8 Chapter Eight: Naked Wire

*** Hanks Mansion. Hentritch, Cilevile. ***

" Hello Martha." Oliver Hanks greeted. Sitting next to Melinda in the living room, watching a soap opera since Melinda had insisted.

After sometime, what seemed like two minutes, he replied,

" I see. And when was that?" he asked.

" Ok. Till I arrive the office tomorrow then. You know how important they are. I don't need to tell you what to do." He said after a while.

" Is everything okay, sweetheart?" Melinda asked, after he dropped the call.

" Yes beautiful, it's just that there's a chance that we'd close in on a huge deal. It's the Ramsey's."

" You mean, Jill Ramsey?" Melinda asked.

" Nope. Neil Ramsey and his partner, Gloria Adkins. They're house hunting and you don't need me to spell it out to you, or do you?" He asked with a smile on his face.

" No I don't!" She exclaimed happily.

" If it pulls through, it might be the biggest deal of the year. " Oliver added.

" Of course it will pull through. It's obvious H-Imperials is the best in all of Cilevile. " Melinda added, with her shoulders held high.

" Mm hmm." he said, kissing Melinda.

" That means tomorrow is going to be a very busy day at work darling. You know, I have to finalize the Deal with the Sampsons. I also have a meeting at our head office in Planora, like the day after. And you know I'm gonna have to fly down there, because it's pretty crucial." Oliver said.

" That's great but at the same time, it's not. Because I'm going to miss you sweetheart. " Melinda said with a pout, making Oliver chuckle as he looked at her. She looked youthful, atleast looking younger than a 48 Year Old.

" Don't worry honey, we'll still keep in touch as usual. I'll make sure to text or call you whenever I'm done with a meeting. I'll keep you updated with everything my queen." Oliver assured her.

" Okay my love. But asides that, don't you think you're doing too much? Don't you feel worked out?" Melinda asked with concern evident in her tone. Then she continued,

" In a month, You travel more than twice to literally every city in the country or overseas. It's been a tradition since we got married. Don't you take a break?" Melinda asked.

" Love, we both know it's for the best. I understand your concern but how can we live the kind of life we love if we don't work hard. And you know it's my priority and obligation to do so too. I have to make you have everything you want. I love you and I appreciate your concern, but, you don't have to worry about me okay beautiful?" Oliver said.

" But we don't get to spend too much time together a.."

" That's why we should make the most of the time we spend together. Instead of ranting about the things we cannot change." Oliver said.

" Okay. I'll try. But I won't stop reminding you to look after yourself. Remember that okay?" Melinda said, earning a kiss from Oliver.

" Oh my sweet wife. " He said as he shook his head.

When Oliver and Melinda newly got married, he knew she married him because of his wealth but he didn't mind. He was willing to spend much more if that was what it took for her to remain his wife.

But as time went on, her feelings for him grew. He was always so understanding, loving and endearing towards her. Not as if Joseph wasn't though.

Nothing made him happier than knowing she atleast liked him and even more, cared about him. He always made sure to school himself to act like a Man around her, whenever she did those little things that showed she really cared.

He loved her. Except for the fact that he wouldn't let the result of her marriage with Joseph live under the same roof with him.

The thought of the late Joseph irked him.

" I love you" he said kissing her lips, assuring himself that he was the only one who could say that to her now. No one else.

" I love you so much. So, so much." He said, trailing kisses endlessly from her cheek to her nape till a moan escaped Melinda's mouth.

He stood up without breaking the kiss and lifted Melinda up, in a way that she wrapped her legs around his waist. And he took her upstairs, where the foreplay and smooching continued, till it eventually graduated to the peek of it.

____Later that Night____

Abruptly, Oliver opened his eyes. He smiled as he glanced at Melinda who was sleeping with her head and hand resting on his bare chest.

Slowly and gently, he laid her on the bed, properly. He smiled as he kissed her cheek and forehead, with his gaze, ever gentle towards her.

' You were meant to be in my arms. I know it. It feels so right whenever I'm with you.' He thought inwardly as he patted her head gently.

' And that's why no one is ever going to come between us. No one ' he mused inwardly, this time with determination in his eyes.

He stood up from the bed carefully, so as not to wake her up.

He wore a short and an undershirt and exited the room, leaving Melinda who was fast asleep and oblivious of whatever was happening around her.

He picked up his phone in the living room. But for discretion, he went to his home office to make the phone call. The thought of it woke him up like a Sonic alarm.

Oliver: Gringo

Gringo: Yes Don Jefé.

Oliver: Has the package arrived?

Gringo: Yes Don, it did, two hours ago.

Oliver, felt relief course through his veins.

Oliver: Good Job Gringo. You and your boys will receive a 50 thousand dollar extra pay, each

Gringo: Thank you so much Don.

He said with undisguised happiness.

Oliver: Just keep it up. The higher the stakes, the higher the reward.

Gringo: I won't let you down Jefé.

Oliver: Good. How about 'desnudo' ( the cant or slang name given to female member that belonged to the clique) has she done it?

Gringo: Not yet Don. I think she's taking things slow because she doesn't want to suffer a loss. Officer Miller and his boys took the market by storm. Torch was almost exposed for attempting to bribe one of his loyal boys.

Oliver pinched the bridge of his nose before he continued;

Oliver: We can't afford to be a step behind those useless police officers.

Gringo: Don, I suggest we eliminate a family member of Miller's boys. That should scare them off, for a while.

