The Party (2)

  Fox's birthday went from the night to the early morning of the next day. Fox didn't remain at his birthday party for long, getting his gifts most of the time elsewhere. Then, he got busy managing his stuff. The situation with the boutique and the 'things' he did in Terka were already underway and would commence operations in a few months. Everything had to be handled properly.

  The boutique now had security guards, having become such a huge place, almost like a mall’s floor, even if no organized crime would come to charge floor, there could be theft and scam attempts. Regardless, the security wasn’t like the rest of employees, but professionals.

  Meanwhile, every other attendant remained a low-income youngster, from adolescence to early 20s. The boutique was becoming known throughout Lymoca, already notorious in Proteros, let alone the capital city.

  Without mistake, it would be renowned in a year, with its international activities barely starting, spreading throughout the world. But that was difficult, and something only Fox knew a little about from the books Victor had him read. Fabiola was still not well-versed in those to employ it.

  There was work to do, but still with quite some time before any of that was needed, so it was going smooth. Furthermore, Esmeralda has already helped Fabiola before, which ‘slipped’ Esmeralda’s mouth while gasping and whimpering back at Terka, so there was room to negotiate from nowadays to until then.

  After his birthday, and waking up in the embrace of his beautiful women, Fox got to the kitchen, noticed Teon’s absence, and made breakfast for the ladies; naked. Fox was surprised by smooches and tender caresses from his shoulder to his waist before finishing preparing breakfast. They then ate a little, now clothed, before Fox had to go out to meet someone.

  Before Fox went away, Teon returned, clearly not having slept, and with a woman’s joyous face. After a forceful hug, Fox was let go of to go on his way, with Teon stealing some food from Esmeralda, because she was too afraid to do it to Nala, for now.

  … Fox took a helicopter this time, not a simple one or a helitaxi, but a straight out president-level helicopter. He flew to Sargonde, where there were many things he wanted to talk about, and even negotiate. It was bound to be an eventful trip, but nothing drastic, familial if anything.

  Barely arriving at the top of the governmental building in Sargonde, Fox reminisced of the view he had from the tower building back when he infiltrated it. He was welcomed by the governor herself, who felt a little apprehensive with such ‘point of origin’ of this demonic figure.

  Fox enjoyed the breeze, the peacefulness, and that even though it was hot, it was a little cloudy and gray despite being already late morning. Finally, he faced the governor, who waited a bit too much. He smiled politely and said in as much of an amicable tone as possible, “Governor, you didn’t have to come. Now, I won’t be able to hide using usual means. I’ll invite you for a snack.”

  “Oh, sure,” the governor felt 3 different reactions coming from Fox’s words as reactions, but she ended up feeling a little at ease. They then went down, and what the governor expected as a show of concord became a bunch of people crowding around, and fawning smiles.

  Fox brought her to a food stall at the streets, where he used to buy lonches with someone, eating to their feel before doing naughty things. Though he could only eat to his fill and reminisce from now on.

  The governor ate to her fill. The food was good, although the owners were all smiles and trying to make it free, with Fox giving them polycoria eyes to refuse it. There were also the citizens around them, mostly Lys, other tourists, who took photos, with a few recording.

  There were some Zycks who were calmly trekking around the city, when they found a large crowd of people converge at a spot. Getting close, they realized it was political figures, which was strange, more so being treated as celebrities, so they got closer and recorded.

  Fox’s image was known internationally, be it before or after Terka’s war, with the after being more so known after Lymoca revealed it was his ‘group’ that helped end the war quicker. Lymoca didn’t waste time to do it, balancing the reaction after it happened.

  Now, he was there, eating in the streets, with Sargonde’s governor nonetheless. Anyone could know since when did Fox’s ‘activities’ began to show around the world, and with such shock at that. Thus, when the Zycks, and other countries’ people found this out, they recorded and became interested. All Fox did was eat in peace and exchange some words with the governor.

  The governor was a bit awkward at first, but then became calm and behaved and chatted back with the status that any governor should have. Fox and the governor didn’t look like superior and subordinate, giving the governor a good image and a solid status.

  With the things Fox has done, a little image-repairing wasn’t unwelcome. Now more than ever, he’d like to lay in peace and just continue his special agent life and business. He had so many things in question, and roads.

  Fox needed to pay his debt off, he wanted to make money for his family’s future requirements, and he really wanted to make a foothold for his future children, if he could have any. If Miros was to learn more about biotechnology, in a few decades, he might find a way before his lifespan ended and produce some offspring. As for education, Fox wasn’t afraid of employing hard hands.

