14 Chapter 13: Mommy...I mean mommy!!!

After the tension in the room had dissipated to a wary calm, Felicia moved with caution.

She secured Grim to the couch with zip ties and retrieved a gun from a hidden compartment in her kitchen.

"Move or try anything funny, and I'll shoot. Your immortality should keep you alive," she warned with a stern tone.

Grim, unfazed, simply rolled his eyes and complied, lying back on the couch. Shadow, the kitten, played idly on the floor, its attention fixed on a ball of yarn.

Felicia's eyes never left Grim as she accessed her home security system.

Her years as a detective had honed her ability to spot irregularities, even at high speed.

The footage from the previous night played out on the screen, revealing the truth of Grim's story.

She watched as he cared for her through the night, a surprising gentleness in his actions.

Realizing the truth in Grim's account and recalling her own actions from the fragmented memories of the night, Felicia's stern demeanour softened slightly.

She did find his decision to strip her and use her bed a bit presumptuous, but she couldn't deny the innocence of his actions. She had, after all, snuggled up to him of her own accord.

Returning to the living room, she found Grim still tied up and waiting patiently. "So, am I guilty?" Grim asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Without a word, Felicia approached him with a knife and cut the zip ties. She then sat across from him, crossing her legs. Initially cautious, she soon realized Grim's lack of interest in her or her body and relaxed.

"I should thank you for taking care of me. But you had no right to stay in my bed or strip me. Still, I can see you didn't do anything... untoward. I'm not ungrateful, so I forgive you," Felicia said, her tone a mix of gratitude and reprimand.

Grim nodded, ready to leave. "Then, I guess I'll be going—"

"WAIT," Felicia interjected, stopping him with her foot. "How old are you?" she asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Grim paused, calculating. "I'm 18 years old..."

Felicia sighed, a hand on her forehead. "Great. I shared a bed with a guy the same age as my daughter..." She hesitated before continuing, "What's your schedule like? Are you working, studying...?"

Grim shook his head, realizing this was the first opportunity he'd had to share his story with someone.

He began to recount his experiences since waking up, sharing details of his strange and unexplainable existence.

As Grim spoke, Felicia listened intently, her initial suspicion gradually giving way to a mix of curiosity and a strange sense of empathy.

...

After a few hours passed, Grim had busied himself with tidying the house and preparing a quick breakfast, showcasing skills that surprised even him.

His actions were partly driven by boredom.

Felicia, meanwhile, had been productive in her own way. She contacted her lawyer, compiling a unique contract based on their discussions, two hours ago.

Now, as they sat in the now sparking living room, Felicia savoured the delicacies Grim had prepared, each bite eliciting appreciative sounds.

Meanwhile, Grim was reading the contract before him, raising an eyebrow at its contents.

It was a professional and detailed agreement, outlining his responsibilities as Felicia's live-in helper and...cuddle partner.

The contract, dubbed "The Three C's Contract," stipulated his duties to cook, clean, and cuddle. It was unconventional, to say the least, but it was also clear, straightforward, and surprisingly well-thought-out.

The terms were generous: a weekly payment of $1,100 for his services, free lodging, and no responsibilities for household bills, though he would need to cover his own food expenses. The contract also emphasized that apart from cuddling, no other intimate actions were required unless mutually agreed upon, falling under the contract's purview.

After reading through the document, Grim looked up at Felicia, who had just finished her meal. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and scepticism.

Felicia wiped her mouth with a napkin, her expression serious yet softened by a hint of warmth. "I've been a detective for over a decade, Grim. Most nights, sleep is a luxury I can't afford. And when I do sleep, it's restless. Add to that a daughter who's as temperamental as a summer storm and a son who's obsessed with his own reflection. Frankly, sleeping next to you was the most peaceful rest I've had in ages."

Grim considered her words. He glanced around the comfortable home, then back at the contract. With a resigned yet hopeful sigh, he signed his name on the dotted line.

"I guess I'm in your care from now on... boss," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Felicia quickly interjected, "Don't call me that. I get enough of that back in the station, Grim. Just Felicia."

"Alright, Felicia," Grim conceded, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

As Felicia took a sip of her coffee, a slight smile played on her lips too.

This unconventional arrangement might just be what they both needed.

For Grim, it was a chance to have some semblance of a normal life, and for Felicia, it was an opportunity to find balance in her hectic world as a mother and head Detective.

.....

After finalizing their unusual agreement, a moment of personal inquiry arose.

Felicia, her expression unreadable, questioned Grim about his earlier comment. "What you said before, about me being too old and not your type. Do I look that old to you?" she asked evenly, her voice betraying no emotion.

Grim set down the contract and took a moment to really look at Felicia.

He observed her carefully, noting the fine details that made her who she was. After a brief pause, he met her gaze.

"You're not old, that was just me being facetious," Grim began, his tone sincere. "As for the type comment, it's complicated. I've never really felt a physical attraction to anyone. It's not that I'm incapable of it; it's just that no one has ever evoked that kind of response in me."

He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "But I will say this," he continued, looking directly into her eyes. "Of all the women I've met or seen, you are undoubtedly the most beautiful."

The room fell into a momentary silence following Grim's statement.

Felicia sipped her coffee, maintaining a stoic facade, but Grim, keenly observant, detected the subtle shifts in her expression, the micro-movements that hinted at her inner pleasure.

'I guess I know where your son gets his narcissistic tendencies from...' Grim thought with an inner eye roll.

Felicia then stood up and walked past Grim, pausing briefly as she reached the bedroom door.

"I'll be heading to the station to deal with last night's incident. You'll have the day to yourself. I usually go to bed around 23:00, so be here before then," she instructed, her tone professional yet softer than before.

Grim nodded in acknowledgement as she disappeared into the bedroom, locking the door behind her.

Left alone in the living room, he pondered how to spend the rest of the day.