Chapter 108: Miss Red

As night settled fully, Ezra sat with his wives in the living room. He was going through the financial reports while Olivia beside him was making calls, making sure the Black Spider gang was running smoothly. Gen laid on the couch beside him, giggling as she scrolled through her social media feed.

The doorbell rang, breaking the tranquility of the moment. Ezra exchanged a knowing look with his wives. "That must be Miss Red," he said, heading to the door.

He opened the door to find Miss Red standing on the doorstep, a large suitcase by her side. She was dressed in a form fitting white gown, her red hair catching the light from the porch. "Good evening, Ezra," she greeted, smiling at him.

"Miss Red," Ezra replied, stepping aside to let her in. "Welcome."

"Call me Red. After all, we'll be spending a lot of time together." She stepped inside, her eyes taking in the surroundings. "Lovely place you have here."

"Thank you." Gen appeared, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "We like it. Let's get you settled."

The atmosphere grew tense as they led Red through the mansion. "So, where exactly are you planning to sleep?" Gen asked, her tone deceptively sweet.

Red raised an eyebrow. "I assumed there would be a guest room. Unless, of course, you have other plans for me?"

Ezra intervened, sensing the brewing storm. "We have a guest room prepared. Follow me."

He led the way down a hallway, Gen and Olivia trailing behind. The guest room was spacious and elegantly furnished, with a large window overlooking the estate's grounds. Red set her suitcase down, inspecting the room with a critical eye.

"This will do," she said finally, turning to face them.

Gen crossed her arms, her posture challenging. "Glad you approve."

Red met her gaze, unflinching. "I'm here to help, Gen. We're on the same side, remember?"

Gen's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. Olivia stepped in, her voice calm and diplomatic. "We all want the same thing. We have a lot to do. Let's put our differences aside and get to work."

"I don't have any differences." Gen muttered. The tension in the room eased slightly, though it was clear that Gen and Red would need time to adjust to each other. They left Miss Red to settle in, retreating to the living room.

Ezra sat down, his mind already thinking through the plans for the days ahead. "Gen. Miss Red's presence here is valuable. We already know that she has connections to the peacekeers. Whatever you have against her, don't let it get in the way of our plans."

Gen flopped onto the couch, her irritation evident. "I know. I won't. It's just... she's so smug."

Olivia placed a hand on Gen's shoulder, soothing her. "We'll manage. We always do."

**********

Ezra, Gen, Olivia, and Red settled around the large oak dining table, the glow from the lights casting a warm light over the room. The rich scent of the evening meal lingered in the air, mingling with the metallic aroma of the blood wine they were sipping. The conversation, however, was anything but relaxing.

Ezra swirled the wine in his glass, watching the crimson liquid as it caught the light. His eyes flicked to each of the women in turn, gauging their moods. They had gathered to discuss a delicate matter. How to manage the collection of his vitality.

Gen, seated to his left, had her fingers wrapped tightly around her glass. Her eyes were sharp, her posture rigid, a clear sign of her inner tension. Across from her, Miss Red mirrored Gen's stance, though her expression held a touch more aloofness. Olivia, always the mediator, sat between them, her calm demeanor making the undercurrent of hostility between the other two stand out even more.

"Alright," Olivia began, her voice measured. "We need to establish a schedule that works for everyone. Ezra's health and well-being are our top priorities, so we need to make sure we're not overburdening him."

Gen took a sip of her wine before speaking, her eyes never leaving Miss Red. "I propose we each take two days a week. That way, Ezra has one day to rest and recover."

Miss Red arched an eyebrow, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "And who gets the extra day?" she asked, her tone light but with an edge that was impossible to miss.

Gen's eyes narrowed slightly. "We can rotate it. Each week, one of us gets the extra day. It seems fair."

Ezra listened, letting them work through the logistics. He knew better than to interrupt at this stage. It was important they felt they had a say in the arrangement. Still, he felt a twinge of apprehension as he sensed the tension building between Gen and Miss Red.

Olivia nodded, her hands resting on the table in front of her. "That sounds reasonable. We can start with Gen having the extra day this week, and then Miss Red can have it next week."

Miss Red's smile widened, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Fine by me," she said, her gaze lingering on Gen a moment longer before she turned to Olivia. "But I want Wednesdays and Saturdays. It's the best days for me."

Gen's jaw tightened, but she kept her voice even. "Then I'll take Mondays and Thursdays. That leaves Tuesdays and Fridays for Olivia."

Ezra felt the need to step in before things escalated further. "I'd like to keep Sundays for myself," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "It's important I have some personal time."

All three women turned to look at him, and for a moment, the tension eased.

Olivia nodded first. "Of course, Ezra. Sundays are yours. We can adjust our schedules accordingly."

Gen and Miss Red exchanged a brief glance, then both nodded in agreement. "Agreed," Gen said. "Sundays are off-limits."

Miss Red leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. "That works. We all need a break now and then."

With the basic schedule in place, the conversation turned to finer details. Olivia took the lead, ensuring everyone was clear on the times and any potential conflicts.

Ezra watched her work, grateful for her diplomacy. She had a way of smoothing over the rough edges that often appeared when Gen and Miss Red interacted.

As they stood to leave the table, Olivia placed a hand on Ezra's arm. "Thank you for being patient with us," she said softly. "We'll make this work."

Ezra smiled, appreciating her steady presence. "I know we will," he replied, his gaze drifting to Gen and Miss Red, who were already moving towards the door. "It's just a matter of time."

Gen paused at the doorway, looking back over her shoulder. "Don't stay up too late, Ezra. You need your rest."

Miss Red chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yes, we can't have you too tired for your busy schedule."

Ezra nodded, acknowledging both their comments with a weary smile. "Goodnight, Gen. Goodnight, Miss Red."

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