Sweeter Than Sin – Act 1 Chapter 1 Part 4

Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024

Happiness…Happiness…Happy…Happ…Ha…He…Hermes…Hermes Birkin Limited Edition Kelly Green Crocodile Leather with Gold Hardware

Eliana took another deep breath. Something was off. She couldn’t concentrate today. She inhaled deeply, taking in gratitude and slowly released the her stresses into the cool morning air. After another deep breath, her head was invaded by the thoughts of expensive handbags and designer shoes. She shook it off and attempted to fall into a meditative state once again.

. . .

What was that rattling?

Ok! Shake the distractions away! Focus on breathing. In and out.

. . .

Who the hell is washing clothes at 7 am?!

Since morning meditation was ruined it was time to go find the culprit.

Eliana retreated back to her humble abode and into her laundry to find her husband shuffling around. The laundry room was unknown territory to Mauricio, just as the Olivares intended it to be. The pair had a traditional arrangement but it for their 20+ year marriage, it worked flawlessly. To Eliana, all she had to do was make sure her house was spotless and her man was well fed. While Mauricio made sure the lights stayed on. Each person was content with their role. Eliana was the housewife she always dreamt she would be, just without the designer goods.

“Looking for something?” Eliana questioned.

“My wool socks. I can’t find any.” Mauricio answered without even turning around. He knew exactly what his wife was going to ask before she could part her lips. “I have a flight this morning to San Myshuno.”

“I threw them away.” Eliana answered. Mauricio swiftly popped up to eye down his wife, cracking his back in the process. “Two holes, too many. I didn’t think you would need them seeing that it doesn’t go below 50 degrees in Oasis Springs.” Mauricio nodded. Fair assumption.

“So you’re taking The Sato case?” Eliana asked.

“Yeah, the money is too good to pass up. We can pay off the house and buy a new house with what he’s offering.” Mauricio said. Of course The Satos were able to offer a shitload of cash for some investigative work. Either this was a huge case or they were being wasteful with their riches.

“But…can we trust him?” Eliana asked. Fair question.

In Mauricio’s mind, any deal with Kenneth Sato was like dealing with the devil. Of course there was always a chance for contingencies. But Mauricio had a plan and a damn good one.

“No one can trust him. And I don’t think any one truly does.” Mauricio answered. Fair response.

Eliana’s mind flashed back to seeing Marlene at Mayor Lander’s holiday party. How could her old friend end up married to such a man?

“I think if you double up on cotton socks, you’ll be fine.” Eliana recommended. Mauricio agreed. He gently grabbed the tender shoulder of his wife. His Eliana.

“I’ll be back before the weekend,” he promised and sealed it with a kiss.

Kenneth glazed across the room at the kids in the room. Well, they weren’t kids. They were full grown adults. But at one point, they were his kids and he couldn’t have been more proud. Besides one…

“Zaina, I want to thank you for joining Sato Technologies. I’m glad you’re here. You have a lot to learn but I’m sure these three will guide you towards the right direction.”

“Well, thank you for having me.” Zaina smiled.

“As you may remember, this is my son Ken Jr. He is currently appointed as the San Myshuno office building manager. He completed the same management training program you’re about to go through so I’m sure he’ll be a great resource to you.” Zaina turned to the man next to her and offered him a small smile which he did not return.

“And this is my executive assistant, and more importantly, my honorary son, Jonathon. Anything you need to get to me, must get through him first. He is excellent.” Zaina offered Jonathon the same smile and this time it was graciously returned.

“Please reach out for anything at all. I will gladly assist you.” Jonathon offered.

The next person’s introduction was preceded with a heavy sigh. “This is my daughter, Emilene. Emilene is in the management training as well and still trying to find her footing. Please excuse her.” Zaina glanced over at the woman.

Ironically, the formal introductions were not needed. Zaina personally knew each and every single person in this room. Although a few years older than the other adults, she would often play with them as children during Mr. Sato’s and Mr. Azad’s business meetings. Once a strong duo, an explosive feud over money caused a major severance between the two families.

