"It is an Apple. Eat the red circle on the wooden tree." Polmaitixes the Observer
Chapter 3: Everyone's Hungry
"Curiosity won't kill the cat." I raised her, I would know, she wouldn’t get too far so the best I could do was let her go. There Adena went, hopping and skipping across the pavement, leading to the rest of the Mabtali estate in her track pants and high-top sneakers, curls bunched up in a ponytail swaying in the wind.
I was proud of her; she didn't look back… not even once.
I stared out the window longingly as she trailed along for a minute.
'Now, what was I doing before the little rascal crossed my path? Ah, that was it.'
After entering the wine cellar, I made my way back to the living room that held my Love, and Mike, a great guy, that one. Rubbing my head against my husband's, I took the spot most comfortable next to him on the sofa, setting down three glasses.
The two could take care of the rest.
"What took you so long?' Adousa asked in his deep voice that almost made me want to melt but I resisted because we had company. I replied with a giggle remembering the game from a couple minutes ago saying, "I was raising the spawn.”
Resting my head on his lap I took out my phone and made sure Eden's location was still on, the only thing that could truly put my mind to rest.
#####
"How long have I been out here?" I asked the breeze, my stomach started growling while the sun was getting tired of keeping me company. Taking out my phone I checked the time and my eyes shot open in disbelief.
“Boy did time fly-” I guess Papa was right again about fun. I bolted home in time for dinner ignoring the colors and shades that came toward me in droves, at a loss for words. 'How fast time flies'.
The day felt like only a couple of minutes. First, I was running around minding my business. And then I bored because there wasn't anything to do.
"After running around, after running around...after running around.” I was trying to jog my almost perfect memory.
I got tired of simply running for the house, so I slowed, sat on the stone pavement, and took out my phone. "Okay, it's all coming back to me now." After looking at the light blue specks in the clouds for who knows how long. Weird how easy it was to get lost in the flow of things at times. As I was saying, I watched the light blue specks all around me flow in an upward direction into the sky slowly but surely some of them coming together and making bigger specks and then there weren't any specks there were just clouds.
"Weird”, sounded oddly like condensation.
"You fucking idiot" a whisper came from what seemed like the back of me.
"That was mean." I gritted my teeth very used to being taunted by aspects of my imagination. I had responded when I knew I shouldn't have.
"Don't disturb me and I'm not an idiot.” Pleading with my inner self to keep calm, I continued walking to the house wondering if anybody besides Papa noticed my absence.
Scrolling through my memory for the rest of my little misadventure. A rather boring search. I didn’t remember much but my phone history told me that I had been learning about “how to survive in the wild.” Don’t question it. I could guess that shortly after I fell asleep looking at my phone.
'Everyone loses track of time now and then.' A couple steps to the back door of the mansion I tried my best to sneak back in. Grateful that the doors on such an expensive Manor didn't squeak.
Walking into the kitchen I washed my hands focusing on the fridge which held the sustenance a growing girl like me so desperately needed. I wasn't that dirty, it was manageable. No dirt on my shoes to track mud, and no new accessories on my tracksuit that would cause discomfort, sometimes it was just best to check and see that everything was still in place.
Walking back to my room completely ignoring the smell of the outdoors now clinging to my body in the form of the tiniest green and brown specks. It wouldn't pose a problem if I kept my distance. I was a phantom, I was a ghost, a spy on a secret mission back to home base, tiptoeing to the promised land. That's what was going on in my head, as I ignored the house that was way more lively than usual.
'Amazing what being one-track-minded can do for you' I thought, as I noticed far too many white specks converging on my location halfway up the stairs leading to the second-floor hallway.
The stairway was the only way to the second floor beside the loud little elevator further away but by far the quickest pathway to my over-embellished door. The gateway to my room, the place where I’d freshen up, and come back down the clueless, goodie-two-shoes daughter. After placing down my bag and discarding the dirty clothes I had worn. I hopped in the shower and ran through a quick and painless routine of washing, brushing, drying, lotion, and clothing.
At exactly seven forty-five I came back down the stairs hearing new voices. No, not the little demons that are plaguing my mind. Maybe Papa invited some friends over, these were the voices of rich snobs and a few ladies who couldn't keep it in to save whatever lay left of their dignity.
As I made my way down the stairs ignoring the valuable artworks, sculptures of my making conversation bustled in the foreground.
It became breaking news to me; Father had brought work home.
_
_
#POV_JOSH
Man, have I been working hard or hardly working? It's such a pain in the neck having to organize a business event and then organize another Gig right after.
I'm a busy guy. What can I say? Rache is going to love this one.
How hard can it be to rob two soft gay fags in their house on the hill. Sometimes I think it's too easy. Fake your identity, check. Worm your way into a company, check. Take what's fucking mine. All for a nice and hefty Check!
I have to calm down. I'm getting all giddy on the inside. 'No, I can't laugh, not yet I got to hold it in.' Josh smirked, thinking himself quite the comedian as he drove in the company car next to Charlie, his Superior at Demalon Software, both on their way to the Mabtali estate for a business deal of a lifetime.
