Wrestling the Kraken

Dante

Dante

Armand was in a fit. "Another body! It's a wonder that there haven't been cops at the door already. I guess I should be grateful for that. At least there's that." He pressed his fist to the desk as he stood, eyes wandering off in thought.

"Father please, your health. You know the doctors don't like you getting all worked up like this." Charlotte rushed to help her father to his chair.

"Let him, sis, you know how he is." Dante grabbed a drink from the cart in the back of his father's office. The hotels he booked always had the cart stocked with the best selection.

His father waved a hand in the air. "Ah! The doctors. They just want me alive long enough to squeeze what they can out of me. The scoundrels." He shook his head. "I'm fine, I'm fine." He sunk back into his chair behind the desk.

Dante took a seat and contemplated. He knew his father in this state and would need to tread lightly. The plan was far too delicate.

"Why dump the body so close? Always so close!" Armand went on. There was a knock at the door. "Yes, come in!" He hollered- louder than intended.

Vivianne walked through the door.

"Ah, if you're here then that means the act you found is going well." Armand perked up.

She smiled, making her way over, giving him a kiss on the forehead. "I have." she whispered, squeezing his shoulders.

Charlotte rolled her eyes and stood up. "And this is why mother stays in Paris." She said to Dante, giving him a hug.

"Are you leaving?" He asked, getting up.

"Yes, back to Paris. Bobby has a fever, and of course Richard has no clue what to do. I'm sorry I'll miss your birthday."

"It's okay. At least I got a chance to see you. You stay over there longer lately, I hardly get a chance to see you anymore."

They walked to the door. Charlotte glanced back at Vivianne and her father.

"And you see why. Good-bye Dante."

She walked out of the hotel suite, leaving Dante alone with the other two. He looked up to the ceiling, summoning the will, then headed back into the office.

His father had lit a cigar. "I was just telling Viv that this act of hers has come just in time too. We need some momentum before people hear about this body!" Armand waved a finger in the air.

"What another one?" Vivianne looked at Dante.

He lifted his brow and shrugged.

"This is getting out of control. Fox Hollow was supposed to be an insignificant town where we could get away from this for a while. What can we do?" She asked.

Armand glared at Dante. "One thing we can stop doing is giving exclusives to reporters! This Claire Bernett reporter has dragged us through the mud and with your permission!"

"Remember your blood pressure." Vivianne rubbed Armand's arm up and down, attempting to soothe him. It was only mildly working.

"Well, at least it's being handled. The paper won't publish the article and Ms. Bernett can go ring some other poor sap through from a different employer."

Dante hardened his jaw. He should have seen this coming. One step forward, two steps back. He only thinks he's clever.

Sensing the tension rise between the two, Vivianne sighed. "I'll leave you to it." She said.