Alex sat at his desk, feet up and legs crossed as usual. The relaxed posture served well to hide the growing pit in his stomach. When he heard the knock at the door, he almost leapt to his feet as he motioned for a servant to open it. The relief washed over him like a wave back on Earth when he recognized the man as one of his employees. Kendall, if he wasn't mistaken.

"So, it's done, then?"

"Yessir, just as ya asked." The man spoke in a thick Naustin drawl, almost incomprehensible to offworlders. For Alex, though, it served just fine. "Poor girl was fixin' to run, but I 'ad 'er down fasnter'n a Naustin 'nado."

"Good. And the photo? You took the photo, right?"

"Whaddya thank I am, stupid? 'Course I got the photo, heah!"

The man handed over an envelope, presumably containing the grisly evidence of Mrs. Shaw's fate.

"Now, sir, what exactly did this girl do? She didn't seem all that, well. Criminal."

Alex was surprised by the man's straightforwardness - usually, men like this had a firm grasp on when ought to talk, and when they should shut the hell up. Questions like that only serve to call into question a man's ability to tell the difference.

"She asked one too many questions. If that'll be all, mister..."

"Keith, sir. Keith Skye. Thank you, Master Rose, my family will eat for days off of this!"

"Yes, well, do make sure you keep that mouth of yours shut, or else it'll be the last meal they ever eat courtesy of their father. Good day, Kevin."

Without another word, the man was escorted offsite by security, and Alex took his place at his father's desk. Today was a good day, he thought to himself - one less rival in the water market. Mrs. Shaw had gotten the notion that she ought to control two-thirds of the north Cap's ice production, voiding an agreement between their fathers that it would be split evenly.

On that thought, Alex looked up at his father's portrait, looming high above his desk. He'd tripled profits for the Roses since his father's passing, and diversified from just another water-squatting family into a multi-planetary conglomerate selling everything from beer to steak - with a cold, iced lemonade free with every fifth purchase. Yet, inexplicably, he still couldn't shake the feeling that he was somehow failing in his duty, that he was just another disappointment like his brothers and sister.

"I'm sorry, Pa. I'm sorry. I know Danny Shaw was nothing but a friend to us and ours." His voice cracked from the strain just seeing those cold, blue eyes put on him.

"She had her men kill Lenny last week, you know that shit can't go unanswered! I had to! It was this, or she'd'a sent guys after me, after Occy, after mother!" He was angry now, though he wasn't sure at what.

"Christ! Stop starin' at me, would ya! I'm doin' you proud every fuckin' day, all you do is sit up there and gloat! They ain't even scared of me, just you and your fucking cold dead eyes gloating from up on high!"

Alex leapt from his chair, yanking Old Redd Rose's picture down and throwing it to the side. He fell over doing so, a searing pain burning in his lower back.

"DAMMIT!" He cried, holding back tears. Tears are a waste of water, and water's money, Father used to say.

A young woman came sprinting into the room, concern visible on her face even from where he sat on the floor. She ran to Alex, and while helping him up, asked, "Are you all right? What happened?"

Alex focused on her accent - not a Lonestar native, that much was obvious. She didn't sound pompous enough to be Imperial, and her common was too good to be one of those savages from the western half. Fredonian, he decided. Nothing else made sense.

"Sir?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just pulled a muscle. Look, I need you to take this painting out of here. Now." Like the lights after flicking a switch, the rage and despair left Alex. To the world, he was once more the calm, cool, and collected business mastermind. Inside, he was screaming.

He watched as concern quickly changed to quiet confusion on her face. "...and put it where?"

He didn't respond.

"...Sir?"

Alex walked away, turning to face his office window.

"Burn it. And throw the ashes out with tonight's waste."

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