  After eating to their fill, which Fox still had room for more, he and his demonized evolved body, they parted ways. Fox went to a subterranean passage, where he lost all paparazzi, and people trying to tail him for who knew who; opposition or… worst.

  After disappearing from their radars, and stepping out of his vehicle, Fox went to the secret tunnels now PSD property, where a White Blood waited for him in his Myertha. Fox smiled at his baby, which he hadn’t used since the day before his birthday.

  Fox fast-tested his Myertha, amazed by her speed and maneuverability, before finally going out with his new semi-nuclear empowered biking gear. It was still day noon, so the person he’d have to meet was at work, with someone else still studying in now an academy. Not college.

  Thus, Fox directed his illegally modded and futuristic Myertha to the HQ of B&C Enterprise, of bottles and communications, quite the naming and mix. When he arrived there with his smooth, mosquito-like engine sounding baby, the entirety of the city zone was amazed.

  Fox stepped down with his helmet and gear still on. When he neared the entrance, he was stopped by the guards, who were polite but tall and bulky, quite a good choice. “Stop there, what trouble do you intend to cause here? Turn around and don’t bother.”

  “Don’t you know crime is below the floor and ground for you to come here dressed like this? Seriously, not even removing your helmet. Save yourself the trouble, kid.” The guards spoke to him with manners, but they had the right to get annoyed. Fox’s actions were, of course, dumb.

  “Oh, I’m aware.” Fox said, tilting his head a lot to the right. Then, he revealed them his WID, which the guards didn’t know of. One of them jumped his eyebrows before searching in his phone, widening his eyes to see it was most likely real, and that it was within reason.

  “Could you prove this?” But if this was an impersonator, then it meant hellish trouble for the B&C Enterprise, which the guards didn’t want to allow in the building.

  Fox shrugged and showed them his ID card, showing everything, from a refugee startup into a Ly, to the CSS and Senior Minister, well-recorded in the card. The guards’ eyes opened fully, relaxed, before stepping aside at the same time.

  “Gentlemen,” Fox stepped forth and commented before passing by them. He was so well-mannered, too. He wondered something and thought in his head.

  ‘See, Pheli? I have changed for the good, right? I only wish you would be here to see it, and be the one doing it, too. I’m sure they would accept you… well, I hope. Nala’s still so tense sometimes, but if she was against it, she would’ve said so, and I would’ve acted. Although I can’t let go of Esme now, not anymore. Sigh. Yes, I can see I’ve changed, indeed… phew.’

  Fox entered the building, with a receptionist seemingly become aware of his identity. She hung her phone and walked to Fox, bowing, “Welcome, sir. Some people are notifying the CEO. Would you like to go there? I could guide you.”

  “Mn. Go ahead,” Fox nodded, his thoughts of melancholy already turning serene before the receptionist walked to him. He gestured to move along, with the receptionist jolting a bit when he spoke. Fox noticed it, thinking it might be because his voice has been heard more recently, especially after becoming a Senior Minister, which was a lot more than when he was the CSS.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  They walked shortly to an elevator, which brought them to the topmost floor soon enough. When the doors opened again, there were people walking out with serious and regular expressions, suited and elegant, and with a slightly powerful status aura.

  This was a business which has reached international since more than a decade ago. Victor wasn’t too young, but he was barely nearing the middle-aged appearance and age, so he had a lot to give to this world.

  Even with the millions Fox gains himself per month, it might now be comparable to a week, 2 weeks, of what someone like Victor receives in a month, after a year of earnings. That was meant to change, but how much? Not enough. Thus, Fox was here to ask a bigger boss.

  Fox was welcomed by the sight of an enormous space. There were crystal walls all on one side of the meeting room, which had a large, semi oval shape, and didn’t even take ? of the room’s space.

  To the side, through walls, which Fox recognized to have the technology to block sight and hearing, was Victor’s office. It was about ?’s of the meeting room, where everyone walked out of just now.

  The glass was unblocked, so Fox could see Victor Ruva sitting on his desk, with everything accommodated, and there was a hot chocolate machine working at the side. Fox grinned, when the receptionist commented from the side.

  “Sir Fox?” She called out, Fox turned to her. She continued, “I don’t know if I can speak for many Lys, but I reassure you that we liked your work so far. Despite what many say, specially our ‘neighbors’, we all believe in you, you know?”

