Choices

The sound of knocking on the door was soft but it served to pull Nero out of his thoughts.

He was in the company's office. The smell of cleaning products and air conditioning mixed together, reminding him of work.

"Come in," thinking it was his secretary, he was about to look away.

In the end, he couldn't.

So he leaned his face over his hand.

"That dress looks good on you... You're getting more and more beautiful," it really did, so he didn't take his eyes off and enjoyed the view as much as he could.

"Do you say that to everyone who comes in here?"

"Only to those who pay my salary."

Diana gave him a beautiful smile as she pulled out the chair to sit down.

"Wait. Better not. That chair is broken."

Her eyes were doubtful, but she still continued speaking.

"Wouldn't it be better to exchange it for another one?" Diana leaned over the table. Her blue eyes were beautiful.

"I'm very attached to her."

"So, what? Should I stand?", she took the opportunity to sit down and fix her tie.

Like a gentleman, he lifted her legs, placing them on the table.

Soon they were sitting face to face. But Nero still wanted more.

"How could I leave my boss without a place to sit?"

...

"Carla."

"?..."

"That's for them, isn't it?", Ema asked, placing some papers on the tray.

"Yes," Carla nodded.

"Hmm," in the end, Ema couldn't resist. She wanted to make up for the effort.

"Hey...", Ema was already taking some of the sweets.

"She comes down here and forgets what she had to deliver. That little couple..."

Carla gave up trying to stop her friend from stuffing her cheeks and pockets.

She was content to just push the tray away.

Ema kept looking at her.

"Ah, if you're going in there... you better knock on the door."

Leaving with a smile and her work done, she left Carla paralyzed there with her imagination.

"This isn't good..."

Her face was hotter than usual.

Three knocks as loud as ever.

Carla received only silence in return. Knowing that Diana had only entered a few minutes ago, she stopped her imagination from continuing and repeated the knock.

"Come in."

A soft sigh escaped. Diana was in the right chair, at least.

"Ema asked to deliver this..."

"Oh, I forgot."

'I guess I would forget too...'

"Thank you, Carla," Nero thanked her for the coffee.

"No problem," leaving, the shy secretary promised herself not to bother those two anymore.

"What's this about?"

"Problems..." Diana answered without hesitation. "And I think it has to do with you."

"With me?"

"Yes. The problems started while you were away. But the last week has been much worse. Just look at that."

Without thinking much, Nero read the report.

"Five shareholders started selling their shares, two died from illness and eight heard rumors, intrigues and were even blackmailed into abandoning the ship... All this in one month?"

"Bad, isn't it? What do you say?" Diana had a defiant look. She didn't understand why either, but she wasn't that worried.

"Well, as co-CEO and business partner, we have three options."

Diana smiled, with a mixture of hate and love for that side of her.

"First, we drop everything and go on a long and relaxing trip, then we come back and use a lot of money and contacts, building a beautiful house, establishing a clan and a territory. You know, dominating a city or a small country isn't difficult."

She wouldn't deny that she expected this. That kind of absurd answer could only come out of those beautiful lips.

"Next."

"Oh, you didn't like that one? It was my favorite. How about just the house and the trip, then?"

"Next!"

"Well, second, we go to one of those banquets they're pressuring us to accept and the trouble will stop."

Diana raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"They're doing this because they don't know if you're friend or foe. I told you the supernatural world has everything in their hands, didn't I?"

"Yeah, I think I heard about that." She crossed her legs. A curious side of her was blossoming.

"Right," Nero looked her up and down, tilting his head. "Every leap year..."

"Every four years, then. This year." "Yes, this year, the high command creates a banquet for the big fish. Think of it as a school of fish. They created theirs as a celebration, and then the other fish that were left out followed suit. Nowadays, there are thousands of banquets, or schools, like that."

"I see, and what does that have to do with me?"

"At this time, there is a custom behind the banquets. A game, like on Halloween. Trick or treating. For those who are not part of a school, this happens."

Nero pointed to the report, picking up some cupcakes.

"It could have been much worse. This is almost childish. They play with you, you investigate and find them. That way you receive invitations, make alliances, prove your worthiness, or start a war. That kind of nonsense. At the next banquet, if you don't attend this one, they might end up getting more serious. You are part of the supernatural world now, they are reminding you that no one flourishes alone in the shadows."

"Wow... Are you a poet now?" Nero bowed elegantly.

"He can be cute sometimes, can't he?"

"I'm just telling you what I've been told."

"Long story short, I'll go to one of those banquets, accept an alliance, and problem solved."

Nero smiled. A smile that promised disaster.

She liked it.

"Yes and no. Depending on the alliance you form, things could get worse really fast."

"What the hell, huh?" Diana had a similar smile as she picked up her cup. "And the third option?"

"You do whatever you want and I'll support you."

"I like that one," she replied immediately, pointing to a bitten roll.

"So, which one are you going to choose?" For a moment she seemed thoughtful.

"All of them," the next she didn't.