NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 30- MAKING AMENDS

              It was already evening by the time Russo arrived at his Mansion. The servants were already standing at attention waiting to receive him as well as welcome his back home from his near death trip.

"You're as arrogant as you'll ever be."
"Arrogant?"
"What do you call a Man who has everything at his feet and choose to stomp on them."
"What?"
"You have people around you who would willingly lay down their lives for you. Yet, you treat them like dirt. There is no courtesy to your speech whatsoever. You are nothing but a pompous, spoiled and arrogant brat."

                  He could still hear her voice from before. He hadn't realized. Was that how people really saw him. As arrogant? If so, why had no one ever called him out on it. As if, anyone would be bold enough. Russo smirked in realization.

'She' was bold enough.

                   He was used to the side of her that was a compliant Soldier. The other place he had saw her flare up like that was back at her father's funeral. Quite the tigress. Anger. The emotion made her not give a second's fuck about who the hell was standing in front of her. Damn the consequences! She had said some time ago. That could end up being an Achilles heel.

"Welcome back, General." The butler rushed up to him immediately he got down from his car. Several other servants trailing behind.

"What do you call a Man who has everything at his feet and choose to stomp on them?"

                       Urgh! Yet another of her voice in his head once again. He looked around him and let the words sink. Could she be right? He did have everything at his feet but yet, he wasn't even grateful about it. Was he really undeserving of everything?

"Not tonight. Send the others away." Russo said as he ignored the rest of them and made his way upstairs to his bedroom. 

              Maybe he should have helped out with Warner's hospital bills that day. He had enough afterall but he was just so enraged about his own pain and loss. He was so upset about his own father's condition that he had to let it out on an innocent man. Well, the moment of 'if onlys' we're always the late ones.

               Bloody hell! He couldn't live with himself like his. Russo rubbed his stressed out eyes with his fingers before grabbing his phone. The past was gone and even him as General couldn't turn back the hands of time and undo what he had done but he could do one thing though- make amends. The call was answered and he placed the phone on his ear.

"You're back?" Felix asked.
"Yes but now I need a favor from you."
"Spill."
"Get me all the records of the Alvarin. Couple everything in one file and send it to my computer."
"Sure thing but why though?"
"Simply making amends." He said, leaving Felix confused.

                Lewis could be seen that evening seated on the front porch of his house, wearing a sour look with two other men with him. A certain drive was inserted on a laptop and they were all so focused on the video playing except from Lewis who looked like he had watched it a hundred times over.

"An evidence like this exists?" Asked the first Man after the video ended.
"Yes." He nodded.
"This is so deforming!" The second one added.
Lewis smiled, sinisterly. "That little brat dared humiliate me in public and all for some mindless little girl. When all I do is look after him like an imbecile. He will so live to regret it."
"What now?"
"Do we take immediate action?"
"No. That would be unwise." Lewis said. "There are only a handful of people who know about this deal and most of them are dead."
"Leaving who?"
"Myself and the General ofcourse. He is going to be so shocked out of his damn wits when I release this to the public."
"Who could have thought he could be capable of such a crime?"
"He's done far worse. Only his dear daddy kept sweeping every one of his dirty linen under the carpet. There's no way he's gonna get out of this one. I'm certain."

                 Lewis was hell bent on making the proud peacock fall from grace by all means. Initially, He had planned to give Russo two years to enjoy his reign before taking him off the throne but the General had not only humiliated but angered him. Now, he would have to face the music much earlier than anticipated.

             

                        ~~~~~~~~~

8:00AM

"Did you get it?"

                  Felix asked as he walked through the doors of Russo's office the very next morning. The latter was rather engrossed in the laptop's screen. Felix took a seat opposite him.

"What took you so long?" Russo asked with a frown.
"That's no way to say thanks, you arrogant scumbag."
"Arrogant?" His eyes flickered In surprise. "Really?"
"Chill, you look pale." Felix teased.
"It's just...she.... She said the exact same thing."
"Who?"
"Diane."
"She's not wrong."
Russo rolled his eyes. Felix was the last person to have a serious conversation with. "Whatever."
"Right there. That's the arrogance we're taking about."
"Oh shut the fuck up, Felix. You're the last person I'd ever be nice to."
The latter chuckled. "It's a mutual feeling, don't you worry."
"Are these complete?" Russo asked, referring to the files on his laptop.
"A hundred."
"Thank you."
"But why did you need them, though? And what the hell did you mean by making amends?"
"We had a not so long talk yesterday and I realized something. I made a shitty mistake, honestly and that mistake ruined a life. More than one, actually."
"What are you gonna do now?"
Russo shrugged. "We'll see what I can get from this and where it leads me."

Russo spent the rest of the day in his office, suspending every other activity just so he could finish the documents as soon as possible but while most things were more professional than personal, he did get one thing out. The rest, he would have to do some personal background work. That would be easy. He could hire someone for the job. Making things easier for hi.....

I bet you've never even lifted a finger all your life.

                  With a sigh, he relinquished the idea and decided he would do it all by himself. Funny how her words had so much effect on him but they did anyway. Pricking on his conscience at the same time. His eyes took in the details of the file once again.

"What is this?"
"I figured you needed something to get you pumping again."
"Err....I was going to do it myself."
"You're welcome?"
"You added milk in this?"
"I thought you'd like it sweet."
"That's the thing. You don't know anything about me so stop doing anything at all."

                     Russo's finger trailed the statement on the file appearing on the screen. A faint smile crossed his lips at that moment.

She preferred her coffee with honey.