Hostile Environment
|Third Pov|
Theodore answered the door and was greeted by Grace's emotionless face and Bella's excited wave.
Grace wasn't wearing a dress like their first meeting but it didn't matter what she wore her figure was impossible to hide. Wearing a slim light pink turtle neck sweater that wrapped around her thin waist and large breast, covering her long juicy legs ripped white jeans with bright pink sneakers.
Just like Samantha she can grow her hair expeditiously and has the money to continuously visit the beauty salon. In their first meeting, she had a stylised long black mohawk swept back.
She now had the left side shaved short, the rest of it was combed over to the right with ends slightly curled. Her face was as he remembered cold and beautiful. Purple eyes that looked right through him, a thin porcelain oval face, light brown freckles on either cheek, and plump pink lips.
His eyes wandered over every lump and curve. Shaking his impure thoughts away he gave a warm smile and looked towards Bella.
Bella was wearing her red hood similar to the one she wore on the night they met but this one seemed to be made from a different material. With her red hood, she wore a lime green long shirt that had a little Topper Rabbit image on the front. Finishing her look was a pair of dark blue jeans and a white sneaker.
On her hands were a pair of thin red gloves. She was the spitting image of her beautiful mothers with her freckles, violet eyes, and brown hair.
Bella's hands began to move 'Good afternoon Dad'
Just as Theodore was about to reply a child's voice was heard from Bella "Good afternoon dad!"
It didn't come out of Bella so he looked towards the expressionless Grace who answered his thoughts "It's called LostVoice. The gloves track her signing while another device monitors her body to find the emotion that she wants to convey. Then from the hood is a realistic voice that matches her intentions. This is just the prototype the end product won't require gloves but just two wrist bands with sensors"
"Incredible ah sorry it's good to see you guys again," Said Theodore as he gave Grace a friendly hug.
He then crouched down and had Bella jump into his arms as he lifted her and said "Oh did you grow? you look taller"
Bell's signed quickly and excitedly before her voice was heard "Really! Mommy Dad said I've grown"
"Hahaha come on lets surprise Rose," Said Theodore in a cheery mood
Grace quickly followed feeling pretty happy and relaxed. That was until she saw Sophie and Mary sat on the couch with Rose in the center.
She felt a cold breeze pass by as her eyes locked with Sophie and Mary's. She could feel herself being assessed by them as they made it very clear where they stand.
'Back off'
She could feel nothing but hostility. But Grace is not your everyday girl, she had felt the pain of given birth and was a businesswoman that's dealt with many unpleasant people. They couldn't scare her off especially since she could tell that the relationship wasn't concrete.
This information was not something she acquired through her power but instincts. She attempted to politely introduce herself despite her inability to show emotions "Hello Mary I'm glad to see you again. It's nice to meet you Sophie I'm Grace Thompson and this cute little angel is my daughter, Bella. You'll have to excuse my expression as I have trouble showing emotions"
"It's been a while," Said Mary simply with a smile
"Nice to meet you Grace, huge fan of Vague and Finer," Said Sophie with a forced smile
Rose jumped out of her seat and ran up to her Dad that was now holding a Bella. Her eyes widened as she said "Hello Bella, me Rose! Good to meet you"
Theodore and Grace chuckled at Rose's formal introduction as it was overly cute coming from 2 years old.
Bella quickly got down from Theodore and then proceeded to fix her clothes as she signed before bowing.
"It's very nice to meet you Rose"
Rose was slightly taken back by the signing and the surprise voice but she got distracted by the red hood "Wow Red Riding Hood"
Bella was almost jumping as she gave an excited nod and signed "Mommy made it then the uncles put this in and now I can talk"
She points to the small speakers installed on the inside of the hood.
Rose walked around Bella while admiring the hood. She looked up at her dad with hopeful eyes and asked "Can I have one?"
Before Theodore could reply Grace pulled out another Red Hood from her handbag and said "Here you go Rose. I made this one for you"
Rose looked back at her Dad as if asking for permission to take it.
Whilst giving her a patting her head Theodore said "Go ahead and don't forget to say thank you"
With a happy nod, she ran up to the outstretched hood. Taking it into her arms, her eyes sparkled with delight as she gave a toothy smile and said "Thank you very much, Aunty Grace!"
Grace's emotionless face miraculously turned soft as a heartfelt smile appeared.
Theodore and Mary were startled as they were fully expecting the same blank expression they consistently got during their first meeting.
"Hehehe It's okay," Said Grace after briefly being shocked by her smile.
