divinité.

Athena glared at the woman, her hand twitching. She desperately wanted to hit this person. How fucking dare she? Taking a deep breath, she smiled. “I’m going to enjoy watching you fall.” And hopefully that was sooner than later. “Good on you for not hold grudges.”

Viv couldn’t say that the remark really impressed her much. “I thought that you would be smart one in your little club, guess I was wrong. But go ahead and wait, it might take a while though so I wouldn’t get my hopes up.” she replied calmly. “What about you Sarah? Do you hold grudges?”

“Probably cause I am. My mom kind of split the end of my junior year, and my dad. Well, he was only around to produce offspring.” The bastard would make a run every time someone entered the world. “So I’ve heard. Though it won’t be anything I’m not used to.”

“And you’ve been taking care of them by yourself? That must not have been easy.” not that Vivienne cared an awful lot but oh well. “I don’t know if that says more about the previous places you’ve stayed rather then about the other tennants but we will see I guess.”

Aron wrapped an arm around Viv’s shoulders. “Alright, your not stressed,” he teased. Shifting, he brought a hand up to cup her face, tilting it up towards him. He caressed her cheek, then moved to ghost over her lips. She was beautiful. Not just her outward appearance, her mind too. She was calculating, she was ruthless and yet held grace in everything she did. A small part felt guilty, but the thrill of seeing such a woman crumble before him outweighed such guilt.

Leaning down, he allowed their lips to brush, “Shall I make you forget about them?” Aron trailed his lips down, leaving feather like kiss as he went, nipping the soft flesh when he got to the juncture of her neck.

The corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up in a faint smile as his lips brushed over her’s ever so faintly. for a second she let herself bask in the feeling, tilting her head back ever so slightly at his touch.  

“Oh no, not my real dad… no he tried to stab me a few months ago when I wouldn’t return to Tennesse and go back to being his indentured song-writing slave… no there’s this couple in the Ragnatela who’ve kind’ve adopted me as their own. Sam and Camille. Maybe you’ve met them? I call them my dads…” 

Viv had to try her hardest to keep a straight face at the confession. From getting stabbed by her father to calling two barely older men dad, what kind of live did this girl live. Then again, Vivienne didn’t care that much and just continued to smile warmly. “I’m so sorry to hear about your biological father, I had no idea.” no she wasn’t, Brie’s injury had been nothing but a mild inconvenience to her.  “Camille is an old friend of mine actually, his fiancé seems lovely as well. I’m glad to hear you’re close with them.”

Aron slipped a little as she shot up, catching himself by placing a hand on the seat. ”Ah, so you didn’t know.” Of course she wouldn’t, because after all, it wasn’t Donny. “Probably too busy with other matter,” he shrugged. “Lately you’ve seemed stressed. Anything I can do to help?”

A defeated sigh fell from her lips as she slumped back again, this time positioning herself so she was leaned against Aron’s shoulder. “I’m not stressed.” false, stressed was most likely Vivienne’s default setting. “I just didn’t expect for it to take this long for business to start running smoothly.” her head was now resting against his shoulder and she let her eyes flutter shut for a split second. “These people are just so damn tiring.”

“Yeah, I’m finding that out with the oldest.” Not that Will was a bad kid, just difficult. He just hoped the twins will be easier. “Will is fourteen, the twins are nine, and Emma is four,” he informed, shaking her hand. “”Alright, Viv. About two weeks maybe? Probably three.”

“Not to be nosy.” okay maybe she definately intended to be just that. “But you’re making it sound like you’re the one in charge of those kids. You’re not raising them all by yourself are you?” Viv asked. “Well welcome to the Rag, I hope you haven’t had too much of a hard time blending in here. Most people here tend to be a bit- intense.”

“Then I’ll ask a different question,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Why are you directing, what it is, on me?” Honestly, Athena didn’t know why the woman was suddenly attacking her. Ever since the whole incident with Des, she has been rather calm. Not because she was scared, but because she just had a lot on her mind. She was human after all. “Sweden, warehouse, the one I made go boom.”

“Just because your little boyfriend managed to get himself stabbed doesn’t mean I will be cutting you any slack. You’re just a group of reckless kids and sometimes you need to be reminded an put back in place.” as if Vivienne could give any less about what happened to Athena’s boyfriend in the first place, she was not one to be moved by compassion. “Hmh that little trick yes, can’t say I spend too much tim worrying about it these days.”

