Drake took a deep breath and focused himself on her reaction at his words. This was the most delicate part… getting the customer to agree with his terms without having her feeling like he was asking an excessive price.<br/><br/>Drake was not a cheap one. He was the kind of guy that did his best to always deliver… and at times he managed to deliver in circumstances that would have seemed impossibly difficult. This came at a price and the price was never negotiable…. Even in those cases into which Drake would really have liked to have a say in the form of payment.<br/><br/>He nodded at her words. “Why now…” he mumbled “…I do not know, obviously. My experience in these cases is that the reasons for which things happen are often stupidly simple… when you know them. What makes them complicated is the fact that you usually lack some critical information.”<br/><br/>He looked at her as she paused and then went on offering her assistance… his gaze hardened as his businessman senses started to send wary vibes to his brain. She seemed to notice and quicly reassured him about her willingness of paying his full fee.<br/><br/>Drake nodded. Sometimes he hated himself for being so venal. But his problem was… he had to be that way. He just had. He could not even<em>think</em>about being different.<br/><br/><br/>He managed to curve his lips into a warm smile. “I gratefully accept…” he said “…actually your knowledge about this place is probably going to be the main asset. It will make things much easier, surely.”<br/><br/>He swallowed at her last words and answered almost without thinking. “I would feel a privileged man to take advantage of your… skills. I only hope that… mine will be up to the task. You surely are someone for which I would really… do my best.”<br/><br/>Drake swallowed again. Why on earth his brain was keeping thinking about double entenders regarding what he had just said? He shook his head and went on: “From where shall we start? I gather there is a… funhouse near here?”  He looked at her again. The perspective of having her with him in his search was a dangerously thrilling one for him.<br/><br/>Drake stood up and drank the last of his Port wine. Then he stood waiting for her to rise and lead him.<br/>