Episode 97

"What smells so good"

"Morning"

"Morning"

"Made breakfast, sit"

Ian nodded right after being lured in by the fresh sweet scent that dragged him out right after waking up.

Mari placed the plates and the rest of the cutlery before him. The omelet bread and some tea, a standard breakfast but in abundance. Though Ian wasn't sure if this was what he'd smelled before.

"Are you making something else too?" He ended up asking, to which Mari turned and looked at him. He still wore his bed hair and pajamas, looking like a total goof.

"Yeah" She replied looking away, it was probably because of what happened last night but she'd felt that sudden urge to hold this man tightly and pinch him just to confirm this wasn't her imagination.

"What are you making?" Ian asked taking the fork and knife though being half attentive towards her too.

"Pastries" Mari replied, her speech was still as limited as usual, she only replied what she'd been asked of, though for someone like Ian who loved talking, she was somewhat of a silent partner that would probably merge into a cushion while sitting on it and he'd accidentally sit on it without realizing she's there.

"I didn't know you could bake" He tried to make conversation nevertheless.

"I love cooking" she spoke with a gentle face.

Unlike Aoi, who'd probably burn the whole kitchen down just in an attempt to fry an egg; Mari was good cook. She cooked when she was sad, she cooked when she was happy. It had become a defense mechanism for her at this point.

"You.." Mari hesitated saying the rest, it really was awkward there having spent their first night with each other, atleast it was for her.

"What is it?" Ian asked attentively especially since she'd bothered to bring something up once in a while.

"Last night, was it good?" She asked as if somewhat insecure about her own position.

They were both alphas. How good could an alpha have had felt being on the recieving side? If he were an omega then she could have speculated something as she was experienced with them but for her, he was her first alpha.

"Felt good, you were really gentle" Ian Strauss spoke with a light tint of blush as he smiled at her. He understood Mari's concerns right away, without even her having to say it.

"Ah, if you felt that I was too soft, I can go rougher next time-" Mari went a little defensive, she was behaving quite unlike herself. Probably because it was because she loved this guy so much.

"I don't like it rough, I like being treated gently and being pampered, you're worrying unnecessarily" It was somewhat embarrassing for Ian to admit otherwise, but he knew that they needed this sort of communication.

Isn't being a partner all about communication? He thought about it, it was natural for one to deliver their likes and dislikes to their partner whether sexual or platonic. This sort of communication would then bridge a trust and safety in a relationship.

" Hmm" Mari nodded, they was little curve at the end of her lips, almost a little effort to smile. She moved closer to the table where Ian sat and rested her palm against the table as she leaned closet to Ian's face. He'd stopped munching looking at her nearing in. Mari kissed his cheek and gently brushed the little bread crumb at the side of his lips using her thumb before she kissed at the corner of his lips.

She'd parted after this leaving Ian Strauss sitting where he was but flustered and stiff.

"You can request anything you want to eat..." She paused with a little smirk "... husband.."

Hearing that word almost blew his mind away. Officially, they were a married couple who'd just had their first night together and now their first breakfast, even though socially, they haven't had the chance to hold a wedding.

He couldn't help but feel too shy to raise his gaze as she went to the kitchen.

This kind of happiness, surely felt surreal. If one was given a chance to choose the time of their death, then for Ian Strauss, this moment was it.

Mari came back with a chocolate pastry topped with vanilla cream and a little cherry. She placed the plate before Ian who'd just had finished his breakfast.

"Have a taste"

She told him and Ian took it before taking a mouthful bite

"Mmmmm this is so...!" never had Ian tasted something so perfectly balanced sweet. The cream melted right in his mouth and he couldn't help lick his fingers once he'd done gobbling down that little brown treat.

"Like it?" Mari asked

"Love it!!" Ian was still so focused on the sensation that sweet little thing had left on his palette.

Mari couldn't help but feel amused at this guy's reaction, he really looked his age being excited like that.

The two were in their own little bubble of happiness when the door bell rang.

"I'll check it" Mari said and went ahead.

She returned with a letter in her hand.

"Who sends letters even in this age" Ian commented the first thing after he noticed that envelope in her hand.

"It's unnamed" Mari flipped the envelope "somebody delivered it personally"

"Was there someone outside?" Ian got up out of curiosity as well.

"Didn't see anyone" Mari shook her head.

She opened the envelope and pulled out a blank paper from inside, she flipped it over examining both sides for any possible note.

"Do you think it's a prank?" Ian asked but Mari herself was too unsure to make any statement about it.

"The envelope" Mari murmured and Ian looked attentively at this plain looking paper trying to figure what she'd meant about it.

"What about it?" He ended up asking after a brief self pondering that lead him nowhere.

"This logo, I've seen it before.." Mari pointed at the right corner of the envelope that had a light shade of a logo.

"Can you remember?" Ian said but Mari hesitated talking about it for some reason "it's okay just say it" Ian was starting to understand Mari's behavioral patterns a bit now.

