Eligos reclined in his plush first-ss seat, savoring the tranquility of the flight. The hum of the engines was a soothing backdrop to his thoughts as he sipped on a ss of champagne. The air stewardess, dressed impably, approached with a tray of chocte-covered strawberries. She leaned in, her smile warm and professional.


    "Would you care for a strawberry, sir?" she offered, her voice soft and inviting.


    Eligos nodded, plucking one from the tray. "Thank you," he murmured, his lips curling into a subtle smile as he bit into the strawberry. The rich chocte paired with the juicy fruit was a decadent contrast he appreciated.


    As the stewardess moved on to attend to other passengers, Eligos turned his attention to his phone. He tapped the screen, bringing up a text thread with Andre. His fingers danced over the keyboard as heposed a message.


    Eligos: Remember, Andre. No shaking or quivering in front of ire. She can read people like an open book. We need her to stay curious about how you managed to fly to Vegas. Don''t give her any clues. He hit send and leaned back, eyes narrowing as he thought about the unfolding scheme. Andre was a critical piece in this game, and he had to y his part well. Eligos was still annoyed about Andre revealing snippets of his past to ire, despite the promises to keep it under wraps. It was a breach of trust, and though Eligos was furious, he had decided to trust Andre, for now.


    The phone buzzed in his hand, pulling him from his thoughts.


    Andre: I understand. I''ll handle it. ire won''t know a thing.


    Eligos frowned, his jaw tightening. He wasn''t convinced. He typed back a curt response.


    Eligos: See that you do. Any slip, and you know the consequences.


    He ced the phone on the armrest and took another sip of his champagne. The grand opening of Harris


    Hotel was a pivotal moment. Everything had to go ording to n, without a hitch.


    In a hotel room across town, André sat on the edge of his bed, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. Eligos''s message red back at him, the words sending a shiver down his spine. The weight of the task ahead pressed heavily on his shoulders. He exhaled slowly, trying to steady his nerves as he gazed out the window at the dazzling lights of Las Vegas.


    "Can I do this?" André whispered to himself, doubt creeping into his mind. But he knew he had no choice. He was already here, and the stakes were too high. Failure wasn''t an option-not with Eligos watching his every move.


    He took a deep breath, his reflection in the window looking back at him with determination. "You''ve got this," he muttered. "You have to."


    As if on cue, his phone buzzed in his hand, jolting him from his thoughts. It was a call from his mother. He took another deep breath before answering, forcing a smile onto his face as he greeted her. "Mama." Her voice, though weak, was a balm to his frayed nerves. "André, my sweet boy. How are you? Are you eating well?"


    André''s heart ached at the sound of her frailty. "I''m fine, Mama. More importantly, how are you feeling?" "I''m doing alright," she replied, her voice soft but carrying a hint of false cheer. "The doctors are taking good care of me.


    André didn''t believe her entirely. He knew her condition was more serious than she let on. He had made arrangements with the hospital staff to keep him updated on any changes. "Mama, you know you can tell me if you''re not feeling well. I want to help in any way I can."


    "I know, André. But what I need most is to see you here, by my side," she said, her voice tinged with longing.


    André''s chest tightened. He longed to be there too, but his obligations-and Eligos''s grasp kept him away. "Soon, Mama. I''lle as soon as I can."


    They continued to talk, her stories about the hospital and the nurses offering him a brief respite from his anxieties. He listened intently, his heart bothforted and burdened by the distance between them.


    As the call ended, Andréy back on


    the bed, staring at the ceiling. His mother''s words echoed in his mind, mingling with Eligos''s orders. Failure wasn''t just a professional risk; it was personal. He couldn''t afford to let anyone down-not his mother, and certainly not Eligos.


    His phone buzzed again, this time a message from Eligos.


    Eligos: "Everything must go smoothly. No mistakes, André."


    André closed his eyes, steeling himself for the challenge ahead. "I won''t let you down," he whispered into


    the silence, more to himself than to Eligos. He couldn''t afford to.


    Back on the ne, Eligos leaned


    back in his seat, satisfied with André''s brief response. His thoughts drifted to ire. She was sharp, perceptive, and always a few steps ahead. That was precisely why Andre''s role was crucial. ire needed to remain uncertain, her mind clouded with questions about André''s sudden appearance and his means.


    Eligos swirled the remaining champagne in his ss, a smirk ying on his lips. This wasn''t just about business; it was about control, about staying one step ahead of ire and ensuring she was neverfortable enough to figure out his endgame.


    He opened another app on his phone, scrolling through his messages until he found a secure chat with one of his operatives stationed in Las Vegas.


    Eligos: Status update on ire''s movements?


    A momentter, the reply came.


    Operative: She has arrived. Currently staying at Harris Hotel.


    Eligos''s smirk deepened. "Good. Keep me posted."


    Closing his phone, Eligos let out a contented sigh. Everything was falling into ce. Now, it was just a matter of watching the pieces move, ensuring each one yed its part to perfection.


    He raised his ss slightly as if toasting the future. "To a wless performance," he murmured, before finishing thest of his champagne.


    Meanwhile, André remained seated


    on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. He reyed the conversation with his mother in his mind, her frail voice haunting him. His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms as he resolved to keep his focus.


    A knock at the door broke his reverie. He stood, walked over, and opened it to find a hotel staff member standing there.


    "Mr. André, your dinner has been sent up," the staff member announced with a polite smile.


    André nodded, stepping aside to allow the cart to be wheeled in. "Thank you," he said, his voice distant. As the staff member left, André sat at the small dining table, staring at the meal before him without much appetite. He knew he needed to eat, to keep his strength up, but the pressure of the uing events weighed heavily on him.


    He picked at the food, forcing himself to take a few bites. Every mouthful felt heavy, a reminder of the responsibilities he carried. His phone buzzed again, a notification from Eligos.


    Eligos: Remember, everything rides on this. Stay focused.


    André swallowed hard, his grip tightening around the fork. "I won''t fail," he whispered to the empty room. He couldn''t too many lives depended on it.