Pain and Choice

1.1. ***

If his duties could go any faster than this, Zeno would do anything possible and impossible all at once to make it happen.

As soon as he parted from Hamilton, he was driving his car as if he was in a race. He simply shoots off the highway to head to the warehouse, near the cruise ship, mainly used for food storage. He kept checking the watch on his left wrist, as if he had something more important to do than what he does for a living. They would go to the warehouse to manage meetings with most of the drivers who work for people in the Miller family.

This was not something Hamilton's father, Mr. Gregory, would do. Hamilton has worked hard to get his hands around people who have held critical positions in the organisation for a long time. He does not wish to demonstrate power to them directly. He merely asks his most reliable people to befriend their most trusted people working for them. He then buys their devotion for himself, some with favour and others with dirt that can bring them down. After all, he expected the majority of them to revolt against him. Most of them disliked him since his father's poor treatment of him was too clear to conceal.

As soon as he reaches to the warehouse, he nods as he meets with two men by the entrance waiting for him. Without having to exchange any word he simply rushes in leading the walk into the warehouse.

He quietly glides by a few workers busy inspecting newly arrived merchandise and some moving carts to put it on the cruise. He removes his coat as he enters a vast perspectival room filled with men in black who are anxiously seated around the oval meeting table.

"Your bosses, are coming to the ranch tomorrow," he simply states as he sits and every one of them deepens their furrow line queerly. He takes the moment as he inspects everyone’s faces while murmuring and shaking their heads to what he is asking them.

"Z," one of them says, and everyone's gaze is drawn to him. "Working with you does not frighten me, but knowing how much you despise bluffing and hearing you say anything like that..." He squints his eyes, displaying concern as he nods and bites his bottom lip.

"Your job tomorrow isn’t to bring them in. That’s being handled," he said, pressing his lips in a hard-line smile. "It is to make sure to look the other way when the party begins. Perhaps, say hear no evil?"

"I don't get it," another man says, adding to the whispers.

"Everything is sorted," Zeno explains. "Once you get to the ranch, your cars will have to be parked outside of the compound. You’ll drive in and make your drop by the door, then drive it out of the compound once again. Your locations will make it plausible to see nothing. Those of you who are fortunate enough to be able to drive your bosses home will do just that." He stands, handing over the chair to one of the men in black who had been waiting for him near the entrance. "Michel, here," Zeno stated as he passed over the chair, "will take over the briefing. Keep in mind that we are all in the same boat. Sinking is not an option." As he walks out of the room, he exclaims, leaving them behind. Looking from left to right, he speeds out of the warehouse.

He takes a moment to ponder before getting into his car and then begins to look through his phone. Even if he is hesitant, he must determine for himself whether George will be okay.

"Hello," he says, nodding and biting his bottom lip.

"It's a surprise to get a call from you," William answers the phone, surprised to receive a call from Zeno.

"I guess you may guess why." He swallowed hard while biting his upper lip slightly.

"I was in the same situation as you, but I George will be alright. I believe he will be discharged tomorrow when some paperwork is completed." William elaborates.

"I consider it that you got the party invitation," Zeno says as he contemplates. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," William's voice is still strained, but Zeno has never seen him in these types of business meetings with George, so he shakes the thought crossing his mind. He gets into his car and starts the engine to get things moving.

Throughout his drive, he examines and revises who might have attempted this. He was thinking about the people in control who would be at the party the next day.

The invitation was originally sent for another reason, but the intention has now completely transformed to a witch hunt. Because of their direct link to Hamilton's life, Zeno believes his uncle and aunt are his main rivals.

As his thoughts race from one person to the next, he arrives at the hotel and parks his car across the street in front of the hotel, three feet ahead of the sister's food bus, which is in the process of closing.

He glances at his wristwatch, which reads 9:45 p.m. It is four hours earlier than their closing time. He frowns as he checks his rear-view mirror, which shows the sister's bus behind him. They are closing yet appear to be in such a nice mood that they are giggling. He smiles, reminiscing their pleasant attitude, but checks the time on the dashboard, reassuring himself that he is on time and that they are shutting early.

He exhales deeply as he rubs his palms across his face, all the way back to his ponytail of medium-length hair. He wants to clear his mind and concentrate on his sister's bus behind him.

He didn’t have to wait long; as soon as they were done closing, they started driving the bus past his car, and he followed them with perspective distance.

He parks his car and walks out of it once they arrive in their area. They're ahead of him, but he knows where they're going and doesn't need to follow them in his car. He is always extra cautious not to alert them to the fact that he is always on their tell.