“My dear, you are lucky that I choose not too.” But alas, he would never get into the same business. He liked his relaxing job as an information broker. Well, not so relaxing as of the present. “I am sure you are aware of the feud between Ramsay and I, which has had me look into everyone around me. Allies, enemies, everyone inbetween, and I discovered something rather interesting.” Someone explain why he was lying to Vivienne Aurelie Molièr known for being absolutely ruthless to her enemies? Oh, right. Aron asked him too. “Turns out you have a mole in your little group.” As much as he wanted to see how Aron’s little game played out, it better not bite him in the ass later.

“Ah yes of course, I shall make sure not to forget how eternally grateful I am to you.” she replied dryly. While Viv doubted that with an imperium as big as hers she’d have sleepless nights because of a newbie group that just entered the scene, she prefered not having to deal with one, it just kept her job a little easier. “I’m sure you did, you always just happen to come across the most interesting things don’t you?” her expression remained stoic at his little revelation, after all what reason did she have to trust Thomas Ford out of all people. “I’m not too concerned about the loyalty of my people.” she replied coolly but while Vivienne didn’t admit it, the other’s words had instilled some sense of worry in her. Not enough to trust him on his words, yet enough to keep her on edge. “But I alas, I admire your effort. May I suggest you invest it in your own little ‘group’?”

“Alright, sorry, Viv.” She shrugged, “Nothing too crazy, just dinner with my dad.” 

“Oh that sounds really nice. Does your family live nearby or is he here for a visit? You two must have a lot to catch up on.”

“Oh they are not all that bad,” he lulled, leaning to rest against her when she sat down. “Donn’e doesn’t isn’t so bad. Though I see ‘im steal from the registers, but I’m sure you are aware of that.”

“Hm I beg to differ.” she hummed in reply, the hostile tone in her voice slowly fading. She had begun to let herself lean back against the chair but Aron’s words caused her to shoot back up straight again. “He’s been doing what now?” annoyance laced her words, partially at herself for actually not being aware of the fact and partially at the people working under her, they lacked the loyalty and dedication she had gotten so used to in France or even back in Miami. “How come I didn’t notice?”

“Dare I ask, what prompted such aggression? Or are you still bitter over what happened a few years back?”

“You think this is agression? Oh darling you’ve seen nothing yet.” she said sweetly. “I’m afraid nothing springs to mind when you say that but ‘m sure youre about to remind me.”

“Nope, just waiting for my sisters and brother to come home from school. Apparently it’s too embarrassing for me to pick them up.” Something he was going to pretend didn’t hurt. “I am. Names Eli.”

“I was thinking vegetables and herbs, but I suppose part of it could be flowers.” She said, considering the patch of land. “Maybe some hydrangeas, tulips… I don’t know. What are your favourites?” 

“Hmh yes parts of each would work best I think...” she hummed as if she actually had an opinion on the matter. Really, Vivienne cared very little about irrelevant small talk, after all there always was more important business to worry about, definately more important than flowers. “I like orchids I suppose, lily’s are nice to. You seem to know a lot more about flowers than I do though.”

“Ah, my dear Vivienne, remind me, who is it that wins our chess matches?” He returned, closing his computer to up at her. “But don’t mind that, I have something to tell you, if you would care to listen.”

“It’s adorable how you really celebrate every small victory, still no eye for the bigger picture I see.” The nickname was dripping with sarcasm, her tone of voice clearly intending to be nothing but patronizing. “Now do you? And what would that possibly be?”

“No inconvenience, ‘sides, most of what you were saying was in French.”

“Well I’m glad to hear, wouldn’t want to accidentally interrupt anything important or something.” she paused briefly, taking the man in and coming to the realisation she had never seen him around the building before. “Are you new here?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Ms. Moliere, I didn’t see you there.” She turned, startled slightly, though there was still a cheerful lilt in her voice. “No, no the hours have been great. Though, I was hoping to get this Sunday off?” 

“Oh drop the formalities, there is no need for those. Just call me Viv, especially while not around the casino.” another sweet smile. “Well I’m glad to hear, might there ever be anything, just let me now.” Viv offered in a kind tone. “Go ahead and take a day off Sunday, I’m sure we can miss you for just one night. Any big plans?”

“Considering who they voted for, it appears that they do not,” he answered, though her question was no doubt rhetorical, scribbling down an answer. “Come,” he called, not looking up. “Don’t worry yourself over that, and sit with me.” 

“I think it’s safe to say they do plenty more to prove that they do not.” she huffed, clacking her tongue in distaste. While still clearly displeased, Viv did as Aron said and pulled back the chair next to him and sat down. “I swear these people are impossible to work with.”