Date 22 Mar 2321
Time 21:42
Location Sky Blossom City, Guild Association Mall, Warehouse no. 234.
“Your father is too scary, whenever I think about calling him father-in-law I feel goosebumps rising all over my body.” Ronnie defended.
“Now you are just making an excuse, even though he is arrogant, conniving and grim-looking he is rather a soft-hearted man to the people he loves. As long as you get on his good side you will see his warm and generous nature.”Said Jackie while glaring at Ronnie but her hands still gently caressed his hair while his head laid on her lap.
Ignoring Jackie’s glare Ronnie turned his head to Jackie’s belly bump and kissing it he said, “I missed you, baby! Did you miss daddy?”
A 17-year-old boy and a 20-year-old pregnant girl couple act all lovely dovey I felt my stomach churn and threw up a little. I had my fair share of girls but never met the one, one that would make me feel whole. Ah… I kinda envied these two for finding each other.
“You two! can’t you control it?” I said looking at them with disgust.
“If they did… she would not be pregnant in the first place would she.” Said Susan mockingly. This was new said of Susan I never thought existed in her, no matter how professional she acts she still is a single woman in her prime.
Hearing Susan’s comment Jackie’s face turned red with shame and embarrassment while Ronnie just laughed as if he heard someone compliment his achievement. Seeing Ronnie take pride, ashamed Jackie pinched his thigh.
“Awe! Jackie don’t… you know I am sensitive in that area… we are in company, remember.” Said Ronnie with a straight face.
“Perv!” Pushing Ronnie’s head off her lap Jackie stood up in shame.
“Big sis Susan don’t worry you will find your ‘the one’ soon.” Corey suddenly teased Susan. I did not notice Corey and Susan had gotten that close.
“Little girl looks like I was too lenient on you, now you dare to tease your big sis” said Susan as she twisted Corey’s ear.
“It hurts big sis I am sorry… please forgive” Corey begged in pain.
Releasing Corey’s ear Susan said, “hope you learnt your season”
“Yes big sis, I will never mention your love life again…” said Corey, she felt wronged for stating the obvious.
Susan glared at Corey and menacingly she said, “looks like you need to stay for extra makeup lessons, Corey.”
“Guys! I am hungry, who’s up for bbq and beer?” I asked, if I left them like this they would talk nonsense till the sunrise. Today was a rather busy day for me, all I want right now is to chug chill beer and fill my stomach with bbq.
“Okay” “okay” Corey and Susan agreed simultaneously.
“Let’s go! what are you waiting for?” Urged Jackie.
“*ahem* wife hearing beer you forgot your husband…you know you are still pregnant and can not have a beer right… guys, I still have not regained control over my body…” Ronnie, who was still laid on the couch said awkwardly.
Jackie was embarrassed and her face was red with shame, forgetting her husband was no big deal but her baby which she is carrying in her stomach right now, ‘how can I forget my baby. Am I a bad mother?’
This incident made Jackie second guess everything she was sure about until now. Seeing her like that, Susan tried to comfort her by saying, “Jackie don’t worry about it, it’s your pregnancy brain. It is acting up since you have been under a lot of stress lately.”
“Yes, Baby! Big sis is right. Sorry because of me you had to go through all this if only I was more capable…” Ronnie knew he had said something he should not have and apologised to Jackie and took the whole blame.
“No baby, you are the best. You can not take the blame for what those guys did. I am happy that you are safe now.” Hearing Ronnie take the blame and apologies, Jackie was touched and her heartfelt warmer.
“Wyatt did you hear that! Ronnie called me big sis. Why can’t you be more like him?” This again! Susan has been on my back ever since that day at the auction to call her big sister.
“Forget it. That kid doesn’t know your name that is why he called you big sis. As for me, just give up not happening.” I said with annoyance.
“We will see!” Susan’s eyes flashed as she said that, and added, “how about I just prepare some food right here. I had stocked the fridge in the afternoon.”
In the afternoon while I was helping Elliott create his origin card, Susan with the help of the mall management had built a bedroom, restroom with shower and a kitchen with dining hall along with required furniture in the warehouse.
“What are you going to prepare?” I asked.
“Nothing fancy macaroni and cheese”
“That’s it?” I was really hungry as I had to skip lunch receiving uncle Wyatt’s call. Mac & Cheese wouldn’t be enough.
“At moments notice that’s all I can prepare if you are willing to wait I can make something fancy. And I have two cartons of beer.”
“If you have meat and bread I can make grilled sandwiches” Jackie offered.
“Yes we do and I will make mashed potatoes.” Said Corey in high spirits.
“Great! Mac and cheese, grilled sandwich, mashed potato and beer, this wasn’t what I expected Since three beauties offered to cook for us how dare I reject.” I said
“Okay, leave it to us! dinner for 5” said Susan as the girls walked towards the Kitchen.
But suddenly a deep mellow voice sounded, “How about you add this old man too! If you don’t mind that is…”
Hearing this voice everyone was spooked and turned to the source of the voice, it was an old man dressed in tacky clothes.
“Grandpa! What are you doing here?” Corey recognised the old man and called out
“I should be asking you that! Why aren’t you heading home, do you know how worried I was? You could have at least called to inform.” William Bright said sternly.
“But I did send you a message” Corey complained.
“Did you?” Said William acting to check his grimoire because he had already read the message earlier.
When Corey did not arrive home after work as usual William was worried and thinking of the worst he headed out to check on his princess. But by the time he reached the warehouse Corey had sent him a message informing him that she would be late, what can he do he was already here and decided on voyeurism.
Knowing that Corey would be angry William chose to watch quietly hiding his presence. Apart from being happy about Corey making friends he wanted to see if she was being treated right by her new friends.
Everything was fine until this kid named Wyatt came. That kid would glance at that place he was hiding from time to time as if he could see him. Thinking it was just a coincidence he let go and continued to hide. he would have continued to hide till the end but when he heard his granddaughter was going to make mashed potatoes, to taste his granddaughter’s hand made mashed potatoes he chose to come out of hiding.
“Welcome Lord Bright, you are Corey’s grandfather, how can we refuse you? Dinner for 6 it is” Said Susan being respectful, that old man was William Bright. He was not your average rich old man, he was lord of the Bright family and a Golden grimoire holder.
“No need for honorifics and formalities, I come here today as Corey’s grandfather, a concerned guardian.” Said William humbly.
“Oldman, you finally decided to show yourself. If not for you being Corey’s relative I would have called the enforcers on you.” I said, when I returned to the warehouse I had this feeling of being monitored so I turned on my soul pupil and scanned the whole warehouse only to find a figure with large soul energy hiding in the shadows of the wall.
At first, I panicked and almost called enforcers even though I knew they wouldn’t be a match for the figure hiding in shadows but they could buy some time for me, Susan and the rest to escape.
I finally calmed down and then it dawned upon me I had seen a partially similar Soul pathway arrangement somewhere else, I tried hard to remember then my sight fell on Corey and knew that Corey and the figure hiding in shadow were related. As soul arrangements can be similar on some level if both the people are related.
Knowing that it was someone related to Corey I thought the figure was her secret bodyguard and left him alone. But never would I have guessed that the Bright family lord himself would personally guard his granddaughter.
“Grandpa! Is Wyatt speaking the truth?” Asked Corey. I thought of Corey as my friend and I would like to think Corey would not want me to hide this from her.
“Listen my princess! Let grandpa explain. I was worried and came to check on you after all you were late. Please do not be angry, forgive grandpa this once… this the last time I will act like this.” The esteemed Lord of the Bright family acted like a troubled parent and begged Corey for forgiveness.