Pain and Choice

2.1. ***

From the first floor, Hamilton is meticulously watching his guests arrive at the party. He is dressed in a black suit with a bow tie. He is standing, tucking his hands in his pants pockets, looking down at the guests arriving to attend the party. Everyone is dressed to impress, lending grace and class to the occasion.

His personnel are on duty. Security clad in all black, some by the door, some in the ranch, standing by the corners to cover what the security cameras can't. Food and drink servers are all dressed in white; drink servers are standing around with their trays full of champagne and red and white wine. Unless it's a light supper, dishes are provided on a long buffet that is elegantly decorated, with a variety of foods including Chinese, French, Indian, and, on rare occasions, African foods.

This is the first time the ranch has been available for anything since his father died ten months ago. He's not thrilled to be here. He'll never forget the first time he set foot in their life, on this property. He was just sixteen, yet he wasn't much of a child to be naive to dismissive attitudes directed at him.

He remembers his father walking him to the house and then letting him walk away, following an elderly woman, the house help, to guide him to his room. Maria was the only person with whom he had a decent dialogue and relationship until he turned eighteen and she had to return to Mexico to be with her daughter, who had recently given birth to her first grandson. She was the one who greeted him, showed him about the ranch, and assisted him in adjusting to his new circumstances.

He had to wait three months after joining his new family for his year younger brother and stepmother to return from their trip to Paris to see them. Even after meeting them, they made it a point to inform him that he is nothing more than a charity nut case in this family at every opportunity.

It wasn’t the ideal family, as his mother had envisioned for him. In fact, he was provided with everything in his life, but everything he needed to get, emotionally and morally, was deprived of him.

His father used to see him as his mistake from a young age; he wasn’t happy to introduce him to his colleagues and friends as his first child, unless he felt cornered. The rare occasions Gregory felt at ease while talking about him were when he had to talk about his children’s achievements in their education. Hamilton was the best at everything. Hamilton has no recollection of him and his father spending quality time together.

In turn, his brother would address him to his friends as a person they were supporting, never as his own brother. That used to break his heart, but he eventually came to embrace his life and build his own relationships, as well as goals for his future. He wasn't bothered any longer.

His stepmother never, ever communicated with him by accident about anything. He recalls her final days in bed, battling for her life, much like his mother once did. Her diagnosis was lung cancer. He had to return not only to see her in that condition, but also to see the disaster that had befallen his father and stepbrother, Earnest.

They weren't happy he was there; it was as if they could sense his motivation. Before returning to the university, he surreptitiously visited her in her room, where she was being comforted. He recalls strolling carefully by the edge of her bed, looking down at her with all the life-sustaining devices surrounding her and covering her mouth. At that moment, in that room, the only thing on his mind was the awful recollection of his mother struggling to hide her sorrow from him. He recalled then, and even now, the agonising recollection of his mother, who had to go to work while being sick.

In that fancy room, she was lying in bed, powerless. Her blue eyes, circled with blackness on her skin, were riveted on him as she breathed heavily. He could tell that, even then, she was hoping to get him out of the room if she could. He quietly stood by the foot board as his right index finger tapped on the top rail, creating fear in her that she once created in him when he was at her mercy after losing his mother.

"My mother was in the same situation as you are right now. I believe I understand you." He nodded as he moved to the left side of the bed, and he came to a halt again when he looked down at her fearful, but still sorrowful, demeanour. He knew she wouldn't be alone for long, but he had time till her nurse returned from the kitchen. Because of the distance, it takes them a while to go and come back.

"Hum," he said, his lips trembling with a ghostly smile. "I bet you're scorching inside now that you can't say anything to me for entering your room," he joked, holding his hands in the air and biting his lower lip. "Don’t worry, I am here in peace." he hissed at the end of his sentence. "I think you're wondering why I'm here, but I'm here to pledge something to you," he said as he tucked his hands into his pants pockets.

He looked around, taking his time as he took note of the surroundings. "So, you should know, I will look after your son very well," he smiled. "Well, how well? You might be wondering," he licked his lips and bent down to whisper to her. That will be something that will help you speed up your death sentence," he stood straight as he pressed a wide smile on his pink lips. He did not stay to see her cough, but he walked out of her room shaking his head.

"This is a big party, to make it exclusive," Zeno snaps Hamilton out of his reverie, and he immediately takes a deep inhale and exhale.

"Indeed, but this is a new plan," Hamilton responds without looking back to Zeno, who is standing behind him. "I have shifted the original to something plausible. Someone brought me concrete evidence of who tried to sell me out," he says as he turns back to face Zeno, who appears perplexed. "I believe they will try something shortly."