When he arrives at their place, they are already inside, but it is strangely crowded. They appear to be celebrating something, but he is unable to say what. He sits on a stairwell, in front of the building that houses their condo.

Zeno sits calmly, watching the lovely family exchange joyful laughs. His gaze is drawn to Viola, who is assisting her mother in serving food at the overcrowded dinner table. He blasts a stream of air and begins strolling back to his car after a bit.

He sits peacefully, contemplating his own life. Everything is evolving at a faster rate than anticipated. He opens the glove box and places his weapon inside while retrieving an old tape recorder.

He licks his lip and bites it slightly, clearing his throat, as he positions the recorder and prepares to begin recording. He acquires it from his grandfather's belongings and refers to it as such. He likes talking to it because it makes him feel like he's talking to his grandfather.

"Oh, Grandpa," he starts as he closes his eyes. "I missed you so much, and I know I never said it. Here, I just admitted," he chuckles. "I think this is what you mean when you say being in love can change a person. I think I am growing, but hey, I am growing to be weak. I think." He takes some moments. "I just drove her home. Again. In the distance, she seems happy. Viola is... she is different, different when she is happy. I have never seen her in this state before..."

He continues his report to Grandpa while reminiscing about her face again and over.

***

Hamilton enters his apartment complex gently; it is deserted and chilly. All the lights are turned out except for the corner lights. He walks directly into the living room, taking long steps as he considers how alone he is, but tonight there’s a female waiting for him, standing straight in a nightgown. As soon as she hears his footsteps, she walks three or four steps to the French window and stands still as she looks out and her back towards Hamilton.

He dislikes being in the company of anyone, yet when he is dissatisfied or stressed, he usually uses this as an escape.

When he needs a companion, he simply tells Mara, and a different female appears in this state, never the same lady he spent a night with. He dislikes it when they see him or talk to him. In terms of relationships, he prefers to have no deeper connections with anyone.

He approaches her from behind, scrutinising her from head to toe. His breath caressing her dark hair all the way at her nape heightens her desire, and he appreciates her terrified heavy breathing.

He removes his tie and works it over her eyes, tightly fastening it, before lowering his lips to her ear. "Tell me," he whispers with a grin, making her shudder as she fills her chest with air. "You know?" he asks, and she nods in response. She is aware of the ground rules that he adheres to. She is well-informed and has been promised a good outcome from this night, so her attention is focused on the outcome.

He spins her around slowly, and she swallows hard as she comes face to face with a guy she can't see but feel his breath through his nose. He is bent down to her, slightly touching her forehead with his nose as he smells her hair while he breathes heavily. He softly pulls her nightgown satraps down her shoulders, one by one. He examines her calmly; she's short, with a well-kept physique and complexion, unkempt hair, destroyed nail polish, pink lips, and little breasts. Her feet are fidgeting on the ground; she maintains her toes clenched and spread, then one foot gets on top of the other as if to express her coldness. She is terrified, and he understands.

"Don't make a sound," he commands, and she frowns, confused, but he suddenly grips her neck and pushes her to the window.

She can feel the chill of the window against her bare flesh on her back, and his ravenous hand's hold on her neck tells her he is tall and powerful. She had no choice but to stay in the position, his hand slightly choking her, forcing her to feel her entire body, demonstrating his complete dominance; in a place she'd never been before, with a man she couldn't see. There is no sound or sight. She's terrified, but she's focusing on the promise Mara made to her.

He moves closer to her, as if sniffing her aroma in, and she gasps, savouring the forceful and abrupt, surprising and powerful sensation as he puts his fingers into her. As he pushes in and out, he bites her on the collar bone, causing her to yelp. Suddenly, a brief awkward silence occurs. They were both exhaling heavily. He shuts his eyes for a second to consider, then opens them to establish a clean jaw line. He picks her fireman and walks into a room, tossing her on the bed before she notices.

He unbuckles his belt and opens his zipper. All she can hear is the voice, and she is trying hard not to make any noise. She feels his enormous hand on her waist as he flips her over on the bed, on her chest, as he immediately heaps on her, causing her to instinctively groan as she feels rigid, deep, and sluggish penetration.

For a short period, he remains still as he takes pleasure in the deep placement of himself in her, studying her arms spread across the bed, over her head. Her hands are tightly gripping the silk dark blue sheet beneath her.

He bites his lower lip somewhat hard as he slowly reclaims her neck and begins to enjoy the position, her beneath him and against her chest, striking repeatedly to his satisfaction.