"Why aren't they even a little bit scared? It's as if they're just out for a post-dinner stroll."
Steward was utterly baffled. Previously, a couple of business partners had cto the island to discuss deals, and swere so
terrified by the mere sight of a leopard that they'd faint on the spot. One time, a leopard had to drag an unconscious man by his
shirt to the villa's doorstep for the security to carry him inside.
Then there was the guy who started screaming and running for his life at the sight of a tiger, only to be tackled by a few of them.
The tigers didn't hurt him; they just batted him around like a toy, sending him flying from one side to another, scaring him so bad
he wet his pants. It took him days to recover from that ordeal.
Another partner tried to scare a tiger off with all sorts of intimidating noises and even cursed at it, only to be met with a look from
the tiger as if it was watching someone retarded. In the end, out of options, he broke down crying and started sharing his tragic life
story with the tiger.
But this pair of buyers was as cool as cucumbers. They were a first.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
"Send the hounds to greet them."
When Sean mentioned hounds, he wasn't referring to a nicknfor one of his guys; he meant the actual dogs that guarded the
property.
Horace followed his boss to the front of the villa, puzzled, "Boss, why aren't there any of their guys out here?"
Instead, a well-trained pack of hounds lined up and started barking at their approach.
These hounds seemed far more formidable than the tiger they had encountered earlier, each one tense and ready, as if they would
tear them to shreds the moment they stepped through the gate.
Suddenly, Arabella made a sound, a series of elongated, modulated tones that seemed like she was communicating with the dogs.
Horace was flabbergasted. Was the boss talking to the hounds in skind of animal language? He had seen sclips online of
people doing that sort of thing, but this was real life, and facing a pack of hounds like this, he'd never seen anyone actually
attempt it.
Would it even work?
Back at the monitors, Steward's jaw nearly hit the floor. One second, the hounds were barking madly at these strangers; the next,
they parted to the sides, sitting down quietly, suddenly docile.
Sean paused in stroking the little tiger cub, amazed that the hounds he'd raised for so many years were showing such a friendly
side to two strangers.
Horace's eyes were wide with a mix of shock and admiration as he watched his boss walk into the villa with such nonchalance. He
hesitated for half a second before hurrying to catch up.
To his surprise, the hounds didn't make a move to attack; they just sat there, obediently on either side.
"Boss, how did you do that? What did you say to them? How do you understand animal talk? Are they actually listening to you??"
"I learned it from a friend." Arabella glanced at him, "Wanna learn?"
"Yes, yes, yes!!" Horace nodded eagerly.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
This was a life-saving skill! He couldn't ask for more!
"I'll teach you another time."
As Arabella entered the main building of the villa, two bodyguards stepped up to block their path.
"Con, you guys were here this whole tand didn't cout to greet us? With all those hounds outside, we deserve a little
more hospitality as buyers here to talk business," Horace complained.
But the bodyguards were aloof; they didn't speak, only stretching out their hands indicating that Horace and Arabella needed to
pass through the security gate first.
Horace saw the gate, ornately disguised to blend with the rich decor. If it weren't for the bodyguards' gestures, they would never
have recognized it as a security checkpoint.
The gate beeped promptly, and Horace surrendered all weapons he had on him, except for a chewing gum container.
He shook the gum container at the security gate, which remained silent, "Guess | can keep the gum, right? | like to pop a piece
now and then. You guys want some?"