Love Thy Assassin (AMBW)

The Job of A Lifetime

"Mrs.Dire would you like some more?" Suzy held an ornate gilded teapot up, a cloth tightly wound around the handle so as not to burn herself. Steam floated out from the spout continuously. Sweet smelling raspberry tea filled the office air.

"Suzy, I told you not to call me Mrs.Dire in private. Zaina is just fine. I would love some more thank you." Her cheeks grew red with embarrassment. She had always found it hard to speak comfortably with Mrs.Dire she was her boss after all.  Though Suzy felt Mr.sDire was more of a big sister to her than anything else. She had taken her in during a tough time in her life and feed her clothed her and given her a safe job for as long as she wanted it.

In return, Suzy felt like she should be the most respectful and helpful she could to Mrs. Dire. And even though she tried her best she always felt like she had only ever gotten in the way. Her own personal pressure and anxiety she assumed.

Suzy poured the dark pink tea carefully as to not splash any onto the table or Mrs.Dires paperwork. As always she had her favorite teacup with her. It was a simple clear glass cup with a silver rim it had a c***k that ran down one of its sides. It never matched any of her tea sets Mr.Dire had bought her. Suzy didn't ask as we all just have our favorite things in life. She then carefully placed the teapot back into its holder and promptly grabbed a feather duster and began getting to work cleaning the room. 

They were presently in Mrs.Dires office, the huge windows behind her desk had the curtains pushed to the side to let in the beautiful cascading light. It glimmered on the well-taken care of oak desk and bookcases that lined the walls. Each bookcase filled to the brim with classical novels and encyclopedias. The soft plush pale green carpet still looked new even though it was put in years ago and the white walls made it all feel so open. 

Suzy liked to spend time here with Mrs.Dire she stayed by her side while she tended to her work. Always getting her whatever she needed which in truth was never much. Whenever she worked, which was always, she barely ate almost took a break, and only drank some tea every so often. 

She wished Mrs. Dire didn't need to push herself so hard to be perfect. Every day she got up at the c***k of dawn and wore her best clothes and makeup. She did her hair beautiful just to then have to come to this office and sit for hours on end, sometimes she would have video conference but not every day.

Suzy had asked her once why she did it every day why she didn't just become comfortable in her own home. The woman barely ever left the house there wasn't a need at least not to Suzy as to why she had to look and act so prim and proper every day. Mrs.Dires answer had been simple then "Because everyone is watching me." She wasn't wrong in that aspect but still, it seemed too much at times.

With her black-rimmed glasses snug on her nose, she buried her thoughts into the paperwork piled up on her desk. Contracts, prices, new locations, miners conformation, gem ratios, everything from the bottom to the top had to do with the DireRose company. 

It was overwhelming just to look at. Suzy hadn't wanted to interrupt but Mrs.Dire looked as if she had not sleep in days. The beautiful features of her face were muddled by the tired bags that lie underneath her eyes. She knew Mr.Dire would be furious with her if she stayed in such a state. Finishing dusting a nearby vase Suzy cleared her throat. Mrs. Dire having taken notice looked dup from her work and addressed her.

"Yes, Suzy?"

"Mrs.Dire, you know, maybe you should take a nap. I mean it's so late in the day and a nice nap before continuing with work would do you some good." Her ton was nervous and unsure. She was hesitant to say anything to her about it. Mrs.Dire wasn't exactly the best at taking advice. She removed her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation. 

Mrs.Dire was a very fierce woman, to say the least. She had given Suzy a look of complete frustration a look that told you to just shut the hell up and disappear. And at that moment Suzy really wanted. The woman stood the mid-day sun hit her skin, setting it ablaze making it almost a dark orange glow from behind. Beams of light shot through her curly hair onto the desk. The light breeze swept through, trying to ease the tension but the nice air didn't help to diminish the tension between them. Crossing her arms her heels Suzy held her feather duster tightly suddenly very afraid. She began to circle her like a hungry lioness. 

"Do you see that?" She pointed to a large Blood Diamond sitting on her desk basking in the limelight of the world. Its red and black hues were mesmerizing. Suzy nodded my head silently.

"Well that diamond right there, gives thousands maybe even millions of people a good job. It moves the economy of nations. It gives hope to people who otherwise wouldn't have any. There is no time for me to sleep or relax, I have to be on top of things. If I'm not, do you know what will happen?" Suzy shook her head unaware of an answer. She stopped circling the girl returning to her desk to lean against it. 

