VIRAGO

An informal meeting

"I do hope you realize if anyone sees us together I'm accusing you of kidnap," Zoey informed him, lighting up a cigarette in the process as John changed gears. 

"I wouldn't expect anything less, Mrs. Sabini." He let his eyes shift to the side, catching another glimpse of her. He liked how she looked disheveled but still glamorous, effortlessly breathtaking in every single way imaginable. 

"Zoey." She corrected him sharply, "I hate it when people call me that." 

"Zoey it is," He obliged while stirring the wheel abruptly "I'm guessing you probably don't remember my-"

"John," she cut him off making the man smile, "I remember." 

 Zoey had a skill, she was an expert on seeing through illusions and finding truths- all she did to obtain this knowledge was look into their eyes, as in your eyes holds your humanity, the person you truly are. 

John's eyes were big, they were soft and bright which reminded her of a child-like wonder. 

"So tell me, John," The blinder would be lying if he said he'd been keeping his eyes on the road, in fact, Zoey was more focused on the road ahead than he was. "Are you taking me anywhere specific or are we just going for a little drive." 

"I find a drive is the best way to get to know someone," John smirked at her before turning his head back onto the road. 

"I'm guessing this is your brother's idea of having an informal meeting with the wife of his rival." She assumed, exhaling a cloud in his direction.

"Everything is always Tommy's idea." He admitted, inhaling the secondhand smoke.

"Yeah, I thought as much." Zoey claimed with a smug look playing in her eyes  "I suppose this is regarding my interference with Tony's plans for Ada Thorn." 

"Yeah, thank you for that by the way." John looked back at her, he was grateful for her involvement in saving his sister however, he simultaneously knew that someone in her position couldn't have done it without great risk.

"Don't mention it, my kind gesture didn't come for free though. Along with my influence on Aflie Solomons to contact your company." She smoothly pointed out, handing the rest of her cigarette to John. 

"Which leads me to the whole point of our meeting." He said, accepting her offer. 

"Meeting?" she scoffed with a dry laugh, "You ambushed me into your car." 

"Love, you'd know if I ambushed you." It wasn't a threat more of a correction, with a hint of flirtation.  

"Suppose your right, but let's get back to the point shall we?" She brushed off his teasing comment with ease, "The reason for my interference quite simply is that I want to propose a deal."

"And what deal would that be?" He gruffly questioned, taking a quick drag before stubbing out the end of the cigarette in his built-in ashtray.

"There are plans in motion as we speak and I wanted to find the perfect individuals to indulge in its spoils once complete."  She danced around the question, explaining her reasons before disclosing that final piece of information. Knowing that once she did, she was endangering her plans yet without the Blinder's assistance she wouldn't survive a week in London after his death."I plan on removing my husband from his throne, John." His eyes widened ever so slightly at this revelation, it was the last thing he thought would come from her lips, "And once it's done there will be a redistribution of power throughout London, therefore an opportunity for those who have the balls to take it."

"And you want to slice us in?"John continued to cross-examine the girl, "Why?"

"Because it's all well and dandy having friends in London until you piss off the biggest fish in the pond." Her words were blunt but true, friends in London were more like snakes in the jungle. "Once I gain my inheritance from his will, The Sabinis will want me dead and my brothers will want me under their thumb again." Unveiling your weaknesses is a struggle for anyone, but Zoey had a unique way of masking it, as though it wasn't truly a hindrance but rather a juncture for those listening. "All I need from the Blinders is guaranteed protection and in return, I'll take out your biggest threat and cut you in on some business along with my contacts."

"I've got say." John spoke up after a few minutes to process her proposition, "You don't look like someone who could murder their own husband." 

There was a soft moment that fell between the two after this. Zoey's eyes were focused on her reflection in the window, she noticed how different she look compared to when she first got married. The man was right, she wasn't a murderer but she wasn't a caged pet either- and with that, another wave of self-assurance had washed over her. Realizing she was more determined to do whatever was necessary to be free. 

"Looks can be deceiving." She declared sternly from beside him, moving her attention to her purse and pulling out a pen and scrape of paper- confusing John, who'd been keeping an eye on her the majority of the time. "Take this number and have your brother call me when you've reached a decision." She had leaned over and gently slid the note into his breast pocket, once she had finished her scribblings.

"Can anyone call you on this number then?" John eyeballed the younger woman with that same coy smirk he had on when he first saw her, causing Zoey to roll her eyes playfully. 

"They can but I won't promise I'll answer." She countered seemingly annoyed yet the smile on her face told another story. "Pull over here please."