It was windy even as Doris and Mike walked fast towards the helicopter. Mike spoke loudly because of the sound of helicopter blades, "what does the new client want us to do in Rome?!"
Doris yelled back, "he said he will send us the necessary information when we get there."
The journey was a quiet one as they had just finished a job in the South Pacific region and were worn out.
Doris's thought was abruptly interrupted by the loud snoring sound escaping the agapped lips of Mike. She smiled as she remembered how Mike made a fool of himself last night at the pub where he drank himself to stupor in celebration of their recent acquisition of the Dynamics Bell Company for their generous but anonymous client.
The pilot called out,"we will be landing in 10 minutes." Doris shook Mike awake, as he stirred and sat up.
They walked into the five star hotel they had booked, Mike collected the keys to their room and joined his partner on the elevator going to their rooms. Doris took out her phone to check the mail that just came in. It was encrypted. Her facial expression changed as she went through the mail and took notes. She gave Mike a curious look as he stared back at her clueless.
"Our new client just asked us to acquire for him the "Fonta Vox"".
Mike lets out a loud laugh. He laughed so hard that people stopped and stared at them in amusement.
"Mike c'mon come off it. You are drawing attention to us."
Mike composed himself with tears sliding down his cheeks, he said quietly, "are you for real? You mean the legendary Fonta Vox, which is but a myth, a folktale passed down from generations. Are you kidding me?!"
Doris shook her ahead, "that's not all my friend he said to get it at all cost. Here are the details of the whole operation."
"Where is the location?"
"Lanterna Di Fuksas."
Twenty minutes later Doris and Mike arrived at the venue. As they entered the building, they were surprised to see two tall well-built men in suit who redirected them to a dark stair case where a dark man with suitcase stood, waiting for them.
The man introduced himself as Francine. He spoke with a thick french accent.
"Welcome madame, you must be Doris, correct?"
"Yes, I am and this is my colleague, Mike".
"Alright. Please place your phones here in this suitcase". He led them outside into an awaiting limousine. Inside the car they were asked politely by Francine to put on the blindfolds on their seats. Mike grumbled but complied.
They took a lot of turns and stopped abruptly.
"What's going on?" Doris asked.
"We are here."
Francine removed their blindfolds and directed them into a dimly lit room. The room was beautifully furnished and spacious. They drew closer to the crowd of about twenty exquisite dressed people whom were seated quietly. Some of them she could vaguely remember. But one of them stood out. A renowned closer like them.
The host, a short rounded man in his late forties, gave a short address and told everyone that the bid will begin for the elusive legendary Fonta Vox after the cocktail. Beautiful waitresses emerged from no where as if on cue with drinks.
The host came in after the cocktail hour and said, "the bid starts now.
For The Fonta Vox, the bid starts at $2million do I have $2million, yes, 2.5 from the gentle man over there, 3.. Yes, yes......" And on and on it went for an hour until some were out of resources to go on and have to drop out of the bid. Finally it came down to just Doris, Mike and three other persons.
Now said the host we would go on a recess and then we conclude the bid.
The recess was short and the bid continued. Can I hear 20, yes 20, going... Doris countered 25! We have 25, yes.. going...a lady behind her hissed and dropped out. "And we are left with just two now,"the host said. The gentleman beside her raised his hand smiling and said 28. The room went silent. Doris looked at Mike and whispered, at all cost. $30 million she yelled.
The host asked anyone else....and...and... sold!! Mike had a satisfactory smile on him as they became the centre of attraction.
A small safe was rolled out as the host stared into the retina scanner and used the finger scanner simultaneously. The safe gave a click sound which echoed in the room. The host open the safe and brought out a grey box containing the Fonta Vox. He presented it to Doris and Mike. Doris carefully opened the box and saw the elusive legendary ancient bottle of wine. Named Fonta Vox, the one and only bottle ever produced. Their phones were presented to them on their way out.
"So we can now head straight for the airport our client's plane awaits?" Mike said eagerly.
"Why the rush? We have few hours to kill. Let's explore Rome!"