"If I am not on top of things, people will lose their jobs, this diamond won't be mined and the giant empire my husband's family has created will fall. So you see now why I don't sleep? There is simply too much to be done." Mrs.Dire did not yell at me nor scream in my face she wasn't the type. She was calm and like a predator that made her all the more intimidating.

Returning to her desk she put her glasses back on and returned to her paperwork. Suzy dare not move for a few seconds. She would never understand Mrs.Dires world. Knowing even without words she knew she wouldn't want her to stay. Taking the teapot with her Suzy exited the office.

She never understood why Mrs.Dire treated herself like a mule working day and night. Mr.Dire ran this company to couldn't he take on some of her work as well. Suzy thought. She just didn't like to she Mr.Dire abusing herself for the sake of the company. In the time she had known the woman she never saw her smile or laugh outright or seem to enjoy life. She was starting to wonder if Mrs.Dire ever had.

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"Merci beaucoup monsieur." Nyx thanked the waiter in French. It came in handy to know more than a single language. He chuckled to himself remembering the moments when it's gotten him out of a few nasty situations. A slinky blonde haired woman a few tables away kept peeking past her book to stare at him.

He took a sip of his raspberry latte savoring it he smiled and winked her way. She flushed red and acted as if she hadn't seen him. Her eyes now glued to the book. Any other day he would have thought to take her back to his hotel but he was actually enjoying his day and wasn't in the mood to entertain others. Sitting outside with the sun shining bright and fluffy clouds passing by. Birds chirped their high pitched songs and the few people around chatted in French. 

Nyx had just finished a job about forty minutes ago and it was a rather lackluster one. Luckily he completed his job without getting blood on himself. So he left his tools in the nearby rental car and decided to try to enjoy the rest of his afternoon. It was easy enough, just some rich scum who'd been cheating the citizens out of all their money. Nothing new. The same old thing every time.

Work as of late had become boring. Not that he would stop anytime soon. But he had wanted a challenge. Something new anything new. Maybe killing a president or a prime minister. Or even a beloved singer or monk. Just something that spices up his job a bit. It was getting too easy.

In the back of his mind, however, he was still thinking about his job back in Spain. How his employer told him his colleges would get in contact with him soon. That was over three months ago now. He wondered if maybe their plans fell through or they found a better assassin. Though he hardly believed that possible. He continued to sip at his latte pondering the situation when an all to familiar voice came from behind him.

"What do we have here?" There stood the chocolate haired boy from his nightmares. The biker jacket and black boots he dawned seemed hardly made him seem as tough as he was hoping.

"What do you want Makai?" I asked with rudeness obvious in my tone.

"No need to be so on edge Nyx." He smiled pulled up a chair and plopped down. Nyx had suddenly felt the air get tense and heavy.

"I had no idea you were here in France. I'm just on a little....vacation is all." He said shrugging his shoulders and giving a smirk. People around them had started to look. It wasn't often you see a Japanese an in this part of France let alone two Japanese men. Nyx wasn't a big fan of drawing attention it was bad for business.

"All the move reason for me to worry." Makai was younger than he was. The young man was quick and powerful but more than anything a cocky bastard. The multitude of times he had attempted to kill Nyx over the years had him on edge around him always.

Makai was the whole reason Nyx had left a whole life behind. The first night Makai had tried to kill him was also the first night Nyx had questioned his life and ultimately it's what led to his decision to leave his clan behind. 

"You know Nyx I wanted to thank you." He said twirling one of his rings around his ringer.

"For what?" Nyx questioned trying to seem unfazed.

"After the night you left I realized I didn't need the clan to become stronger. I started my own clan because of you. You made me into a leader." He just smiled to himself in glory.

"Well, your welcome. Now get the hell out of my face." He exclaimed wanting Makai to get as far away from me as possible. He knew if he were to fight Makai in honest combat he would win. But Makai wasn't an honest man he was sneaky he would win no matter what it took. It had been at least four years since the last time he tried to Nyx. Nyx had left bloody but breathing for sure the man didn't fear nor respect Makai but he certainly hadn't wanted to kill him. Nyx believed Makai would cause his own undoing in time. 

"No no you know it's not gonna be that easy to get rid of me. I mean you've been trying for what twelve years now. No, I want to recruit you. Ya know bring you back into the game. You have been so missed." He said the last part with a puppy dog face. Nyx ceased to do anything but keep a stone cold front.

"No Kai I like what I do and make the money I need doing it."

"I mean sure but your rouge what if you get caught you have no backing." He actually sounded earnest for a moment but Nyx quickly shook the notion.

"You know just as well as I do I would never get caught. Even if I were poor and had both eyes gouged out and one arm left working I still not work for you." Nyx scowled at him and he frowned like a child.

