, which is why she also has the bodyguards. We made contact with her and she also introduced herself to Lester and me as Estefania. Then when we saw her at a pizza place, the woman behind the counter yelled Hey Jimenez at her and she replied and went and picked her order up and then left."
Cmdr Franklin replied "Very good work so far. How long before you think you will be able to talk to her about her situation."
Carlos said "Depends if we can get her alone then I think it will probably take us a few weeks before we can completely get her trust and open up to us. Since we've made the initial contact it will be easier going forward but we still have to worry about the boyfriend."
Cmdr Franklin said "Agreed. I'm going to help you and make things easier for you. I've spoken to someone who knows someone at the school and they are going to allow you to register for the University on Monday, you'll be able to walk freely around campus and not look out of place or be questioned."
Carlos thought about it and if they could kind of match their schedules to hers that would help getting to know her and maybe they could get one or two with the boyfriend and maybe get to know him and win his trust.
Carlos replied "Sounds good sir. I think that will work."
The Cmdr told him "I've decided not to say anything to anyone about who she is yet. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up if there's a chance like you said that she doesn't want to come back."
Carlos said "I think that's a good idea sir. I'll call you in a week and let you know where we stand." And they hung up.
He walking into Lester's room and said "Well man, you're getting ready to have some fun."
Lester looked up from his laptop said "What do you mean?"
Carlos went over everything that he and the Cmdr had discussed and after he was done Lester agreed that it sounded like a good idea.
Then Lester spoke up and said "Hey since the school has a Futbol club do you think they will let us join? We were both pretty good when we were younger and this would also be a great way to get our exercise in." Waggling his eyes he said "Maybe it will help us pick up some chicks too."
Carlos thought about it and although he didn't agree with the whole picking up chicks part it, he liked the idea. He could definitely use the exercise.
They decided to stay inside for the rest of the weekend and rework their plan. They had to readjust some more things now that they were going to have to incorporate the twist that the Cmdr had given them.
Universidad de los Andes –Merida Venezuela – Meeting Estefania Again
On Monday morning they went to the registration office and filled out all the necessary paperwork to register for school and paid for their classes.
They asked the administrator about the Futbol Club and she told them that as far as she knew they were still looking for a few more players but they had already had a few practices. She was pretty sure that if they wanted to talk to the coach that he should be available this morning.
They decided that since they weren't going to start their classes until the following week that it would be a good idea to head over to practice field and see if they could talk to the coach about joining, maybe he would let them tryout.
As they were walking over to the field Carlos and Lester started to compare their schedules. They were each taking 4 classes to start off with. Lester had 2 with the boyfriend but none with Estefania. Carlos had 2 with Estefania and 1 will the boyfriend, which luckily Lester was in that one as well.
They were both talking and not paying attention to what was going on around them when all of a sudden Carlos got hit with something in the back of the head. He turned around and looked down and saw a piece of paper on the ground. He looked around and didn't see anyone.
He heard the giggling coming from behind a tree, and he was pretty sure that he already knew who it was. He picked up the ball of paper and walked around the tree to where she was and gave her half a smile. He reached his hand out to give it back to her and said "I think you dropped something."
She looked up at him and laughed while said "Nope I threw it at you."
He pretended to look hurt and said "Now why would you do that?"
Her smile reached all the way up to her eyes and she replied "Because I was calling your names and you didn't respond to me."
He laughed and said "Maybe next time you should hit Lester instead that would be way funnier." She gave him a full belly laugh at that and he thought that was the best sound in the world.
Then he looked her in the eyes and said "Hey, Estefania." She shyly replied "Hey, Carlos."
By that time Lester finally caught up to them he looked at her and said "Hey Beautiful. Good shot."
She smiled and said "Hey Lester. Thanks."
Then Lester finally noticed the girl that standing next to her and held out his hand and said "Hey, I'm Lester and this is my cousin Carlos." Then he smiled at her and continued with "You're a pretty little thing aren't you, where'd you come from?"
She gave him her hand and when he brought it up to his lips and kissed it she blushed and said "Hi, I'm Isabella. I'm Essie's roommate and her boyfriend's sister."
Then Carlos put his hand out and shook her hand, he didn't raise it to his lips but he did give her once of his 200 watt smiles.
She blushed even harder at that and Lester spoke up and said "Hey Cuz. Hands off, I saw her first. So is there a boyfriend I have to watch out for Izzy? Is it OK that I call you that?"