"There's a dark website where you can order omegas based upon your credit, it's basically a human trafficking site that kidnaps lone omegas with nobody to depend upon or runaways and sell them to brothels and sometimes for private purchases as well, they also sell off valueless omegas for their organs" Mari told him.

Ian Strauss suddenly felt a bit nauseous hearing that but he kept his emotions in control.

" Go on "

" Not everyone can access this site, just being filthy rich wouldn't help you, the site chooses it's customers, but when they do they send you a letter like this, they find rich corrupt elites, spoiled enough to drain their money on these human dolls, there's no one owner to this site, it's basically a huge system of networks with alot of big fishes funding it around the globe, Strauss estate could be one part of it" She went on. Though she had to pause looking at Ian's expression.

"I'm okay, I was raised in that environment" Ian reassured seeing the look on her face as if she was internally scorning herself for bringing this up "What does a blank letter mean?"

"I'd say...." Mari lowered her head staring at the paper in her hand long enough

"It means war..."

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"What do you mean shot?!"

"Shot means shot"

Aoi gritted her teeth a bit and took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Alright, what's the situation right now?" Aoi questioned again hoping things couldn't get worse than they already were.

"Currently she's unconscious, it missed her vital organs fortunately but survival is another thing, it depends upon her" Yuki went on staring outside of the window while Sam was yet sitting with the woman laid upon the bed with an IV hooked to her and a bandage wrapped all over her left shoulder and around her chest.

"This is so ineffective, ah jeez" Aoi relaxed back.

"I know right, how's things on your end, Eli isn't being noisy is he?" Yuki asked.

"I'm having Natsuro handle him, he's practically glaring daggers at me for I keep bringing kids home like he's 'a mother hen or something' is what he said" Aoi quoted Natsuro and not soon after she made a groan over the call making it obvious that Natsuro smacked her or something.

Yuki couldn't help but smile a little "Say sorry to him on my behalf, I'm getting back as soon as I deliver this woman to where I'm supposed to"

"Don't worry about it, just make sure you're safe and in case you have to ditch her in order to save your own life, just do so, I'll find another way, nothing's more important than your lives" Aoi advised her, even though Yuki already understood the gravity of the issue.

"Aoi you do realize that this is just a small stone in a pond right?" Yuki asked, obviously she knew the answer to that and so did Aoi. Atleast in this regard they were on the same par and there was no going back after this.

"To live a meaningful life and to die a death without regrets" Aoi responded to her and Yuki understood right away that Aoi wasn't planning to back away from this. Just because it wasn't their responsibility to protect people from these atrocities, didn't mean that they could turn a blind eye to it.

Just because one is not directly involved in a social evil doesn't mean they don't have the responsibility to stand against it.

Aoi's morality was the same now, she was just a business giant that had nothing to do with the matters of investigation or human traffickers and could've left it to the detectives or inspectors... Yet she didn't choose to do so, once she'd seen something unfair occuring, it was automatically her responsibility..

The past her wouldn't have cared as long as the people around her were protected but the current her couldn't sit back.

"As long as it makes some difference, even a stone in the pond would do" Aoi spoke in a rather composed yet self satisfied manner.

"I'll stand by you then, let's make this world a little safer for our children, shall we?"

"It's a war"

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"Max Jones is it?"

"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Strauss"

Max Jones was man of average stature. He easily looked in about his early 40s and had a foreign look on his face despite having average features. He had a tall nose bridge that appeared to be one of his most visible features and big black beaded eyes that shone as soon as he took in the view of the mansion. His hair had a fake black color to them that was almost fading away while the roots of his hair were pure silver. It gave him somewhat of a fashionable middle aged look. If one hadn't known that this man was an omega, they'd presume he was a beta.

"I assume my secretary had already informed you regarding the case"  Mr. Strauss cleared his throat evidently pretending to be a formal man while his eyes evidently scanned the man before him trying to know if an omega can really be a worthy lawyer.

" I did" Max Jones gave a very brief reply to add to Mr. Strauss's confusion. He couldn't figure out the means to measure this man's wit other than the fact that he'd been known to win cases, complicated cases and never took on minor cases.

" So what's your stance on it? " Mr. Strauss tried to not look down on the man too much considering he was supposedly a preferred man of the Himari estate.

" My stance is that Mr. Strauss is holding back necessary information about the case without which he is certainly going to lose a massive amount of estate and will probably suffer a lifelong sentence" Max jones lightly brushed the corner of his lips with his thumb.

Indeed, Mr. Strauss was holding it back, considering what went on with Nicolas, he really wasn't sure if any information could be shared that openly with anyone.

"With the information I have right now, the least I can advise you is to sell off your share before it brings up what you're really trying to hide under covers" Max Jones leaned forward dropping the sugar cubes into the cup of tea before him that had just been settled upon the table after the maid unloaded the trolley.

"What if I decide to sue the Kirihara instead for fraud business transaction" Mr. Strauss had plans of his own.

