Author note: hello there, dearest readers! Here is a new chapter for you, where Flaminia's scheming proceeds towards her final goal. She's such a sneaky, dangerous, little poisonous serpent, she makes me really proud ;-)

If you're searching for more quality "Spartacus" fanfic, I definitely recommend you checking out the captivating and very well-written "Son of Mars" by CalvinHobbesGatsby!

oxoxoxoxoxo

Once Flaminia had led her friends safely to their doorstep, instead of going straight back home, she asked to speak to Batiatus in private and he was more than happy to lead her to his study. "Everything went as planned", she said once they were alone and he let out a joyous laugh. "That it did!", he agreed, hugging her, "You are no mere woman, you are goddess! Because of you, now the House of Batiatus…No, no, the House of Quintus Lentulus Batiatus rises to the fucking Heavens!". She laughed as well, "I promised to help you, did I not? I always keep my promises, Quintus, you know this". "I know it well, dearest".

"Now, only one minor detail remains to be addressed", she said in a deceptively casual tone, "If you are to take position of aedilis, you will have to frequently leave Capua for Rome, so you need trusted man to lead ludus in your absence". He sobered and frowned, "Yes…I had been so blinded by joy that I did not think of this. Oenomaus could…".

"Oenomaus? He is good man, I do not deny it, yet he is mere slave and you cannot leave ludus in hands of slave", she objected, "Besides, if he took position of lanista, he would ask for Melitta to be freed as well, meaning that you would lose excellent doctore and Lucretia would lose her body slave at the same time. And the fact that he is well suited for training gladiators does not mean that he is equally well suited to take care of business: balancing the books is no easy feat after all, it requires skills that I fear he does not possess".

He mulled over it for a long moment, "Your words have merit. Yet, there is nobody I would trust better than him to take care of ludus in my absence". "Why not Ashur?". "Ashur?", he repeated, puzzled, "He is gladiator, how could he…". "His skill is not limited to wielding a sword, Quintus: I have spoken to him and I have noticed that his mind is sharper than any blade", she stated, "He taught Dagan to speak our language and he is also extremely good with numbers".

"How do you know?". She grinned, "I placed bets on many a fight recently and when I discussed odds with him, he calculated how much coin I would gain or lose depending on the outcome with such precision that I was tempted to hire him to help running my family business". "Really?". "Yes. And tomorrow he will be free and he will officially gain citizenship, so you will leave ludus in hands of a Roman, not of slave".

Batiatus was impressed, "Well, if he is as good as you say, I see no reason not to follow your advice. So be it: tomorrow he will become a Roman and after that, he will become my lanista and take care of the ludus for me". She beamed and hugged him tightly, "Gratitude for your trust, Quintus. You will not be disappointed". "I know, dearest".

"Oh, I have one last request: I would like to purchase Diona". He frowned, "Diona? But she's a fugitive!". "And that's precisely why I want her: none of our slaves had ever escaped and I relish challenge of curbing her rebellious streak", she lied, "Besides, now that I'm wife and matron in my own right, I have need of personal body slave".

"Uhm…If you think you can properly chastise her, then I have nothing against it", Batiatus shrugged and wrote down the contract to pass the property of Diona to Flaminia, "Here you go: Diona is now officially your slave. I won't charge you for it, of course: consider it as delayed wedding gift from Lucretia and myself".

"Gratitude, Quintus", the young Roman woman beamed and kissed his cheek, "I will not forget this kindness. And now, I'll take my leave and let you go to your wife: I'm sure Lucretia is eagerly awaiting to celebrate with you", she added with a mischievous wink and he laughed.

She bowed in farewell and on her way home, she stopped by a brothel to recruit a young and pretty girl to keep her husband busy for the night, for she knew he would want to lay with her and the mere thought of it made her want to throw up. When she reached her home, her parents were already asleep, but her husband was awake and as she had predicted, he was quite horny as well.

"Ah, my beautiful wife, you're back at last", he said, approaching her with an eager smile, "Come and let me enjoy your warm flesh". "Truth be told, dear husband, I…I have confession to make", she said, looking at the floor with fake shyness. "Confession?". "I hope you will not think ill of me for this, but…Well…It would give me great pleasure to watch you with a house slave", she murmured, bowing her head as if in shame, "The thought of her riding you as amazon would a wild stallion enflames me beyond words".

He blinked, surprised, then his face spilt into a wide lewd grin, "You truly are perfection made flesh, my dear: a model of demure obedience and propriety in public, yet shameless whore when alone with your husband! I made right choice when I took you as wife", he commented, then he eyed the girl she had brought along, "Is this the one you chose?". "Yes, it is her".

"Uhm. You, undress", he ordered and the courtesan obediently took off her vest, revealing a petite yet pleasant figure, "Well, she is pleasing enough to the eye, though I do not understand what you find so attractive in her". "I like her hips and I'm sure seeing them bouncing as she rides you will make for an exciting view". "If you say so", Albinius shrugged, then he stripped and moved to lie on the bed, "Come here, girl".

The young prostitute shot a look at Flaminia, who nodded. "Go to him", she ordered, not bothering to hide a satisfied smile: by the time the girl was finished with him, the old bastard would be utterly spent and she would be safe from his attentions at least for that one night. She would still have to think of something to keep herself safe in the following nights as well, but one step at a time.