"Ooo Nyx that hurts. Come on it will be fun. It could be just like old times." He reached for the end of the chain hanging from his neck. He pulled out a large Blood Diamond with the silver chain running through it. Did he think something as disgusting as that would sway him? He smirked as he saw me looking.

"You could have as many of these as you want. You know they say all your dreams come true with just one of these bad boys. Even Master had a few." Nyx had previously tried to avoid his gaze but now snapped his head towards him and spoke in a stern tone.

"No Makai and that's final. I never want to see you again." His dumb playful smile faded and his lips thinned. Makai stood promptly and fixed his jacket and tucked the hunk of rock back behind his shirt.

"I forgave you for leaving me out there helpless that night. But I won't forgive you for this, you will regret not joining me Nyx. It's gonna be the biggest mistake of your life what's left of it that is." With that, he walked away down the cobblestone street. His figure was lost in the small crowd of people but not before he looked back at Nyx and scrapped his thumb over his throat.

Nyx had known that was the reason Makai was in France and no other. Now what he wanted with Nyx he wasn't entirely sure of. Nyx knew he just didn't want any part of it. He left that life behind a long time ago. He would never go back. And maybe it would be a mistake but it was a mistake he would be proud to make.

I had spent the rest of my day with an eye over my shoulder just in case. The turmoil and overall craziness of the blood diamond hadn't affected this small town in the south of France. People here were wealthy enough to enjoy buying the diamond without ruining their lives. It was ironic really as much as Nyx hated the diamond he found solace in the places where the majority of people had one. 

Nyx considered his day done once the sky became a hue of soft pinks and oranges. Passing the front desk of the swanky hotel he had been staying at a young girl behind the desk had called to him.

"Monsieur!" I turned my head to the short brunette.

"Yes, mademoiselle what is it?" He asked thinking Makai had resurfaced so soon.

"Some men came earlier insisted they were friends of yours. I had told them to not go up there to your room, that it is not allowed. But I'm afraid I could not stop them. They are all still upstairs at the moment. I am sorry  monsieur." She had done her best speaking in English. She hung her head in shame. Jiro had squeezed her arms lightly telling her it was okay.

He left her and waited for the elevator to come to a halt on the lobby floor. With a ding, it arrived empty from any other occupants. Stepping inside he pressed the top floor number and knelt down so it looked as if I were tieing his shoes to the elevator cameras. Really though Nyx slide the small knife he kept hidden there and pulled it out. To him, knives were way more effective than guns and didn't alert as much attention.

The elevator dinged again signaling him to get out. Walking to my door at the end of the hall he paused a second. He noticed the door was already open. Nyx walked in with ease acting as if he hadn't even noticed all the signs of danger. He closed the door behind me and turned to see my potential assailants.

Four unknown men stared at him. Two sitting in the chairs with briefcases in their laps and the other two standing next to them. They looked like hired thugs or bodyguards. They were smart to come with them. The other two men seemed like the business type. Both dressed in neatly pressed suits but no obnoxious jewelry besides a Blood Diamond ring on both men. It shone with the death of thousands. 

"Who the hell are you people?" Nyx demanded, both of the businessmen flinched still they rose to speak.

"I'm Robert Dillard and this, this is Frank Dallas. We are the owners of D&D. The jewelry company, I'm sure you have heard of us" He stopped speaking his nasal voice a nuisance already. These people are harmless so Jiro stuck his knife back in his boot. 

"Well, Mr.Dillard Mr.Dallas. You know it's rather rude to just show up without giving a bit of notice beforehand. I mean if anything that is typically my job."  Jiro stated his eyes locked on them. They nervously switched from one foot to the other. Beads of sweat starting to form on their brows. 

"Nothing...man tough crowd. Well, what do you two want with me?" He asked walking over to the small kitchenette and grabbing the bowl of grabs on the county. The other man Mr.Dallas spoke this time.

"I'm sure you know of the Blood diamond and its extreme value, who doesn't know of its value. Well were not afraid to admit that we want it for ourselves." A sly smirk started forming on his face. Then it hit him these were the colleges his client had spoken of. He said the details couldn't be given over the phone. 

"You and everyone else on this godforsaken planet so I will say this again what the hell do you want from me?" I scorned them. The shy face once there now gone replaced with looks of sly and evil intentions on both men. Even the bodyguards were snickering.

"Ok I see you are a man of business. The judge was right about you." Mr.Dallas waved an accusing finger but smiled while doing so. He can see whose the one with more intent than the other. 

"We want you to kill Will and Zaina Dire." Things were beginning to get interesting for him.