138 Dare

"Since you started to lie," Mrs. Cloud retorted, wiping her lips. 

"I started to lie a while ago, even when I just met you," Mr. Cloud smirked.

"Well there you go, your timeline," Mrs. Cloud replied. 

Mr. Cloud's eyebrows raised, "Isn't that too wide of a time to zero in on?"

"Do the math, I wasn't the one who studied math in college," Mrs. Cloud retorted. 

"Oh please, that was more than 20 years ago, I've long since forgotten those equations," Mr. Cloud rolled his eyes. 

"But you haven't forgotten the analyzing aspects of it, didn't you? Use that analytical mind already and figure out that I don't like my time being wasted like it's being right now," Mrs. Cloud clapped back.

Mrs. Cloud paused for a moment, his head tilting to the side. "Is there ever a moment when your words aren't as sharpened as they are right now?"

"Is there ever a time when you can truly rest when you do business?" Mrs. Cloud retorted. 

Mr. Cloud thought for a moment before nodding, "yes, there is."

"No, there isn't," Mrs. Cloud corrected, "but then again you wouldn't know as you have spent years away from the stacks of papers and the waves of work this hell loves to provide me as meals."

"You've thrown so much shade at me that I'm literally becoming the graphite of a pencil," Mr. Cloud sighed. 

"You should just turn into the pencil itself so I can use you up till your last centimeter of graphite left and then discard you as easily as I pulled you out," Mrs. Cloud returned. 

"Can I not say a sentence without you finding some way to demean me? Let's be humane shall we?" Mr. Cloud groaned. 

"How ignorant of you. To ignore how inhumane you are and think that you can even engage in a humane environment again," Mrs. Cloud chuckled. 

"Why do you treat me like this?"

"I treat you the way you deserve to be treated. I'm not like those brainless employees that live in these walls. I don't bow to your name and worship you. I treat you like you treat them, treat you like you treated your victims, and treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Like a devil."

"What high accusations,"

"Unless you find a way to reduce them they'll stay that high."

"Omg Lia, why in the world are you so aggressive today-"

"Don't you dare call me Lia. Your days to do that have long since died."

"Then what do I call you? Mrs? Ma'am?" 

"Call me by the name you forced me to take when you put that ring on my finger."

"Lia-"

"Shut the fuck up and tell me what your arrogant as is doing poking his beady eyes in situations and worlds his red fingers decided to leave on its own?"

"Lia- I-"

"You're going too far-" Mr. Cloud began as he reached for her, large hands hoping to reunite with a body they missed holding.

"I'm stating the exact amount that I need to say and withholding the exact amount that I need to save," Mrs. Cloud brushed his hand away and stood u[, staring down at him. "How much more do you need to hear to know what I don't need you anymore? To know that we don't need you anymore? To know what you need to stay in your lane and complete the sentence you placed on yourself."

"Lia, I'm sorry."

"Do not call me name" Mrs. Cloud retorted as she walked past Mr. Cloud. "I will be checking to see that all footage gained from the cameras are destroyed. If they are not, I will take them down myself."

"Lia-"

"Mrs. Cloud,"

"Mrs. Cloud, you do not need to go this far," Mr. Cloud begged, grabbing Mrs. Cloud's delicate wrist. "Please at least listen to what I'm saying first-"

Mrs. Cloud's face twists in anger and disgust as she looks down at the place that Mr. Cloud touched her arm. Her stare was so tense and stiff that it burned through his hand. 

He slowly pulled away from her but kept her close to him. "You're leaving before I can even say a word."

"I'm leaving before you can tell another lie to me, I'm leaving before I become too sick by staying in this room, I'm leaving before I get corrupted by your gaze and words."

Mr. Cloud clenched his jaw in anger. "Is that all you have to say?! Lie this, devil that, a killer that, is that all you have to say about me?! Don't you have new words to use? Don't you have different things to complain about that you hate about me? WHY ARE YOU REPEATING THE SAME SENTENCES AGAIN AND AGAIN?!"

