CHAPTER 47- SCORES TO SETTLE

"And heaven and nature sing..."

"And heaven and nature sing..."

"And heaven and heaven..."

"And nature sing..."

The last of the carols were over and the audience stood up with a deafening sound of ovation with Allison jumping on her feet and cheering loudly. He loved her like this. This adorable care-free, non-office side. Throughout the day, he kept glancing at his watch as he watched her run around and help with the gifts and also help sit the little kids on Santa's laps. Didn't they do something like this earlier that morning? Only in their case, he was the Santa and she was the one reluctantly sitting on his laps.

"Miss Hamilton!" A little girl of ten years called out.

"Suzy, she's married now, it should be Mrs."

Allison laughed cheerfully at the two girls wrapped in everything red and ribbons.

"What's your name cutie?"

"I'm Suzy."

"Well Suzy...." Allison crouched down to her size, smiling. "....seems you have something to tell me."

The gurl twiddled her fingers, shyly. Staring from Allison and the big scary man standing behind her.

"What's wrong?" Allison turned around to Hades and frowned. "Loosen that jaw, Hades. You're scaring her."

"Forgive me for not knowing how to smile."

Sarcasm

"It's okay he's with me. So what is it?"

"I love you so much Miss Hamilton!" Suzy blurted out, using every bit of confidence in her.

"Awww, really? Well I love you too sweetie."

"I really want to be like you when I grow up."

"Oh..."

"Suzy never stops staring at clips and videos of you, Mrs Lenshaw."

Allison stood up, facing the girl's mom, smiling.

"I feel so honored. She's a wonderful kid, ma'am."

"I'd like to be a jeweler also, strong and confident just like you!" Suzy jumped in, beaming with smiles.

"Well yes my little cookie, you can be whatever you want and whatever you do, don't forget to be yourself." Allison smiled, stopped down, took off her silver hair-clip and stretched out her hand to Suzy.

"Merry Christmas, Suzy."

The girl's eyes welled up with tears as she received Allison's gift. "Thank you Miss."

"Allison...call me Allison. We're friends now, aren't we?"

Suzy nodded and turned excitedly to her friends coming to crowd her.

"Did you hear that? I'm friends with Miss Hamilton." She shrieked, proudly!

"You're so lucky!" Her friends gasped.

"Wow that's pretty?"

"Her hair-clip"

"She gave it to you?"

"I'm so never going to lose it."

"That was cute." Hades commented as they both got into the car.

"Yeah, kids..." Allison sighed, heavily.

"You alright?"

"She said she wanted to be like me when she grows up."

"What's wrong with that?"

"I personally wouldn't want such a sweet girl to ever go through all I had to. I wouldn't wish for any child to grow up to be like me."

"Everyone goes through trials Allison. Like it or not, even Suzy will at some point in time but what would make all that finally turn out beautiful, is that she actually finally ends up like you."

"And how did I end up, a faulty business woman in a contract marriage?"

"No" Hades shook his head. "An excellent Jeweler with a husband who loves her to distraction."

Sweet-tongued. She thought, grimly.

Such a lovable bastard you are, Hades Lenshaw. She smiled.

"Suzy is actually a cutie." He continued, his hand on the steering wheel.

"You think?"

"If we ever had a daughter, I certainly hope she takes after your red hair. It would make her a lot cuter."

She looked at him, speechless.

If we ever had a daughter..."we"

"I'd want a boy."

"What?" Hades flinched. "No no no."

Allison laughed. "Why?"

"I prefer a girl, she'd be a mini Allison."

Allison glanced at him, heart-warmed.

A mini Allison, what a term to use.

"I could also have a boy, afterwards. A win-win?" She asked, smiling.

She doesn't know? Hades thought, feeling sorry for her.

FLASHBACK.

Secondly...I want a child out to this.

What?

Nothing goes for nothing Vera. A child that will be mine at the end of the day. A child that Allison will have no attachment over.

But you know the history don't you? Women from my generation have only been able to give birth just once. It's a genetic flaw or something similar.

So I once heard.

She won't be able to have anymore after this, she would remain....

Your choice Vera.

Anything for the company, anything for Hamilton. DEAL!

"I don't mind" Hades smiled, wearily.

"You must really want us to work out."

"You have no idea."

"Then you must help me trust you. You must promise me one thing."

"Anything, sweetheart."

"I want all activities down in your basement to end."

"What?"

"I want you to stop killing people."

