A Life for a Life (2 page)

"Rena, you old beast, aren't you ready yet? I swear you're worthless. Nothing you can do is going to make you any prettier." He stood in the doorway. He had put on the pounds, but his suit was still perfectly tailored. A benefit of having infinite money.

"I'm ready, I'm ready," I said as I scurried my belongings into my purse.

The rest of my life with this? I started to think about how I was going to kill myself - a life like this was too much to bear.

***

"So what's troubling you, Brown?" Lester hooked his arm around mine, holding me close. To him. I was an accessory, not a person.

"Labor troubles, Lest. Fucking ungrateful slobs." Brown was balding, but with his comb-over, you'd never notice. Or so he thought because it was incredibly noticeable and looked terrible. I would think with his money he'd be able to hire a fashion consultant.

"Fire them," Lester was quick to shoot back. The ball was in full swing. The cream of the financial crop, so to speak. The very richest the country had to offer all in one room. Each of them had a woman at their side. Most of the girls looked like they didn't belong with the person at their side. Arm candy, just like the role I was forced into. I counted only one or two women who looked like they were money themselves. An old boys club through and through.

"I can't be that rash," Brown said. He quietly sipped his wine. Probably dated from the sixteenth century or something absurd like that.

"They should be grateful that you're offering good American based employment. Better than any other shitty job they get shoveling mud."

"Twenty hours a day, seven days a week." Brown shook his head. "I can't be that rash, Lest. A lot of accidents have happened, and I'm thinking they have a point of wanting their fair share."

"Listen, Brown," Lester released me, and reached over to his colleague, taking him into his arms like a father would a son. "They are parasites. They are a billion people there who don't matter one bit. Insects. Don't you be swayed by these tree hugging hippies calling it sweatshops or even slavery. You exploit your resources to the fullest."

"I don't know, Lest. They're still people."

Someone passed by with a tray of whiskey shots. I took the entire bottle. The menfolk paid me no mind as I took an entire swig.

"They're subhuman. Don't you ever think of them differently." Every single word from his mouth made me want to scream.

I trembled. "Pardon me, Lester, I have to go the little girls room."

He shook his head, and waved me off in dismissal. "Whatever, Rena. No matter how much you touch up your make up you aren't going to make yourself any prettier."

I rushed through the crowds, pushing people aside. The doors to the outside were open, and the balcony was empty. Air. I needed air. Up to the railing, I heaved, staring down at the city below. It was a far drop, a penthouse suite on one of the many financial towers in the city.

I wouldn't survive if I jumped down. It might not even be ruled a suicide, even. I could have just tripped. High heels aren't the best things to be wearing when near high ledges. Maybe I'd land on one of those bastards prized limos or sports cars and destroy it. Ruin their day a little as my final fuck you.

I chugged more of my whiskey. I needed the courage if I was going to even think of doing what I was doing - to escape this golden prison of a life.

"Drinking that much whiskey is like that is an excellent way to get alcohol poisoning."

The voice shocked me out of my own depressed little world. I jumped, turning around, and twisting a heel. I was falling backwards, my arms stretched out and flailing, dropping the whiskey bottle over the side of the building.

Panic only seemed to make my balance worse. I was about to follow my drink.

If it weren't for him, I would have. Swift, he was too me, pulling me away from the ledge, and holding me close.

"Seems like you're serious about killing yourself. I mean, back up plans and everything. If the liquor failed to kill you, the fall definitely would have."

I was still shocked, looking into his eyes.

"You're a beautiful woman. Face planting on concrete would be a terrible loss for the world."

I blushed, then laughed. Cheesy as hell, there was something sincere about it. I looked to my hero. Tall and tanned. He had black hair that went down to his neck, straight and slick. Light stubble around his face. In a field of old men who were wrinkled and fat with their evil, he was a sight for sore eyes. Even among a bunch of male models, though, he'd still be a sight for sore eyes.

His hand broke from mine, and I covered my heart, closing my eyes. "Thank you, but yes, I would have welcomed death."

"A shame, really. Losing you would be a loss to the world's beauty."

"You already said that."

"Your beauty is on more than one level, so I felt it needed to be expressed twice."

My eyebrow raised. "I - I don't follow?"

"Beauty is about more than appearance, my dear Rena."

"Excuse me?" My mouth dropped open. "How - how did you know my name?" I glanced down, seeing if I had accidentally started wearing a name-tag again.

"It's just what I do." He was wearing a black suit, no tie, a blue undershirt. Out of one of the pockets of his suit pants, he pulled out a card. "Here, allow me to introduce myself."

"Guy Ortiz. Consultant and Problem Solver?" It was a simple card, one that was direct and without frills.

"Yes. Years of training with international governments have made me an expert in finding out information about people. Learning their lives, learning their routines. I use that information excellently."

"You've been following me?"

"Your life hasn't been hard to follow in the past few years. You're atypical - a commoner among royalty. Your family hasn't built up secrets that they needed to guard. Finding out everything about you," Guy snapped his fingers, "is as easy as that."

"How does this - um, apply to problem solving?" I was trying to process how  - or more importantly, why -  this man knew so much about me. Why was he here talking to me, handing me his business card?

"Once I have accumulated the knowledge, I use it to eliminate problems."

"Eliminate?"

"I talk in generalities because I never know who might be listening and what I do isn't exactly legal. But," he made a gesture and a sound of him slitting his own throat.

I blinked. Swallowed. Stared. "Wait, you're a hit man?" I finally managed to speak.

