This chapter gets a little more dark, but it's not too graphic. Those sensitive to mistreatment of employees may want to skip the part below the line break.

Lazard Deusericus was a busy man. One thing he certainly did not have time for was Scarlet trying to finagle him into doing more of her dirty work.

"Cid," he sighed, spying the man entering his office. "You know I-"

"Ain't fer her this time," Cid said quickly, striding into the office and taking the seat across the desk from Lazard without being invited.

Valentine's suspicions had apparently been raised (Cid couldn't imagine why), so everyone tailing him –except Aerith; no one suspected her of anything- had been temporarily reassigned. Zack and Tifa had been given new targets. Cid had been demoted to courier. After all, someone had to run the meaningless errands no one else had time for.

And, as he was inclined to do, Cid had found a way to take advantage of his new position.

"Is that so?" Lazard asked, dubious expression in place.

Cid glanced around furtively, one of the actions that often led him to getting his cover entirely blown. "Come have lunch with me."

Lazard nodded, sighed, and cancelled his hair appointment. When Cid got serious, you listened, and that was the end of that.

In a noisy corner of a small café, Cid began his explanation.

"She wants t'get Valentine out. I wanna bring 'im t'the top an' get rid o' ShinRa. I c'n get 'im down, but I can't keep 'im down, y'know? An' she's after you too, t'get Vin- Valentine outta her way. She thinks she c'n control ShinRa, that's the thing. We know she can't an' that he'll gladly bring ever'body down with 'im if he gets what he an' she both want. You followin'?"

"I follow. But Cid…you know how good the chances are of what you're asking."

"A hell of a lot better now that Valentine's involved."

"Involved…? What do you mean?"

Cid considered how to answer this; Lazard had always been his friend, but there was nothing stopping him from changing his mind and running to Scarlet. "You ever met these three dudes? Silver hair, one bulky, one pretty, th'other one a goddam blabbermouth?"

"I have, actually, but I had convinced myself they were a product of too many work hours."

"Heh. I'd'a tried that m'self if they hadn't dragged in one o' Valentine's boys an' set up a meetin'. Had th'whole crew over fer tea an' all that!" he said proudly, stretching the truth just enough to make it sound impressive.

Lazard sighed and shook his head at the excitable man across from him. "You realize how dangerous these men can be?"

"Yeah, I know. But that don't make 'em bad, y'know? Anybody c'n be dangerous under th'right circumstances."

Lazard didn't really think that was the point, but he wasn't going to argue. Instead, he began eating the pasta on his plate and making an effort to enjoy it even though it was severely undercooked. Cid really did have poor taste in food.

------ Meanwhile: A day later and halfway across Midgar's lower plates ----------

"It's a good offer, sir." Tseng said from his position on the couch where he idly examined legal documents.

"Hn," Vincent murmured absently. It had been two days since his meeting with the cop, Cid Highwind, and for those two days his mind had been torn regarding which action to take. His current position left him answerable only to ShinRa and allowed him the freedom to continue doing his business in a manner he chose. The downside? Rufus's moods and insatiable sadistic desires that the man kept fed by exploiting his need for mako that only Hojo could supply…and Rufus could retrieve. Cid Highwind on the other hand was offering the same mako without the sick sexual payments, as far as he knew. And the drawbacks there? He would be providing protection to a cop, which would eventually get around to his business associates and various contacts, and make them even jumpier than they already were. Plus he would have to divert manpower that he didn't have to watching the cop's back to make sure he stayed out of trouble. And he would have to be even more careful in his business transactions as cops could not be trusted, especially 'bought' cops. If word got out – and it was only a matter of time before it did– that Highwind was in his back pocket, then the authorities would have one more tool to use against him, and even if they cut Highwind loose, the cop would have more surveillance on him than a stray dog had fleas. That would then render Highwind beyond useless. It would make him a liability, and Vincent would have no choice but to remove the cop from the picture…permanently. That in turn would then leave him no way to get his mako unless he crawled back to ShinRa, and that was something he would never do. When he burned that bridge, he would also disintegrate the cliff it had rested upon. When he parted from ShinRa, he was destroying the bastard as he left.

Tseng quietly clearing his throat brought Vincent's mind back to the present. "I think you ought to accept it, Vincent."

"Have you even considered all the consequences to that if I did, Tseng?" Vincent asked, turning his head away from where he had been staring sightlessly out the window, to look at his second.

"You know I have." Tseng's eyes flashed angrily.

"Then you know that I simply do not have the resources to make that arrangement work, and why I cannot accept it."

"If anybody could make it work, Vincent, you could," Tseng said firmly, staring levelly at his friend. "This would be your chance – the one you admittedly were waiting for – to get out from under Mr. ShinRa."

