Twenty-Two - Glass House

WANTON HEIGHTS, ALDERIGE CORPORATION MAIN BUILDING

A blessed day occured for Wanton Heights and the Empire. The last living heir of the Clement-Alderige bloodline stepped foot for the first time inside the building. They all greeted him with so much respect. Romeo Alderige felt the surrealism of his new life. Mr. Smith accompanied him. Detailing important matters he should remember. One thing leads to another. Many important agendas that demand his immediate attention but Mr. Smith had planned the day. The rest of Romeo's executive harem was dismissed. He had no idea what Mr. Smith had scheduled. Both of them entered Aberdeen's office.

"Woah! Arthur, wait. I know I accepted the perks of this family but I'm not taking anything from Aberdeen. This is her office and should remain so when she returns," He did not even take another step inside the office. "It's too uptight for my liking, anyway. I can take my dad's old office or much better, grandma's office. How's that?"

Mr. Smith chuckled to his remarks and continue walking to one of the secret doors. "This is your dad's old office, and this was his playground."

The secret metal door led them to a laboratory. It was hidden behind Aberdeen's enormous portrait. Chemicals sealed in tubes and small containers rested in a glass cabinet next to a multiform worktable. Things he only recalls from his basic training in the bureau. The laboratory was small, looking like his food pantry at home. It only holds the sample products. Some has explicit descriptions and deadly warnings. Mr. Smith pointed a specific sample, Thio-A. Vincent Alderige's famous breakthrough. One that was exploited by the Drax, and it even led to his death.

"This was your father's very precious possession. A lot of people wanted this, and I think you know them. Friends and foes alike, unfortunately." Mr. Smith explained vaguely.

"What exactly does it do? As one of the feds, this will give me a promotion." Romeo blurted out.

"Its capabilities are classified, but I'll assign a scientist to explain its lethality. Aberdeen decided to give the government a generous amount of these samples," Mr. Smith continued speaking. "Of course, with much deeper understanding."

"I know how it works. You have no idea how it made me nauseous when I saw her fake smile on the television. Nathalia raised her well, apparently." He answered in sarcasm.

"I'm sure you will be as thrilled when you start doing public speaking. The necessary evil of the elites, hypocrisy." Mr. Smith replied with a small smile.

"Beats me." Romeo surrendered. "Care to elaborate the relevance of this to our family standing?"

"With these, the government bows to your family," Mr. Smith casually insinuated. "I'm showing you these for you to learn how to beat the system. There are more dangerous things out there aside from bullets and thugs. Politics, boy. Especially in the Council."

Romeo retreated to the office. He comfortably tried Aberdeen's leather chair. "Tell me, Mr. Smith. Who really are the people I can trust in the High Order?"

"Who are the ones you can't?" Mr. Smith countered with a smirk.

The neophyte member of the High Order shook his head in delight. The old man knows a lot of things. Things he has to learn in a short period of time. He will play head-on with the oldest and wisest players in society.

"You need to learn how to play. Use the position of your house. The council has renewed its members over the years but you should watch for the two best players, Constantine and Samira." Mr. Smith vehemently warned.

"I know them. Sonia Astor, Magnus De Lutherbergh, and Augustus Hawthorne were the new replacements for their parents. Tell me about the old dogs of the High Order."

"Iñigo Constantine is the most powerful man in the underground society. He controls the finances. The high families can bark at him but they will never bite. Given his position, Iñigo decided to remain neutral. Then next is our noble council member--"

"Samira," Romeo muttered.

"Yes. They are not just wealthy, they are with nobility. The Constantine also descended from a noble bloodline but only through Iñigo's grandmother, unlike Samira," The old man smiled but with scorn. "Viktor was wise. He made sure their families join. With their position in society and Iñigo's vast influence, their families will be formidable. Look how it turns out. Samira is now evaluating Aberdeen after they promised to Nathalia's grave to keep the family together. Viktor has some other plans."

"The two of them are hard to beat. Piece of advice on how I should handle them?"

