Chapter 5

“I've rarely had such a good drop!” Joshua praised the champagne and sipped his glass. Samantha smiled and nodded slightly. "Really, I can hardly keep my hands off it." He laughed and took another sip. In reality, this was his first, he just had to make it seem a little too deep into the glass. “The little one is really a beauty. I could imagine that you can hardly keep your hands off her either. ”He laughed at his joke and the Masons joined in. “We only employ girls who have a perfect appearance.” Hendrik gave him information. “Frank is probably not of your opinion. Your girl looks a lot better than this Lara who works for Frank. Maybe we want to swap? ”Again he laughed at his joke and the Masons laughed with tortured faces. “That's enough gossip. Do you think the little one has refilled her tray? ”He let his gaze wander over the crowd.

"Her name is Alissa, and she's over by the fireplace." Samantha nodded towards the fireplace.

"If you'll excuse me then, I just want to get a quick drink." He grinned at the two with a wink and turned around. Immediately his expression petrified. He didn't like playing spoiled, easy-going brother, but he just had to give that impression. He went straight to Alissa. "Hi!" He greeted her, put the empty glass on the tray that she was still holding and took a new one. "Today you have to make sure that I always have a glass in my hand." He whispered close to her ear and turned her so that he could see the Masons. Hendrik was talking to Sven Kammerfeld, a banker from Austria. Josh had found out about every single guest, even about the staff.  

“I am not your personal maid. I have to take care of the other guests too! ”Alissa protested and took a step back. Joshua was way too close to her!

“But I need your help. The Masons are dangerous people and I want to put them behind bars. "

“People with money buy their freedom, they bribe police officers and judges. You can't get her locked up, you better put up with it. ”Alissa said and looked up at him angrily. He absolutely had to get to the bottom of that, she didn't just make such a statement ... but that had to wait.

"Please!" He whispered and grinned at her very lovingly, which didn't really go with his request. She looked at him irritated. “Your employers are watching me. And I let it be known that you piqued my interest, I'm flirting with you right now. ”He grinned again and added,“ In case you haven't noticed. ”He ran his finger over her arm.

"Stop it, I'm here at work," she protested.

He took his hand away. "Yes, but you are expected to satisfy the guests," he leaned over to her and breathed in her ear: "No matter what you want." He took the tray from her and placed it on the mantelpiece. "You can't ..." she protested, but he was already pulling her out of the room. In the hallway he stood in front of her and gently hugged her upper arms. "Please, I need your help, you have to help me to expose these people and bring them to prison." He whispered and she got a chill. How about if he kissed her now? She thought and in the next moment she would like to slap herself in the face. How did she get such thoughts? She didn't even know him! “What did you do wrong?” She asked in a slightly trembling voice.

“I don't want to say that now. Please just promise me that you will help me. You are the only one who really knows who I am. "

She didn't know him a bit, but something told her he was one of the good guys. "Okay," she sighed. "What should I do?"

Now he was grinning at her. “Nothing complicated or dangerous. I just always need a glass in hand. "

"You want to get drunk?" She stared up at him, puzzled. A smile played on his lips and he stroked her cheek. She immediately stiffened. "Mason is here," he whispered. "Take it easy." He smiled. "Please just make sure that there is only water in the glass or something non-alcoholic, I have to keep a cool head and play the tipsy." He gave her a light kiss on the cheek and let her stand.

"Ah, Hendrik, I haven't seen you at all." She heard his voice, which quickly moved away from her. "We want to go to table right away." Hendrik said and put his arm on Joshua's back. "Alissa, go back to work." He threw her over his shoulder and she winced slightly at his words. She went back quickly and took the tray from the fireplace. Where did she get into? And why was her heart beating deep in her throat?