Max Jones who had been stirring the sugar cube around in his cup of tea, hearing that he came to a momentary half before his hand started to move again.

"If that's the route you want to take then be ready for thorough investigation and involvement of courts" Max Jones replied with a professional demeanor.

"Don't worry, I have my tracks covered thoroughly, you tell me, whether or not I can sue Kirihara Mari or not?" Mr. Strauss leaned forward with a his fingers intervined with each other under his chin.

"You can" was the plainest answer that Max Jones could give at the moment before he brought the rim of the teacup against his lips and softly blew at the honey colored liquid.

A wide grin appeared on Mr. Strauss's lips who then relaxed back against the couch with an ever do confident look on his face, as if he was no longer afraid of consequences

"It's settled then, I'm gonna turn Kirihara Mari's own game over her own self" He spoke with a satisfied look upon his face as the lawyer before him narrowed his eyes while sipping his tea.

A phone call distracted Mr. Strauss who excused himself and pressed the phone against his ear, using his shoulder as a support while he mixed the sugar in his tea.

A visible change of expression appeared upon his face as he silently heard whatever was being said. One could almost see him grinning upto his ears as if something incredible had occurred.

He simply took a sip of the tea and rested it back against the table before the call cut off and he stood up.

" I'm afraid I have important matters to attend now and cannot stick longer, I shall contact you regarding the case through my secretary, please forgive me for leaving ahead first and take your time eating before you leave" Mr. Strauss almost turned from being a judgemental irritated man to being a cheerful businessman who had a multitude of experiences of dealing with social situations.

" It appears as if Mr. Strauss recieved a good news" The lawyer took his time, looking quite relaxed back on that couch.

Mr. Strauss who'd almost taken his leave, did pause a little and turned his head backwards with his widest grin.

" It's the best news I've heard in a while"

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"Don't-"

The man groaned a bit as he painfully opened the purple eye that had probably been casted onto his face by a strong punch. It was swollen to the point of appearing like a badly infected sting by a wasp. His face was no different, it was bruised from many angles and his body even in worst condition.

It had been a few days since he'd completely lost feelings in his legs and could barely keep his mentality together but counting backwards from thousands in various languages.

His hair was a wet mess, once in a while they'd come over a throw a whole bucket full of water on the man's body so that he doesn't entirely stink, which he did anyways being confined there, only being dragged off that chair when he had to use the toilet, even that in most cases, he'd let go where he was and soil himself. It was beyond his control especially when they'd bully him by not taking him to the toilet even when he'd beg.

The first few times was an embarassment, afterwards, he just didn't care.

He was losing it with every approaching day. The physical torture paired up with mental humiliation was probably not enough for him to open his mouth for information but it was enough for him to start losing his senses and sanity. His revenge was the only think that made him breathe in that miserable condition.

They were just forcing a bread into his mouth and slapping him if he didn't chew it down, when there was a huge commotion outside that made them leave their positions and make a run outside.

He heard multiple voices and probably couldn't care enough to focus on either of them until a familiar voice woke him up thoroughly. His fleeting senses regained some vigor as he tried to pull out words from his sore throat and only a mere 'don't' slipped out hoarsely.

"Nicolas!"

The man's familiar voice made his partially closed swollen eye open with as wide as it could without effort.

Nicolas Strahovski was an obstinate man with alot of will power and stubbornness. He never once gave into the enemy or let them feel satisfied over his helplessness... however in that very moment, the way he raised his pitiful gaze to look at the redhead before him was beyond frustrating and painful to even watch.

Joshua Hughes just couldn't help feel his heart sink and his own body shiver seeing the whole scenario.

"No..." Nicolas whispered in a low tone, implying that this was the worst decision on Josh's behalf. The humiliation he felt just by Josh being there couldn't have been conjured by those who tortured him. He felt that all his effort of keeping silent and protecting the other had just been wasted down the drain.

What was the point of all this suffering if the rabbit hopped into the booby trap all on his own?

He looked at Josh with a both scornful and a detestable gaze. It almost sent shivers down Josh's spine.

Nicolas indeed had his own ways but he wasn't the only one was he?

How long could've Josh just sat back and waited? Till he'd hear the death of another one in his life? Or probably not even that?

"It doesn't matter" It was as if Josh read Nicolas's mind and made a declaration that whatever Nicolas had wanted him to do had a little meaning  for Josh especially if he were to disappear from his sight like everyone else. The thought of being left alone again in itself was scarier than death.

Within a few minutes, Josh was surrounded by men loaded with armory and the man barely cared. He only gave the other a brief smile as if reassuring him that he's got everything in control before he dropped down on his knees and rested his hands behind his head in a surrender.

The show had already reached it's climax and there was barely anything holding Joshua Hughes back from implementing his revenge.

The time that had stopped back then for Joshua Hughes had started ticking back to countdown.

The final gamble was in motion and all that was left was what he'd call,

" The sound of providence "