Mrs. Cloud's eyes were unfazed. They were blank. "Because any more and I'll get more involved than I need to be. I would hate to cross the line of a business partner and the manner level of strangers."

Mr. Cloud flinched. Her eyes didn't waver, she wasn't lying. Those were her real feelings, what she really thought of him. 

It wasn't the first time he had heard those words, but once again they stabbed him in the hearth. Unhealing, ice crystals that pierce deeply into his skin and heart, eating him out inside out. It hurt. It hurt so much every time she said something, it hurt every demeaning word she said. Her dismissing attitudes, her repulsed stares, and the way she drew her lines between him and her so clearly. They hurt, badly.

"I hope that is enough to keep you in check," Mrs. Cloud nodded, picking up her bag that laid on the table. 

She double-checked for her items and turned to look at him. "I'd hate to meet you in the future, so make sure you stay well confined in this little cell. If you are to go man hunting again, make sure I do not see a single trace of your involvement in the situation. It'll make it more unsightly to clean up."

Mr. Cloud couldn't even say a word. He just watched as her eyes, dim and bleak stared into his, speaking words that one who was in love would never say. He couldn't help but feel horrible. It was pathetic, how he felt bad for something that he caused himself. 

"And if I don't let you leave?" Mr. Cloud spoke up, "if I do, do all of these things? What will happen then?"

"Hm," Mrs. Cloud murmured. She looked up at him, her eyebrows raising sympathetically. It was fake. "Ever wondered how someone you love severely started to treat you like a piece of shit and completely drops you to the point that it's worse than abandonment would impact you? Would you like to see how quickly I can move on?"

Mr. Cloud froze, taking a mental step back. 

It was funny how someone who didn't seem to care about him in the slightest bit, someone who looked down on him with everything, someone who would gladly laugh if she looked down on her husband's grave, was still his weakness. How he still thought about her smile and the way she had held him before. How he would gladly take her up in his arms even after all this was over, how he would gladly kill everyone for her, how he would kill himself for her. 

It was funny how she could turn away so quickly. Her abandonment was the biggest wake-up call he could get. He hated himself for making her like that and hated himself for missing her that much. 

"I'll do as you said," Mr. Cloud replied. 

Mrs. Cloud watched him for a moment. "I know you won't," she chuckled, "I'm not dumb anymore sadly, I can't be ignorant anymore. Just make sure that whatever you do with it does not affect the company and does not get anywhere near my vicinity and property."

Mr. Cloud frowned. 

"I'm sure you understand," Mrs. Cloud nodded. She needs no further explanation. She could tell by his gaze, it was broken. 

She gave a nod and turned around, pressing down her urge to throw up. She had done what she wanted to do.

"I'm taking my leave now," Mrs. cloud announced, turning around and heading for the door leading out of the room.

"Is that it?" Mr. Cloud asked, "nothing more to say?" He didn't care if it was more insults, he just wanted to be in her presence for longer than he already was. By the scowl on her face, she didn't look like she wanted the same. 

She stared at him with a look of disgust for a moment before nodding. "Ah right…." she muttered. 

"What is it?" Mr. Cloud asked. 

She stared into his eyes, in her eyes, a storm sparking. "Stay away from Vixen. Unless he reaches out to you, I do not want to hear that you have come within 10 feet distance of him. 

Mr. Cloud flinches immediately. "Vixen? Why bring him up?"

"He's my son, I can bring him up whenever I can. You, however, are a different case. If you really thought I didn't notice the camera you placed right in front of his room and strategically placed it in the hallway to watch the movement of people. How dare you think you can involve yourself with him after all you've done to him?" Mrs. Cloud chuckled. "The fact that you still thought you had a chance just shows how much of a shallow thinker you are. It's a shame. Stay away."

Mr. Cloud staggered backward a bit. 

"Don't act all surprised. I'm only noticing the things I should notice and only acting like the person you made me become," Mrs. Cloud shrugged, "how do you like my new form? Best suited to deal with pests isn't it?"

Mr. Cloud didn't utter a word, he didn't even dare to look at her. 

"Stay away from me, the company and Vixen," Mrs. Cloud muttered, "I will not repeat myself."