"Vemalon Software" was a firm that came up with the idea to market anything and everything that was of value through various commercials, websites, and collaborating companies. Very groundbreaking indeed.
It was a miracle the company managed to get this far. In simpler terms a trust fund baby somewhere along the company grapevine had a software start-up and took advantage of the anarchy created by the global pandemic. Would you look where that’s got the lucky bastard in the past few years? Managed to increase the value of his Startup by using good ole 'supply and demand' striking gold. Gold to one, a company merger to others.
Demalon Corp after giving Vemalon an ultimatum "Get sued for having a similar name or bow down. Vemalon became "Demalon Software" a branch of Demalon Corp.
Josh and his Character somehow secured himself a job as an assistant be it an act of arrogance or Josh choosing to be oblivious about his real role as a fall guy. He had his ulterior motives.
Arriving at the black high-rise gate of one of the Mabtali estates. Home to one of the richest men residing in the city of Chicago. Josh glared at the gates in envy as they drove by mumbling under his breath. “All that money and he can't hire a chauffeur or at least a damn butler." Charlie smacked Josh in the back of his blonde head and told him to "suit up" and that's exactly what Josh did. Putting on a smug smile, Josh showed the salary man that he could be a good boy.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
After parking the company's gray trademarked car a few blocks away from the property, the two walked to the high-rise gate in their business suits assuming Adousa Mabtali would have someone ready to escort them to the manor. Josh full of envy slid his tongue across his lips looking at the camera on the gate ready to play suck up. It wasn't his first rodeo. In the late afternoon finding the doorbell at the finally lit gate, Charlie rang it hoping that our visit would be expected.
The black gate had a hidden microphone and camera telling me and the dumbass “to look up” and Charlie did. I on the other hand turned up the volume on my little act. Charlie gave our names, and we were told to "follow the lighted stone path.” We would soon be directed to our place of business.
The place was spacious, no cars in sight, just land and trees like the guy had something to hide.
Scratch that, everybody had something to hide. This guy just doesn't put that much effort into making you think otherwise. I wonder who talked at the gate, sounds straight to me, maybe the rumors and tabloids are wrong. “Rumors hold some truth. I just want to know where he keeps the lions, tigers, and bears. Guys like him usually have a petting zoo.” Only statues and a fountain to lighten the place up and what looked like a garden over to the right.
My eyes focused on the man walking towards me, it looked like he belonged at the ole soul sucking office. Give ole charlie there a blow for his money.
When the dork approached, I almost laughed. The guy was a total Nerd he couldn't live here. ‘Then again, he could… look at Bates.’ Why am I overthinking this, get your head in the game. I'm here to case the joint.
‘Eh em’, I’m here to assist the wonderful Charlie, whatever his last name is.
Glasses took forever to walk to the exit gate of the estate. Five minutes tops, plus the exchanging of names. It was all going smoothly now in character. My face didn't show a hint of ridicule when he said his name was "Mike" The guy sure did look like one. How the hell did he get this job? He belonged in a cubical drinking coffee twenty-four hours a day.
I should get my last name changed. I’ve got glasses over there laughing at my last name.
“It’s Hutchinson, and I’ve never acted a day in my life.”
Finally getting inside the front door I asked if we should take our shoes off and the guy said it wouldn't be a problem. I was relieved. My socks weren’t in the best condition. Grinning behind Mike's big ass head, Charlie looked at me which was a sign for me to shut up and act like an assistant should.
Entering the Manor was a challenge not trying to say what was on my mind. Which was "You guys have a collection here" but saying that to Mikey here wouldn't loosen any gears so what was the point?
Doing all the talking. Charlie's old, wrinkled ass and his streaks of gray went on about how honored we were to do business with "Mato Works" and how he's been a fan of the company for decades, going on and on about the innovative designs, 'such a cocksucker'.
As we were now sitting in a dining room filled to the brim with priceless artworks and even pricier paintings hanging from the walls in just the most perfect places, I noticed a piece with the most beautiful pair of tits I'd ever seen. The tits were covered in blood and ice cream. Wait no, that wouldn't fit in a place like this. It was cum, cum falling on just the most perfect areolas. I was almost done tuning out the conversation between Mike and Charlie before I heard a laugh come from the painting.
No, it wasn't the painting, the voice was male. Two guys came walking from the door that was on the left side of the painting, laughing like there wasn’t a tomorrow. “Rich fuc,” Realizing that the sound was coming from a man I closed my mouth which was open from losing my train of thought.
I hate to say it, but he was fucking beautiful his stature, his shape, his skin, and even his hair that was combed in waves looked like he was from old Hollywood. Who the fuck was this guy, my eyes moved taking in the image that was now seared into my brain. His eyes stared back like I was the only person in the room.
Disgusted with myself, I tried sheathing the sword rubbing against my pants. I looked down at his stomach hoping he didn't notice my gawking. There were arms wrapped around his waist which my brain failed to grasp at first. Dark muscular olive-colored arms were wrapped around his waist claiming the territory that anyone could assume was his with a bottle of wine in one hand and a few glasses in the other.
