Mrs Hale, his cold, deep, masculine voice echoed in her ears as he wrapped his arms around her thin waist and planted kisses from her ear, down to her neck and her bare shoulder as she stood facing her dressing mirror. Her body moved to the rhythm of his touch.
She turned around slowly, placing her hand on his bare chest, running her fingers through. He lifted her and placed her on her dressing table, standing between her legs. He ran his fingers through her bare back in her halter neck, backless wine evening gown.
He leaned in closer to her, capturing her lips in his as he slid his hand through her bare thigh, opening it through the slit in her gown. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and they shared a deep kiss.
She pulled back, smiling, and got off the dressing table, turning her back to him.
"If you don't go get dressed Mr Hale, you'll be late for your press conference". She spoke, fixing her earrings.
He took the necklace from the box and helped place it around her neck as he spoke.
"The press can wait. I want to spend time with my wife". He spoke, still clinging to her. She fixed her bracelet and turned to her husband.
"A man who can barely control his anger when his workers are late".
"I'm the boss, I make the rules".
She smirked, staring into her husband's charming eyes. "The world would never believe Mr. Victor Hale, CEO of Hales Group. The world's fiercest man would appear late to his press conference because he wants to spend time with his wife".
"Well, the world doesn't know how you've wrapped me around your finger". He smiled lovingly at his wife.
Her phone buzzed on the dressing table, she turned to it and picked up the call. Victor released her from the cage he had formed around her with his arm and leaned on the desk beside her.
"Speak to me, Rafi". She spoke to the person on the other end.
"Boss Darwin will be at the conference tonight. Do you want us to strike?".
She looked over to her husband, who was listening to the conversation since she had placed the call on speaker.
"Well just give him a little scare. I believe you and Emma can take care of him till I meet you guys".
"Yes, boss. Whatever you say".
She ended the call and turned to her husband, who had a mix of emotions in his eyes. He admired his wife, but he was also scared that something might happen to her along the line.
"I'll be fine". She spoke softly and laid a soft but passionate kiss on her husband's lips. "Get ready quickly or you'll be late". She spoke walking over to get him his coat.
He buttoned the top three buttons of his shirt and put on his coat. She helped him knot his tie and he helped her put on her heels. He couldn't help but look at his wife with admiration. She took his arm and they walked down the stairs together, escorted by the home manager to the car, where the chauffeur stood with the door open.
Victor helped his wife in and then got in after her.
The night was dark, but the streets were busy with people going about their daily routine. In a few minutes, they got to the venue for the press conference, and the line of paparazzi was unending. Cameras flashed through the air. As soon as the car was packed and the door flew open by the chauffeur, the crowd grew wild, people screaming at the top of their voices. It was the billionaire himself, the CEO of the biggest group yet, the Hale group, and his stunning and beautiful wife.
As Victor got out of the car, the screams increased, the aura of ruthlessness on his face, and the composure drove people crazy. He walked over to the other side of the car, where his wife sat, and opened the door for her. He extended his hand, and she took it stepping out of the car. Again, the screams increased even louder than before. It was like their vocal cords would break. Her aura, her beauty, her perfect shape, the way the couple complemented each other, no one could compare. They were really a perfect couple.
As they stepped into the room for the press conference, the barricades could barely hold people wanting just a glance, or a touch, or even just one word with them. They got in successfully and the press conference started at exactly 8:30 pm.
In about 30 minutes the conference was over, Zyra had already received a message from Rafi saying they had Darwin in custody.
"Vee, I have to go". She whispered in his ear.
He nodded his head and she nodded back. She turned to leave but he caught her by the hand.
"Zy be careful". He whispered back.
She smiled and nodded in respect, and he nodded back, letting her go.
She got to the cold, dark alley, the stink of rusted iron sharp in her nose. She stepped in with her heels sounding as they splashed through the water. As she approached him, he was tied to a chair, sitting in a dim light. Her pace reduced.
"Who are you, what do you want from me?". He yelled.
She remained in the shadows and spoke.
"Oh, how I didn't want this to go south. But you decided to wrap yourself, in a matter that shouldn't have had anything to do with you.
"What do you mean? You have the wrong guy. I don't know what you're talking about".
Zyra laughed lightly and then silence fell on the room. She dragged a seat from the other end slowly, deliberately making sure he heard every sound. She placed the seat directly opposite him, sat on it, and crossed her legs magnificently still in the dark.
She could see him, but he couldn't see her, and this made him crazy. He suddenly began hearing whispers in his head.
"They were nice to you. He couldn't have done anything wrong. He fed you, clothed you, schooled you, and employed you. You lied, deceived him, and teamed with the wrong people". The words lied, deceived, and wrong people continued to ring in his head while she sat in the dark, smiling at him.
"Ahhhhhhh". He continued to scream, exhausting himself.
"Who are you, what are you doing to me? Say your name". He spoke, breathing heavily.
She laughed again and stood up, walking in circles around him, still in the dark.
"You can call me Nyx - The queen of the night. I haunt your fears. You let me in. I didn't force you".
"How could that be?". He spoke, still breathing heavily, as he laughed softly and fell silent. All of this was driving him crazy. His heart raced rapidly and his breath became heavy as his eyes darted around the room.
He heard the whispers in his head again.
"Betrayer, murderer, liarrrrr". The word continued to echo in his head, and cold sweat had soaked his entire clothes. He fell to the ground with the chair he was tied to; he could no longer control his heartbeat.
"Ohhh, he's going to die of a heart attack. Interesting. Though not as interesting as I thought you'd die but great anyway". She laughed.
"Show your face". He struggled to speak.
"Ohhhhh, he's asking for death sooner". She smiled in silence. The silence lingered much longer before she spoke again.
"Well, you asked for it. No one sees my face and lives". She whispered with a voice sounding like the whisper in his head as she stepped into the light.
Fear gripped him as his eyes met hers. Her eyes glowed with a light silver. His heart lost beat and he began to have a heart attack. She smiled at him with a smile of satisfaction as he jerked, battling for his life.
"Rafi. Please take him to the bed we prepared for him".
Rafi stepped in and united him, his body too weak to fight while the whispers continued in his head.
Rafi and Emma walked down the alley opening another door and then a basement door to a whole different world of coffins each had a name on it and as Darwin looked around he saw a coffin prepared for him with a stone carved, his full name and the year he was born till this day, crested in the stone.
Rafi placed him in the coffin and Emma shut it. "Sleep tight". She whispered before locking the led.
Darwin hit hard against the coffin with the last strength left in him, but no one could hear him; the two people who could have cared less about him were already on their way out.
"Good work guys". She commended Rafi and Emma.
"Thanks boss". They replied in unison.
"Who next ?" she spoke with her back to them. Bloodshot anger written all over her face.
"Uncle Bristol and Aunt Mabel. Who do you want out of the list first".
"Do they have anybody in common?".
"Yes, ma'am. Noel Castillo. Son of Mabel Castillo. CEO of M&B bank Mabel and Bristol bank".
Her eyes had that sudden silver glow again and then came the whisper.
"He drove the boat that drowned your parents". Then it dimmed off. She remained calm and composed.
"We pay his bank a visit first, find out everything about his business, and report to me tomorrow".
"Yes, boss". He opened the door of the car to her and drove her home.