Jigen listened, mildly annoyed, as the guy behind the bar scooped some ice cubes into a glass. He hadn't ordered his whiskey on the rocks. Nonetheless, leaning back with his elbows on the bar, he said nothing and let the kid pour the drink. It was a clear, crisp evening in Paris and he, his partner Lupin, and Lupins' favorite cock-tease Fujiko were all enjoying the hospitality of an old friend from the French underground. There was quite a party going on there in the great room of the stunning eight bedroom mansion. Jigen remembered hearing something about the old man's niece getting the lead in a musical or something. Not that it mattered to him. All he cared about was enjoying the fully stocked bar, live jazz band, and a little time off from thieving.
"Hey Jigen," Lupin said as he watched the young bartender slide the glass over the bar, "there's ice in your drink."
"It's fine." Jigen turned, took the glass and began to sip before the bartender even had time to realize his error.
"Wow," Lupin grinned, "I guess our little vacation has put you in a less surly mood, eh?"
Jigen shrugged and let a hint of smile crack on one side of his mouth. The warm spread of the whiskey down his throat and into his stomach immediately reminded him of his predominant vice.
"I'm goin' outside," he said, pulling his black fedora further down over his eyes.
"Mm-hmm," Lupin answered while sipping his drink and staring sideways at Fujiko's ample breasts.
Jigen, drink in hand, made his way to the large glass doors that led to the patio. He reached into his breast pocket, pulled out the pack of Pall Mall cigarettes, and plucked one out with his lips. It was rather chilly outside and the patio was deserted. As he took a long pull from his cigarette and sucked it in, he heard soft footsteps approach from behind. Looking over his shoulder, he saw one of the women from the party walking toward him. Sensing no threat from her, he turned back and continued enjoying his smoke.
The young woman walked up next to him, and stood close enough to make him raise an eyebrow and glance over at her. She was a few inches shorter than him, with long, dark-red hair, and dark eyes much like the color of his own. Jigen exhaled audibly through his nose. It wasn't his nature to be taken aback by women. Over the years, his experiences with women had ended with them betraying him, dying, or both.
"Hi there," her voice was soft, and somewhat innocent sounding.
He turned to face her and noticed that her smooth fair skin was covered with gooseflesh from the chilly air. His eyes instinctively glanced over her nipples, which, as he suspected, seemed to be trying to break through her little black cocktail dress. She smiled, seeming to enjoy him looking at her.
"You're Jigen, right?"
"Mm-hmm," he answered while taking another drag.
She then giggled softly, which Jigen found somewhat puzzling. His jaded mind was telling him he was being set up. It was either that or this little hottie was some kind of groupie for international master thieves or sharpshooters.
"I'm Lisette," she smiled at him and slightly bit her lower lip. However strong his mistrust of women, he was still a man. It had been a while since he'd gotten any pussy, and Lisette's unabashed flirting wasn't leaving him unaffected. He smiled back at her which seemed to please her immensely. He drained the rest of the whiskey, and tossed the cigarette butt onto the grass. To his mild surprise, Lisette took him gently by the arm and led him back into the house.