Oliver: No Gringo. We have to be mindful of our approach. We don't want mistakes. For now, we should slow down, after all it's her fault this is happening. She's savvy. I'm sure she has a plan. Let's give her a chance to prove she's the alambré désnudo we once knew. But don't keep your eyes and ears off it just yet.

Gringo: Okay Don.

With that, Oliver dropped the call. After all no one hung up on The Don Jefé, unless of course, you're Melinda.

* * * * * Planora * * * * *

" Good morning Miss" Jenna greeted with a smile on her face as she sat on a chair next to Morticia.

" Good morning Jenna" Morticia replied.

Even as Morticia and Jenna were still strangers, there was compatibility between them, and that wasn't as natural with just anyone for both Jenna and Morticia.

For Jenna, she thought the reason for their instantaneous click, might be because of their Zodiac or something. She was pretty sure that if Morticia was in a better condition, maybe they would've rapport better the first time the met or, maybe not?

" How have you been?" Jenna asked.

" Well, I guess I've been better." Morticia said with a shrug as she sat up.

" So, I've not really had the time, but I've always wanted to ask. Don't you have like a friend or a sibling or a relative? I mean someone who would be worried sick about you, knowing you're not at home or they cannot reach you." Jenna asked.

" It's a long story Jenna. I don't k..."

" It's okay Morticia. If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine. I'm still a stranger afterall. I was just concerned you know?"

" No Jenna, don't take it that way. it's just that it's a very deep story and I don't want to..."

" listen to me Morticia, I get it okay. I don't feel offended in any way. I wanted to help you reach out to whoever it is, you know. That's partly the reason I asked." Jenna said, as a matter of fact.

" Well, I guess I do. Not as if she would care too much though" Morticia added with a scoff.

" Sorry about that." Jenna said.

" Nah it's fine. " Morticia replied. She didn't want Jenna feeling sorry for her.

After a while, Jenna continued,

" I gotta go. It's almost 8AM. I just came to say hi and give you this." Jenna said, tilting her head to the direction of the table where she kept the food pack.

" Thank you so much Jenna. But you didn't have to do a.."

" Nope. It's my choice ok? I was having breakfast this morning and then I remembered there was a hedgehog I needed to say hi to at the hospital. So I brought some hedgehog food along too." Jenna said as she winked at Morticia who smiled at Jenna, with her face which was very pale, hours ago.

" On behalf of the hedgehog, I say a very big thank you." Morticia said with a smile of gratitude.

" Okay ma'am. Has the doctor checked up on you yet?" Jenna asked.

" Yeah, he did. Few minutes before you came in." Morticia replied.

" Okay."

' I guess I'll have to see him myself '

Jenna said inwardly.

" But asides that. I mean didn't he ask about that beautiful Miss or something like that?" Jenna asked with false tone of interest.

Morticia giggled before answering.

" Actually, he's a different doctor. You know they work on shifts. " Morticia said.

" Ouch. " Jenna said wincing. " I guess I'll have to find me another crush."

" I guess so too." Morticia said with a small laugh.

" You guess so too? You're supposed to say things like ' I think you should still give it a shot' or 'you should seduce him' or ' I could help you get his number' you know, something like that. Ugh! You're such a bad person!" Jenna said with a pout making Morticia giggle.

" Phew! Atleast I'm no longer a hedgehog, I'm a person now. The only difference is, I'm a bad one." Morticia said, dramatically sighing in relief, making Jenna giggle this time.

" You bet. I better be off now. I don't want my boss to pull me back to Genesis because I arrived late, for just a day. Here" Jenna said, handing Morticia a bag that contained toiletries and ladies essentials, just incase.

" I have a spare of all of them. So I decided to hand em' to you, so you don't have to worry. Cause I don't want you saying I shouldn't have bothered or stuffs like that. Okay?" Jenna said.

" Jenna, I promise to pay you back for everything you've done for me. I don't know if that's possible, but I'll try. Thank you Jenna. Thank you so much." Morticia said trying so hard not to break into a sob.

" It's okay."

" Take care of yourself. I'll see you during lunch break. " Jenna said after she stood up.

" Jenna?"

" Yes miss Ticy"

" Can I give you a hug?" Morticia requested.

" Yeah sure" Jenna said as she bent over to hug her.

But what Jenna wasn't prepared for was how Morticia hugged her. It didn't take too much time, but it felt different from just any hug.

" Thank you" Morticia said sniffling.

" Oh Morticia. If I had a dollar for everytime you said thank you, I'd not be hear with you. I'd be chilling in my penthouse or something." Jenna said with a dramatic yawn as Morticia chuckled.

" Alright. Good bye, for the umpteenth time!"

" Bye. Stay safe." Morticia said.

" Of course, mummy Morticia" Jenna said as she used the door.

Morticia smiled as she left. Then taking a glance at the food, she heard her stomach protest. Hunger wasn't the right word to describe how she felt, maybe belly dried, Morticia thought with a yawn as she picked up the pack contemplating if she should risk standing to brush before eating.

Not so far away from there, Jenna went to see the doctor. He updated her about Morticia's health status, saying that she needed to rest for at least a day at the hospital and needed to avoid stress till she fully recovered. She didn't need a blood transfusion but she needed a lot of vegetables and Iron tablets so she could recover all the blood she lost.

Taking down the instructions and prescriptions, Jenna didn't forget to inquire about the bill. Thankfully, it was something she could afford. Although she would have to dig really deep into her pocket, but that was asides the point for Jenna.