Chapter 16: Back at the office
"Good to have you back," Marcus says to his daughter-in-law as she enters his office with her husband.
"Thanks."
"Come in," he gestures them to sit in the two chairs in front of his desk. They sit as instructed and wait for the older Eaton to sit as well.
"Why did you wanna see us, dad?" Tobias asks.
"I've missed you," he says. Tris chuckles and Tobias rolls his eyes. "It's true. How are you, Tris?" he asks smiling at the young woman.
"Much better. Tobias took good care of me," she says reaching out to squeeze his hand. The gesture doesn't go unnoticed by Marcus, but he doesn't say anything. He was secretly hoping the two young people would fall in love with each other and by the looks of it, it happened or is close to. He couldn't be happier.
"Glad to hear that," Marcus says pulling the newlyweds out of their shared bubble. Tobias clears his throat and tries to sit up right. Tris chuckles at his obvious uncomfortableness. "There is also a second reason why I asked you here. As you know, Tris, I have several partners. While I hold the majority of the company the board of directors can submit requests or express their reluctance when it comes to business deals." He waits for Tris to nod or ask questions at this point. When she only nods, he continues. "Jeff Stevenson came to me several months ago about partnering up with a company in Russia. I was against it, not wanting to share trade secrets with the enemy."
"Enemy?" Tris asks confused.
"Isn't Russia the enemy of the United States?" Marcus asks confused as well by her reaction. He would have thought as a spy she would be more reluctant toward a known enemy of the States.
"No offense, but where did you get that?" she asks raising an eyebrow. Tobias looks from her to his father and back.
"Well, it is well known that Russia and the US don't see eye to eye," Marcus defends his statement but feeling stupid for even bringing it up.
"Mr. Eaton," she starts but Marcus interrupts.
"Marcus, dear."
"Marcus, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." At that both father and son look at her. Marcus is surprised she said that and Tobias is just curious to see what all this is about.
"Why'd you say that?"
"Seriously? You people have watched too many Tom Cruise movies. Russia in itself isn't evil, like mainstream media here in the country describes. If anyone would be considered an enemy anywhere then that's the US. Our government meddles in foreign affairs as if it was a game of chess, when millions of lives are at stake. The general population doesn't have a clue about what's going on in the world, and I'm not talking super-secret spy stuff. Are there people in the Russian government who could be considered bad? Yes, there are. But so are many here in the US. You can't define one country based on a few of its citizens. Do you really think the Russian people would want a war? No. Just as much as any US citizen or European or whatnot. Don't assume Russia is the enemy when our people are just as bad. Look at the clowns in Washington making all the decisions that more often than not lead to war."
"I never thought of that," Marcus sincerely and bashfully says.
"Well, most people don't. I don't blame you. Much. Most of the American people get their information from mainstream media and don't bother cross-referencing facts. They just take it as it is and don't ask questions. Dumb morons."
"Tris, you can't blame them," Tobias says softly.
"Hell, I can!" she almost shouts and gets up. "It infuriates me how easily people judge others without knowing. As soon as some wiseass schmuck says something the sheep follow him. Happened on 9/11, happened before with the Koreans, the Vietnam war, the Japanese. I'm not saying some actions weren't justified. But then again, war isn't about fairness or justice. It's about a few men in high positions getting their egos hurt and taking it out on entire nations, races, religions. Every time humanity doesn't understand something it automatically becomes evil and the enemy. I'm sick of this fucked up shit."
Tris slumps back onto the chair and almost pouts. Tobias wants both to hold and kiss her. She is so passionate about things and he has to admit, she made a very good point. All three Eatons remain quiet as they all let things sink in and their heart rate return to a normal pace.
"You are right, Tris. I'll try to keep a more open mind in the future. And I understand where you're coming from. Right now, I'm normal and yet there is Inhumanity in me."
"Alright. Now that we are all on the same side, could we please continue. I don't know about you, but I have a pile of things to do," Tobias says trying to put this ridiculous conversation to rest already.
"Then hop off, hubby," Tris counters. Tobias glares at her while Marcus laughs at their interaction. "How about you tell me what exactly it is you want from me?"
"I want you to investigate that company Stevenson is endorsing. He managed to get all the other partners behind him. While I can still veto the decision, I don't want to start a fight with my business partners," Marcus explains. Tris nods.