  “If you were to run for president next term, even if you go into hiding from now on, who do you think everyone’ll vote for? Thank you so much, sir.” The receptionist concluded, looking at a little awkward when calling him sir. Not because of the age gap, but because she might have wanted to call him something else, Chief Secretary of Security or Senior Minister, but she didn’t.

  Fox looked at her and took it into consideration. He still laid his heart out, though. “Um, thank you for those words. But I’m not crazy enough to go for presidency. I’m more than fine avoiding anything like that. Ever again.”

  “Well…” The receptionist didn’t seem convinced, yet, she remained polite. “If you ever change your mind, just know you aren’t seen as a monster. But if you are one, then a Ly monster!”

  “Hmf~,” Fox blew from his nostrils with a light smirk before facing the office, already having walked close enough to it. Fox saw Victor stand up and gesture, with the receptionist bowing before departing. Then, Victor opened the door and welcomed Fox in.

  “What are you waiting for outside? Get in, kiddo.” Victor said, his cheek by the door’s edge before going back in. Fox flashed a grin before entering Victor’s office, welcoming the room’s freshness and the slight scent of hot chocolate. Victor walked to the corner of his desk, preparing some cups.

  Fox walked to him, looking at Victor’s back, which was once almost a fatherly figure, before he turned around and presented him a cup of hot chocolate. Fox took it, of course, and drank a bit before nodding and exhaling from his mouth, “Ahh, pretty great.”

  “Hmph,” Victor smirked before taking a small sip, leaving his cup on the desk. He sat in his chair, with Fox sitting before him. Victor had many things to say, but before he could, Fox stopped him, drank the whole cup, and spoke. “I want to keep filial stuff for later. For now, in your office, I want to speak only about business, and that I need your help.”

  “…” Victor was taken aback, but he looked deeply at Fox and nodded. Fox nodded, too, before pushing his cup to the hot chocolate machine again.

  … A couple of hours later, Fox finished everything he wanted to offer, with Victor patiently listening. Through their talks, or rather, Fox doing most of the talk, and Victor mostly listening, asking for a few quick, easy doubts here and there, they could see through each other’s thoughts.

  But it wasn’t rivalry or possessiveness that business leaders would have in between. Instead, it was the side-understanding of the things they’ve gone through, and knew of each other, since they departed.

  Fox never met them again, truly disappointing the Ruvas, each of them as much as the other. Fox was aware, of course, but he was just like this. He was many things, but not proactive, or he and Nala wouldn’t have gone through such bitter and hot-passionate moments before getting together. As for Fox, he could see the improvement in Victor’s business, and the Ruvas’ daily lives. This, even without investigating Victor and the Ruvas.

  “… So, you want to have all these farms running, with the payout being that of the money we make. And even more, you’re planning to begin new farms? All of this, Phesx, I’m sure you didn’t just come to ask for a favor. But just with this… It looks so bleak.” Victor sincerely commented after hearing Fox out.

  Fox added, “I don’t want to begin new ones yet, and I’m already working on some as we speak, even before that. It’s started since before I left, except for a few types, which I need more than promised food and water to start them. My convincing won’t give anyone a full belly and luxury. I can’t do this with my future enterprise even, so I need support.”

  “Then, why not look for that support?” Victor relaxed in his chair, arm above the backrest. “It looks like you’re beginning to understand politics and dealing with every people isn’t so easy. Many now know of the land some Ly companies have in Terka. Can’t they help you?”

  “If I wanted anyone’s help, I would’ve recurred to Luis, and have the government do this for me, and I would’ve grown my debt by at least… 30% more.” Fox spoke.

  “What debt? And what 30%? I calculate 500 million credits easy from what you’ve told me.” Victor frowned, sounding and appearing worried first, before his visage grew ridiculous. “What kind of debt is that big? Is there something wrong with your life?”

  “No, no. It’s rather something… balanced.” Fox lightly grasped his left upper arm. Victor fell a bit pensive. He and anyone could read about the injuries Fox received that night, and more so him, with some connections. Victor remained silent and became pensive.

  “So, what are your promises? You can’t fill my belly, so fill my brain and my enterprise with whatever you’ve prepared, brat.” Victor placed both his arms above his backrest. Fox looked at Victor seriously before starting, his mouth moving again, with a stern touch this time.

