Chapter 361: The apology which worked!
She did not know what response they would give her but the tall assassin reached into his pocket for a storage device and slid it across the table. "This is proof of some things that could get us arrested for life."
"Or killed." The second one muttered with resentment. He did not agree with this plan, but his brother was stronger and the leader of their group.
The tall one said intensely, "if we ever betray you, then you can ruin us. But if you agree to take us in, if you ever betray us, I will kill you. My brother and I expect your loyalty and protection just as you expect ours. As long as you treat us well, pay us what we are owed, don’t treat us like dogs... like some nobles do, and don’t step on our dignity, we will protect you with out lives."
Mija knocked on her door and opened it. "Si, we have to go. There is an emergency that needs your attention." She glanced at the assassins briefly, hissed once and focused her eyes intensely on Sienna.
Sienna took the storage device and put it in her bag. "I will investigate what is on this device. As long as its true, then you are hired. Of course, we will have to beautify your background before you appear at my side. For now, go and take care of anything else that may be unresolved. Enjoy the weekend and report for duty on Monday. If you have family, they will have to move to the compound, so make those preparations too."
The questioning was simply to get a brief understanding of them. If Grace Twindell recommended them, she knew they would be great at their job. She was just worried about them leaking information like holes in a bucket.
***
Meanwhile, at a hotel in the city, Elias was sighing. He had never looked more miserable. Timothy was walking through the a banquet hall, barking orders at a team of decorators, florists and choreographers. Elias sat slouched in a chair, grumbling under his breath as if every flower arrangement was a personal insult.
"There are too many flowers. At this rate, she will be sneezing!" he snapped.
Timothy ignored him, ears twitching with amusement. "The experts said 99,999 roses symbolize passion. Besides, they are not taking up that much space."
Elias looked around and grimaced. "Are you blind?" The roses covered the walls, the ceiling, the floor and every corner of the room!
Even the gym equipment he was giving Sienna because she liked to work out was decorated with roses. Each set of high-tech equipment was polished and engraved with Sienna’s initials. He glared at the treadmill as if it had personally betrayed him.
Another gift that was decorated with flowers was the case with ten percent of the shares in one of his prized wineries.
His brothers, lounging nearby, nearly fell off their chair chairs, laughing when Timothy lifted the case, to place it in a bed of flowers that was shaped like a heart.
"Ten percent? It must be killing you Elias." Miro roared, clutching his stomach. The wineries were like his brother’s babies.
"If I was a woman, I would forget about the Vixens too after seeing how much they are worth." Gael added with a wicked grin.
Elias’s tail lashed. "This is not funny. I am apologizing with dignity."
"Dignity?" Miro pointed to the rack of costumes being wheeled in by Liman. "Bro, you’re about to dress like an apology emoticon. Dignity already left the building."
Indeed, the final act of the apology was a choreographed performance. Elias’s guards, normally stoic and battle ready were now rehearsing a dance routine while wearing oversized yellow suits with exaggerated teardrop eyes and pleading smiles.
Elias groaned as Timothy gestured for him to get up. He was forced into the yellow abomination, ears poking awkwardly through the fabric.
The rehearsal began. The guards shuffled in formation, chanting the lyrics Timothy had commissioned. Elias’s voice was a low growl as he sang, but the guards belted out the chorus with gusto, stomping their feet in rhythm.
His brothers howled with laughter, offering commentary between verses.
"Lift your tail higher, brother!" Miro shouted.
"Smile more, you look like you are plotting murder." Gael added.
Miro declared with a guffaw, "I declare that your wife will forgive you just to put a stop to this embarrassment."
Timothy glared at them and smiled at Elias when he turned his head back. "Ignore them my lord, this plan was approved by ten experts. It is safer to do this than choosing to ignore your wife too, to give her a taste of her medicine like Lord Miro suggested."
Miro shrugged. "I have never been married or loved a woman to a point of degrading myself, so what do I know?"
By the time the hall was ready, Elias looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
The doors soon opened, and Mija stepped into the hall, escorting Sienna by the arm.
Sienna’s eyes widened at the sight of her husband in a giant yellow, emoticon suit, flanked by guards swaying side to side with sunflowers in their hands.
For a heartbeat, she was silent. Then she burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching her stomach, tears streaming down her face.
"You---" she gasped between giggles. "you look so....stupid? I can’t describe it. What are you doing?"
Elias froze mid-dance, ears flattening. His brothers collapsed onto the floor, laughing so hard they couldn’t breathe. Liman and the guards encouraged Elias by singing louder.
"Lady, Oh my lady, don’t be blue.
My lady, I’ll never ignore a call from you!"
Elias walked to her, with a bouquet of roses, singing softly but sweating a boat load. Sienna staggered forward, still laughing, and hugged him despite the ridiculous costume.
"For the sake of your willingness to throw your pride away and endure this silliness, I will accept your apology."
Elias’s voice rose, "Lady, Oh...."
Sienna grimaced. "Alright, alright, stop singing. Apology accepted. You win, giant emoticon. But I am sharing this on BeastNet because it is too funny to keep to myself."
Elias winced, but he quickly accepted his fate, though his tail twitched with lingering humiliation. He was much too relieved to care about a picture like this trending online.
His unhelpful brothers clapped him on the back, still chuckling, and made their way out.
"Legendary," Miro declared.
When they were gone, Elias presented the rest of his gifts. Sienna accepted them readily.
"Do you still want to see the performance?" He asked.
She paused and nodded. The next ten minutes passed with her in stitches. When it was finished, she wiped her eyes, still smiling. "Next time, if you cannot answer the phone, just text and tell me you are busy or redirect me to Timothy. It will save you from giving me another ten percent in your wineries."
Elias patted his chest, thinking to himself that this would be the last time her call went unanswered. Apologies were too expensive!