"Wow, mom smiled for Rose. Hey, dad isn't that great" Signed Bella before excitedly tugging on Theodore's pant leg.
With a kind smile, Theodore said "It's amazing"
Resulting in a hard nod from Bella who then looked towards her mom and gave a big thumbs up.
"Psst how come she calls Theo dad?" Whispered Sophie
"I thought it was just a fan thing" Whispered Mary
"Yeah, It doesn't look like that. How do we beat a child?" Whispered Sophie back
Mary chuckled lightly and joked "We can't that's illegal"
Sophie rolled her eyes and said "Seriously not the time. Look at them, they look like a family. You need to make your move today"
"Huh b-but I wanted Theo to take the initiative" Said Mary while blushing
"Then tempt him. Theo won't make any moves unless you give him a sign" Said Sophie
Mary gave a simple nod and started plotting.
Rose tried to put on the hood but didn't quite understand how to do so.
Seeing her struggle so much Grace finally helped her. Pulling the cape portion over Rose's shoulder she then loosely ties the ribbons around the neck before putting the hood up.
"There, Little Red Riding Hood ready for her big adventure," Said Grace happily
"Hehehe yes adventure," Said Rose with an exciting nod before running to Bella with the hood bobbing.
"Let's play" Said Rose to Bella
Bella then nodded and signed "Can I see Icy first?"
"Hmm yes this way," Said Rose before dragging Bella by the hand
As Bella and Rose went, the mature adults got a chance to chat.
Sitting down on the L-shaped couch they got themselves comfortable.
Grace first went through her bag and pulled out the contract before saying "I understand we agreed on 50% Sales going to you with the addition of 2% company shares but due to announcing your identity as Lonely Hunt. The price I put forward can be said to be too little considering how valuable your name is so I changed the company shares portion to a comfortable 10%"
A loud audible gulp echoed from all three of them.
Mary was the first to react as she quickly fixed her glasses and read seriously "It's true"
Mary then took a picture of the contract and said "This is a lot better than I expected. I say you sign and become a millionaire"
Theodore took a minute to read before signing it and said "Pleasure doing business"
"Now I would like to discuss the idea of making your merchandis an official Vague & Finer product," Said, Grace
"At the moment I don't have any ideas for merch" Said Theodore
"Hmm well if you do want to produce merch please come to me for help. I'm willing to put the same offer on the table if necessary" Said Grace with her usual emotionless face yet eager voice.
"Seeing as I have a share in the company I guess it would benefit me either way" Said Theodore
"Well you are the highest shareholder not including myself," Said Grace simply
Mary, Sophie, and Theodore voiced their doubts with a simple word "Huh?"
"Yes there is currently three shareholders you, me, and Dad," Said Grace
"Wait, wait I have more than your Dad, Mr. Thompson?" Asked Theodore still in shock
"Yes Dad has 3% of the shares making you my, right-hand man," Said Grace a smug grin slowly appeared before it quickly went back to being emotionless
Mary and Sophie had caught the grin and thought 'Urgh we got played'
"Well then as I'm your right-hand man I should put some effort in. I'll try to make some merch. Lunch should be ready" Said Theodore before leaving for the kitchen
As Theodore left the living room it turned airily quiet. Just cold stare down between women.
"We know what you're doing" Said Sophie while crossing her arms
"Whatever do you mean I'm just here to make Theodore my business partner and get Bella a playmate," Said Grace
"Theo is taken" Said Mary
"It's okay I'm not here for a simple man," Said Grace
Mary and Sophie stared blankly not sure what she means.
"I have 3 moms they are all beautiful and intelligent women. I asked them why they were willing to share dad they just laughed and said 'Your dad is not a simple man. He is greedy, indecisive, kind, considerate but overall he stands above the rest' I want to be next to the man who will eventually stand above the rest" Said Grace with nothing but pride her voice
Sophie looked at Grace thought 'That's not a family that's a cult and you might have daddy issues'
"Don't look at me like that and no they weren't apart of 2016's polygamy scandal, they got married in the Philippine," Said, Grace
"Lunch is ready" Shouted Theodore from the dining room
Grace immediately got up and left to join Theodore at the table.
With Grace gone Mary decided to voice her thoughts "She isn't wrong about Theodore eventually standing above the rest"
"So your nuts too huh." Said Sophie with a disappointed tone
"We both know Theo is a monster so is it weird to believe that he'll be someone who takes the world by storm? If anything it's just a question of when" Said Mary
"Fine but you still need to get with Theo," Said Sophie before getting off the couch to get some food
"Yeah I know" Said Mary before following Sophie