The Ballerina's Puzzle

Chapter 9: Draped in Silks, Swathed in diamonds ...

Lying languidly on the sofa in his office, his eyes idly watching the wooden ceiling beams, Levi pulled his phone out of his pocket and made a call.

"Blake, hi. I heard this recent words that were pulled by Crompton. I want you to investigate those allegations. I read the transcript of his press release and he referred to The RINA MINES, having ties with some conflicts that have taken place over the years in some African countries. Do some ground research and report to me immediately." Levi instructed. If anyone was going to dig into the roots of this accusation it was Blake. Such an accusation wasn't cast on just a whim. There must have been something that prompted the damned Crompton to lay out such words.

Shaking his head, Levi roused himself to a sitting position and smiled as his thoughts went to his wife. He wondered if she had had anything to eat yet. It was already late and he hadn't had any chance to find out if she had eaten, because of the intense meetings he had been engrossed in all afternoon. Some husband he was, Levi sighed, rubbing his palm over his face. Surely he needed to have been more attentive to her. Unfortunately he had been rattled by the confession he had made to her. He didn't even have any idea where the will to make the confession had come from. However he had needed to lay open that part of their lives to her. She had as much rights to know what happened, as much as he did. As a matter of fact, he had felt reprehensible for the entire way he had gone about making her his. Yet, it had been a necessity for him to undertake. Hence he had done it. And now, he only wondered how they were to live in a peaceful co-existence with everything. Especially with his confession to her. If she only knew the truth about him. Well, that was one truth too many he had already divulged, Levi concluded.

Walking out of the office, Levi decided to go and be a husband to his wife. The thought of that, bringing sweet memories of that night he had wanted to have her for dessert.

Levi walked into their wide, magnificently decorated bedroom and was greeted by silence and a chill from the open window. He frowned. Then he walked further into the room, checking the ensuite bathroom and was surprised to find Kenya nowhere in sight. There was a light breeze outside, which brought in the saltiness of the sea into the room. His brows coming together in a scowl, Levi went downstairs to find Kenya. Coming into the kitchen, hoping that she was having dinner, Levi was displeased to find only Tamar, giving instructions to a maid.

"Tamar, have you any idea where Mrs Ruthford is?" Levi asked, the name flowing effortlessly out of his lips.

"Yes, Sir," Tamar answered, slightly bemused. "She asked us to get one of the downstairs' rooms ready for her, earlier. She is there now. I just took her some aspirin for her headache, after she declined having any dinner."

"Headache? Downstairs..." Levi stood aghast. Refusing dinner? Levi echoed, inwardly. Seeing the confused look on the faces of Tamar and the maid, Levi calmed himself.

"Tamar, would you run a hot water bath for the both of us, upstairs and add some bath salts. Perhaps it would help the headache." Levi requested tightly and turned away to go get Kenya. Tamar's lips parted in mid-sentence as she realized she didn't tell him the room. But he was already gone. Quietly she went on to do his bidding. Obviously he was already mad as it was.

There were only three bedrooms on each floor and Levi didn't mind banging every door until he found Kenya. He tried to rein in his emotions, knowing from Tamar that Kenya was already suffering a headache. Knocking on door number two, Levi felt a modicum of relief to hear her voice from behind it. Opening the door, Levi walked into the room, squaring his shoulders as he stood at the door.

Her back to him, Kenya said, "Tamar, there would be nothing more for tonight. Thank you very much for helping me bring down my suitcase from upstairs." She sniffed as she sat on the bed with her back to him, her face in the direction of the open window. She had been crying, Levi realized. No wonder she suffered a headache, he thought.