"Go with the flow until the current is in your favor. Underestimate no one," Mr. Smith looked at the young man with his piercing eyes. "Don't be intimidated. Your family has the highest position in the council. You may be new but you came from two high families, Clement and Alderige. That's the card you have to play. Nathalia may be dead, but even a weak lion is not bitten by a dog. But it's not the dog you have to watch out for, lions tend to size up for the alpha position."

***

Monte Carlo

Hector arrived at Hotel De Paris with the swarm of the High Order elite team. He is under arrest and granted the privilege of the hotel of his choosing. The High Council was kind enough to retain his position until his verdict. The opposite story for his nephew. Luthor has already declared an outcast. If he dares show any kind of aggression or an attempt to reclaim the Drax to his ward, he will be executed without a trial.

All of Hector's things were brought to the hotel. He was booked to the second most expensive room, courtesy to Iñigo Constantine. Hector was not stupid. The old Constantine finds his existence still useful, hence the accommodation. The room has its own living room, veranda, and minibar. Except for one single annoyance, a personal room butler was posted in his room. Watching every move he will make, listening to any suspicious phone call he might attempt to have, and if some unexplained circumstance should befall the good butler, it will implicate Hector more.

It could not be the best day for Hector. As the clock hits three in the afternoon, a very important visitor entered his temporary dominion. Councilwoman Sonia Astor was sitting comfortably in his living room.

"Oh, how lovely. I get to have some visitors," Hector snickered and took a seat across the gorgeous lady. "Councilwoman Astor, what a pleasure."

"The rumors were true. You are a pain in the ass," She replied, a bit annoyed.

"I don't remember that encounter with you, my lady, but I am indeed remarkable in that." Hector even had the audacity to insinuate naughty antics and playfully winked to the impatient lady.

"I'm not really fond of small things," Sonia countered with the same level of attitude.

Hector leaned a bit closer. "Who knows, you might find it arguably satisfying."

"So, you agree? Some things on you are small," Sonia rolled her eyes but she smiled. "I don't want to disappoint myself, doctor."

Hector burst to laugh. His shoulders shook in amusement. "I like you. Fun!"

"I kind of hope my visit is under a better circumstance, Hector, but your family doesn't really know how to even satisfy yourselves. It's a bit ironic, however, given your current relationship status," Sonia crossed her legs and flipped her hair.

"That's it. Let's stop the charade. Why are you here?" Hector asked.

"Well, my friend, I came here to officially relay the bad news. House Drax is no longer part of the underground organization." Sonia plainly stated.

"Tell me something I don't know," Hector responded with much boredom.

"My gut tells me that this is just the tip of the iceberg. I've been hearing rumors in the council. You know how the politics of our organization," Sonia glanced to the butler. "Mr. Adrik, can we have the room for ourselves?"

"Lord Constantine had strict instructions to not leave you alone with Dr. Exconde, madam." The gentleman respectfully replied.

"Oh, please, Mr. Adrik. I won't do something to councilwoman Astor that she wouldn't like." Hector commented with a mischievous smile.

"I'm sure Lord Constantine will reconsider. A humble request from house Astor?"

The butler did not argue further and went to the main lobby of the hotel. Hector put his both arms on the side of the couch. Stretching for any possible activities. Sonia chuckled.

"I stand to what I've said earlier, Hector. I don't want to disappoint myself," She shook her head. "I think there's a bigger picture to this, an elaborate play."

Hector transitioned back to his more resolve personality. He had the same thoughts. Hearing it from one of the councils was different. The high families can continue denying any desire for the highest seat but their actions say otherwise. "You have my attention, my lady."

"Aberdeen Alderige had a psychiatric evaluation."

"You have my undivided attention," Hector stated expectantly.

"She had a psychiatric evaluation with a Samira horseman, Hendrix Dufur," Sonia smiled wryly. "Now, we all know that Samira has a claim to the Prime Leader seat. The question is, Renard's son is a Drax but why ruin that side of the family when they can collaborate?"

"Interesting." Hector remained quiet for a few seconds. "The ruin of the Drax is an elaborate distraction."