  “It’s not secure yet, although I can say the earnings you’ll receive as an enterprise will be magnanimous, truly. The other thing is, you will have first shares of a few businesses I have in my mind, one of them being the entertainment industry. I wish to form a contract, purely on your gut, to place all your bets on me for several things which I deem of utmost importance.”

  “Additionally, there are 2 reasons, things, which I shouldn’t tell you about to keep our objectives in the short-long term clear. If they happen, then they will be revealed immediately. But doing it now would only be bad for me, as you might not accept, and for our project, if you do accept.”

  “That’s not what I taught you, telling me all the downs to investing in your idea… project? And what is that ‘all’ of my enterprise’s bets on you? What do you mean by that, Phesx?” Victor became a little intrigued, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t on guard against such nepotism failures.

  “Yes, all bets on me, and my future enterprise as well. I want your enterprise to only deal with me. No more contracts with anyone, especially ANS, Torka, Cerka, and other few countries I will tell you about only if you sign now.” Fox said, taking a paper sheet from his biking gear.

  Victor looked at the gear only now, realizing how ‘high-end’ it seemed. Then, he returned his attention to the document. It was a contract, alright, depicting everything Fox spoke about, although in numerous formal terms, not as easily as he spoke them.

  Victor stared up at Fox’s face and couldn’t help commenting, “Still the same kid, ah?”

  “I said no family matter-” Fox shook a palm at Victor’s face, when the latter suddenly filled out the document. Fox widened his eyes. He was confident, but he didn’t think he was this godly. Victor casually passed it to Fox’s side of his desk, with Fox grabbing it from the sides, looking at Victor’s sign with vehement surprise, restrained by his nature.

  “I wanted all these to-” Fox babbled, feeling like he needed to give explanations, and right away. Victor interrupted, his back lying back on his chair, and a knowing but gentle smirk on his mouth. “You do all of that to protect me, no? And our family, too.”

  “…” Fox looked at Victor with a casual expression that had a twinge of awkwardness. Victor went on, frowning when he thought of something, “What is that about security? Why would we need that now?”

  “Oh, anyone who works with me should have it.” Fox casually replied. Victor raised his eyebrows, “Is it dangerous?”

  “No. Well, it could be. But anything could. Security is not only for you, Marisela, and Lorena. It is also for your enterprise, especially the international branches and cybersecurity. Since you will be working with me, I then must ensure nothing goes awry for you that might expose me, our dealings, and what we’re doing.” Fox cleared things after sounding a bit dumb.

  “Oh, that… sounds much better.” Victor swung his eyebrows up and down, moving his chin a little before standing up, looking down at Fox and saying in a ‘you can’t say no’ attitude. “You know, you haven’t asked directly, but since you want to come back to our house… You see, I still have time before getting off work, and I’d like to get some things prepared.”

  “Why don’t you go in my stead and bring Lorena with you? Her boyfriend, Bruno, the fine young man you slapped once, is studying with her in the same academy. Can you believe it? The bastardly guy smoked his brain just to follow her everywhere. Anyway,” Victor looked around a bit before returning a serene glance to Fox.

  “Pick her up for me, and you can return, but only at 7 pm. And bring the guy, too. I’ve been masking my intentions, telling her no every time. I guess…” Victor looked at Fox from the lower corners of his sockets after turning. “Since you’re back, I can let her know she can stop being such a hardworking daughter and relax for a bit… I think she wants to take over my business as soon as she comes out of the academy, it’s scary.”

  “Mn, you should be careful. You never know how certain one can be in such thoughts.” Fox cocked his head momentarily, Fabiola’s image surfacing in his head when hearing those similar words…

  Fox then looked up and faced Victor off, who didn’t look away, quite the seasoned brain duelist. “Hey, you’re no father of mine. Why do you act like we’re still in that contract? Aren’t you already richer because of the image I gave you? You didn’t even suffer when I became a ‘traitor’ for a bit.”

  “You brat, what bit? Weeks! You know how many lowly fishes went at me, threatening me to deliver my ‘stolen everything’ to the authorities? Mere social show-offs, but all of them were on me. Tsk, but indeed. I have been doing better, more after your name was cleared. Guess that’s what following the underdog syndrome is for, ey?” Victor raged on. Then, he stopped, with Fox having the same face. He proposed, “But, can’t we change that?”

  Victor turned around and went for something in one of his suitcases. Fox frowned, when Victor took a few documents out of it, walking back to the desk. Fox’s eyes trembled a bit, incredulous.

  …