Picture Katharine Hepburn.
A/N - Do you know how close we are to breaking the 1,000 read barrier. Like 9 reads close. This is like beyond amazing. Also, we have record numbers of people adding Billionaire's Possession to their reading lists ( more than Cyborg's pet and it's floating around 11 in the charts). We are also hovering outside the hot 100 - it's like Christmas eve or something. All hale endcore who get's our dedication for being the first voter on this chapter!
Mall
Alexander arrived at the Mall in his self-driving red Lamborghini. We met at the special entrance where the self-driving cars would drop their owners off and pick them up. Alexander told the Lamborghini to drive itself home. It beeped twice and then shot off at high-speed automatically driving like a maniac. Alexander stood up and looked incredibly impressive in his tuxedo. He wore it smartly like a uniform. I could see Alexander admiringly, he smiled approving.
"Alexander," said Emily "may I introduce Kaitlyn Edan."
"Delighted to meet you. Kaitlyn" said Alexander taking my hand and not taking his eyes from mine for a second.
As he spoke the limousine turned up. It had been so well polished that I could see my reflection in it, I did look pretty hot. Alexander waited like a gentleman while Emily and I got into the car. When I sat on the soft leather seat I heard something.
"What's that banging?" I asked.
"You heard too? That's good" said Emily "for second, I thought I had a headache. frowny face ☹️."
"Alex," said Emily "there is weird banging in the back."
"Strange," said our Alexander "I don't remember installing a sound system in the trunk."
Alexander went around the back to the trunk while Emily and I got out to look. The driver got out and came to the crowd at back.
"Open the back James," said Alexander.
"My name isn't James," said the driver.
"Well changed it to James. In fact change it to James James and if you don't like it I'll sack you and hire somebody called James. Now open the trunk." said Alexander.
Way to go on your signature courtesy.
The driver opened the trunk. Lying in it, we found Megan and the dwarf ass. It was common for rich people to own miniaturized versions of animals. A Think tank at the world wildlife foundation had thought the only animals NOT being driven to extinction were those animals we can eat and ones we had as pets. They had then engaged in a large-scale breeding program reducing all kinds of endangered species to a smaller domestic size. The panda had been the first success. With a combination of genetic engineering and selective breeding they reduced it down to about 3 foot high and able to be trained not to leave a mess on the carpet. Soon all the major animal charities had started their own breeding programs. You could get miniature gorillas, lions, tigers, a 4 foot high giraffe that was good with kids, white elephants, even a mini rhinoceros the size of a dog. The ass was the result of a book on how to do homebrew genetic engineering. I guess the upside up the drop in human population was that the full versions had the opportunity to regrow in the wild habitats. You had to seriously believe in glass-half-full over glass-half-empty to believe that was a positive outcome for the death of 5 billion people. Candide and Voltaire would be proud.
"That was such a trauma," said Megan "I'm going to find the terrorists that didn't and sue them for mental cruelty."
She picked up her ass and cradled it like a baby. "It was a terrible time wasn't it precious?" Megan said to her tiny ass.
Megan's shape was very curvy she was all fake tan and no eyebrows. I looked at her and couldn't stop my self from thinking 'she shouldn't stand to close to fires. After all plastic melts'.
Emily was more pragmatic "Megan you look like a complete dumpster fire. If you're coming to the fundraiser you can't go looking like that. You need to get changed completely or put some lipstick on, worried face 😟 surprised face with open mouth 😮."
"Who is this?" said Megan looking at me.
"This is Kaitlyn Edan," said Alexander.
"I'm so glad to meet you Kaitlyn" said Megan "I'm glad he's moved on from that terrible nerdy girl who worked in McDonald's of all things. She was so pathetic...."
Megan stopped everybody was looking at her.
"... she's behind me right now isn't she?" said Megan stopping and turning around. "no she isn't" she added feeling rather pleased. "why is everyone looking at me so weirdly."
"It's national weird look day," I said flatly.
"OMG. I missed national weird look day! I've been stuck in there so long I've missed national weird look day. Damn those kidnappers." said Megan mortified. While she put her ass on the groud to streach it's legs.