"What's the company's name?"
"Cossack Motors," he says.
"Motors?" Tobias asks surprised. Their company doesn't specialize in motors.
"Yes. Stevenson thought it would be a good idea to expand and invest in a motorcycle company," Marcus explains.
"Does this Stevenson have a person at Cossack Motors?" Tris asks while typing on her cellphone.
"Uhm, let me see," Marcus says looking through his papers. "Ah, here it is. A Vladimir Petrov."
At the mention of the name Tris looks up surprised. She heard that name before. Fortunately, neither of the Eaton men saw her reaction. She excuses herself and goes into Tobias's office where he already ordered a desk for her. She sits down and opens her laptop. She enters her password and waits for the operating system to automatically log into SHIELD's mainframe. She uses her ID code and clearance to access archive files. She knows one Vladimir Petrov but he is supposed to be dead.
Tobias remained in his father's office trying to find out more about this business deal. According to Jeff Stevenson, bringing Petrov into the company would open them many doors in the Eastern European countries. But his father is reluctant. Tobias considers what his own father said, about the Russians being the enemy, but he had to admit Tris made a very good point. You can't generalize and expect people to be okay with that. If that would be the case slavery would still exist based solely on skin color or people would be persecuted because of their beliefs and religion. Come to think of it, those things still happened. He didn't talk about it much, mostly because there weren't many to talk to about these things, but he knew a lot of things his peers didn't.
He left his father's office and went to his own. But unfortunately, who to run into than Nita Alvarez. He pulls out his cellphone and starts dialing a number.
"Yes, Sir?" a male voice on the other side answers.
"Security, please come to the conference room and escort Ms. Nita Alvarez out of the building and make sure she can't come back in. You have my permission to tell her to get the fuck out," he says angrily. He awaits Nita to come closer, her wide grin making him sick. He enters the conference room knowing full well she would follow him shortly.
He walks inside walking toward the mini fridge where they have bottles of water and takes one out. The moment he hears her enter he takes a huge gulp and ignoring her presence for just another moment. A peaceful moment that will soon be disturbed by this leech.
He hears the door close and her heels hitting the wooden floor of the conference room as she makes her way toward him. She is taking her time, prolonging their shared time in a closed space, making him very uncomfortable.
"What do you want?" he asks without turning around.
"Baby, won't you give me a kiss?" she asks using her seductive voice. In the past that alone would have given him a hard-on, but not anymore. The only thing she's causing is nausea.
"Kiss?" he asks mockingly and turns around. Nita is impossibly close to where he is standing approaching even further. "You must be joking. I'd rather throw myself off the building." At that she frowns and takes a step back. She almost looks hurt, when her expression changes. She is trying to pull him back into her net undulating around him, trying to cause a reaction in his body. But the only thing he wants is to get away. His mind momentarily goes to Tris and wishes his wife would be the one so willing, not that she's difficult.
Nita, confused and angry that her usual show doesn't work on her former beau, throws her arms around his neck and kisses him forcibly on the lips. Tobias tries to push her away but she's persistent.
"Yo, bitch!" they hear a voice. Nita detaches her lips from Tobias and turns around surprised by what she heard.
"How dare you?" she asks offended, her arms still around Tobias's neck. Tobias now realizes it is his wife standing in the door and his ex-girlfriend still wrapped around him. "Do you even know who I am?" Nita asks outraged.
"Do you know who I am, you man-stealing whore?" Tris asks in a calm voice. Nita makes a disgusted face and let's go of Tobias strutting toward Tris to slap the younger woman.
"Nita, don't you dare," Tobias growls. Both women ignore him.
By now everyone around heard the commotion in the conference room and came to see what was going on, including Marcus and two of his partners, Jeff Stevenson and Marvin Hamilton.
"What is going on here?" Marcus asks as he comes closer and sees Nita. "What are you doing here, Ms. Alvarez? You are not welcome here," he says, his voice stern and unwavering.
"I invited her," a male voice says and they turn around to realize it was Stevenson.
"You? Why Jeff?" Marcus asks confused.
"Mr. Petrov is a fan of Ms. Alvarez and I thought it would be nice if he met her," he explains a slight sneer on his face.
"Petrov? You mean he is here? I thought we agreed we would discuss it," Marcus asks accusingly.
"Marcus, we agreed to meet the guy. You are the only one who is biased," Stevenson says challenging the Eaton patriarch.
