Samantha got out of the vehicle that picked her up at the place picked out by her underling and looked around, clutching a small bag in her grasp as she did.

From a quick glance, the Cacia compound was littered with guards. Of course she knew this already, but seeing it for herself made her slightly nervous.

Not about her plan. The kinks were ironed out before they were even formed, no it was her current guest, her plus one.

"Wow... This place is fancy. And so many guards as well. Almost as many as you would see around the old place, only mama doesn’t have to pay them hehe. These guys must be loaded."

Samantha looked at Keyla and shook her head. "Did you forget who the target is? Her power?" She said, prompting Keyla to giggle.

"Oh right! Duh."

Confidence began to seep from Samantha, but not enough to deter her. She knew Keyla wouldn’t fuck this up for her. She was just being paranoid.

Taking a deep breath the duo began to walk through the gates that connected the private island to the rest of the private Cacia reef. They walked across a narrow causeway and across a small garden with a centrepiece fountain.

The rest of the property was gorgeous and well kept Samantha had to admit. It was probably the minute part of her that was still human that could enjoy the well kept scenery that was only further enhanced by the beautiful tropical blue ocean on all sides.

It really put a contrast on the conditions of the black reef before she arrived. The rich were at the top and the dregs were at the bottom.

Eventually though, when the time was right, everyone would be equal, when the hive comes and devours all.

Arriving at the front door, Samantha knocked a couple of times and took a step back. A few moments later the door opened and out walked a well dressed man. Instantly Samantha put on her act.

"Savitri. It is nice to see you again. I have brought a guest with me, I hope that will be no trouble?"

Savitri looked at Keyla and had to pretend he never met the woman in front of him before.

"I don’t see why not? Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. I am Savitri Cacia, what is your name?" he asked, sticking his hand out for a shake.

Keyla did a small curtsy, covering her cleavage as she did before accepting the handshake. "A pleasure to meet you, Savitri was it? I am Keyla. You know, I was beginning to suspect if my good friend here was ever going to find a man. We had a rivalry for a hunk a while ago, but I was the favourite and she ran away in defeat... Sorry, my mouth wanders from time to time."

Savitri could feel the anger of Samantha at this moment, but kept his composure. "Well, I am lucky to have taken her interest, come in, the both of you."

Samantha and Keyla did just that and as they entered, the door suddenly shut behind them. Turning around Keyla was confused by the disappearance of the door for a wall before looking up and seeing a face looking down at her.

"Whoa. Hey big fella. You move quietly for one of your size, I will give you that."

"Thanks Lady." The mountain man said before Savitri spoke up,

"Leo. Will you inform the kitchen that we have an extra guest attending dinner?"

"Yes Boss." The large man said before walking away equally silent.

Savitri then turned back to Samantha and Keyla and smiled before asking, "Dinner won’t be long, but mother wants to have a pre-drink in her office before dealing with... You know. Is that acceptable?"

Samantha smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, that will be most acceptable. Please, lead the way." Samantha then extended her arm out for Savitri to take and he did, meanwhile Keyla smirked.

She said nothing, but Samantha could tell that she would be getting harassed by her later on about this contact...

As they walked, Samantha spoke up so a nearby guard could hear. "So Savitri, you told me most of your compound was underwater? This house is quite large, what’s all the extra space for?"

Savitri chuckled. "It’s true, the underwater section of our home is just for the family. The mansion is for formalities. When we have guests over. In truth, it hasn’t been used for quite a while."

"Something that will be rectified soon!" A voice suddenly emerged from the end of the hallway.

Looking away from Savitri, Samantha turned and smiled upon seeing Zorina, who was approaching her with open arms.

"Welcome to my home, dear. I am so happy to finally have you here, give me some sugar!"

Zorina then wrapped Samantha in a hug that was especially tight. Samantha had done it, she had gained the woman’s total trust. Now came the next stage of her plan.

Zorina pulled back from the hug and turned to her son. "Stand up straight." She scolded, even though Savitri’s posture was beyond perfect these days. Zorina was about to scold further in front of her favourite person before realising there was someone else present.

’A child?’ She thought for a moment but shook her head, she had a sense for danger and the woman before her was dangerous.

"Oh? I’m sorry, who are you? I don’t think we have been introduced?" Zorina asked and Samantha replied.

"Lady Zorina, this is Keyla. She was the issue I had this morning. I forgot she was coming to the planet today. She is... My contact for my business."

Keyla then walked forward and extended her hand upwards. "A pleasure to meet you, might I say, you are even more beautiful than Samantha gave you credit for and she was really selling you." Keyla said with a playful wink, prompting Zorina’s eyes to go wide and took a glance at Samantha.

"She has been talking about me? Why I am flattered. But enough talking out here, come to my office, we shall have a drink in there while we wait for my husband to be finished with his work."

Zorina went to turn, but Samantha stopped her. "Actually, Zorina, in that regard I have brought you a gift." She then handed over the bag in her hand and Zorina opened her eyes in surprise.

"Uh, oh... You got me another gift? I know what that means..." Zorina said and opened the bag and pulled out a bottle of liquid.

"As you know, one of my ventures is a distillery." Samantha started, "This is the sample of our new beverage. ’Sweet Surrender,’ I thought with your lasting support of me, not just business wise, but personally, I thought that all of us should try it together. I know what you usually say about consumable gifts, but I oversaw the bottling process myself. Please, trust me."

...

Zorina paused a few moments before smiling towards the bottle and then looked up at her son and daughter to be... "Ok, why not? Come on."

The group of four made their way to a private room in the mansion, the room was actually the least gaudy room in the place, instead of bright marble and shiny trinkets, there was a suave coolness in the dark imported woods that mellowed the atmosphere.

The room probably cost more in decor than the other rooms of the house, but it’s how it was done, it wasn’t superficial. It had meaning, style.

Zorina smirked, noticing the faces of the two newcomers. "I know, I like my office down below too much so I have a perfect replica up here. But hey, when you are a mafia queen, you do stuff like this. Please, make yourself at home while I fetch the glasses."

Samantha took her seat on a long couch while Savitri sat on the couch opposite her. Keyla then sat next to Savitri, surprising Samantha, though it worked in her favour as when Zorina returned she sat beside Samantha without thought.

Passing the glasses around, she smiled and raised her own.

"I know we haven’t had the dinner just yet, but I would like to make a small toast, just between us in this room. Samantha, I was sceptical of you at first, but you have been a shimmering beacon in my life in the few short months I have known you. Not just my own, but you have changed my Son for the better. And while I always loved him, even in the low of his life, I am so proud of the man he has become in order to court you."

Samantha blushed surgically and Savitri squirmed. "Mom!"

Zorina giggled at the reaction, they were both adorable. "Anyway, I just want to say I look forward to having you become a part of this family some day."

Samantha then smiled and raised her glass. "And I am looking forward to you being in my family, Zorina. Savitri. Cheers!"

Everyone clinked their glasses together and without hesitation drank the liquid within...