( Beverly Hills, California.)
“Tommy, don’t bounce on the couch! You’re gonna fall and get hurt!” Mom Rose scolded.
But the little fox grinned mischievously and jumped on another couch in his Superman pajamas, and resumed his trampoline practice.
“Keep that up and you won’t get any cookie.” She threatened but he ignored her and started kicking the couch pillows everywhere with his ‘Super strength’ as he bounced.
She groaned and put the last touch to Arian’s bed. They were in his room, keeping him company after dinner.
A couch pillow flew and accidentally knocked over a flower vase. Tommy froze and nervously giggled as his mother returned her glare.
“It’s time for you to go to bed! Nanny?!” She called out.
“Mommy, don’t bother. She won’t hear you until you run all the way downstairs.” He evilly taunted.
Just then, Arian came out of the closet after having a shower, pulling on a soft, white shirt over the sweatpants he wore.
It stunned Mom Rose because he never wore a shirt before going to bed. She almost tripped when he pulled on a sweatshirt on top!
“…”
When Arian got into bed, she unconsciously checked to see if he was running a fever before tucking him in.
“Pumpkin, since you weren’t able to visit the store in time because of your check ups, your dad had your tuxedo shipped in for the event. The designer will fly in tomorrow to make some adjustments though.” She smiled, raising the tuxedo which was tucked into an expensive case.
Arian glared at her and the item in her hand before turning over to back them. Mom Rose sighed and dropped the suit before elegantly sitting next to him.
“Honey, you don’t have to be like that. Personally, I feel you need some fun and fresh air. Arian, you’re getting more withdrawn everyday and it scares me… And I know it’s all because of me. Everything happening to you has been my fault…” Her voice trembled slightly.
Arian’s lifeless mint green eyes slowly turned to look at her.
“… and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything that happened between you and Natalia. Unknowingly, I might’ve been too pushy and selfish but I’m really sorry. I was so obsessed with making you fall in love so that you’ll have a worthy enough reason to….”
Arian took her hands and parted his lips to say something. But remembering he couldn’t talk, he kept still and hugged her instead, letting his emotions speak for him.
“Please attend the event and have fun with your friends. I know that deep down, they miss the old you…. well not the old boring you…. but just… you’ll feel much better.” She coyly tried again.
And it didn’t take one second for Arian to return to his cold self.
“I know you hate parties…”
“… because they suck!!!” Tommy merrily screamed out his big brother’s favourite line from the next couch he was hopping on.
“Thank you, blondie.” Mom Rose lightly scowled at him and he touched his hair, giggling.
“Your friends miss you even though they don’t show it. Won’t you at least do it for them?” She sweetly coaxed. Arian heavily fell on his back and made a face.
“Now isn’t that my pumpkin!” She squealed excitedly and ruffled his hair. But he immediately pushed her hand off and rearranged it with a scowl on his face.
Tommy stopped messing around with the TV control and flew to the bed.
“Mommy, why can’t I come with you guys?” He pouted aggrievedly. She playfully pulled his nose.
“Because it is not for babies like you. It’s an evening event and I definitely don’t wanna carry a sleepy Tom cat around. Besides, I thought you hate hanging out with old people? ” He climbed on her laps and wrapped his little arms around her neck.
“Who wouldn’t?!” He shrieked dramatically after wearing a sweet smile. “They suffocate you with weird perfumes, choke you in a hug, pull your cheeks and ruffle your hair like a lost puppy until you look like a scarecrow!
“They keep calling you ‘isn’t he an adorable pumpkin!’, sweet little dumpling, cute little kitty. For Christ’s sake, I’m no longer a baby! I’m a big boy now. And I’m totally not a pet or an animal…. and I’m NOT eatable!” He fumed.
They could literally see smoke coming out of his ears! His baby voice made his rant seem hilarious.
Arian stifled a smirk when Tommy scowled at him. Mom Rose tried to keep a straight face.
“Then why do you want to come if you don’t like us?” He placed a little hand on her cheek.
“I love mommy and daddy and nanny and uncle butler Lee. But I wanna come because I have a good feeling about this one. I feel so excited.”
