"Surprise." Romeo Leontes smiled, confident and delightful, he pointed at the chairs, which were formerly placed, and gently asked them to sit down and have a cup of tea.
Daniel Heinrich kept silence, he didn't show anything on his face, he decided to observe.
When they all had tea in their hands, the steam slowly went into the air and vanished without leaving any tracks, as it had never appeared, Romeo Leontes cleared his throat and said softly to Daniel Heinrich: "You must be Mr. Daniel Heinrich, I believe we've met."
"Yes," Daniel Heinrich nodded and sipped his tea, trying to make himself looked cozy and natural, "I believe so as well."
Romeo Leontes smiled again, he turned to Velika O'Sullivan who was still in her astonishment and was blank in her mind. She tried her best to look like a royal and faithful friend and employee. She knew Romeo Leontes trusted her, he always did. The thought of her betraying him would never cross his mind. He took himself as her savior, he rescued her from her miserable life, he offered her a job and opened her eyes.
"Why you didn't tell me The Sinking Boat is yours?" She finally said, questioning Romeo Leontes.
"It's only a good play when the actors don't know they are in one." He answered, knocking the table by his slim fingers, "I'm sorry, I have to make sure that everything goes as I planned."
"What's your plan?" Velika O'Sullivan lifted her eyebrow, "Bryce Sanchez is your plan too?"
Daniel Heinrich froze for a second when he heard the name of Bryce Sanchez, but he adjusted himself immediately.
Of course, Bryce Sanchez, that man was everywhere.
"I have collected documents about what Astoria had done for the past several years, each file represents a sin, if I reveal them, she can't survive any longer." Romeo Leontes answered firmly.
"You want to threaten her as a third party." Velika O'Sullivan said slowly, she wondered if Astoria Leontes let Romeo Leontes got all those information on purpose.
"True." Romeo Leontes nodded, crossed his fingers together.
"Are you going to keep her alive?" Daniel Heinrich frowned, "You know if you have those documents like you addressed, and you want to get over her, why don't you just reveal them?"
"She needs to be alive." Romeo Leontes sighed, he looked directly into Daniel Heinrich's eyes, when they had eye contact, these two men knew what each other was up to right at that moment, it was a power play and a family grudge, after all, "So we can watch her dance."
That's exactly what Astoria Leontes wanted, thought Velika O'Sullivan, did Romeo Leontes seriously sensed nothing at all? She couldn't believe everything could be this easy, she could almost a hundred percent sure there would something more. Romeo Leontes wasn't that kind of fish that could easily bite the hook. No, just no.
"Wait, what?" Nicholas Watson asked, he pushed up his glasses, looked at the others with confusion, "Why she needs to stay alive, oh my, is it because------"
"XYZ-2124-ERA." Velika O'Sullivan finished his sentence coldly.
Nothing complicated. Astoria Leontes knew Romeo Leontes was the man in charge of The Sinking Boat since the very beginning, she didn't even have to use her wide web of agents all over the country, she just knew. Then she discovered her brother in law was digging up her old, filthy history about several nasty assassinations that didn't clean up very well, and how she got involved with bankers and politicians. At first, she was thinking to take down the new, weak company he started, then she could get him out of her sight forever. The power of The Sinking Boat could never compare to Natural, which was totally under the control of Astoria Leontes. She knew Romeo Leontes was not that easy to be taken care of, she was aware that her brother-in-law was planning something extreme so he could get rid of her, at this stage Romeo Leontes seemed to be too easy to be fooled. Astoria Leontes decided to take a step back and follow whatever Romeo Leontes was designing for her so she could observe and waited for her time to come, for the final strike. She let Romeo Leontes found the evidence, she even left some proof for him when he came to a dead end. No matter what others thought, she was the only person actually in control of everything. She coldly watched Velika O'Sullivan fought her so-called freedom, that woman thought she would be free after help Astoria Leontes took down Romeo Leontes. She felt pathetic for Velika O'Sullivan. That woman's husband decided to sign the contract with Astoria Leontes other than took her away, and her new lover, Daniel Heinrich had an agreement with Astoria Leontes. Astoria Leontes offered Daniel Heinrich the tyranny of Natural, even Romeo Leontes will take the seat back, but there's something that Astoria Leontes kept to herself and she promised to give Daniel Heinrich to exchange her safety from Velika O'Sullivan, who would try to kill her after she left. The next step for her was really simple, she will disappear, new identity, new life, continuing her work on the drug, and then, one day, she'll take the power back from the arrogant Leontes.
She was standing beside the window when they came in, it was raining outside, the roads were wet and so were they. She turned back and looked into Velika O'Sullivan's dark eyes, those eyes filled with anger, furious and pride, she sneered, she lifted her lips a bit, not obvious but obvious enough for Velika O'Sullivan to notice. Then she rose her eyebrow, scanning Daniel Heinrich, Nicholas Watson and Romeo Leontes, she slowly said, with her harsh but charming accent:
"Welcome home, my children."
"Let's skip the greetings," said her brother in law impatiently, like he had some errands to do later, "We are not here to visit you."
"Indeed," She sat down on her red leather chair, the color was as bright as her hair and lips, "You are here to rob me."
"You know you can always use another word," Romeo Leontes mocked her, "We are here to negotiate with you."
"I have the right to choose my words," She said slowly, still had that smile which Velika O'Sullivan hated on her exquisite, pale face, "Tell me, what do you want?"
Romeo Leontes threw the documents on her table rudely, she seemed didn't mind at all. After swiftly flipping the pages with her pale fingers, she put down the file, there was no emotion change showed up, only the smile remained. Velika O'Sullivan stared at her emotionlessly, like they were in a silent negotiation. These two women couldn't decide whether the other was the friend or the enemy.
"Look like we have a bargain now." She pushed the files forward, "Fine. You'll all get what you wish."
When she said this sentence, she had her eyesight on both Romeo Leontes and Daniel Heinrich. They quickly gave her a nod.
"Since you cast me out," She stood up, "I believe I can have some time to pack up before my excursion?"
"You have today before twilight." Romeo Leontes said ruthlessly.
She agreed.
###
Finally, when she was ready to leave, her last ride was parking at the side, Velika O'Sullivan stepped out and called her name, she turned back, wasn't surprised as Velika O'Sullivan thought she would be. They both paused, it was Velika O'Sullivan who spoke first.
"Is this what you want?" Velika O'Sullivan said flatly.
"Perhaps." Astoria Leontes smiled, "You never know."
"So, this is not the end?"
"No, why would you think so?" Astoria Leontes put her belongings in the van, her voice was soft and gentle, "Did you get what you want yet, Velika?"
"No." Velika O'Sullivan answered firmly, "Did you?"
"No," Astoria Leontes smiled again, "I guess we have tied to each other again."
"I guess so." Velika O'Sullivan said dryly.
Velika O'Sullivan walked onto the streets and looked up at the building of Natural, where she had left for so many years, where she dreamed about and where she believed she truly belonged to. There were times time she hated this building, hated her every part about her life, hated she decided to join the game, and she could never do what she wanted. Then she remembered her past, he up and downs, all tied to this building and people within it. All the memories suddenly came back to her, she didn't know this building had left so much for her, perhaps that was why she fought aimlessly because this was where she belongs, she had nowhere else to go.
She didn't notice Daniel Heinrich had come up to her, when she sensed his presence, he already held her in his arms, she leaned against his shoulder, together they looked up at the building, stood there for their pasts, and future.
"Tell me, Velika," Said Daniel Heinrich softly, without looking at her, "Does the name 'Aaron Carling' ring a bell to you?"
And that was the second she froze.