Earl King POV
I was waiting in the arrival section with Ashley in the airport. Their plane landed thirty minutes ago and I hoped they wouldn't take long to get their luggage and pass the customs. I would hate to waste my time in pointless waiting when the research could make some progress.
Fifteen minutes had passed and I sat on an empty bench not far away from where Ashley was standing. I had asked her to join me, but she wanted them to be able to see her as soon as they got out. But, I was starting to lose my patience. I fished out my phone and checked my emails. I replied those who needed my immediate attention. I made a few phone calls and not a passenger came out of those doors yet.
I sighed frustrated, I shouldn't have come. I leaned on the wall behind me and absently looked around. Somehow, I managed to escape from Marc. It wasn't easy. Kane had to help me distract him. I didn't know what the hell he did, but I never succeeded. When I go back, I should ask him.
I closed my eyes and sighed again. I thought about what happened since then. How fortunate we are since Kane could help us, even though he wouldn't tell me anything I want. Because of that, I became the Boss of our Family, making Shelby love me even more than he already did. And finally, I came to a term with Louis' case. I didn't notice that I was running away from him instead of confronting him. And that it wasn't my fault that he died.
It wasn't my fault.
"Earl!" called Ashley making me open my eyes and spotted her in the crowd. She made a coming motion with her hand, so I sat up and walked to her.
It looked like a few people already arrived. Finally. I more or less patiently waited for our guess to come out. Then I realized, I didn't even know what they looked like. Ashley didn't put any picture in her reports. I glared at her, but she didn't even notice.
As I glared at her from the corner of my eye, I saw her smile grow bigger and her eyes sparkle. I looked up and saw a man and a woman coming out of the automatic doors. It seems like they noticed us too since they walked straight toward us.
"Mrs. Collins?" the man asked as he stopped in front of us.
"Nice to finally meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Nikolaev," she greeted as she extended her hand to the man first then the woman. "Please let me present you, the head scientist of this project, Mr. King."
I nodded and shook their hands too. Then we headed out of the airport as both Russians were carrying a suitcase each. Ashley unlocked the car and helped them load their luggage in the trunk as I sat on the passenger seat. Once everyone was inside the car with their seatbelts on, we were on the road.
"I hope your trip had been pleasant?" Ashley did some small talk.
"Yes, but it has been a long one, eleven hours," the woman answered with a delicate and graceful tone.
"You must be exhausted. For today, we will show you your rooms and we will conduct our business tomorrow. If you need anything, feel free to call me. You have my number," said Ashley as she made a turn.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
The rest of the travel was made in an awkward silence. I was looking at the sand dunes from the window. I was so bored and sleepy. But I couldn't rest in the presence of two strangers.
After almost two hours of drive, we finally arrived at the HQ. She parked the car in the garage and turned it off. We all exited the car and both Russians took their luggage. Why did I even bothered to come get them? It was unproductive and a waste of time. I sighed and heard a cough. I looked behind me and saw Mark standing there with a hard look in his eyes as if he was to reprimand a child.
"Boss may I repeat this another time, it's dangerous to wander alone without protection."
"Sorry about that..." I mumbled as my phone started to ring. I looked at the screen and answered it. At the same time, I heard a sigh. He must not believe me. Well, he should since I didn't myself.
I talked on the phone as I walked back inside the HQ with my bodyguard shadowing me. How did Shelby put up with this?
I ended the call, and put my lab coat on. As soon as I entered, Heather was on me.
"Are they here?" she asked making me nod. "Is Ashley showing them their room?" I nodded again making her nod too. Deep in her thoughts, she started to mumble things that I couldn't understand. I looked her walk away and I continued my path. At my desk, I saw Kane sitting on my chair with his feet on my desk.
I walked until I was beside him and put my hands on my hips. He didn't notice me since his nose was deep into a book.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
He didn't look out of his book and said, "Reading."
I sighed, "Get your feet off my desk and your ass off my chair," I ordered and to my surprise he obeyed.
He closed his book and stood tall in front of me and then he leaned so his mouth was beside my ear, "You should tame your little puppy," Puppy? I didn't have a dog. "He was lonely without you," he continued making me frown. What the hell was he talking about? I didn't have a pet. I felt his hand my back as he slowly slid it down.
