Vera hummed Jolène by Dolly Parton as she put the leftover food aside. Catherine had wanted to do it, but Vera insisted, She knew Catherine was worn out from the events of the day, but her mother was too stubborn to admit.Vera had won this time and sent her off to her room immediately. She proceeded to clear the table, wash the dishes, and put the leftover food aside.She was just putting the last Tupperware of leftovers into the refrigerator when the home telephone rang.Vera went to grab the phone just outside the kitchen door, glancing at the clock to check the time.“Past ten” she mumbled, placing the receiver to her ear. “Yes?”“Vera!” A husky baritone voice from the other line called with urgency.“Ivan?” Vera asked, recognizing the voice immediately. It was a voice she had gotten fond of, a voice she barely heard a few times but liked.The first time she heard that voice was at the lounge bar on Fifth Street, She had just had a fight with her parents over marrying Steve, She s

Vera walked through the hall to her room, she threw off her robe. She wanted nothing else but to lay in bed, it had been a completely offsetting day for her.She sauntered to the bed, she let out a sigh of relief as she fell lazily on it, spreading her sore limbs. She stretched a little, rolling over to her side as she went over the happenings of the day in her mind.She hated Steven's guts, she thought, but she knew he didn't deserve to die, at least not like that. And murder?? He was a prideful man, a rich one at that, so Vera saw no reason why he would kill himself.She felt some pity for his mother, a poor woman, she took so much pride in him and his death must devastate her much. She made a mental note to send her condolences to the grieving mother when the air cleared a little.Her mind drifted to the office, the reason she was a major suspect in Steve's death. She thought about the anonymous donations and silently blessed whoever it was for they're generous, it's hoping that on

Ivan stepped into the house, waiting for Vera to lock the door and lead the way.Vera wanted to avoid Catherine's hawk eye from following Ivan around, so she led him straight to her room, locking the door behind them.Ivan scanned the room, turning around, not much had changed he noticed.Vera placed the flowers on her dresser, turning to give Ivan a seat. Ivan looked handsome as always and somewhere in her heart, Vera was happy that she'd had the opportunity to call this fine man her husband.“Please sit,” she said, pointing to the bed.“Thank you” Ivan replied, withdrawing his hands from his pocket and taking a seat at the edge of the bed."I'll just shower quickly, and then we can go,” Vera told him, walking towards the bathroom“Okay, take your time,” he said, settling comfortably on the bed.Vera took a hurried shower, threw on a towel, and went to the wardrobe.Ivan stared as Vera walked out of the bathroom, his prying eyes following her. He watched the droplets of water fall fr

It was an unusually longer ride than it should have been, Vera could feel the tension between them grow.She couldn't quite place her hand on what it was, but she could feel it, and she guessed he did too.She turned to look at his expressionless face, with his eyes focused on the road. Ivan felt her stare linger on his face and smirked."Take a picture, it will last longer," he said cockily chucking a little, glancing at her."Oh please" Vera whined, embarrassed she got caught staring. "Here we are," Ivan said, pulling up in front of the giant building that was her company.He stopped to take out his keys and turned his attention to her."Ivan," she said softly, taking his hand in hers, wrapping her soft little ones around his."I never got the chance to say thank you, for everything. I wouldn't be here without you" she said quietly, appreciation laced in her voice."Hey, it's nothing. You worked hard to earn everything you have today, I just gave you little pushes when you needed

Ivan walked back to their initial seat. He sat with his hands clasped on the table as his thoughts wandered. This just confirmed his guess, they were greater than them.He knew just which of the new gods killed his spy, there was no way they could've defeated him or come back home alive.He knew it was Hades, Hades had brutally eliminated his spies. All he knew because he had fought with the god of the underworld. In his immortal form, Hades was terrifying, with his black cloak and flame-lit eyes and his three-headed guard dog.Hades had a distinct smell, which Ivan had perceived on the remains of the spies.Artemis put down the phone on the table, staring intently at Ivan, he looked in deep thought, and she hated to break it, but she had to.“Hermès should be here any moment now,” she said as she waved to a waiter to take away the cold coffee and replace it with a fresh one.“Did he find anything?” Ivan asked. “He didn't say anything to me,” Artemis said.She sat impatiently, wonder