“And mommy loves you too.” She fawned, placed him on the bed and tickled him. His giggles was interrupted by a knock.
The door opened and the De’ Argent’s age long nanny wheeled in a large cup of…. something.
“Young master Arian, your extra large cup of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and mint ice cream mashed with shredded strawberries, blueberries, purpleberries, blackberries and coupled with sweet caramel, mildly sugary honey and specially imported whipped cream with a topping of peach flavour is ready. Oh! And it was deeply frozen by me as you requested.” She lightly bowed.
Mom Rose’s throat went dry trying to calculate the amount of sugar in the gigantic cup! She whipped her head to Arian but noticed he was distracted by something on the TV.
“Nanny? How did Arian order that… that thing, when you know he’s ill?”
“Little Tommy told me the young master described it to him when I was about putting him to bed.” She stated.
Mom Rose smelled a rat and sharply turned to Tommy but he smiled nervously and jumped off the bed in a flash.
“That was then, nanny. He doesn’t want it again. Now I feel really sleepy, let’s go to bed.” He stuttered and hastily pulled her away.
“Where does he gets his mischief from?! Tommy makes me worry about his future everyday. He has too much of his father in him at this age!” She groaned tiredly.
She turned to Arian to kiss him goodnight before going over to Tom but stopped when she noticed his eyes were still glued to the screen.
It was the news. The entertainment section was talking about the La Croft’s anniversary and the number of celebrities on their guest list already in the country.
The present one showing was a video of the Empress of Astheria arriving at the airport. The crowd and paparazzi taking the videos didn’t have a clear view because it was midnight and the number of security surrounding her all the way from the jet to the limousine was too tight.
Besides, the rest of the airport security was blocking the crowd from running into the airstrip where other airplanes were landing.
Mom Rose took her eyes away to see Arian already dozing off. She arranged his duvet properly before switching off the television. Then she wheeled away the ice cream…. sundae?
.
.
Tommy had a lot of explaining to do!….
***
( A couple of hours later. )
Elva arranged the last piece of clothing into Natalia’s closet before coming out to wheel the countless travel bags away. She knew she shouldn’t be doing it but she preferred to anyway because Natalia was finding it hard to trust anyone.
Their flight took so long and the Empress could not sleep well last night. So Elva walked over to make some coffee.
“Good morning.” She beamed at her from across the wet bar.
“Morning.” She muttered dryly.
“Don’t tell me you’re about to fall ill?” Elva panicked. Natalia tied the white towel on her hair properly before sitting opposite her in a matching bathrobe.
“Might already be.” She mumbled and took the big mug.
“Should I get a doctor?” She offered as Natalia twirled the bar stool to face the huge balcony and stared at the rising sun.
She’d bought an entire manor for their residence but as Empress, she stayed with Elva in the main villa.
The manor was beautiful and had a lot of suites. There was a mini forest with three huge pools which was designed to resemble a pond. The surrounding looked so natural with the lush vegetation and amazing scenery.
“Thanks but I’ll just rest a bit. Do I have any appointments today?” She finally decided.
Elva took a sip from her coffee before answering. “Madame Stephanie is coming over today to make some minor adjustments and put some finishing touches to your evening dress.”
The exquisite Madame Stephanie was the world class famous designer Natalia had bought an entire collection of swim wears from. This was before they had the school camp at the island.
“Mhn.” She casually hummed. Elva narrowed her eyes quizzically.
“Is it just me or are you up to something?”
“Jake and I have an appointment somewhere afterwards.” She took another sip.
“Somewhere like?” Elva prodded, but Jake walked in at that moment and curtly bowed.
“Empress, you said to be over in an hour?”
“Yes.” She got down from the bar stool and walked over to her desk with the mug.
”He’s our focus for now.” She brought out a file and gave it to him. Jake quickly glanced through it before walking out.
“What’s that?”
“Someone who’s important to the investigation.” She took the mug into the closet to change.
“Oh.” Elva was gobsmacked.
.
.
When would she ever learn to chill??…