“I will never trust that man again!” Zaina remembered her father yelling as he stomped around the house. She swore that her father’s voice made the fine china shake in the cupboard. She didn’t know the intricacies of what transpired between the two businessmen, but she remembered how enraged her father was that day. Mr. Azad was so mad that he had banned the Sato name from their household. No Sato products, no Sato gossip and definitely no Satos in this palace.

It wasn’t until Mr. Azad’s recent decline in health which caused Zaina’s mother to beg Mr. Azad for reconciliation. There was no reason for her husband to still have hate in his heart at this point in his life.

Begrudgingly he agreed, but he refused to see Mr. Sato face to face. Instead, Mr. Sato gave Zaina the same gift that Mr. Azad gave him all those years ago – mentorship.

And that’s how she arrived here, sitting shoulder to shoulder to the boy she used to babysit as a teen.

Zaina perked up in her seat. She had to remember why she was here – to work. Not to day dream!

“Thank you all.” Zaina said.

And with that the smile melted off of Mr. Sato’s lips.

“Let’s begin.”

Zaina felt revitalized after the meeting. It had been so long that she worked at a company that motivated her to be the best Zaina she could be. This job felt like a perfect fit… so far. The boys gathered to go eat a late lunch in the kitchenette. Zaina watched as Evelyn slowly gathered her lip gloss and other knickknacks together.

This was her chance. She approached Mr. Sato with a warm smile.

“Mr. Sato,” she called, “I just want to thank you again. I know you’re doing my daddy a huge favor by hiring me and if there’s anything I can do to pay you back, just let me know! We definitely owe you one.” Zaina offered a cotton candy smile.

“Your father owes me nothing. He taught me everything I know. I just pray that he has a full recovery.” Mr. Sato said. ” If you really want to pay me back, then just be the great talent that he says you are.”

Zaina could feel the presence of his daughter, Emilene, over his shoulder. With that, she decided to thank him again and continue on with “orientation” at her desk.

Once the room emptied with only the eldest and youngest Sato remaining, Emilene decided to approach her father to tell him exactly what she thought about this gruesome “management training”.

But her father had some thoughts of his own to share.

“You’re getting a chance to learn directly from me and instead you spend most of our time sleeping and texting. Get your act together. ” Kenneth knew his words sliced like a sword.

Before Emi could even respond, he sliced her again, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”

Shame?!?! If there was anyone in this whole building who needed to worry about shame, it was the person doing the pointing, not Emilene.

Before Emilene could respond with the verbal ass whooping that Kenneth deserved, Emi could hear the door open.

Perfect timing.

“We’ll finish talking later.” Kenneth said, dismissing his own child from the meeting room.

“Is that your daughter?” Mauricio questioned. Although he knew the answer. On the plane ride to San Myshuno, Mauricio decided this was the perfect time to learn a lot more about Mr. Sato.

“Today, no.” Ken admitted. “But I’m glad you made it here in one piece. Officer Olivares.” Ken smiled.

“I’m not an officer. Haven’t been for years. I was the Sheriff and I’ve been retired for nearly seven years. Now I’m just a private investigator and that is all.” Mauricio explained. Ken shrugged his shoulders. Ken didn’t give a damn about what his resume looked like. He just wanted the job done.

“I’ll make sure to write PI Olivares on the check.” Ken joked.

“Actually about that check…”

Over the next few hours the men negotiated the stipulations of their agreement. Mauricio turned out to be a better barterer than Ken thought.

“So you want me to hire your sons and to write them checks that will double the original price tag?” Ken questioned.

“Yeah,” Mauricio snarked. “More investigators means more investigating being done. You want this creep caught fast right? Sounds fair to me.” Mauricio shrugged his shoulders. “A job like this can take some time.”

That was the first thing the two agreed on. Ken wanted this creep caught and felt and dealt with quick. There price he was willing to pay to make sure this was executed perfectly probably exceeded any number that Mauricio had ever saw on his little sheriff salary.

“You know what, you got yourself a deal. Do whatever you need to do to get it done.”

The two men solidified the partnership was a firm handshake.

This was going to be a commitment that neither man could forget.

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