"A lot of fresh plans lately," Zeno muses aloud. "Who are they?" he inquires, surprised.

"It's taken care of. One thing you should know right now is that a transaction will take place tonight. We'll go there before the celebration begins," Hamilton says as he walks past him.

"Let me cover you on this one. You just said they might still attempt to do something," Zeno sprints on his heels as he tries to take a lead in a sudden deal that is about to take place.

"We’re going together, and now, Z" Hamilton appears cold, as if he has suddenly lost his soul and is sorry. Zeno has never seen Hamilton in this condition before, and it concerns him. "It's not even far; it's only down the road, on your way here.” He swallows hard and goes away, looking in his eyes. Zeno is left behind to ponder what is going on.

He looks down at the incoming guests at the ranch for a minute before walking away to follow Hamilton, who appears to be in a terrible mood.

***

Hamilton does not appear to be at his best while at the party. He continues to clear his throat while stroking his hair back with his fingers. He alternates between closing and opening his eyes, attempting to control his breathing with deep inhalations and exhalations.

"Is the transaction taking place here, in the open?" Zeno was perplexed and inquired about the circumstances. He was expecting the normal setup, but the fact that the transaction was taking place in the open raised some concerns. They didn't get far from the ranch before seeing the automobile parked in the open on a huge stretch of land. It was transparent and exposed the types of business they were about to conduct.

"Yes, this one is unique." It will be something that will affect the ranch's future." Hamilton exited the vehicle.

Even if Zeno didn't believe it, he climbed out of the car and shrugged at the surprise that awaited him among the men who had come to help Hamilton.

The air was tense and the feeling that it created was even worse, but the truth was that Zeno was suddenly pleased to see George at the sight.

"When did you come? I was hoping to welcome you, but was informed you had already left," As they followed Hamilton on the walk, he whispered to him.

"I didn't want to bother you, I had to be somewhere else," George said, as Hamilton walked behind them, listening to their conversation.

George is standing by the balcony as he quietly gulps from his glass repeatedly. He too shares feelings with Hamilton.

Zeno is a soul who seems to have no idea what is upsetting them on this level. For all he knew, they arrived at the party safely and on time. What was the source of their anxiety and distress? Their motivation for going out there was pure, and nothing transpired that should have piqued their interest this much. He can sense that there is a lot more going on that he isn't aware of, but he isn't in a hurry to find out.

Zeno keeps stealing a glimpse of George, who is busy with the glass as if he might find a better feeling at the end of it.

"I'm not sure what's going on, but I think you should cool off on the glass," he suggests to George.

"Doesn't love make you do the most insane things?" George asks quietly, and Zeno chuckles while nodding in agreement.

"It does. It's everything that causes you to doubt yourself " Zeno adds, but George merely stands up and walks away, leaving Zeno alone with his concerns. He now believes George has found love elsewhere and plans to talk to him when he is sober. He simply presses his lips together as he watches him walk away, then turns to his drink and gulps it down.

"I want it out of my head," George says as he walks out of the property, thinking about how their test plan went.

Everyone understood the original plan except Zeno, they had to establish that phoney arrangement between William, George, and Hamilton.

Hamilton has enlarged the ranch to include that plot of property, which will be converted into a horseback riding facility by the end of the month. The plan was to see if Zeno could get the FBI on them again in the hope of getting them caught red-handed, as he believed they were going to run the usual business.

To make a spectacle, George had to arrive with another automobile, pretending to be on the opposite side, to make the purported trade appear real to anyone on the watch.

Thirty minutes after they stayed out, men of the law encircled them, but it was for nothing. None of them were armed, and there was nothing wrong with a new owner coming out to inspect his land and brief his men on it. They couldn't make a statement, so they had to leave them at the scene.

They believe Zeno had planned something huge for tonight, intending to catch Hamilton and his men in the previous scheme. Since the new plan cut that out, they figured he'd try them on what he had. Hamilton didn't believe anything, so the odds were fifty/fifty, but he couldn't refute the strategy that worked.

For Hamilton, the prospect of Zeno betraying him is still too much for him to endure. For George, he is thinking if loving someone he has never spoken with, not even once, is worth changing for, and this much over his friends, for whom he would give up his life for. He couldn't fathom Zeno giving them up for anything else if that wasn't the case.