Hades smiled.

"I don't kill innocent people, love. Just scumbags and assholes."

"That doesn't make you a hero."

"You think? I'm ridding the world of villains, darling."

"Making you an even greater villain."

"You have to be a villain to kill a villain and stay alive. Heroes die and are giving the most befitting funeral. Pathetic! I don't die for a great cause, I live for one."

"I still want you to quit. Don't kill anyone anymore. There are legal ways to handle these things."

"You don't underst..."

"Promise me, Hades or I'm sorry. This isn't getting anywhere."

He caught the firm resolution on her face.

Damn it! I'm doomed!

"Fine."

She turned to him, surprised. "Really?"

"Whatever you want, honey but now there's just one problem."

"What?"

"How am I supposed to protect you now?"

"Am I in danger?"

"Not that anyone can foresee but I do like to be cautious."

"I can take care of myself."

He sized her fragile body up and down.

"You think so?" He mocked.

"Yes." She frowned.

"Let's say you get abducted, what do you do?"

"Scream out the window?"

Hades shook his head. "That's a terrible thing to do, pet. If your captor is irritated enough, he might shoot you on the spot."

"Oh!" She gasped, frightened. "What then do I do?"

"Help me find you."

"How?"

"Always leave traces."

"How do I do it?"

"That's up to you."

Soon after they got home, Allison could be seen seated at the base of the Christmas tree, decorating it and humming some festive songs.

"Hades!" She called out. "Where are you?"

"A minute, love."

He was supposed to help with the decorations. Especially with the star at the top as the tallest person in the house. They were supposed to go for a dinner. He walked downstairs and met her at the tree. She stumbled backwards a little and almost tripped over the decorations but he was quick to catch her.

"Careful darling, this world would be in trouble if you died."

"What were you doing?"

"Showering."

He wound one arm around her waist, pulling her closer and the other, bringing her lips to his. Her hands went up, instinctively to his chest. She felt his hand run down her backside and she let out a gasp when she felt the harsh grab,

"Fits my hand perfectly" She heard him murmur. "See why I prefer you small?" He smiled down at her, observing the blush on her cheeks before claiming her lips once again.

"Open your mouth for me baby, just a little bit more." He said, hungry for more of her. "Breathe through your nose my love, you're getting pursy." He teased, kissing her all the more.

"The...tree...the tree Hades..."

He laughed huskily, that laugh! It always churn her insides like whisk does to butter.

"I'm sure it can wait a little bit longer. I, on the other hand, can't."

"Shit!" She moaned, softly, feeling his hand creep underneath her dress. The kiss continued, deepening and becoming more intense. With each of their tongues both fighting to gain dominance. Midway through the intensity his phone rang.

"Hades....Ha..des..." Allison muttered.

"Mhmm?"

"St...op already."

"Why?"

"There's someone on the phone."

"Ignore it!"

"What if it's from the office? What if it's important?" She finally broke from the kiss. "Answer it!"

"Ah fuck!" He cussed.

She only smiled at his desperation.

"You look so greedy right now."

"Ofcourse I'm the greediest son of a bitch when it comes to you, sweetheart." He moved to the couch and picked up his phone. "Stay right there, we'll pick up from where we left off once I'm done." He added.

She only smiled as she watched him take the call, before returning back to the rest of the Christmas tree. Only now her head was still all fuzzy from the kiss and she could still feel the imprint of his fingers where he had left them on her body from a few minutes ago.

Focus Ally!

"Good evening sir."

"Yes? What is it?"

"A one Mr Esteban reached out to us today."

Esteban....Why did that name sound so familiar?

"A customer?"

"I wished. He sent a message."

"What kind?"

"A threat."

"What the hell?"

"He's threatening to ambush on us and set off explosives right in the gold mine."

Who the hell was this fucker?

"I don't think I know hi..." Wait! Esteban!

Hades tiredly rubbed his eyes with his hand at the inconvenience.

The man was one of the scumbags his father used to roll with. What now? He never had problems with him. Although a lot of his father's partners had thrown a fit when he took over and relieved everyone of them from the mine. Hades had sent away everything and everyone associated with his father, brought in entirely different people and totally changed the system.

Those that held grudges against him, tried to fight him and even kill him. Well they all ended up down in his basement, serving well as paint for his art. The same would have been sure for Esteban but a certain little, not so tall, pet with adorable dips and red hair had him promise to abstain from a life of violence.

"What does he want?"