She went into the kitchen and put the tray down. Then she went into the pantry and took an empty champagne bottle. She rinsed it out with water and then carefully poured a spritzer into the bottle, placed it on her tray and went back into the dining room. Joshua saw her immediately and she nodded towards the bottle. He grinned and beckoned her over. "Alice? Right? ”He asked so that everyone could really hear him. "Alissa." Samantha corrected him and made Alissa understand to serve Joshua. She walked up to him and took the bottle from the tray. "May I?" She asked and wanted to pour it for him. "No thanks. I'll take the whole bottle right away, if that's all right with you. ”He asked in the direction of Hendrik and Hendrik nodded. "Naturally. If you think so. ”He grinned, and so did the men around him. Slowly the mood relaxed and the conversations at the table grew louder. Alissa handed him the bottle and grabbed her wrist and pulled it down to him. "Can you blush on command?" He whispered in her ear and she actually did. "Very nice. What is that? ”He wanted to know.

“A spritzer. I hope that's okay?"

He nodded and let go of her so suddenly that she stumbled and clung to his shoulders. "I'm sorry." She whispered and disappeared from the table without looking back.

He was sorry that he had to expose her like that, she didn't deserve it. But he had no other choice. He poured a spritzer into his glass and sipped it with relish, then turned to his neighbor. “And have you already been on the slopes?” He asked.  

"Tell me, is he bumping into you?" Hannah wanted to know excitedly when the two allowed themselves a break. She just shrugged her shoulders. "I do not care. Guys like him only want one thing. ”She avoided Hannah's fascinated gaze.  

"May be. But he's really a ... "

"Save it." Alissa interrupted her. "These shoes are killing me!" She changed the subject and slipped the pumps off her feet. "Instruments of torture!" She scolded.

“You get used to these shoes too. Over time they become more comfortable, you have to break them in first. "

"Yes, it may be, it's been a while since I wore shoes like this." She said with a shrug. They talked a little longer about trivial things and then they had to go back to work. The meal was almost over, the company had meanwhile arrived at dessert and Alissa saw that Joshua's bottle was empty. He talked loudly about some surfing adventure and laughed out loud with the guests who were probably really drunk. She saw that the Masons were watching her and indicating that they were taking care of him. She took a deep breath and walked over to him. "Can I get you something else?" She asked quietly. He slowly turned his head to her a smile played on his lips. "Ah beautiful Alice is back." She didn't correct him if he said that it had to be part of his acting then she didn't care. She looked at him coolly. "Can I do something for you?" He wanted to know and the guests in his vicinity started to laugh. She looked at him hurt, she just couldn't help it. When he realized it, his eyes softened. He apologized to her with his eyes and she nodded slightly. "Would you like another drink?" She asked politely. He took the bottle and gave it to her. "The same thing again, but in the bottle, not in the glass." He grinned and saw the others smile. Alissa walked with the bottle in hand and he followed her with his eyes until she was out of sight. Then his gaze fell on the Masons, who were watching him in amusement. “Our young friend probably liked our Alissa.” Hendrik said with a smile and toasted Joshua with his glass. Then he grinned promisingly at his wife. What did the look mean? He asked himself, but was drawn into a conversation by Jürgen, a businessman from England. At some point Alissa came and put the same bottle in front of him without a word. "Thank you very much!" He shouted and just caught her hand when she turned around. He breathed a kiss on it and then suddenly let go of her. Took the bottle and looked around invitingly. "Do you already know if your brother is coming to visit you with his family?" He wanted to know from Josh and Josh grinned. “Oh yes, he's coming. He wants to snowboard with me like he has a chance against me! ”He boasted. "But he will most likely come alone, the family will stay at home."  

"Oh, I hope everyone is healthy?" Put in Samantha.

"Of course. The children have to go to school, that's all. "

"You have to come and see us then." Samantha invited him.

"I'd love to!" He replied, glancing at Alissa. "Or let's go on a day trip." Hendrik looked at him across the table. “You say you wanted to snowboard? Then we can take the helicopter up the mountain. What do you make of it? Pure nature, nothing but snow as far as the eye can see. ”He smiled and Josh grinned at him too. "That sounds like an adventure."

"Who else is there?"