"I'd want to conclude the evening by thanking you for coming to the party. I am delighted to have you all present." While standing on the way up the stairs, Hamilton thanks them and makes his first and final address of the night. "I've asked you all out here to let you know that this ranch is now open for everyone to do horseback riding and other physical activities by the end of this month. But it will be available to keep most of you satisfied and your thoughts free, at your service starting from tonight." He smiles as he looks at his aunt and uncle, both of whom are taken aback by what he is saying, as others are clamping. "Aurora, I recall my mother's final days. She was diagnosed with lucuma, and I remember her attempt to hide her anguish out of my sight." He continues. "She has shown me the power of true love and the sacrifice it necessitates." He lowers his gaze as he recalls her lovely grin. "I recall her telling me how much I remind her of my father, though I'd rather remind her of herself. Not female," he chuckles, making everyone smile and laugh politely, "Well, I wanted her to recall herself. The strong person she was."

"Aurora recreational center," he smiles as he glances up, meeting his uncle and aunt's displeasure. He then returns his gaze to the crowd and a few selected media members, who are waiting for the night's final formal announcement. "Is now open to raise funds to support hospitals and pharmaceutical companies working on cancer patents." He smiles and everyone applauds for him.

His father's family members began to leave the party, which had only recently begun. He understands their disappointment that he must convert their brother's home into a leisure centre and, more importantly, name it after his mother, since he must announce and explain her life. He is honoured, but nothing surpasses the thrill of humiliating them. After all, he knew they'd expect him to be concerned about the rumours; he got rid of his father in order to inherit the fortune; and he'd use his stepmother's name. Rather, he makes a daring move and throws the first punch.

***

After his speech and some interviews, George approached him and whispered something in his ear, prompting him to excuse himself and depart the party.

They are not pleased with what is to come, but they must do it. They moved Zeno to a separate spot after George tainted his drink. They are now on their way to the location where they must confront him.

It's not a large space. From the exterior, it looks to be a straightforward surfboard rental and sales establishment, loaded with as many surfboards, t-shirts, and other beach items as possible. But there's Ben beside the door, dressed in a black dirty jumpsuit and appearing to have just walked out of a do-it-yourself job. When they see him, George and Hamilton simply follow him into the shop. They waited for him until he slid a shelf away, revealing a hidden entryway hidden behind it.

Following Ben, they descend six treads to what appears to be a basement to the modest establishment. Even if there is the sound of the water along the shore, they feel as if they are in the middle of nowhere in this basement. When they reach the end of the stairs, they see a short tunnel leading straight up. The stench of metal and muck pervades the tunnel from the recently thorned walls on the right side. It would be difficult and uncomfortable to step on the muddy and wet floor if it weren't for the lines of light bulbs dangling from the low ceiling. The tiny tunnel has just been renovated, most likely by Ben himself. Because the environment is so wet, there is water on the ground as they work their way through various renovation-related equipment.

There is a distant water drop sound, and the only thing they can hear echoing from end to end are the footfall of these three men. They travel another fifteen steps in a straight tunnel, bowing their heads, after the six threads that fall from the shelf. Hamilton isn't happy about having to stoop down because he is taller and fitter than both of them.

At the end of the tunnel, there is a chain-locked gate that he opens and enters ahead of them while holding the way clear for them to enter.

George enters and motions for Hamilton to enter, which he does, into a larger and more open space. A man is hanged from the cave ceiling by his wrist, arms above his head. He is dressed in a shirt and black pants. Since he is still high on the drug, he is still sleeping. He inspects the surroundings from left to right. The cave seems to preexist, but only with a little work, and it is evident that Ben can convert it into a useful location for many things.

On the left side of the entrance, where they had just made it through, he saw a chair with a wooden box used as a table. To the left side of the cave are extended two more entrances, perhaps unexplored since there’s no light. He can see that the cave ceiling is wet as there is algae forming from the touch of the wetness.

Hamilton orders. "Leave us."

"I want to know," George quietly utters. He is trying to avoid looking at his friend in this situation.

"Nothing is going to happen to him. I want to know his reason from his lips. I want you to leave me here with him. I want to be here when he wakes, not you." He explains before walking to a chair, pulling it out, and placing it in front of Zeno. He turns and nods to each of them, reassuring them to leave them be, and he takes the seat. He sits calmly, waiting for him to wake up, and listens to them leave him in this spot.

Once he is sure he is alone with restrained Zeno, he blows on his black coat, which is touched by mud, and looks down at his shoes, covered in some. He then removes his coat and places it behind him, on the crest rail of his seat, and leans back, quietly and clearly waiting for him to wake up.

"Oh, friend," he says, breaking the stillness as he looks at him groaning, having succumbed to the drug's effect as he wakes up. "What exactly have you done?" Hamilton only asks of himself in this state.