"Well if you're going to spill it out like that, yes. Assassin sounds cooler so I usually say that when I can be frank."

"You- you're here to kill me, aren't you?" Lester had gotten tired of me, I should have expected he was capable of such things. I took a deep breath. Well, I wanted to die, didn't I?

"Heavens no, Rena." I exhaled at his word. "If I wanted you dead, I would have let you spill over the ledge there. I can't beat a job well done to the point I didn't even have to lift a finger."

"Why are you here then? Talking to me?"

Guy leaned on the railing. I did the same with him, intrigued by this exotic stranger suddenly appearing in my life.

His eyes slowly closed. "I have done things in my career, that I am not proud of. Things that have pushed the world toward evil. I have been well compensated for these deeds by many governments. Now, I have no more need for money. My conscience has caught up with me, and I no longer will accept any job without deep consideration."

"Why are you here then, tonight? Talking to me, of all people?"

Guy's eyes opened as he turned to me, and ran his hand over my cheek. "Because, love, I think you can help me on my road to redemption."

My head turned away. "I'm a trophy wife married to a monster, how on earth can I help you?"

"I feel every human being has a duty to strive for goodness. The sum of their life making the world more beautiful. As such, I am seeking to plant the seeds of a better world."

"Asking me to repent my evil ways?"

"Repent what? Rena Holly, you're as good person as I've ever seen. My studies showed you stayed at a soup kitchen well beyond the need to get credit for college extracurriculars, just so all of the homeless could get a hot meal. You've given every bit of the allowance you get from Lester to your mother. Even as minor as tipping 40% since you came into fortune has caused a spreading of goodness through the world."

I let out a breath, wondering exactly how much did he know about me. "Yeah, and? I stole a twenty from my Mom's purse when I was 12. I never gave back my friend's Loverboy CD - and if you haven't noticed, I said 'I do' to a monster."

"Minor sins. You're human, you aren't perfect. The scales of justice are heavily weighed in your favor."

I kept shaking my head, still completely overwhelmed by the situation at hand. "Sorry for changing the subject, but if you're not here to kill me, then why do you know so much about me?"

"Simple," Guy's arm went over my shoulder as his other gestured over and toward the man who was laughing it up with the rest of his business associates. Lester. "I request your aid in the slaying of the monster you said 'I do' to."

"You mean you want to kill Lester?"

"Yes. As much as you, I have researched him. He's an irredeemable blight on humanity, who the world will be better without. "

I couldn’t argue with that, knowing as much about Lester as anyone. If I had known what I did when I was at the altar, I would have stabbed him in the face with the bouquet. The entire courtship was carefully engineered though, that I wouldn't see him for who he was until it was far too late. He was completely aware of evil, and instead of changing himself to stop it, he reveled in it.

With my few moments of thought, I turned to Guy, and stated plainly: "How much do you want?" I couldn't believe that I spit that out of my lips. That I wanted my husband dead. That I was requesting it, breaking the law to see it happen. I could try to claim insanity if I got brought to trial, right? I mean, I was moments from tossing myself off a ledge.

Guy slowly shook his head. "I told you, I have no need for money any longer. I am set for life."

"Pro Bono hitman work?"

"Hardly. I demand payment for the work done."

"Then what do you want?"

"You." In a flash, Guy's lips were on mine, his tongue slipping through. I found myself accepting his embrace. Passion. Real, actual passion. I thought I had it with Lester during our
courtship, but I found that man could manufacture anything to get that ring on my finger. There was something raw, honest about the way Guy was touching me. His hands slid down my back, and around my ass.

Our kiss broke, but our eyes remained with each other. His gaze was warm, caring, in spite of his career. Mine? One of confusion. "I - I don't understand."

"There are many ways to promote goodness in the world, my dear Rena. I tend to focus on two aspects, however." He pushed my face against his. My sight glanced over to the crowd, but in expert fashion, Guy had guided us behind a corner of the balcony, to where our meeting would be unseen.

He was
good.

"One is to eliminate evil. To end Lester Helmsley would do wonders for the world as we know it. Simple, yet obvious."

I nodded gently, showing my understanding that corpses can't order children's hospitals destroyed for minor profit increases.

"The other? Is not so simple. When Lester perishes, he has no next of kin, so his fortune and estate will fall to you, Rena."

"I guess so?"

"You will have a life of eternal fortune, with more money than you can ever spend. I trust you will use your newfound power for beautification. I trust that you will spread goodwill around, encourage others to follow your example."

"If I had my way I'm not demolishing animal shelters if that's what you're getting at."

"Excellent. Because what I ask of you, Rena, is for you to create a legacy of goodness." Guy's hands slid to my abdomen, and massaged my flesh gently. "Encourage your children to carry on these lessons for generations to come."

My eyebrow raised. "Um, what do you mean by that. Why wouldn't I want my children to be good people?"

Guy laughed softly, as his fingers went lower. Deftly, he slid around my dress and pressed his fingers on to my pussy. "I seek to even the balance. A life for a life. I will make sure Lester finds his end, but you must bear my child."

A gasp escaped my lips.

"Your gynecological records tell me that your most fertile time is coming soon. I was hoping to execute my plan to its fullest when that day comes."

His fingers continued to pet me gently. The simmers of passion had turned into electricity with every movement. It had been so long since Lester touched me, favoring his army of mistresses.

Was I truly ready to carry the child of this man? An assassin who sought the death of my husband? I gazed down to the city below. It wasn't as if I had anything to lose. "I agree to your terms. Please, end that monster."