AT THE WATERFRONT PART 2

Tamara led Alex and Jack back the way they came with Atlas swiftly following behind. Then across the atrium and over to one of the lifts. Once inside, she produced a key. The building had twenty-five storeys; they key activated the button for the top floor. The doors closed and they were whisked upwards at speed. Alex felt his stomach sink as the atrium disappeared beneath them. Atlas looked up at him, eyes laced over with worry, she whined and pawed the boy's leg watching his facial reaction attentively. He stooped down and hugged her tightly, she moved her body closer and rested her head on his shoulder lightly, tail slightly wagging. Twenty floors up, lift entered a solid shaft and the view was blocked. Another few seconds and they slowed down. The lift stopped and the doors slid open.

They had arrived.

They were in a huge room with windows on two  sides giving breathtaking views over St Katharine's Dock, the yachts and cruisers resting at their moorings far below. Tower Bridge was close by. It looked unreal, a toy replica, sitting in the afternoon but expensively furnished with three Persian rugs spread over light wood floorboards. The furniture was morden. On one side stood a dining-room table with a dozen leather chairs. A corridor ran past a black Bechstein grand piano to a closed door at the end. There was a sunken area in the middle of the room with three oversized sofa and a glass coffee table. Tea - sandwiches and biscuits - had already been served.

"Hey, Alex are you alright?" Jack asked her hand rested on his back face full of worry. He sighed softly and stood back up patting the Dire wolf's head.

"Yeah, I'm alright." he nodded and she sent back a reassuring smile before glancing around the room.

"This is quite a place!" Jack said.

"This is where Mr Drevin stays when he's in London." Tamara Knight pointed out one window. "You see the boat third from the left? The Crimean Star. That belongs to him too."

Jack gasped. The vessel was gleaming white, the size of a small ocean liner. "Have you been on board?" she asked.

"Certainly not. My work with Mr Drevin doesn't allow me to enter his private quarters," she explained primly.

Just then the door at the end of the corridor opened and Nikolei Drevin came in. It occurred to Alex that there must be a second lift that brought him up to another part of the penthouse. He was alone hand clasped in front of him, his finger tugging at the ring. "Thank you very much, Miss Knight," he said. "You can leave us now."

"Yes, Mr Drevin."

"Have you made the arrangements for Sunday?"

"I've left the file on your desk, Mr Drevin."

"Good. I'll talk to you later."

Tamra Knight nodded to Alex. "It was good to meet you," she said - but without enthusiasm. The she turned and walked back into the lift. The doors closed and she was gone.

For the first time, Nikolei Drevin seemed to relax. he walked up to alex and rested a hand on each shoulder, and for a second Alex wondered if he was going to kiss him. Instead Drevin held him firmly in what was almost an embrace. "Your Alex Rider," he said. "I am very, very happy to meet you." He let alex go and turned to Jack. "Miss starbright." He shook hand with her. Then he turned his attention to the quiet Dire wolf who watched him with curious eyes. He bent to her level and cood at the wolf pup, "And I'm guessing this pretty one is Atlas."

"Yes this is Atlas, Aku shake his hand." Alex instructed and she immediately followed his command and held out her paw for him to shake. Drevin took her paw and shaked it lightly with a small chuckle escaping his mouth. "I am so glad you were able to come. Please take a seat." He led them to the sofas and picked up the teapot. "Tea?" he asked.

"Thank you."

Atlas jumped on the couch much to Jack's disappointment and got herself comfortably positioned next to Alex. She glanced at the man in front of the trio and a sense of uncertainty seeped into her mind, she didn't understand him but one thing is for sure, she doesn't trust him one bit. No one spoke while he poured. At last he sat back and studied his three guests. "I cannot tell you how grateful I am, Alex," he said. "Although I hoped you would permit me to try. You quite possibly saved my son's life. Certainly you saved him for a terrible ordeal. I am very much in your debt."

"How is he? Alex asked.

"Paul is well, thank you. Please help yourself..."

Jack took a sandwich but Alex wasn't hungry. He picked one up and handed it to Atlas who hesitated a bit before accepting it, eating only small pieces at a time. He was, however, feeling a little uncomfortable being this close to Drevin. The man was only a few inches taller than he was, and still seemed very ordinary. And yet he radiated power. It was the same with all rich people that Alex met, their money intimidates you before the person who makes the money actually does.

"I should be asking how you are, Alex," Drevin went on. "I understand you were recovering from a chest injury. A bike accident?"

"Yes." Alex hated lying but that was the story that had been agreed.

"Alex is very accident prone," Jack muttered holding up her sandwich. Atlas whined a little, playfully pawing Jack on her leg meaning to say, 'I heard that!'. The young woman chuckled and ruffled the pup's fur.

