Rose of Sharon |Courting Trouble BK 2|

Chapter 24 (Part 1)

I don't know whether nice people tend to grow roses or growing roses makes people nice. - Roland A. Browne

Marcus Thorpe was never one to give up. No, not that easily. Had he been that kind of a person, he would never have made it to where he was right now. So what if his grandson's mother was a Domina? His own influence would bring him results.

Hadn't he worked his way out of the streets to become the sole heir of his father's household? There was nothing that a little coercing could not do. After all, if that woman wanted to protect her public image, then she would have no choice but to agree to his demands. He thought with a smile as he imagined the look of surprise or anger when the woman realised that she had just been cornered.

"Damn that Lenita for refusing to help me with my plans. That ungrateful wench. When I have gone to all the trouble to arrange a favourable marriage for her! Now she thinks that she is too high and mighty even for her old man?" In time he would have to teach her lesson as well. That is, after he was done with dealing with his wayward son, he thought as he brought a cigar to his mouth and lit it up.

That Maracheli would have to respect him now. After all, he was going to be known as the grandfather of a prince. He would make sure that the world knew that whether she paid him or not and he would use that to gain even more clout.

Marcus was so busy reminiscing his plans that he did not notice that the garden door to his home had drifted wide open. One by one, the men that he had posted all over the compound began to drop down like flies on his security monitors even as two figures clad in black advanced forward in the dead of night.

They stopped to bicker by his back door before one figure threw up its hands and opened the door to the house in haste.

Suddenly the alarm went off.

Marcus jumped back in surprise and yelled for his right hand man, but no-one came. As the alarm ceased and the house went back to being quiet, he reached out for a letter opener and backed up to a corner, wary of the door that was sure to open at any time.

The second ticked by and just as he had expected, the sound of footsteps were head approaching his door.

How did they even know the layout to his house? he looked around in a panic wishing that he had installed that panic room. Now, there was nowhere else to hide except from beneath his desk but he refused to stoop that low even if it meant his end. After all they would still find him.

Why didn't I think to alert the police? He kicked himself for being so stupid, but then again, what if they found... His thoughts trailed off as his office door was kicked wide open and two figures emerged out from the darkness.

"You won't get away with it! " he said from his place at the furthest corner, the letter opener held out in order to protect him nor that it would have done anything had they carried guns.

"We won't?" a feminine voice said even as a black ski mask came off to reveal a round face with green eyes and brown hair.

"What are you doing?" The man that was beside panicked but the woman appeared unconcerned.

"Damn! This things are uncomfortable."

"Why did I agree to take you along with me? Your sister is going to kill me" the other voice groaned and she turned to smile back at him sweetly.

"Because I threatened-"

"I know I know you don't have to repeat it! You devil woman!"

"Why thank you." she grinned back even as her victims looked on with a look of terror in their eyes.

"Whatever for?" the man questioned her warily.

"For viewing me as a woman. "
And not the twenty year old that I am. He could almost hear her think. She had just turned twenty just a few days ago and that was the other thing that she had used to snare him. True she was mischievous, sometimes childish and it terrified him to be anywhere near her, but that same zeal and danger was what was appealing to him. Maybe he was cursed for even thinking that Mishpa Kenton was a very attractive woman.

"Anyway, It is impolite to converse with my nephew's so called grandfather with anything but an uncovered face." she added as she took a seat on one of the sofas that were present I'm the room.

"Who are you people? " the man in the corner whimpered and she all but rolled her eyes.

"Put that thing away. It makes feel like you want to impale me."

"Like you want to impale - oh for heaven's sake don't act like you are not after my life? "

"Why would I do that to a relative?" she said that with a mock surprised look, before taking out an envelope before placing it on Marcus's desk. "I believe you sent this. "

Marcus stilled as he stared at his own handwriting and the letter that he had gone to so much trouble just to compose. Why was it here? It should be on its way to her. He had made certain it would reach her, but how certain washed method? In his confidence Marcus had overlooked alot of things. A Phaedra was not anything like their leader and had he been truly from gentry or accustomed to following the proper procedures, then he would have understood that things did not work the same way in Veterum nor did just anyone have access to certain personalities.

"No. You will not get away with it." he suddenly said as all the blood drained away from his face. Why had he not seen it coming. He had been so stupid! No! Reckless!

"Get away with what? Assuming that you can threaten a Domina?" the woman countered quite fiercely and he felt sudden change in her demeanor.

"I... I... I didn't."

"Oh you did. Now you are lucky that this didn't reach a certain some one's attention or otherwise... "

What would he do now that he had found himself in this situation? He had to think fast otherwise who knew what she would do to him.

"You mean to tell me that the ruling families of Veterum are just a conglomeration of thugs?" he finally thought to say. They couldn't assassinated him. He would point it out in the hope that at least, one of them had a conscience.

"Why you! You dare threaten my sister and think that you can get away with it?"

"Mishpa! Thats not why we are here." Mishpa, not Malisha. He managed a sigh of relief.

"It is not?"

"No. It's not. We are here to pass on a message." the man said as he walked over to Marcus and skillfully relieved him of his weapon.

"Do not presume that you have any control over the Domina." he said as moved away from him. "Because of your position as his son's grandfather, he has overlooked your intentions, but he is still aware of all your mechanations. It is only the leniency that he feels towards his son's kin that has saved you this day."

"My mechanations?"

"Yes and all your illegal practices. Going on forward. Your conduct will determine how we will go on ahead with this. As for what your local authorities chose to do with you, that is all up to them."

"Local authorities?" Marcus panicked. "That is rich coming from you who would kill just to gain passage to pass on a message. "

"Oh you mean your goons who are blissfully slumbering off in your yard. I would never soil my hands with such despicable blood."

"Mishpa! For a woman you are quite foul mouthed."

"Forgive me your majesty. " she grinned and the young man started lamenting.

"I don't know why I agreed to bring you along! "

"Because..." She sweetly offered but he shut up as he began to pull her up to her feet.

"Marcus Thorpe! Consider yourself warned!" with that he dragged out the woman leaving behind a shaken Marcus Thorpe and a fully sedated house in their wake.