8:11 PM
In the kitchen, tension simmered.
"When did this happen?" Marie's voice was sharp, eyes vigilant, demanding a truth wrongfully withheld from her.
"Today. Linward attended the meeting," Ross replied, lifting his glass for another sip.
"Fuck!" Her head darted, searching for options that didn't exist.
"Turtle companies," she muttered under her breath too little perhaps a slip of tongue.
"What?"
"Turtle companies. A web of hundreds of firms clinging to legitimate corporations,when they think the time is right, they forcefully take them over. Many Clients reported them but none had any proof,so they only delayed the enivitable. Any other opposition after lead to death"
"Jesus… fuck." Ross cursed.
"They change their names everytime so it's had to pin them, " she spat, voice tight.
"I warned him, the moment I saw how cooperative they were.Axis, veteran… they're toxic. Pure poison."
"So… what can we do?"
"Nothing. These guy's have strong ties in the government, even if we start a case we will need strong evidence to even have a chance of being taken seriously."
Ross opened his mouth to argue. Marie cut him off, voice steady but heavy with fear.
"Please, Ross. We've already lost Dad. We can't lose you too. Mom can't lose you too."
"I know that someone dying is the last thing we need okay,,,, but what use is living life when your just going to live full of regret"
"You've already made up your mind, haven't you?" Her eyes didn't waver.
Ross paused,took a deep breath then changed his tone to a more proposal suited.
"I found an ex-employee willing to speak to me. I'll try to uncover whatever dirt I can."
"Aaah!" Marie sighed. Mixed feelings flooding her heart, some part of her felt and knew it was agood idea, a heads start that many had never uncovered. On the other hand the death pattern of the people that opposed them was clear as day, too clear that even a ten year old would connect back to the Turtle Companies.
"Alright. Just… don't die." She curved in.
"Happy your on board with this!" Ross muttered, eyes cheerful. It was even a wonder to him why their conversation bared fruit, most of the times in only ended in calling of names.
She faintly nugged her head in agreement.
"I will see you tomorrow, am going to sleep!"
Ross moved toward the upstairs. The wooden steps creaked as he progressed. With a few more steps he disappeared into shadows.
Marie's gaze lingered longer than his, a protective instinct she barely controlled. Her attention shifted when her eyes fell on a bottle of wine. She poured herself a glass.
"Protect him," she muttered taking a sip, as if speaking to herself but a picture of her father shining brightly in her shaken mind, unaware of a familiar presence behind her.
"Marie!"
"Fuck!" She startled, nearly choking.
Linda stood there, dressed entirely in black. Designer, dramatic, gothic — lipstick as dark as her gloves, holes in the fabric adding chaos to the order of the mourning. She looked like she'd stepped from a storybook.
"Why did you creep up on me like that?" Marie demanded, voice sharp. Linda froze, trapped between accusation and truth. Words faltered, murmured and meaningless.
"Ooh Jesus… I'm sorry.!"She caught on fast and released her tension,it was a mere misunderstanding on her part.
Linda entered fully, finally beginning the conversation she had intended.
"I was waiting for you to finish talking with Ross." She moved toward the glass of beer, sipping lightly.
"That's generous of you, but you wouldn't have intruded,"Marie muttered, silence thick between them.
"Aaam… I'm sorry for your loss," Linda said softly.
Marie swung her head, irritation crawling over her.
"I've heard that a hundred times today!"
Linda lowered her gaze; her confidence faltered.
"But it's nice to hear it from someone who means it," Marie added, taking another sip. Linda smirked, acknowledging gratitude.
"Thanks… How's your mom holding up?"
"Bad. She took it worse than any of us." Another round poured. Silence fell, the mournful music hovering, a reminder that speaking at a funeral was heavy labor — and Linda wasn't used to it.
"Aaah!" Marie gasped. Wine burned. A moment of clarity broke the quiet.
"So, Linda…" she said, determination threading her tone.
"You still have a crush on my brother, right?"
Linda's cheeks reddened, her composure slipping. Marie smiled subtly, the awkwardness of conversation cutting through sorrow.
....
The Mansion Corridor
Ross's mother moved down the corridor, each step deliberate, tired eyes forward. Sleep deprived, meals neglected, her body showing the weight of grief. High heels clicked, echoing off the silent hall. She had warned everyone she needed space, a sanctuary for sleep, and all complied.
So she passed through a decorated door on the sitting room into a corridor that drived passengers into different rooms including the main bedroom.
KHa! KHa! KHa! The sound of her highees bounced off the walls as she walked.
Then
Like a cold chill on a hot night, a man appeared behind her, glass of wine in hand. Her instincts radiated, She froze. Someone had been following her. She turned, assessing, faster than instinct allowed.
"I thought no one was allowed here!" she muttered, panic rising at the sight of the tall muscular mysterious figure. He did look frightening his military physique didn't help reduce the fear she felt.
KHa! KHa! KHa! She moved quicker trying to create room between them.But resistance was futil when she increased her pace,so did the man by ten folds. It was clear she only delayed the horrors.
She reached a large red designer door,pressed her finger on the electric lock her eyes still focused on measuring how near the mysterious being was.
Beep
Beep
She pushed it open with urgency . Squeak.
She moved to close it perhaps relief echoing in her mind but then.
Thud !
His leg blocked its path. Standing like a barrier between the door and the frame.
Phu!
She stumbled back,shocked, as he forced the door wider.
"Stop the theatrics, Gertrude!" he barked, stepping inside.
"You can't run from me,your now deadbeat husband is gone," he added, closing and locking the door in the process.
He approached her as she stepped back to a large bed, beautifully crafted,fit for abllionare.Walking slowly savoring every single second.
He finally got near her, with the sides of the bed colliding with her legs she had no other place to go.
Ding!
He placed his glass of wine on a stood connected to the bed.
"Wanna make the best of our time?"
And then — impossibly — he kissed her. Lips colliding in a tangle of surprise and history. His hands moving seductively all other her body.Eyes closed, the world outside vanished. She knew him.