Chapter 8 War God

• Chapter 8
• Vera got the same stares and attention as she did when she came in earlier, if not more, she could feel eyes on her back as she walked away, gracefully swaying her hips in the most natural yet alluring manner, this time more confident than the last, her head held high, shoulders squared and arms swinging in just about the right angle.
• She stepped out of the station into the slightly darkened evening taking in the scenery when she heard her name, from that very unmistakable high-pitched voice which was her mother's “Vera darling” her mother called again, in a somewhat singsong manner, a thing that mothers do she'd come to find out.
• “Mother” she called back, walking to meet her already almost running mother halfway.
• Catherine was delighted to see her daughter, she'd come in earlier and was told Vera was being questioned and would be out soon. And those forty-five minutes she'd waited seemed like ages.
• They met each other halfway, each with outstretched arms ready to envelop the other in a much-needed mother-daughter embrace.
• Vera clung to her mother like a baby whose life depended on it and Catherine ever so gladly held her tightly, inhaling her scent.
• She'd missed her daughter greatly and even feared for her, but at the same time, she trusted her.
• Vera had proven time and time again, without a number, that she was capable of taking care of herself.
• “I'm right here Mother” Vera mumbled into her mother's neck where her face was buried, she could barely breathe from the intensity and tightness of the hug, but she wasn't complaining. She loved it here.
• “My sweet little pumpkin” Catherine replied, holding her even tighter with tears brimming in her eyes.
• Vera broke the hug to stare at her mother. Catherine cupped her daughter’s face in her palms, moving her head from side to side as if scanning her face thoroughly for any damage.
• “Are you okay?” Catherine questioned, sniffing vigorously.
• "I'll get through this, Mother” Vera reassured.
• “I know you will, darling” Catherine replied tearfully.
• “I apologize for putting you in this mess, mi amour. I shouldn’t have pressured you to attend, I’m sorry”.
• “Mother please, don’t blame yourself for this” Vera begged, wiping a stray tear from her left cheek with her index finger.
• Vera lovingly smiled at her mother, wondering how Catherine could hide this softie part of her beneath that hard and Stoic no-nonsense look and character she carried around all day.
• Catherine was more of a strong and stubborn woman on the surface, and a very soft mellow woman on the inside with a small stature and petite body type to complement it, she could easily pass for a middle-aged woman in her prime. She’s one of those women who are said to age well, even at fifty-four she was still agile and strong.
• Her past and life in general have taught her that soft women get trampled on, abused, and taken for granted. She had to make up for her small stature with her character and intelligence and keeping a strong front.
• Through the years, she had developed somewhat of an alter which was the Catherine the world knows, she reserved the soft and sweet mother part of herself for the only person in the entire world who mattered to her, her precious daughter.
• She'd taught her daughter from a very young age to be a strong woman independent woman, reminding her every day that soft women do not have it easy. And every day she wakes up proud that her Vera took in her footsteps.
• Today, not only was Vera the CEO of a million-dollar company, she was rich and had a praiseworthy reputation, something other women could only wish for and very few others had.
• She knew her worth and stood up to her and her father when she was asked to marry Steve, and although Catherine didn't quite like that gold digger ex-husband of hers, Ivan, she was happy that Vera knew what she wanted and went for it.
• “You're strong” Catherine whispered, gripping her shoulders and staring at her proudly “I got to learn from the best” Vera answered, smiling widely.
• “Let's get out of here, I'm starving,” Catherine said, leading her to the waiting car.
• ***
• Ivan was settled in his living room in a white sleeveless tank top and loose gray sweats with his laptop on his thigh, a mouse in his right hand and the remote control to the television an inch away from his left. His feet were propped on the glass table a little carelessly.
• His undivided attention was on the screen of his computer as he clicked away, safe to say he is slowly resuming his workaholic habits.
• A maid walks in with a bottle of wine and a wine glass on a tray. She proceeded to set it down on the table in front of him, he glanced at the tray from the side of his eye.
• “I’ll have whiskey instead,” he said, not taking his eyes off the screen.
• “Yes sir” the maid answered, bowing. She took the tray with her as she turned to leave.
• Ivan heard a door slamming and immediately knew who it was.
• Hermès walked in slowly with his hands thrust in his suit pants, he paused at the door for a minute.
• “I see you still have the issue with knocking,” Ivan said sarcastically.
• “So it seems,” Hermes answered, moving towards Ivan.
• “And you have been here all day too?”
• “Yes, do you have a problem with that?” Hermes asked with a cocky grin.
• They had a somewhat professional friendship that an outsider might not understand. And while Hermes was friendly, he respected Ivan and knew his boundaries, and never overstepped.
• He took a sit adjacent to Ivan, his attention wavered between the television and Ivan.
• Ivan felt his eyes on him and lifted his head to look at him, raising a questioning brow.
• “Are you homeless now, Hermes?” Ivan asked, squinting his eyes.
• “Uhm…” Hermès hummed, leaning off the sofa and drumming his fingers lightly on his thigh.
• “I’m not homeless. Contrary to what you think, I’m just used to being here, I’ve lived here ever since you left, so technically speaking, it’s my house too…”
• Hermes was interrupted by the images on the television which took his complete interest, he picked up the remote control from beside Ivan and made to increase the volume.
• Ivan was taken aback by Hermes’ quietness and raised his head to look at him, he followed Hermes’ interested gaze and glanced at the television.
• His jaw dropped in shock at the headline and the images on the screen...