Existence precedes essence. What the hell did that mean? Alejandro pondered on the phrase as he deftly climbed out of bed, taking care not to wake the person still sleeping. It was a phrase tossed out by the highly intelligent and beautiful prize that he had acquired the night before. A prize that, as Alejandro looked on, stirred only slightly in response to his exit. The phrase was said in passing after his influence in Hudson City procured a table at a restaurant that normally had a 2 month waiting list. For Alejandro, a 2 month waiting list meant $200 under the table and he was in. It was something he did all the time without thinking about it and this particular time it received a comment from his “date”. At the time, Alejandro smiled and took in what he thought was a compliment. Now, thinking about it after a night of sleep, he was not so sure.

 

He never thought to ask about the phrase last night. It tugged at him as they made their way to the table and the maitre’d plucked the ‘reserved’ sign from it before quickly tucking it into the folds of his outfit. Once seated though, his date’s beauty and smile extracted the thoughts of the phrase out of his head as easily as his cousin Ophilia’s powers would have. Alejandro was in the moment and slipped easily into conversation with the beautiful woman seated across from him. His thoughts returned to only those of the evening and the game that would have to be played to snare the beautiful creature before him. The ‘thrill of the hunt’ as Alejandro called it.

 

Now, the next morning, the hunt was over and he had time to mull over the previous evening’s events and again he kept coming back to that phrase, that puzzling phrase. He had to know what she meant. Gliding over to the bed, he gingerly sat down next to the slightly shifting form under the sheets, her outline of curves easily seen through the silk. Gently he pressed his lips to her slightly parted lips and smiled inwardly as he saw her eyes first flutter open and then close as he closed his. A moan escaped from somewhere deep within her chest and she stretched as Alejandro pulled away and looked down at her.

 

“Buenos Dias, Seniorita,” Alejandro said smoothly, in his thick spanish accent, “a pleasant morning to you.”

 

“Buenos Dias Senior,” she replied, still stretching and not attempting to cover up as the sheets slid off of her and exposed her nakedness. Her skin prickled as the silk covering was replaced by air. “A very nice good morning you have. I may need to stay more often if that is going to be the wake up call.”

 

Alejandro smiled. It was a smile that did not reach his eyes. He had many smiles, practiced in front of the mirror. Every smile had a purpose and a place when you were a businessman. Normal people did not practice their smiles and had perhaps three they could call upon as the situation required. Alejandro had 100. This particular one meant he was happy for the compliment, but needed to resolve something first. “What did you mean last night about existence precedes essence?”

 

Puzzlement clouded her eyes, Alejandro could see it instantly. She had forgotten she spoke that phrase last night and was not prepared for the question. The puzzlement was then followed by a look of guilt and then one of quiet confidence. She was about to underestimate Alejandro’s intelligence like so many before had done. “I meant nothing by it. Only that it must have taken a lot to get where you are now. Someone that is able to get into the restaurant where so many others have to wait in line.”

 

“Only that did you?” Alejandro asked and watched as she nodded her head in response. “Well, that does not seem so bad. I almost regret what I need to do next.” Alejandro stood up from the bed and backed away to where the sliding door of the bedroom awaited.

 

Her eyes instantly narrowed and looked around the room, darting first left and then right as if an unseen assailant had entered. “What is it you think you need to do next?” She pulled the covers up over her naked form in a defensive posture, as if the silk could stop any assailant.

 

“Why, expose you, I would have thought that would have been obvious to someone such as yourself.” Alejandro smiled #46 – the knowing watchman. “You see Seniorita, I can’t have someone exposing me first, prying into my family secrets. I know about your story on the DiSantiagos and I can not have that bad press. I would rather make my own bad press then have it thrust at me from someone that does not understand the situation.” With this, Alejandro turned on the television and watched as it showed pictures of himself and the woman in his bed, one Juanita Escobar, journalist for the Hudson City News locked in an embrace on his balcony last night. Underneath the video was the caption “Sleeping with the Enemy?”

 

“What have you done?!?” Juanita gasped in shock, not understanding the full impact of what she was seeing. “How did that...?  ...what is that?”

 

“Tsk, tsk Juanita, I paid for it, it's just a little insurance policy. Just like I paid for us to get into the restaurant last night and I bribed the photographer to sit outside my balcony and wait for me to bring you out so that he could capture that video. Stunning isn’t it? I think I picked the perfect night with the moon being full. It is a lot easier to get good lighting that way. Sleeping with the enemy seems a little strong, but it was a nice touch, don't you think?  He threw that in for free.” Alejandro turned away from the television and back to Juanita, smile #72 on his face – the evil genius. 

        “You see Juanita, I could not have you prying into family secrets. You are very intelligent and resourceful as you are beautiful. I understand that you were making progress.” Alejandro began walking around the bed, getting closer as a lion would close in on its prey. “Now what is your boss going to do? He will need to give it to another reporter, but whom?” Alejandro crept closer. “My guess would be Chad. He would be the likely recipient of such a story.” Alejandro paused for effect and acted like an idea just occurred to him.

             “Ah, but Chad has other interests, ones that are assured by mutual acquaintances. So, now where does that leave the story?” Alejandro sat on the bed next to her as she pulled the covers closer to her chest, hoping that it would be enough for this all to go away. “I am thinking page two. It is not as glamorous as the page 1 story I am sure you had in mind, but the DiSantiago name is in the paper and everyone is happy.” Alejandro turned and looked her directly in the eyes without blinking. “Everyone except for you I am afraid.” He smiled again #86 this time – the malevolent master “You see Juanita, existence precedes essence, and I enjoy being bad. It is my nature.” 

 

With that, Alejandro pounced and his prey went down, unable to breathe properly due to the rag full of chloroform that was covering her nose and mouth. Juanita struggled and the covers came free, her naked body contorting as she tried to rip her face away, but the chloroform worked quickly and her beating fists against Alejandro’s chest turned into slight slaps and then gentle touches. “Shhhhh…easy now, you won’t remember a thing.” Alejandro said as he pulled his cell phone from his pants pocket. “I happen to know someone that can make sure of that. It’s one of the perks of being a DiSantiago. You may have found that out if you were allowed to delve that far into your story.”

 

Alejandro dialed a number, a voice on the other end answered and Alejandro said simply, “I need an extraction…No….Yes…not this time. She needs to be kept alive, but she must not remember anything. Yes…I don’t care what it costs. Uh huh…this morning, as soon as you can. Ok, I will be waiting.” Alejandro turned to the now slumbering form of Juanita, sprawled out naked on his bed, arms at her side. “Good news honey, the doctor can see you now.”