"Mike, how's the meeting going?” The shadow spoke, and here I was thinking he only knew how to follow in his gay lover's footsteps. The shadow spoke again as I zoomed in on his eyes that looked at me, but I could see that he didn't acknowledge my presence, why would he?
"Excuse me, Gentleman. I hope Mike over there, was keeping you in good company, I apologize for my tardiness." Setting the wine glasses on the table. This was the man, the one recognized as Mr.Moto himself had finally sat down.
I knew from the moment I saw him that I didn't like him. I didn't like the way he moved, I didn't like his unbelievably white teeth, and I didn't like his incredibly black hair. He most definitely dyes it, maybe I'm not meant to be around millionaires and billionaires because something about this man just makes me sick.
----------------------------------------
Chapter 3: Everyone's Hungry (Part II)
I think about grabbing some food from the kitchen and retreating to my room.
"Adena, come have a seat," Father said, calming me down the best way he knew how by giving me a shock. Yeah, Father and Papa have different Ideas on what's good for me when it comes to Human interaction.
'How did he see me with his back turned?' great question. I walked over to him like Papa, and I practiced.
"Like a proper young lady" hoping I was walking the right way, shoulders up, eyes front, chin slightly tilted upwards in the direction I wanted to go.
Recalling the "don't walk, sway, if not sway, float." Papa was "anal", that's not the word, don’t say that. "Eww," I whispered, ignoring the intruder on my train of thought.
I corrected the whisper, "Strict' about having manners and showing proper etiquette in front of strangers. He doesn't care how we "I" act in front of him and Father.
After almost getting upset, "pissed off" whispers are correcting me again, trying their best to make me embarrass myself in front of the guests.
I smiled like I never did before, I could see the black specks exit my mouth, but they turned the purest of white. I didn't know why, nor did I care there was a new feeling brimming within me.
I was proud at the sudden realization that I wasn't called a 'fucking idiot' when I decided to walk to the table. It was the biggest sense of relief that Adena Ce Raphil was doing something right without anyone having to tell her so.
Grabbing the reins, I decided to ignore the negative Nancy that was my conscience. Father sat at the end of the table closest to me while Papa sat on the other end. Everyone was eating their fill except me who had yet to sit at the table but first I wasn't done with the dance of etiquette no matter how much I wanted to drop the charade, dance I did. Walking to the center of the long glass table I curtsied in my black dress pajamas and fluffy slippers while ignoring the specks and flecks the best I could.
"Good evening, everyone,” I said, making sure I showed eye contact. I imagined Papa throwing me out onto the streets for sounding like an AI assistant.
Mike was a bit startled at the change of behavior, fixing his glasses in silence. Papa was looking at me with the usual love and care with subtle hints of approval.
Continuing the dance, I floated over to Papa to kiss him on the cheek. It was something he'd been waiting for. After I returned to my father's side of the table- The other one. I took my place, next to him ready to enjoy the feast.
'Great seafood,' I was hiding my disappointment. But I'm sure Papa had already caught my drift of dissatisfaction.
Trying my best not to break the laws of etiquette I ignored my stomach and took it slow. After a minute there it felt like I was strangling myself in the act of eating with one hand. I was starving, but instead of inhaling the food showing the hunger that had built up over the day, Father grabbed my hand gently under the table and nodded to show me that I wasn't alone.
"Adena now that you're here. I and your Papa. We were going to discuss it with you later but now seems like the perfect time. How would you feel if we held an event here in two days?" I had a hard time disguising my shock. My eyes opened wider than usual as I looked into Father's eyes "Yes" not having a moment to think I had already answered.
"Are you sure?" Papa asked for assurance at the other end of the table. We’ll probably talk about this later.
Having a little more time to think I replied tasting the word "Yes” which came out as a reply. It was as if the words were taken from me. But what's the worst that could happen? After eating for ten more minutes ignoring the ongoing conversation, I asked my parents if I could be excused from the table. Too much seafood wouldn't play well with my stomach. Getting up and saying goodnight to Mike and the other two guests Charlie and oh my god he looks like "Shit". I was taken aback by the guy being swarmed by green specks and flecks, some flowing out of his mouth.
Blinking a few times, I said goodnight "Josh" and escaped to my room. Proud of myself I surprisingly wasn't as tired as I thought I'd be, so I took a shower and read a book from Father's study until my nights came to wish me off.
In the night the two came kissing my forehead goodnight.
"We're so proud of you." Father said as they left my room. What a weird day. A minute there I thought I heard "Good Job.”
_
_
#POV_Elijah
"Here I am lying in bed wondering what our precious, innocent daughter has been doing all day out in the yard. So, I as a concerned parent check her phone history, sounds normal right? Adousa Servan fucking Mabtali why the hell was she searching up the periodic table, firearm blueprints, and the rarest Knives in the world?! What the hell have you been teaching him!?"
I was furious but he'd already won the battle, us being in the place of War.
“Don't grab my ass, it won't work. Stop, you Nefarious Bastard!"