Vincent sighed heavily, and rubbed his eyes, but otherwise remained silent.

"And that's not all," Tseng said, his voice troubled.

"Really," Vincent said wryly, only reluctantly returning to his work. What difference would more bad news make now? His life seemed to be made of it recently.

"My contacts have informed me that Mr. ShinRa's confidence has spiked recently."

"Yes, well, Rufus lives in a constant state of PMS, Tseng," Vincent said without looking up. "His moods fluctuate alarmingly fast."

"Well, apparently he has a reason to be confident," Tseng said seriously.

That got his attention. "And this reason being…?" Vincent paused in his writing and looked up at Tseng, a frown pulling his lips down.

"It would seem that Reno has overheard one of Mr. ShinRa's phone calls. Small blessing of having a nosy redhead on the payroll."

"And this affects me how?" Vincent raised an eyebrow, striving for patience. "With whom was he speaking?"

"Scarlet," Tseng replied flatly.

"That son of a bitch," Vincent growled, sitting up straighter and slamming his pen down on his desk, eyes flashing gold briefly before returning to their normal crimson.

"I had a few more…colorful choice words in mind, sir, but I must say that I have to agree with you."

Vincent leaned back slowly in his chair, steepled his fingers and narrowing his eyes. The game had just changed. Rufus' little 'social call' had just kicked Highwind's offer from "it was a generous offer, but no thanks", right on over into "where do I sign?" Vincent nodded once to Tseng. "Bring him in."

As Tseng was leaving his office, the man was nearly plowed over by a beautiful redheaded woman, only just managing to get out of the way in time as she brushed past him as if she owned the place. The near-collision didn't faze her. Neither, apparently, did a flustered redheaded man who tried in vain to stop her.

"Boss, I'm sorry. I tried t' stop her, but…" Reno stammered glaring balefully at his intruder.

Vincent held up his hand, and Reno stopped talking, and with an expression of immense gratitude backed out of the office, shutting the door quietly behind him and Tseng. "And to what do I owe the displeasure of this visit, my dear?" he asked in mild amusement.

"Oh darlink! You break my heart!" The woman said, in a heavily accented and sultry voice. If Vincent didn't know her as well as he did, he would have found her sexy as hell. But Rosso 'The Crimson', though beautiful, was about as lovable and trustworthy as an angry pit viper…and twice as deadly.

"And I would be stricken with remorse if you actually had a heart to break, my love," he answered mildly.

"Is dat any way to talk to your future wife?" she sniffed, and affected a most convincing pout.

"I would consider it if I did not think you would murder me in our wedding bed, my sweetest."

At that she threw her head back and laughed, swaying elegantly over to the large bank of windows to look down at the bustling city below. Vincent took a moment to watch her and appreciate the way she wore the female form. Dressed in a figure-fitting red pants suit, her flawless pale skin gleamed in the light and her elaborately styled hair shone with silken radiance. Yes, Vincent thought, if I didn't think she'd slit my throat, she would indeed be a worthy prize. She was curvy in all the right places, with long legs and a sculpted backside, and he would freely admit to being prone to distraction when presented with the fullness of her breasts. But he wasn't interested in looking for a matricidal mate. He sighed and said, "Forgive me for being blunt, my dear, but why are you here?"

"How can you vork in this city, Vincent?" she asked disdainfully, flicking her hand towards the skyline beyond the window. "It's so…dirty. Your talents are vasted here!"

Vincent ground his teeth silently at the ease with which she was so casual with informalities. It irritated him, which was precisely why she continued to do it. And so he refused to stand when she entered the room. "Please answer my question, Rosso. I'm not in the mood to play games today."

At that she whirled on him, startling him, and pinned him with a stare that was no nearly like his own it actually creeped him out a little. "Weiss is most displeased," she said dangerously. "He does not appreciate being cheated."

Vincent blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh do not play innocent vith me, Vincent. Either give us the mako you promised us, or a full refund. I vould hope you choose the former, as the latter vould not end vell for you." She walked forward, her hips swaying in a fashion that completely belied the intent in her smoldering eyes.

"One moment!" Vincent just managed to keep from spluttering as he reeled from her attack. His mind scrambled for answers. "If you are referring to the latest shipment, I oversaw the packing of those crates myself!"

Rosso crossed her arms and cocked her head to the side as she studied his face. Finally she relaxed and nodded. "Your eyes do not lie. Ve thought as much. But it vould appear that someone is skimming your mako. You may vant to correct the problem, darlink."

Vincent wasn't fooled. She appeared relaxed and considerably friendly, but if he didn't watch it, he could just as easily end up with a stiletto in his throat. "I agree. I will look into this personally, and send you a compensatory shipment of mako on the next transport with a sincere apology."

