In a Mercedes CLS, Alexander was looking on the phone. Ingrid stood on his right.-Where are we going?
-At my home.
Alexander answered indifferently.
-Why?
-You will know when we"re getting there.
Ingrid nodded. Wanted to ask more questions, but she didn"t know how to start.
From time to time she looked at him. At first, she could not figure out what
Alexander was thinking. It was direct but still very mysterious.
She tried to gather information about him but could not find anything. It was like a missing person. No one knew where he was.
After 30 minutes of driving, the car stopped in front of a simple house. She was expecting an impressive house, but it was not like that.
Alexander got out of the car. Then he opens the door for Ingrid.
- Put the phone here.
Ingrid was a little skeptical, but she did as he said. Now there was a little fear.
The house was different from what she expected.
There were screens everywhere. Some had code lines, others had, surveillance cameras.
It was a simplistic, refined, modern style. Maybe too modern. Each room had a secure door, an open kitchen, all cooking tools organized as a professional kitchen. Ingrid wonders if he knows how to cook.
-Do you want something to drink?
-Water.
Alexander nodded and pushed a gla.s.s toward her.
-What is this place?
-My house. I already said that.
-It does not look like one.
-It means we have different ideas about a house.
-Why am I here?
-What I said, I already know your brother"s plan. And as you said, you will not become a p.a.w.n. So it"s easier to offer something to trust me.
Alexander took a gla.s.s of wine and sat down on the couch.
-Ingrid, I"m a hacker. For a hacker, ident.i.ty is all. My name is Luxuria.
Only a.s.sociating my name with Luxuria would mean my destruction.
I"m not talking just about jail. I offended many people.
-Do you tell me, so I trust you?
Ingrid sat next to Alexander.
-Of course. Trust is hard to win. So I give you a way to destroy me. So we are equal.
-Are you sure I will not talk to my father? Or my brother?
- You will not. You will not get anything, nothing for the long term.
-How did you find out my brother"s plan? It"s not the man who left any traces.
- Everyone leaves traces. Some of them know to hide them better than others. His plan is the same as your father. But he found out a piece of information about me.
-What information?
- I have a childhood friend. He thinks I"m in love with her.
Ingrid set one leg over another and continued the conversation with Alexander.
-Do you feel nothing for her?
-Jealous?
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
-Of course. You will be my husband. I do not like to share.
-You can take care of her alone. Looks pretty close, to your brother.
Alexander took a mouthful of wine.
-Interesting. Then leave it on my hand.
-Do what you want.
Alexander stood up and headed for his room.
He honestly didn"t want to deal with Anna. It was a headache.
While Alexander was in the room, Ingrid stayed on the couch, trying to process what happened but was interrupted by a phone call. It was Alexander"s phone.
Ingrid picks up and sees the caller as the name of a woman, Anna.
Ingrid figured out who is the woman, so she answered the call.
Alexander knew who called. He knew Ingrid answered the call. He was curious about what she would do.
Anna felt weird. Alexander usually calls her at least once a day. But today she did not call her, so she decided to call him.
-Yes.
Anna was surprised. It was the voice of a woman.
She picked up the phone from her ear to see if she called the right person.
- Is Alexander there?
Ingrid kept the phone in the same position.
-Sweetheart, somebody"s on the phone.
Alexander heard of course but did not answer.
-I"m sorry, he"s in the shower now.
-No, is okay. Just say, I called.
-OH.Sure. If you don"t have anything to say, I"ll close. Bye.
Anna stayed with the phone in her hand, staring for a few seconds.
Alexander was with a woman. She felt a strange feeling in her chest. She thought she was the only woman in Alexander"s life.
She shook his head. Sure is not a big deal, he loves her.
Ingrid"s lips were raised, in a smile. It was pretty funny. She wanted to see the woman"s expedition.
Alexander came out of his room dressed in his usual clothes. He"s reborn as a college student. Had a towel with which he rubbed his head.
-I see you have fun.
-Very. She was, your childhood friend?
-Yes.
Ingrid stood up and headed for Alexander.
-Let me help you.
Alexander handed the towel. Alexander was taller than Ingrid with a head, so the Ingrid rose on the peaks.
-We"ll live here?
-If you want.
-It"s good here. What will we do next?
- Next, tell our parents that we are determined to marry. I do not think they will oppose it.
Ingrid nodded while rubbing Alexander"s head.
-HAAM.
A man"s voice was nearby.
-Don"t you want something from me, sir?
The two split up as soon as they heard the voice.
-I want you to accompany Ingrid from now on. I will not need you for a while.
-As you wish.
David witnessed the two. It looked like a piece of furniture. Are not they known only for a few hours?
How can they be so close? The youth. They move too fast.
David did not have an impression on Ingrid.
Alexander wanted to ease Ingrid"s work and a measure of oversight over her.
He took a tremendous risk, chose to put his trust in an unknown person.
They need each other if they want to succeed.
-You can drive Ingrid home.
- I"m too tired for that.
She said in a soft voice.
- Then you can stay here. I"m going to prepare the room.