Zephyr's Promise

10

I could not help but to clench my teeth. If I didn't I would do something else. Something much worse. Such as killing Erik without a single word. While that would bring me satisfaction, the pending problem of what this plan of theirs is and who it involves would still exist.

This motley crew that Cristiano and Augustus have thrown together truly thought they could get to me without Axel noticing. It is a slap in the face. After all Axel is the one who vouched for the man and this is how he repays him.

"Well, that wasn't a conversation I wanted to relieve." Ira huffs.

Just barely do I avoid glaring at her. At least now she wears appropriate clothing to conduct business.

"Ira." Stiffly I say her name. There is no real reason for me to except for the fact that I do not like the woman. "I need an outline of all of your husband's patterns. His associates, activities, common whereabouts. Any small statement he's made in passing that you have disregarded, I want to know that too."

"And how am I supposed to know all of that?" With each word her jaw clenches tight, likely holding back curses she wishes to hurl at me. There is no real reason for her to hold her true words or feelings from me. It wouldn't make me like her any more or less. Nor would either cause me to harm her in any way. Unfortunately she will be a key part to my solution. At least that is how I have convinced myself that her presence is warranted.

"You're his wife." I grit out. "Aren't those the things a woman whose only job it is to cater to her husband should know?" Cristiano has made it clear Iras only duty was to cater to him. The gossip mill around here moved fast and factually.

"I'm a housewife, not his fucking assistant." This time she barks her words at me.

I almost smile at her lack of self control. It took only a few words for her to lose her cool. What will she do when she is surrounded by those sharks her husband keeps with him? This is only one of her problems, she has never had to think about the consequences of her actions or those around her.

"That's clear." If she were his assistant I would already have more use for her. She would have already proven her worth. "Either way I have already given you the task. Fulfill it." My time is valuable, worth its weight in fucking gold. Arguing with a woman who didn't even know a single thing about where her money had come from seems like a waste of it.

"Aye, aye." Her nostrils flare as she stomps out of the room.

Good riddance.

Dealing with her has become more of a task than finding out what the fuck her husband is up to.

"You start with her a lot you know." Gracefully Nile still occupies her seat on the couch. I abandoned my spot the moment Cristiano began speaking on the recording. I couldn't sit still, I was itching to get my hands on him. "What's your problem with her anyways?" Curiously she gazes up at me, as if studying me would give her the answer she seeks.

"I don't tolerate ignorance. Or weakness."

Growing up I witnessed enough of this with my own mother. As much as I love her, to the point I would give my very life for her own, I saw the way in which her aloofness allowed her to be unaware. While that may have benefitted her, it only caused Papa to push me harder. To become the man of the family and protect her. I don't regret my manhood or the lessons I have learned, I only wished she understood what that said about her. There are many good qualities about my mother, admirable ones even. Those still don't erase our history and what she had lacked.

There was a clear pattern of Ira's recklessness, similar to my own mothers. From not knowing about her husband's actual working arrangements to her dragging Nile into her mess. So far she has proved to have nothing worth wasting time on. I hope Axel doesn't entrench himself too deeply in her.