The Way to Eden

Eden sauntered into the study, sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk and waited for her trainer to finish his phone call. He nodded to her once before bidding goodbye to his caller and hung up the phone, turning his cold grey eyes to her. As always, she marveled at how well those eyes matched his hair. Everything about the man was ice cold it seemed. But it didn't matter to Eden as she took great comfort in coldness. She always had. He'd taught her to. The man before her wasn't just her trainer, he was her guardian and had raised her since he'd found her at the age of four, alone and abandoned in a New York City slum lord's dilapidated building. She had no recollections of her parents. He simply assumed responsibility for her and raised her to be just like him: cold and dangerous. He had documents forged giving him custody and named her Eden. He never did explain the reason to her. She'd long since ceased wondering and accepted him as her mentor.

When she was seventeen, her trainer helped her investigate her parents' fate. They were both addicts who apparently needed payment for a fix. She had been sold to a drug dealer had left her there while he looked for a rich couple to buy her. Too bad all of the participants in that little drama were long dead. She would have enjoyed repaying their kindness.

"Tonight went well?" he asked her in a flat, bored tone. He never attended her matches.

"Very," she smiled placing the envelope containing her earnings on the desk before him.

He picked up the envelope and drew out its contents. He counted it twice to make sure the amount checked out. Finally he raised his cold eyes back to hers without smiling. But she could see that he was pleased.

"A bigger bonus."

"I remain undefeated," she replied just as coldly. She'd learned at a young age to keep the smugness out of her voice when dealing with him. He had a strong distaste for inflated egos.

"Were the bouts easy?"

"The first three were," she said in a bored tone. "The last one actually presented a bit of a challenge early on. Too bad about her quad."

"Did you slice it clean?"

"Just as you taught me."

"Nice."

"I wish Sergei would let me fight the guys," she sighed. "The women's division holds no interest for me."

"Patience, Eden," he said lifting a reproachful brow. "Sometimes the owners of these clubs need time to evaluate a new fighter before they can find the proper place for them."

She said nothing in reply, knowing he wouldn't welcome any further complaint. Samuel was completely unforgiving when his charge whined. She merely regarded him blandly, anticipating that he wasn't yet finished speaking. She wasn't disappointed.

"I'm sure even the legendary Rio didn't build her reputation overnight."

Eden bristled at the very mention of her former icon's name. Samuel had taken her to see Rio Angele fight almost from the beginning of the silver fighter's career. She remembered being initially unimpressed with the small woman, then having that opinion blown out of her with Rio's performance. She had avidly followed the fighter from match to match, from country to country. She watched for technique and strategy. She watched for the warrior's fire. Rio was everything Samuel had trained Eden to be. Then Rio dropped out of sight.

They'd been there the night she "died" when she was champion. Oh, Eden knew the woman intentionally threw that fight. She'd been studying her too closely not to know her abilities well outmatched those of her opponent. She'd also heard about Rio's return. It didn't matter the reason, as Rio's turn against her profession made her fall from Eden's favor. She no longer held her in high esteem and Samuel's mention of her at this moment meant one thing. He intended to remind her of her idol's fall from grace so that she avoided coming to such an end. Imagine a great warrior throwing everything away for a man. Eden vowed never to follow in such a path.

"Rio is irrelevant," she spat. "Besides, I have other news."

Samuels' brows rose in interest. It was amazing that the only thing that changed in the man's facial expression was his brow line. Damned annoying, it was. But she'd never let him know she felt that way. He waited patiently for her to continue.

"Sergei introduced me to one of his friends this evening. He seemed to believe I was right for a lucrative opportunity he was offering."

"It had better not be what you're making it sound like, my dear," Samuel said icily.

"I made it clear I don't sell that kind of product," she said smoothly. "He wants me to get rid of someone for him."

Samuel didn't make any discernable reaction at all.

"Not that I care about the occasional body," he said in a deadpan expression. "But I'm sure you haven't marketed yourself as an assassin."

"I haven't," she confirmed.

"Why you?"

"He says he wants the target to die 'stupidly'," she shrugged. "Says the guy likes dangerous women and it would be an appropriate way to kill him."

"What's the payoff?"

"Ten mill."

"That is a generous fee."

"They guy's supposed to be famous. I'd probably have to leave the US for a very long time."

"Who is it?"

"We didn't get that far," she said. "I wanted to discuss it with you. He's giving me a week to decide."

"And you have no idea what the unfortunate victim did?"

"Does it matter?"

"No," he answered giving a small cold smile. "You learn well."

"What should I do?"

"Does the idea of killing someone bother you?"

"Nope."

"And all of that money will help us live happily for a very long time," he pointed out.

"I'll agree to it then."

He nodded. "Very good. Do you want me to supervise?"

"No thanks," she smiled. "I believe I'd like to show you how well I've learned."

"That's my girl."

--------------------------------------

"Do you think she'll accept my offer?"

"Are you kidding?" Sergei asked looking up from his receipts. "She lives for making money. She pesters me constantly to give her matches against the men because she knows she'll make more."

"Why does she need so much money?"

"The guy who trains her demands she make as much as she can."

"She's beholden to someone?"

"Don't be so suspicious, my old friend," Sergei answered with a sly grin. "This one doesn't have an honorable bone in her body. She likes the money and loves the violence. You've offered her both. You'll see that you've chosen well."

The man nodded a bit uncertainly. He hated women, but he trusted Sergei. If he stood behind Sin then there was nothing to fear and everything should go according to plan. Jeff Hardy would be punished for his involvement and his meddling friends would be destroyed when they found out they helped bring about his demise. He rubbed his hands together gleefully. This would be perfect!