"Good," Rosso said, tipping her head back and looking down her nose at him haughtily. "Weiss and Nero have placed a lot of faith in you, Vincent. You have yet to fail them; see that it stays that vey, da?"

Vincent inclined his head. "I shall make every effort to see that that does not happen."

Rosso smiled, this time with more warmth. "You are a smart man, Vincent. Good day." And with the bluntness known to those who hailed from Modeoheim, Rosso turned and let herself out.

Only after the door shut did Vincent allow himself to relax completely, surprised at how tense being in the same room with Rosso had made him. Could this get any worse? He thought, lowering his head to rest it on his arms. As if in answer to that damning, internal question, his intercom beeped. Sitting up, he hit the 'receive' button and snapped, "What!"

He was met with a chilly silence that caused his gut to tighten with dread. "My office…now," came Rufus' glacial voice, followed by an ominous click as the intercom link was terminated. Vincent groaned and thumped his head back down onto his desk. He'd just had to ask.

With all the enthusiasm of a condemned man on his way to his execution, he stood and exited his office. It took a while for him to reach Rufus' office, having elected to have his own as far away from Shinra as possible. As he stood in front of those massive double doors he took a moment to attempt to still his racing heart. He would be damned if was going to show Rufus just how much the man affected him. Finally, when he felt he was suitably calm, he knocked once and let himself into the spider's lair.

"You wished to see me, sir," he said in a low voice, which suited the equally low lighting in Rufus's office.

Looking up from his desk, Rufus smirked and leaned back in his chair. "Why yes, Valentine, I did. I wonder if you might explain to me just how you managed to let one of your men get kidnapped by the competition?"

Vincent frowned, not comprehending what Rufus was saying. "Excuse me, sir? Competition?"

"Surely you didn't expect me to not find out about Riku's little…"

"Reno," Vincent corrected flatly.

"Whatever!" Rufus snapped, not appreciating Vincent's interruption in the least. "…Reno's little run-in with the Triplets."

"How do you-"Vincent began, but Rufus talked right over him.

"I give you great freedom, Valentine, in which to conduct business. One would expect care be taken to maintain such a privilege," Rufus said, leveling a cold, disapproving stare on Vincent. "Because of your slack-witted man, you threaten my very organization. You might as well start carrying a sign: 'My name is Vincent, and I am openly breaking the law.'"

"Don't tempt me…" Vincent muttered.

Rufus sat up straighter and narrowed his eyes. "What was that, Valentine?"

Vincent lowered his head obediently and said, "Nothing, sir."

"You're damned right it's 'nothing.' You're nothing. You keep trying my patience and continue to grow bolder with your back-talking. I should not need to have this discussion with you. Maybe I need to have a talk with this Reno to impress upon him the need to be careful."

"That will not be necessary, sir. Reno has been disciplined, and you need not interfere with something so beneath you," Vincent lied smoothly. He feared what would happen to Reno if Rufus ever got a hold of the young man. Reno felt badly as it was, and often enough the guilt of an individual tended to be his own worst punishment. When Rufus did not say anything further, only kept staring at him, Vincent said, "If that is all, sir, then I'll just be going, as I have much work to do." He turned and walked to the door, only to freeze, his hand on the heavy doorknob, when he heard the sound of a zipper being drawn down in the thick silence.

"Where do you think you're going?" Rufus asked easily. "I have not dismissed you."

Vincent swallowed hard and shut his eyes tightly. He had to force himself to remove his hand from the doorknob.

"Do you think that was the real reason I asked you here? I could care less if someone offs one of your fuck-twits. I have a much better use for your mouth than listening to your insolence."

"You're sick, do you know that?" Vincent murmured without turning around. He swallowed convulsively as he fought a sudden, light-headed flare of nausea as he began to unbutton his shirt. He removed both his jacket and his shirt, laying them on the expensive couch next to the door that he leaned forward to lock. He removed his shoes and placed them neatly by the door then turned to face Shinra. "Everything I do for you, and you humiliate me like this."

"Aww, poor Vincent," Rufus laughed mockingly. "This is just another part of your job description, Valentine." He sneered, swiveling his chair to the side and snapping his fingers at Vincent. "You're just a tool to used, a disposable resource. You're a whore, Valentine. A whore to your precious mako, now get over here on your knees and act like one."

Vincent finished stripping and did as he was told, shame and nausea burning brightly within him. And as he knelt in between Rufus's legs, and got to work, struggling to detach himself from what he was doing and just survive it. As the bile threatened to burn his throat, he realized with dread that he was beginning to believe what Rufus said about him.