"An audience with you."

"I can't fly all the way to New York for some..."

"He's right in your city, Mr Lenshaw. He's requesting a meeting, tonight!"

Fuck it!

"I'll be there. Give me his location."

In a few minutes he was done. He cast a disappointed look at Allison and she feared something might have gone wrong.

"Is everything okay?"

"You're going to hate me for this but I'm going to have to miss the decorations and dinner."

"What?"

And the promise to carry on from where we stopped? She whined. Just listen to yourself Ally.

"I'm sorry but I have to drive out of town tonight. A meeting came up. Don't wait for me, I'll be back by morning. He said, reaching for a car key inside the table's drawer.

"Ofcourse." She said, dejectedly and he knew why. He was leaving her all alone in the mansion even though he hated to. It was going to be an empty house without him.

"Stop looking so sour, darling." He said, reaching for a tiny box in his pocket. "Is it too late for presents now?"

Her eyes glistened with surprise.

"What's that?" The cheer was back in her voice and he loved it! If anything, he wanted to keep the thought with him while he was gone that she was happy.

Hades handed the gift to her.

"Merry Christmas Ally."

She gasped. "Oh! It's my necklace!" The same one he had taken from her back then when they were still on each other's throats.

My necklace! No not that one please.

This is the H.Jewel isn't it?

Then you must know the history. My aunt gifted me that a few months back, you can't sell this please.

This will cost Hamilton a fortune.

She'll never forgive you if you do this and neither will I.

Vera? What does she say again?

Desperate times calls for desperate measures. Trust me, she'll understand.

Please no! Don't you have enough already you scheming bastard!

You got it back?"

"I never sold it."

"Thank you." Her heart warmed inside of her but almost immediately regret followed. "But I didn't get you anything." She felt awful all of a sudden. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine." He reached out and kissed her cheek. "I already got more than enough from you last night."

Memories flooding.

Embarrassment.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Mmm" she nodded.

"Stay inside and don't wander off. I'll be back before you know it."

"Ofcourse, get going already." She tried to smile.

She didn't want him to go. Urgh! Foolish girl! If only you had ignored that call like he said. She winced within herself as the door closed behind him. With a sigh, she sat back down on the Christmas tree. It wasn't so jolly now with Hades gone. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door causing her heart to jump. Was he back? Please let it be! She rushed to the front door.

"Hades?" She opened the door to find no one there but candy canes trailing out the main gate. What?

Stay inside and don't wander off.

His warning rang in her ears. But candy canes? Could it be a surprise present?

Oh Hades...She smiled, walking towards the door.

"She's walking towards the gate."

"Don't let her out of your sight. Immediately she's out then take her!"

"Yes sir."

Allison opened the gate and the trail ended. She got confused as she looked sideways for any sign of a celebration but nothing more than the colorful lights on the street. With a disappointed sigh, she turned around to go back inside. Someone was in front of her- Karl.

"Oh!" She gasped, frightened. "You scared me!"

"Did I?" He smiled. "I'm sorry princess, I didn't mean to."

"Were you responsible for the canes?"

"Mhmm."

"Well thank you."

"You liked them?"

"They were adorable."

Who finds the bait used to lure them out, adorable? He thought.

"He's not in, is he?"

"N..o? He's out of town." She took some unsure steps backwards.

"Come with me Ally...." He pleaded.

"What?"

"Let's get out of here. Just the two of us, princess. Please."

"Elope?" Her eyes widened in shock.

"Well? Don't you want to?"

"Karl...I'm sorry, things are...different now."

"Are they? How so? You love him now?"

"I...I don't know but I can't leave either"

"Please Allison..."

"I said no! Goodnight Karl!" She said, walking back to the gate.

He clenched his fist, hurt.

"I tried Ally."

"What?"

"I tried to give you a second chance. If you had taken my offer, then I would have gone out of my way and defied Davian."

"Who?" She asked, distraught.

"But you've clearly chosen your path. With Hades." He said, walking towards her.

"What are you doing? Stay back Karl!"

He grinned, hysterically. "A not so fun-fact? Everyone associated with that bastard always ends up either miserable or dead. It's a shame because I had really wanted you to live." He said, pulling out a piece of cloth from his pocket.

"What are you going to do to me?" She asked, her heart thumping in fear.

"No it's not me who has scores to settle with you."

"No no no Karl, please no." She pleaded.

"Too late and I'm sorry."

"NO!"

BLACKOUT!