Chapter 22: Company

I contemplated the bracelet on the wrist debating ripping it off and locking it in my desk, despite my mental threat the ring of metal continued to vibrate. My cousin kept calling. I had been declining the calls for the past few days, the dear girl didn't seem to get the hint. The only reason I didn't block her is she still has her uses.

My mother is certainly not all-powerful she only owns a couple of companies; the middle of the pack is the rich and elite, however, she didn't get there by being naive. She disowned me, but she would still want me on her radar.

As always, she had little interest in me and knew nothing but the surface of what I showed her. That could change. If I decided to cut off her information line that is my brash, naive cousin - her interest may be intrigued. 

It wasn't like I was unprepared for that. Her discovery of my rapidly growing business and high-ranking connections because of it, is an eventuality, not a possibility. As prepared as I am to field her attacks, the longer I postpone the event the less damage she can do. Plus dealing with her is annoying.

Childish as it seems I was going to postpone this particular task as much as possible. Hence why I am currently working up the mental fortitude to have a "chat" with my cousin; to choose the lesser of two evils, for now. 

"Theodora! Finally, I managed to reach you I was beginning to think you were ignoring your favorite cousin." The last part was said with only a tinge of bite.

Victoria used her proper name as Teddy had repeatedly requested for the past 13 years, her cousin was also being subtle about her discontent: either cloning technology was becoming popular in high society again or her cousin had something up her sleeves.

The latter seems more likely considering the heavy regulations around clone creation after the populace's protests against the ethics of such a science being widely available. 

"I may be yours, but you certainly are not mine. What do you want Victoria? Unlike you, I have a life that consists of more than jumping from one harmful hedonistic pleasure to another in the vain hope that my mind won't be empty long enough for the futility of such a life to sink me into a pit of despair." I needed no filter with my disdain for her.

Victoria had long ago informed my mother that we were "best friends" and I told her everything. My stabbing remarks are simply proof of our joking relationship. So long as she could pull a call log and I give her tidbits every once in awhile she would have her assistants take care of the rest of the "relationship". 

"No need for verbal assault: I just wanted to call you about something exciting. Guess what?" Her playful dismissal of my "good-natured ribbing" was impressive except that my phone's enhanced speaker system meant I had picked up on the quiver of rage in her voice. I let out a lackluster "hmm" at her inquiry, a suitable reward for her efforts. 

"Mom's throwing a little get-together! She could invite a few friends and I knew that I had to invite you." little probably meant a hundred or so people to my cousin, her branch of the family's specialty is the social side of things and they loved the extravagance of it all. Any excuse for a lavish party they would eagerly partake in.

"And before you say no, it's the perfect opportunity for you to introduce your boys to high society: it'll be low-stakes." The reasoning is sound. A "small" party would be great training for them. "Plus some of the family is worried about how you have been doing after the tragedy." What tragedy could she possibly be thinking of?

"I can't imagine the pain you must be in after your mother disowned you, how have you been getting on? You haven't resorted to selling your party clothes, have you? Will you have enough to pay for your men's formal attire? Don't worry I'm happy to send you my leftovers. Charity is good for the soul." There was my answer, I suppose most would consider it a tragedy if their parents disowned them. 

"I have the clothes and I wouldn't want to worry my 'dear family members'. Of course, I'll attend." My cousin was excited that her task was completed and she would finally see the men I had "so selfishly kept to myself".

Due to this excitement, she began to go into great detail about the party and what it would entail. Curiously, despite the information about what entrees and desserts were to be served every other hour, there was no mention of which family members were expected to attend or the number of guests. 

It was most definitely a trap, one meant to gauge my success as a second-generation elite that had to survive on their own and then navigate society without the backing of my "family". Any failure used as an entertaining fact to be lauded over me. 

I let Victoria prattle on until information became too redundant for me to stand and I bid her farewell. 

"One question before I hang up Victoria, you said something about charity being good for your soul. I was simply curious as to when or how you came into the possession of one?" My curiosity was left unsated as she hung up the phone immediately after the inquiry. What a shame. 

Sometimes I wondered what my mother would think if she knew how much information Victoria gave me in her quest for the crumbs I provided. Victoria was correct when she stated that the party would be low-stakes and a great way for me to introduce my wards to the world I was born into. However, not for the reasons she presented, but because of the information she didn't show. All the pitfalls, hostile people, and family that had seen me grow up. 

This party would be a great introduction into my world precisely because of all the treachery my cousin and her family had prepared for me in hopes of my mother's favor. I would have to thank her for being such a considerate host afterward, maybe with a gift basket filled with delicious treats.