An hour later, the guests were scattered everywhere, some were sitting comfortably in the living room, others were playing cards and the rest were bustling around somewhere. The older guests had said goodbye after dinner and Joshua was standing outside on the terrace wondering how to proceed. Hendrik and his wife talked to their guests in the living room. Now was actually the best time to break into the office. He pushed himself off the railing and sauntered into the house. He had drunk two bottles of “champagne” in front of the assembled team and had to move and behave accordingly. He went through the front door and avoided the living room. He crept quietly along the wall and quietly ran up the stairs to the first floor. He carefully moved towards the office and pushed the door handle down, but as he had suspected it was locked. He quickly pulled out his Diedrich and after only a few seconds the door was open, he slipped in and closed the door quietly behind him. Then he went to work and spread his bugs and cameras after five minutes he was done and crept to the door. He heard nothing and risked opening the door, nothing the hallway was empty. He stepped out and carefully locked the door behind him again. Just as he had walked a few meters down the hall, he heard footsteps approaching him. He looked around but couldn't find a suitable hiding place so he just opened the next best door and just as he was about to slip in he heard her. "Joshua is that you?" Relieved, he turned around and grinned at her. "Alissa!"

"Oh, you know my name!" She attacked him poisonously and crossed her arms angrily over her chest. She was mad at him and rightly so, but he still found it kind of funny and grinned. “It's not funny. You made a fool of me in front of everyone. ”She scolded. He went the few steps to her and took her hand, the smile fading from his face. "And I'm really, really sorry about that." He looked at her pleading for understanding. "I shouldn't have taken it this far, but ..." Suddenly he fell silent, pressed her against the wall and stood right in front of her. Then she heard the footsteps that he must have noticed before her and looked up at him, startled. "I'm really sorry!" He whispered, gently resting his lips on hers. Too shocked to do anything, she stood rigidly against the wall in front of him while he explored her lips.

Actually, he hadn't planned anything like that at all! But then when he heard the footsteps, he only reacted. He didn't want to kiss her, no really not. But when he had pressed his lips to her full, soft lips he couldn't help it. He kissed her! And at some point she opened her lips slightly and kissed him back.

A throat cleared and Alissa pulled her head back in shock. Joshua slowly let go of her this time and turned to one side. "Oh Hendrik, I didn't hear you come." He apologized to her employer. "I noticed. You were very busy. ”He said with a look at Alissa that she couldn't read. She bowed her head and looked at the parquet in front of her. Joshua grinned and stepped from one leg to the other. "I should go back downstairs ..." he managed to get out. "Go ahead, I'll be right after you." He asked and turned to Alissa.

Joshua didn't know what to do and most of all he didn't know what Hendrik was going to do! But he had no choice but to go to the stairs. He took one more look at Alissa, who had still bowed her head, and then reluctantly made his way to the stairs.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Now it would be over, he would put her on end in front of the door. She would have to go back on the streets because the agency would certainly not give her any more work. She raised her head in a fighting manner and looked her boss in the eye, if he were to quit her, then she would lose the job with her head held high.

"You were very good today," he said, smiling gently at her, which amazed her and stared at him in confusion. “This Joshua probably ate a fool of them and you handled the situation well, you were always friendly to him. That's rare with you youngsters. Most are either flattered and neglecting their work, or they are so intimidated that they can no longer work properly. You, on the other hand, didn't show anything. ”He rummaged in his pocket and took out a banknote. “Here, this is your reward. In addition, you can now call it a day. Get some rest, you deserve it. ”He gently caressed her cheek and a cold shiver came over her. "Thank you!" She whispered, since her voice no longer obeyed. She moved to the side and started to go to the stairs. "Oh and Alissa?" She turned and looked at him. "If you should do something with the guests, do it discreetly." With that he turned around and went into his office. Alissa fled to her room and threw herself on the bed. She opened the hand that clutched the bill and stared at the yellow bill. She quickly tossed it into the nightstand and locked it. Now she wondered where the money came from. Joshua said the Masons were his criminal. Could they possibly have been bank robbers? Or were they blackmailing anyone? Was it counterfeiters? She quickly opened the drawer again and took out the money and held the bill up to the light. It was real, she realized, and also checked the other banknotes she had received. All were real. Relieved, she locked it back in the drawer. She was so upset, what was wrong with her? She had to relax and decided to take a dip in the bathtub.