G.H.O.S.T.S

Double Lives

The midday sun streamed through the sheer curtains, bathing the White Widow's office in a soft, golden light. She sat at her desk, a sleek expanse of dark wood that contrasted with the lightness of the room. Her fingers paused over the keyboard of her laptop, the screen filled with numbers and names that only she could decipher.

The phone rang, its sound a soft chime in the quiet room. She considered it for a moment, the interruption to her thoughts, before answering. It was a call she had been expecting, one that would confirm the success of her latest venture.

"Report," she commanded, her voice cool and detached.

"The accounts have been settled in Zurich," came the reply, the voice on the other end crisp and efficient. "The Swiss are content."

A small smile played on her lips. Contentment was a state she rarely allowed herself, but she could appreciate it in her associates. "Good," she said. "Ensure that they understand our partnership is based on mutual benefit, not complacency."

She ended the call and leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting to the window. The garden outside was a riot of color, the flowers a stark contrast to the business she conducted within these walls. She had built an empire on the shadows of the underworld, but she had never lost her appreciation for beauty.

Her thoughts were interrupted by another call. This one was less expected, but no less welcome. "Yes?" she answered, her tone unchanged.

"The shipment from Hong Kong has been delayed," the voice informed her. "The Jade Serpent is proving... difficult."

The White Widow's eyes narrowed. The Jade Serpent was a rival, one who had been trying to encroach on her territory for some time. She had dealt with such annoyances before, but this one was proving to be particularly persistent.

"Remind our friend that patience is a virtue," she said, her voice icy. "And that I am not a woman to be trifled with."

She hung up the phone and turned her attention back to her laptop. The numbers and names on the screen were a puzzle only she could solve, a web of connections that spanned the globe. She was the spider at the center of it all, and she would not allow anyone to disrupt her plans.

The White Widow was more than a name; it was a title she had earned through years of cunning and determination. She was a survivor in a world where survival was the only thing that mattered. And she would continue to survive, no matter what challenges came her way.

The White Widow's office, once a fortress of solitude, was suddenly filled with the soft patter of small feet. Emma, her daughter, entered the room with the innocence of youth that contrasted sharply with the gravity of the space. Nadia trailed behind, a look of concern etched on her face.

"I had asked you to keep Emma company," the White Widow said, her voice even, betraying none of the irritation that flickered in her eyes.

Nadia nodded, her posture stiff. "I understand, but she's been insistent about something, and it's beyond what I can provide."

The White Widow turned her attention to Emma, who looked up at her with wide, expectant eyes. "What is it that you want, Emma?" she asked, her tone softening.

"I want to see Aunt Sophia," Emma said, her voice small but determined.

The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the family ties that had become so complicated. The White Widow felt a surge of emotions she had to quickly quell; the room seemed to grow colder with the mention of Sophia's name.

She knelt down to Emma's level, her expression composed. "Aunt Sophia is away because of work, my dear," she explained gently.

"When will she be back?" Emma's question was filled with the hope and longing that only a child could hold onto.