I did wonder what kind of kidnappers would kidnap someone in the trunk of their own car. Possibly the kind who were attention seeking kidnappers. Can you technically kidnap yourself?
"look why don't you take my car home get cleaned up and meets us and our parents at the fundraiser?" said Alexander putting his phone down. He had already summoned his Lamborghini. I kind of like the way he took charge.
A blue Lamborghini turned up and beeped.
"Don't let you ass ruin my seats, they have only just been cleaned after Mother's mini Leopard scratched them." said Alexander.
"Take me home," said Megan to the car.
Megan got in and the Lamborghini drove off. I thought it was a bit odd that the Lamborghini had change color but Alexander was the kind of person that had more than one Lamborghini.
We got into the back of the limousine again.
Alexander was on the phone again. "it's the London office." he said to us and then switched to the phone "They rejected the 140 million offer?... OK offer them 138 million but ... "
Alexander put his hand over the phone.
He looked Emily "How do you say red in British?"
"red the color or read the book?" Asked Emily.
"Red the color," said Alexander.
"Red" said Emily.
"Okay offer them 138 million but say I want it red, okay.... no red the color... that's it... goodbye." Alexander said in a British accent then put the phone down.
"I'm not sure they understood what I said?" Alexander said putting his phone away.
"In British, there is a U in colour. But I think your British is improving." said Emily.
"Thanks," said Alexander " it's not as difficult as I thought. But I think I might go to British land to close the deal. You should come with me to help translate. Both of you."
"I'd love to go back to British land. You should go to Kaitlyn. The shopping in London is fantastic." Said Emily pouring me some champagne. I looked at champagne and I thought for a second.
"'If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." said Emily.
It was Katharine Hepburn's more dangerous quote. Well, I was 21, it said so on my fake ID. I didn't want to come over as too smart so I tried it. It tasted like cold fizzy grape juice with some medicine added to it. I didn't drink much as I had to search for the maze later.
"What do you think?" ask Emily.
"It's OK" I said not wishing to commit to anything.
Alexander took a sip as well and pulled a sour face.
"I see what you mean. It's only a Champagne Krug Vintage Brut. I'm surprised you didn't spit it out. I don't know why we have to keep $900 champagne in the car. Dad and his economy drives, I guess." said Alexander. I looked at the bottle and he was right it was Krug Vintage Brut.
I got a message from Marta. 'R U OK' it said.
'Fine all good' I texted back with 'ALL COOL AIDE'.
I had a secret word which I used to say all was good. If I had texted 'ALL FINE' it was a secret sign I was in trouble and she had to phone the police. I had phoned Marta up that day and got her to tell my mom I was sleeping over at her place tonight. I hadn't explained the details. I just said I was too nervous to go to school and needed some time to think things out. I said if asked I took the wrong turning to school that morning and got lost.
We soon got to the outskirts of town and past by the always open gates of the town fence. It was nice being back somewhere familiar. We passed the maternity hospital, a nursery, the high fence surrounding the town library, some shops, my college, then after passing some offices we saw the open square In the middle of town leading the out to the governer's Mansion. I felt tense as we approached the Mansion. It was tall and white with huge columns at the front and a low Isosceles triangle forming the front of the roof. In front of the huge curving of the road leading up to the historic building sat a long line of self driving limousines. We slowed down.
"Look photographers. smiley face.😊 " said Emily. Emily had been busy drinking the Champagne like Kool-Aid and taking selfies of herself.
I suddenly became quite worried that I might get caught. Alexander must have sensed my nerves and grabbed my hand.
"Remember your with me," Alexander said.
"Thanks" I said. How could I forget?
"The really good news is I'm with me as well," he added.
We arrived and that was a red carpet outside the mansion leading up steps to the entrance. Either side of the carpet was a velvet rope which kept back a line of photographers. I was still invisible behind the tinted glass. This was it,
"Remember," said Emily "sort of girl born with glitter in her veins."
She was right this will be an excellent time to grab my inner idiot. Emily opened the door we began to get out.