She smiled and said "No I don't have a boyfriend, but you might want to watch out for my brother. He's a little over protective and yes I like that name."
Estefania rolled her eyes and sighed when she said that Diego was a little over protective and Carlos noticed it.
He leaned in and whispered "Is he as bad with her as he is with you?" With a sad look in her eyes she shook her head no.
Lester seeing that Carlos and Estefania were quietly talking he decided to pull Isabella closer to him and walked a little bit away from them giving Carlos a chance to talk to Beautiful alone.
Carlos and Estefania stood there for a couple of seconds in complete silence like neither one knew what to say to the other.
Finally Carlos said "Speaking of Diego, where is he and aren't you worried that your bodyguards will tell him you are talking to us?"
Estefania sighed and said "Diego went off with a couple of his friends since I told him this was going to be a girls day for Izzy and my bodyguards watch over me but they don't tell me who I can talk to and they don't tell him who I talk to. They learned a long time ago that it's just easier to let me do things my way."
She looked over by the tree to where they were and Carlos followed her eye movements. He nodded his head towards them.
They noticed him nodding his head at them and decided that since this was now the third time that Estefania was talking them, they decided to walked over to where they were standing.
Carlos saw them approaching and knew he was about to get questioned but he understand that making sure she was safe was their job and that if someone he was guarding was talking to guys that looked like they did whether the person they were guarding was fine he'd want to talk to them as well.
Lester noticed they were walking over as well so he moved in closer to them, so he would have Carlos' back should anything happen.
Tomas was the first to speak. He put his arm around her shoulders protectively and said "Estefania, Who are these guys and what have we told you about just talking to random people?"
She looked at him shook her head and then laughed as she pushed his arm off of her and said in a sarcastic voice said "Gee let me think the same thing that you've been telling me since I was 4. Be careful and don't trust anyone."
He looked down at her and said "OK smartass, tone it down or I'll have to tell your Papi about the new guys."
She punched him in the arm and said "Don't you dare, besides I know them. This is Carlos and Lester and you've seen them with me before which is probably why you are over here now, checking up on me. I'm sure you remember last week when I bumped into them and then saw them at Pizzeria Da Enzo." And then she added "So don't go all protective on me like that, please. You know I deal with that enough."
Tomas just nodded and then held his hand out for Carlos to shake and said "I'm Tomas and this is my partner Franco."
After shaking his hand and then reaching out to shake Franco's Carlos replied "As Estefania said I'm Carlos and that's my cousin Lester."
Lester shook both of their hands as well.
Estefania getting impatient finally said "So what were you two so engrossed in that you didn't hear me calling you, if you don't mind me asking. Oh my goodness, don't listen to me, it's none of my business. Well you could tell me if you wanted to but you don't have to tell me if you don't..."
She couldn't get the rest out because Carlos not being able to control himself just grabbed her and hugged her to stop her from rambling said "It's OK."
After realizing what he just did he quickly let her go and took a couple of steps back and said "We registered for classes this morning and since we don't start until next week we decided to head over to the Futbol field hoping we could talk to the coach about joining the team. We were comparing our schedules when you pelted me in the head with your paper ball."
Tomas and Franco had missed her doing that so they both yelled "Estefania!"
She looked at them smiled and then gave them the biggest doe eyes that Carlos had ever seen. They just shook their heads and kissed the top of her head and started to walk away.
Tomas turned around and looked at him like he was trying to decide on something and then said "I'll be keeping my eyes on you." And then turned back around and continued to where he was standing before.
Carlos looked at him and then looked at her with a questioning look. She shrugged her shoulders and said "Yeah well at least he didn't threaten to kill you. So you play Futbol huh?"
He replied "Yep and we're pretty good too. We've been playing together since we were kids and we're hoping that even though they've already started practices that the coach will let us tryout."
Then he decided to be the good guy and even though she approached them this time, he didn't want to say too much too soon. So he grabbed Lester and said "I'm really glad that we got to bump into you again, but since you've said that you're having a "girls" day, I'm sure there's something that you want to be doing other than hanging here and talking to us so maybe we should let you get to it."
She just stood there with a blank look on her face didn't say anything.
After a couple of minutes he nudged Lester and they turned around and started walk away heading back towards the field, hoping they could still catch the coach.