Chapter 41: Irritated.

The night settled over the city like a thick velvet cloak, its shadows stretching languidly as Steven adjusted himself in the driver's seat. Shane sat beside him, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Good to see you and your wife are finally getting along" he said, peering out the window as passing streetlights flickered like the stars above.

"We're not. We're just coexisting," Steven replied, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

"Stop lying to yourself, little brother. I see the way you both look at each other." Shane said.

“I don't know about her, but I know myself. I'll never be intimate with another woman." Steven replied.

"But you've made love to her." Shane teased him.

"Fine!" Steven grumped. "But I'll never love another woman," he stated.

"But you will if she turned out to be Crystal's reincarnation." Shane said and Steven was quiet. It was the first reason he agreed to marry Diane because she looked exactly like Crystal, his first love. And now Dua's just Diane's look alike too, looking very identical to Crystal.

Their conversation was cut short as they pulled up in front of an old warehouse—a structure that had long seen better days but still loomed large and foreboding under the moonlight. This was their base for the evening, a venue for the gathering of leaders from rival factions, a meeting that could determine alliances or ignite conflicts.

"Ready to put on your royal face?" Shane joked, breaking the tension as they stepped out of the car.

Steven smirked, shaking his head. "This isn’t a game, Shane".

In silence, they made their way to the entrance, flanked by two burly guards who bowed at the sight of Steven. As they passed through the door, the air shifted, filled with the low hum of murmuring voices and the clinking of glasses.

The dimly lit room was packed with men and women, some seated at tables, others engaged in hushed conversations by the makeshift bar. The centerpiece was a grand table at the front, where Steven would soon hold court.

"Keep your eyes sharp. Remember, trust no one," Shane cautioned.

"You keep telling me this all the time, I'm not a kid, bro." Steven gave a little chuckle, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"I can see you're all having fun." Steven smirked, gaining their attention.

They all stopped their activities and stood up, bowing in reverence to Steven, fear instigated in most of them.

Steven began walking in, his presence commanding attention, each of his stride, speaking power and authority. The atmosphere becoming chilling as he exuded his dark aura. He took his place at the head of the table, exuding a confidence that belied the turmoil thrumming inside him. The turmoil caused by Shane as he pondered on the discussion they had in the car.

His eyes ran through them all, finally settling on Bob as he remembered Shane's and Dua's warnings regarding Bob. "What could this bastard possibly be up to?" He thought, but then waved it off as he spread an order, "Begin."

A man stood up and began, "Thank you, my King for honouring this meeting and..."

"Go straight to the point." Steven interrupted him.

"The Mafia Lord is getting weak, it's only wise for us to get a new one, a powerful one. And we'll like you, my King to get on that position." The man said.

The Mafia Lord rules the worldwide Mafia, and has power and authority over the Mafia Kings.

"That should be my ambition, not yours." Steven replied.

"The Mafia King's ambition is a shared one, one shared with his gang." The man replied and Steven scoffed.

"Which one of you will benefit the most from this?" Steven said, his voice steely.

The man swallowed, the rest of them fearful, intimated by the deadly look he had on his face.

"This meeting is over." Steven stood up from his seat and Shane held his hand, sighing at Steven's quick temper.

Simultaneously, a young woman hastily spoke. "We still have other things to discuss, my King. We apologize if we've angered you in any way."

Recognizing the familiar voice, Steven's eyes settled on the young woman, Victoria, his close friend and acquaintance. She gave him a wink that made a scof almost escape his lips as he sat back in his seat, the other members breathing in relief.

They began a new session of discussion of which he paid less attention to. His mind focused on the invention he was crafting in his head.

Soon the meeting came to an end and Steven made his way back to his car. He quickly grabbed his sketchbook and began putting down his invention in paper.

"Can we get going please? I'm sleepy." Shane yawned.

"Just a few minutes," Steven replied.

After about ten minutes and Steven was still focused on his sketchbook, with no sign of him getting of it anytime soon. Shane sighed and said, "let's switch seats," and they switched seats.

As the engine hummed to life, Shane glanced sideways at his brother, who remained deep in concentration, his brow furrowed as he meticulously illustrated the intricate designs filling his mind. The streetlights blinked past them, illuminating Steven’s intense focus in brief flashes.

"You know," Shane ventured, breaking the silence, "if you put as much energy into your relationship with Dua as you do into that sketch, you might actually find some happiness."

Steven sighed, tearing his eyes away from the pages filled with sketches to look at Shane. "I’m not interested in happiness right now. I’m trying to build something that will last."

"Inventing is fine and all, but you can’t keep running away from emotions, Steven. You might just find that they can be part of your designs, too. Isn’t that what creating is about?" Shane challenged, glancing back at the road.

"Trust me, I’ve seen what emotions can do. They can sabotage everything," Steven replied, his voice low, laced with years of pent-up anguish. "Especially when it comes to love."

Shane shook his head, knowing pressing further would only lead to a wall between them. Instead, he turned up the radio, allowing the strains of music to fill the car, creating a comfortable distraction.

Soon, they arrived home and they both entered into the dark living room.

Suddenly, the lights came on Shane held his chest as he suffered from shock after seeing Dua seated on a chair with a cold look on her face. "Gosh! You look scary," he breathed as he made his way to a couch.

"Where did you go?" Dua threw her question to Steven who her gaze was on.

Earlier that night she woke up and couldn't find Steven in bed, she went to his study and he wasn't there either. Worriedly she looked for Shane but he wasn't home too. She called their phones but they didn't pick up, and then she concluded that they may have gone to a night club, so she stopped worrying.

Steven ignored her, moving to go upstairs.

Dua flashed up in annoyance, stopping him in his tracks. "Did you have fun in the club?"

Steven rolled his eyes, "don't irritate me this night, I don't have the time for it." He attempted to move again but she blocked him.

"Get ready to be irritated because I have plenty of time for it," she gave him a challenging look.

Seeing them both about to go into a heated quarrel, Shane shook his head. "Why do you both keep ruining things just when you start getting along?"

"Move aside so I can pass," he said but she rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Why do you even care?" He said.

"Why do I care?" She scoffed. "Why did you care too and punch that guy at the mall?!" She yelled.

Shane facepalmed himself and sighed, "save yourself this quarrel and tell her where we went, Steve."

"I don't answer to her." Steven replied, his gaze fixed on Dua who was looking back at him provokingly.

"You both suit yourself," Shane walked out of the living room leaving them both in their heated quarrel.