Then someone pushed Kane away. "Don't touch the Boss this easily," Marc groaned making me look between them.
They didn't like each other, but that wasn't my problem.
"Or what?" taunted Kane. "What can you do after..."
Marc's face went red, mostly because of anger. "You!" he snapped making me stand between them.
"That's enough!" I ordered as I glared at both of them. "Marc, you can rest for the day. Kane, I need a word with you," I growled annoyed since I didn't want my men to fight between them.
My bodyguard seemed like he wanted to answer back, but the look I gave him made him walk away not without giving a last hateful glare to the man standing beside me.
When Marc left the room, I turned to Kane. "What was that about?"
"What was what about?" he played dumb. I had to say he started to get better and better than his initial one worded answers.
"Never mind," I let it go since I wasn't in the mood to deal with it.
┬─┬ ノ( ゜-゜ノ)
•••
The next day, the Nikolaev, Heather, Kane and I were all in the same room sitting around a circular table. Everyone had a cup of coffee in front of them and we were all staring at each other in silence. We were all waiting Ashley to bring the artifacts she found in the ruins. I didn't know if they would know what it was since their history may not have been kept, but I really hoped so.
Ten minutes later, Ashley's team came into the room with multiples equipment since we wanted to preserve everything. Ashley ended the trail of researchers and told them to let everything there, that she will take care of it.
She turned to us, "My deepest apologies!" she apologized guiltily as she hurried to finish the last set up of the equipment.
"Don't worry about it," answered the Russian woman.
In a matter of seconds, she was seated beside Heather. I nodded and started the meeting. I presented the members that were present around the table and the subject of our meeting today.
"Now, since the Nikolaev went under the protection of the Ivanov, I wondered if you kept the records of your family history?" I asked them. They both looked at each under surely unsure about it. "And please do not worry, everything we say here will stay strictly confidential understood?" I looked at everyone in the room and they all nodded.
"Whatever we sat can't reach the ear of an Ivanov or the hope and effort we harvest each day will all be for nothing. They will destroy us before we can get out," added the woman.
A few moment later the man continued, "We did keep the record of our history and both of us know everything about it. What do you want to know?"
"We know that the Nikolaev were at the Great Conference, but what we don't know is what this conference was about?" I asked while looked at both of them then at Kane.
He was as neutral as always. If he put something more into that face, he could be much more attractive. I internally sighed.
"We can't tell you about it. I heard that you already contacted the Anderson and I suppose that you'll also find the others. So, I think I'll tell you this, no one will tell what the conference was actually about," answered the man.
"Why? Did your ancestor sign something?"
He shook his head, but it was the sister that answered, "No one knows. Nothing was recorded about the subject of the conference, but some details."
"I guess you want to know the details?" the brother asked making me nod. "What can we get in exchange?"
I know they would ask that, "Since we are all under confidentiality, what will you do if I tell you that I can restore the former glory of the Nikolaev?" Both their head jerked up as soon as they heard it.
"Are you serious?" they both asked incredulously. "It's in Russia, what power do you have in Russia?"
"I have a contact there that own me a favor. He is quite powerful in Russia." I raised an eyebrow, "Do we have a deal?" I asked.
I waited for their answer as we all watched them mumble to each other. They couldn't refuse this golden opportunity. I did my homework after all. Well, it was thanks to one of Ashley report too. Anyways, the Ivanov wasn't that powerful since there were bigger sharks in Russia.
"We accept," they both answered and we shook our hand. Then we sat back down and I took a sip of my coffee since I was unable to erase the smirk on my face. It was too easy.
"During the conference, every leader accepted to only keep a fragment of the conference with them, so the peace of the world could be maintained," started the man.
"Dividing the information like this was for the sake of the world. That someone couldn't accidentally find it by accident. And mostly it was so the army wouldn't know where to find them," the sister continued without missing a beat as if they learned it all their life.
"Our piece of a whole is," they talked in synchronization,
"This thing all things devours;
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats mountain down."
What the fuck was this? A riddle? "That's the clue?" I asked incredulously.
"Believe us or not, we don't know what it means either. Just know that we are but a piece of an all."
A/N:
The riddle is not mine and please try to answer the riddle without searching it on the internet! It may be easy for some fans and more difficult for others, but let's have some fun!
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