The Dirty Affairs of a Vampire and His Horny Stepmom-Chapter 85: An unexpected encounter
[At midnight tomorrow, you’ll turn thirteen. Excited?]
[You have no idea — I’m so excited, just thinking about finally leaving this monotonous life!]
[Since tomorrow will be your last day on Earth, how about we spend the whole day together? You know, so I can hold on to a good memory of you before you disappear forever.]
[That’s exactly what I was about to ask you! Let’s do this: tomorrow afternoon, come pick me up outside middle school at 2:30 PM. And don’t you dare be even a minute late, got it!]
[I won’t be late, don’t worry. See you tomorrow.]
[See you tomorrow, my super beloved Jace.]
That was the text conversation from last night between me and Melania. I figured she’d want to spend the day with me just as much as I wanted to spend it with her, so I had no doubt she’d accept.
But it isn’t only the urge for one last fuck before goodbye that pushed me to invite her... it’s more like... something else. Something much more important.
I left school two hours early so I could make it on time for my date with Melania when, walking along Lexington Avenue — where both Ordrienne High and the school Melania attends are located — my eyes land on the outdoor tables of a luxury restaurant.
I freeze instantly, paralyzed by fear and shock.
Sitting at a table are John Hardley, Alex Serghal — still in her more feminine form — a young brown-haired girl with her hair tied in a bun and glasses, who looks like a secretary or something and who I’ve never seen before, and... my mother!
They’re all dressed elegantly — John in a black suit with a red tie, while the women are wearing business suits: my mother’s is burgundy, matching her hair, while his henchwomen’s are dark gray.
W-Why...? Why the hell is my mother having lunch with that bastard John Hardley?! Shit! Shit!
That damned son of a bitch did exactly what I was afraid of — he’s started getting close to the people I care about too, to blackmail me, for sure! I can’t let Veronica get dragged into this!
A surge of rage and worry drives me straight to them.
«Oh, Jace, what a surprise to see you here... but shouldn’t you be at school at this hour?» Veronica eyes me suspiciously.
«And shouldn’t you be at work?» I shoot back, irritated — not at her, obviously, but at John and his two goons being there.
«You realize I am at work, right? And you’re also making me look bad in front of our new investors!» Veronica snaps, stern but still composed.
«N-New investors...?» I repeat, slowly shifting my gaze toward John, who answers with a faint smile.
«Mr. Hardley here is a far-sighted businessman who had the good sense to recognize the exceptional profit opportunities that only a solid company in constant growth like Seiryu Biotech U.S. can offer. And we were just using this short break to discuss the final details of the investment with Mr. Hardley’s two financial assistants — Ms. Serghal and Ms. Fairmolt,» Veronica explains with the calm professionalism only a CEO of her caliber can pull off.
«You must be Mrs. Lance’s son, right?» John cuts in, his tone incredibly formal too, offering me his hand. «Your mother already introduced you to me, but it would be rude of me not to do it properly anyway. My name is John Hardley, and these are my assistants — Ms. Alex Serghal and Ms. Clarissa Fairmolt. Pleased to meet you, kid.»
In a way, I don’t know whether to feel relieved or worried that John and Alex are pretending they don’t know me — and of course I have every intention of playing along.
And yet, I don’t understand... someone like him doesn’t need to set up and maintain a fake financial negotiation just to get to my mother and use her to blackmail me. So then... what’s the point of all this? Could it really be a perfectly normal business lunch with no ulterior motive?
That would be too big a coincidence to be true... and yet it looks exactly like it is! After all, thinking about it, it isn’t even that absurd that the biggest boss of American organized crime would be interested in striking a deal with the U.S. division of a Japanese pharmaceutical giant.
Maybe it really is only that... nothing paranormal, nothing threatening toward me — just a criminal trying to make money.
At this point, I might as well pretend nothing’s happening. I’m sure that if there’s anything legally shady under the surface, my mother will notice it on her own. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
«My name is Jace Lance and, as you guessed, I’m Veronica’s son,» I reply, forcing myself to look as composed and formal as possible too, firmly shaking John’s hand and inclining my head in a respectful greeting toward the two women with him.
Well — one of them is a woman. I absolutely refuse to consider Alex one.
Clarissa Fairmolt... who the hell is that girl? I’ve never seen or heard her mentioned before, even though lately I’ve been hanging around John’s house pretty often. Whoever she is, she must be sharp — she can’t be much older than twenty, and yet she’s sitting at a negotiation table discussing things with someone as experienced in economics and finance as my mother?
John really does choose his subordinates well... and I have to admit she’s pretty cute too — she reminds me a lot of Ms. Amelia Archer, only younger.
Oh, fuck, Jace, this is not the time to get lost in thoughts like that!
«Anyway, I didn’t like that invasive attitude of yours at all!» Veronica continues, a faint edge of irritation in her voice. «Luckily Mr. Hardley is an intelligent person who won’t let your interruption influence him, but someone else in his place might not have appreciated your impertinence, and you could’ve risked blowing a nine-zero deal! Get ready, Jace — tonight you’re in for a nice lecture, both for what just happened and because you’re already out of school even though there are still two hours left until classes end!»
«A-Actually, tonight I’m supposed to be at that birthday party at Naomi’s...» I murmur, intimidated.
«Oh, right, Melania’s birthday — tell her it’s not so certain you’re going. I’ll think about it, and later, once I’m not so angry anymore, I’ll tell you whether you can go or not!»
«Y-Yes, Mom, sorry...»
«Come now, don’t be so harsh, Mrs. Lance,» John cuts in. «After all, it’s normal for a son to worry about his mother — she should be glad about it, shouldn’t she?»
Veronica lets out a deep sigh.
«Yes, I suppose you’re right, Mr. Hardley...»
Then she turns that sharp gaze back to me.
«Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a business lunch to finish.»
Message received loud and clear — I should get lost. And before I do, I offer a parting greeting to John, Alex, and Clarissa.
«Have a good day to you too, kid. And make sure you enjoy tonight’s party,» John concludes with an unsettling smile.
I know perfectly well what’s behind his grin, since the birthday party won’t be at Naomi’s house... but at John’s villa.