"Well, it was very lucky for me that you should end up in the room next to Paul. I still find it hard to believe that you acted the way you did. But let me get straight to the point. I'm sure you know who I am. I don't seek attention, but the papers like to write about me, especially when my team loses. I am a very wealthy man. If there is anything that you want in the world Alex, I can give it to you. I don't say this as a boast. I mean every word. You and your dog have done me great service and I would like to repay you."

Alex thought for a moment moving his hand away from Atlas's mouth. "There's nothing I really want, thank you." he said. "I'm glad I was able to help your son. But it just sort of happened, so I don't need a reward."

Drevin nodded. "I had a feeling you might say that, and I'm afraid I can't accept it as an answer. So I would like to make a proposition." He paused. "I spoke to your doctor this morning, Dr Hayward. You might like to know that I made a donation of two million pounds on your behalf towards a new cardiology wing at St Dominic's."

"That's very kind of you," Alex said. "As long as it's not named after me."

Drevin smiled. "Don't worry! Dr Hayward tells me that you must not return to school for a couple of weeks. What I would like to propose is that you and your dog stay with me as my guest. I'd be very glad to look after you while you recuperate. I employ a full-time medical staff, so you will be in good hands if any complications arise. Everything you want will be given to you. Plus, you're charming companion will have enough snacks and food for it to consume, I can also order some dog beds for it to use so she could be comfortable. Consider this as my thank you gift. Oh, and, Miss Starbright is also very welcome."

"I'm not sure ---" Alex began.

"Please Alex!" Drevin interrupted. "There's something I haven't mentioned. My son, Paul. He's almost your age and he told me that you spoke together a few times in the hospital. I know he would welcome your company. Paul does not meet many other boys -- that's largely my fault..I'm afraid for him. There's always the danger that someone will get me through him. Your encounter at the hospital was proof of that. He met you and your dog and liked both of you, and it would be good for him to have some company with a child around his age, at least for a while. You'd be doing me a favour if you agreed to come."

He paused. Alex felt the gray eyes examining him.

He put down his cup and lent forward. Although his tone had not changed, Alex could sense his energy and excitement.

"But in just over a week's time, there's something you really can't miss. We have a rocket being launched at Flamingo Bay, and if the weather's right, it'll blast off at exactly nine o'clock local time on Wednesday morning. Have you ever seen a rocket being fired? It'll be carrying the observation module for Ark Angel. Paul will, of course, be there, and I want you to be there with him. I have a house on the island and the beaches are beautiful. After launch, you can stay for as long as you like."

Alex said nothing. He wanted to go. He had never seen a rocket launched in person and sounded like the sort of adventure he could actually enjoy - without anyone trying to kill him twenty for seven. And yet...

He turned to Jack. He still wasn't sure. And vaguely aware that something was bothering him. It was something Drevin had said. It didn't add up. "What do you think?" he asked. 

Jack's eyes were gleaming. She had obviously been impressed by Drevin, the penthouse, the Crimean Star. "I think it's a great idea," she said. "A couple weeks in the sun is exactly what you need. And I'm sure Mr Drevin will look after you."

"You have my word."

Alex nodded. "Ok then. Thank you. Aku, we'll be going with him for a few days alright." He took a sandwich for himself and leaned back signaling to Atlas that this one was for him. She didn't mind being happy just watching him eat. "But I think I should warn you: I'm a Chelsea supporter."

Drevin smiled. "That's alright. Nobody's perfect. I'll send a driver to collect you - shall we say the day after tomorrow? He'll drive you down to Neverglade - that's my house in Oxfordshire. Paul is there now. I must call him and inform him you're coming." He glanced at his watch. "And now, if you'll forgive me, I must leave you. I have a meeting with the Bank of England."

"Is that where you have your account?" Jack asked.

"One of them." he stood up. "Miss knight will show you out when you have finished - and she'll also arrange a car to take you home. Thank you again, Alex, Atlas. I know you both aren't going to regret this."

Another twist of the ring. The Dire wolf watched his hands closely, Alex noticed as well, his hands were never still. Drevin left the way he came in.

There was a long silence.

"Wow!" Jack exclaimed.

"Flamingo Bay.." Alex murmured.

"It's exactly what the doctor advised Alex." She helped herself to another sandwich. "It could have come at a better time."

"Sure..."

But Alex wasn't sure. Atlas watched him closely, she placed her head on his thigh mind filled with what this curious man said. Something was bothering both of them.

 Yes. That was it.

Paul Drevin was a target. That was what Drevin had said. He was always in danger. A sigh escaped the pup nostrils, she already knew that this wasn't going to be a relaxing week for them.