"I think we should at least listen to this Petrov," Hamilton suggests, trying to diffuse the tension.
"I want this woman out of here. She is bothering my wife," Tobias says standing next to Tris now.
"Oh, I'm sure the young Mrs. Eaton won't mind Ms. Alvarez. After all, this is a business not the kitchen," Stevenson says, causing an office-wide groan from the female employees.
"Absolutely not. But next time you hire an escort service tell the manager to send them wearing classier clothes. After all, as you so astutely pointed it out, this is a business, not a brothel. Hire prostitutes if you like, but make sure they don't look like common whores."
With that she leaves everyone standing there, jaws hanging and absolutely speechless. Nita starts fuming, while all the women cheer on the newest Eaton. Tobias exchanges a look with his father and then leaves after his wife.
It isn't hard to find her. She went straight back to his office. He almost expected her to slam the door shot but she just leaves it open.
"Tris," he says tentatively entering his office.
"Close the door," she commands. He does as she asks and takes a step toward her. He wants to explain but isn't quite sure where to start or what to say. He didn't invite her. He didn't want her at the office. Heck, he didn't want Nita in his life. Period.
Tris knows he is not to blame for this, but she can't help it but torturing him a bit. She saw on the cameras she hid in various places all over the property that Nita arrived and she saw and heard Tobias making the call to security and asking to kick Nita out. But she also heard Stevenson talking to this Petrov guy that he had a surprise for him and it was only a matter of time until Eaton, meaning Marcus, would reconsider and partner up with the Russian businessman. As Tris left Tobias's office just in time to intercept the security guards and ordering them back to their posts, she entered the conference room listening to the short conversation her husband and his former love interest had. If you could call that a conversation.
"Babe, I'm sorry," he says pitiful and Tris turns around. The game was over. No more torturing the poor guy.
"It's okay, baby. I know what happened," she says with a smile. When he looks at her dumbfounded she giggles and grabs his hand. She shows him to her desk where she makes him sit down and watch the video footage of Nita's arrival until they got back to his office.
"I should have pushed her away sooner," he says with regret in his voice. He really means it.
"It's okay, Tobias. You and this chick had a relationship and…" she starts saying trying to comfort him and reassure him it is okay to still have feelings for the other woman.
"Tris, please," he says exasperated and gets up. "Nita and I had a fling not a relationship. I don't love her nor did I ever. She was just my sex friend. There is nothing I ever wanted to share with her. And I made that clear. I never told her she was my girlfriend and I never promised her anything."
Tris only nods. They actually avoided talking too much about their exes. Here and there information was shared, followed by a cute, erotic-free anecdote. But that was about it. Tris steps closer to him and holds his face in her palms. She leans forward and before their lips connect the door opens.
"Oops, sorry," Marcus says apologetically.
"It's okay. Come in," Tris says and let's go of her husband. He frowns and mentally curses his father for interrupting. He wanted to kiss her luscious lips so badly.
"Dad, I swear I wanted to get rid of her, quietly preferably."
"I know. This is all Stevenson's fault."
"Where are they?" Tris asks.
"Who? Stevenson and that… escort?" he asks smiling a little remembering the witty response his new daughter-in-law had come up with. "They are in the conference room. We are expected to discuss with this Petrov character," Marcus informs them. "I know I said I wanted you to be our translator, but I won't ask you to let yourself be humiliated."
"Me?" Tris asks and Marcus nods. He cares too much for the young woman to put her through a meeting with his son's ex-girlfriend. "Marcus, please. Besides, you need me in there. I just have a favor to ask."
"If you are sure it's fine with you," he says and looks at his son who nods. "What is it that you need, sweetheart?"
"I will use my spy-skills to find out more during this meeting. But I need you to not go against me, not take anyone's side other than mine. They need to see that we are on the same page. Trust me, if what I suspect is true, then you will want me to behave the way I will."
"I am little scared to ask what that means," Marcus says with a chuckle.
"Just go with it," she says.
"We should trust her, dad," Tobias says surprising them both. Tris didn't think he would give in so easily. Sure, they got along much better, but this was his company too and he worked really hard alongside his dad.
"Thanks," Tris mouths and Tobias only smiles at her.
"Alright. I'll have faith in you."
"Thank you, Marcus. Now let's go."