Curtis had barely stepped out of the vi when he fished out his cell phone to call his crew, nning to arrange for a few more guys to tail them discreetly.


    “No need to have anyone follow,” came James‘ cool, detached voice, which interrupted Curtis‘ ns. Caught off guard, Curtis had no choice but to <b>hang </b>up. Whatever, they were in Riverdale. their turf, so security wasn’t really an issue.


    “Yo, Curtis, you can head back. I got James‘ back,” Wyatt said with a look that screamed “you’re not needed here“.


    Curtis‘ mouth twitched. He had no desire to deal with this blockhead. “You think you know


    Riverdale better than me?”


    “I’ve got GPS.” Wyatt replied, waving his smartphone for emphasis.


    Clearing his throat, Wyatt added, “Ms. Mirabe is just a regr high school girl, man. Your tough–guy look might scare her off.”


    At that, Curtis‘ face darkened. He had that rugged, intimidating sort of look, with a buzz cut and a long scar trailing from his ear down to the nape of his neck, which added a touch of menace to his appearance.


    “So, boss is hitting the night market to meet this Ms. Mirabe?” Curtis finally caught on to the


    situation.


    A young girl, asking a man out to a night markette at night? Sounded like someone not exactly high society. Curtis‘ curiosity about Mirabe faded considerably.


    “Yeah, man, girls like her dig the night market scene,” Wyatt replied nonchntly.


    1


    Curtis had aplicated expression. “Does she even know who James really is?”


    Wyatt nced at James, who was now ahead of them, and scratched his head. “Doubt it.”


    Curtis rxed a bit at that and said, “Alright, you go ahead, but make damn sure the boss stays


    safe.”


    “Got it,” Wyatt responded with a wave, hurrying to the garage to fetch the car.


    Watching Wyatt’s departing figure, Curtis shook his head, bored, and turned back to the vi.


    Twenty minutester, they pulled up at the entrance to the bustling night market.


    The ce was crowded, so parking was a nightmare. James looked out at the throngs of people and immediately felt a wave of difort hit him.


    He couldn’t imagine what <b>had </b>brought him <b>here</b><b>. </b>


    Wyatt parked the car temporarily along the curb, overwhelmed by the crowd. He turned to


    <b>1/2 </b>


    12:33


    James. “Maybe we should give Ms. Mirabe a call?”


    James was silent for a moment, as if making a decision. His voice was deep when he finally spoke. “No need, just find somewhere to park.” After saying that, he grabbed a baseball cap and a face mask, put them on, and stepped out of the car. His tall, striking figure, exuding an air of refinement, waspletely out of ce in the night market, with its rich, earthy aromas.


    Wyatt held his face in his hands, thankful that Curtis wasn’t here. If he’d seen James like this, he probably would have never let his boss out of the car.


    After getting out, James called Mirabe and walked about twenty meters into the market. before meeting her.


    Mirabe spotted James immediately in the crowd. Even with a cap and mask, his <b>aura </b>of unapproachability was unmistakable. Well, she really shouldn’t have asked him toe to a ce like this. It just didn’t suit him.


    Clearing her throat, she approached him. “Fancy a bite? The ce I just tried has some killer noodles.”


    She paused, scanning the throngs of people around them, and then added, <b>“</b>It’s less crowded.


    further in.<b>” </b>


    At her words, James responded with a nomittal hum, almost without thinking.