A/N: Thank you for all the reviews. The reviews motivate me to write more! Here is the next chapter. This chapter takes place when Kim and Tommy are still sailing. It starts with Conner talking to Kira, Rocky and Aisha about what he saw in the kitchen.
A/N: As always I own nothing.
A/N: On to the story… =)
Chapter 9- Bet, Window, Boat
Youth Center
The workers of the Scott-Oliver Estate had ended their work day. Andrea Scott-Oliver and Desmond Oliver were extremely fair to their workers. The pay was great, they never felt like slaves, and once their work day was done they got to do whatever they wanted. No one rarely got fired unless they were trying to steal from them. The only workers who ever did get fired were: Ransik, Zeltrax, Archerina, and Zedd. With names like that, the Scott-Olivers should've been clued in to their immoral ways.
Conner, Kira, Rocky, and Aisha decided to head to the Youth Center.
The Youth Center was partly owned by Scott-Olivers. Ernie, the co-owner and person who ran the Youth Center, was very good friends with the famous family. He was even the Godfather to Hayley.
"Hey guys!" Ernie's New York accent boomed. He looked at some of his favorite customers.
"Ernie!" Rocky exclaimed. He gave him a hug. "Can I have my usual?"
Aisha laughed. "Babe, we already had a big dinner." She gave a hug to Ernie as well.
Rocky, as always, prepared a huge feast. He made a giant pot roast, with green beans almandine, mashed potatoes with rosemary infused beef gravy, yeast rolls, and of course the fruit tarts as dessert. Since Rocky made six of them, there was one left over. Between Rocky and Conner, they finished it in 10 minutes. That's why they made it to the Youth Center, the girls wanted something sweet. His smoothies hit the spot.
"You got it." Ernie announced. He didn't move though. At least not yet.
"Oooo! Make that two!" Conner yelled to Ernie. Conner was distracted because he was kissing Kira. They had gotten really affectionate lately.
Ernie grinned. He had always felt that Kira and Conner made a cute couple. Now they finally were one. That's when he finally went to the back to make their usual.
The group of four made their way to the table they always sat at. They were watching as some people worked out, there were a couple of girls doing gymnastics, and four guys sparring. This environment was a good one for all of them. Aisha and Rocky never felt too old coming here. It was nostalgic for them. They'd been going there since they were 12.
Ernie came from out back. He had their food ready. "Alright, I have a orange-banana smoothie for Kira. Oh and here's your bottle of apple juice." Ernie handed her drinks to her.
"Thanks Ernie." Kira said with a smile.
"And, here's pineapple, peach, banana smoothie for Aisha. I also got you the mini banana nut muffins you always liked." Ernie gave her the drink and food.
"Aw, Ernie you're so sweet thanks." Aisha complimented him.
"And for Rocky and Conner, here are your two slices of pizza." Ernie gave Rocky a pepperoni and supreme one. While Conner got a Hawaiian pizza slice and a supreme one. "Here are your two basket of French fries. And then here are your meatball submarine sandwiches." He handed them that. "I'll be back with your smoothies. 2 raspberries, strawberries, and banana smoothies."
"Thanks Ernie!" Conner and Rocky chorused. They started eating all their food.
Kira watched them. "Can you believe our guys?" Kira whispered to Aisha.
Aisha giggled. "I've known Rocky all my life. He's always had an appetite like this. I'm pretty used to it I guess. I can understand him with his mouth full."
"I've known Conner since our senior year of high school. That's about 5 or 6 years, and I don't think I could ever get used to it." Kira admitted
"Osh cosh onch bashe" Conner said with his mouth full. He took another bite of his submarine.
"You called me babe again." Kira chastised.
The group laughed. "Now you can understand him with his mouth full too." Rocky observed. He grabbed some fries.
"Oh man." Kira groaned. She looked at Conner. "I guess you're so lucky I love you then." She gave Conner a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm always lucky." Conner stated. He then fed Kira a French fry.
Ernie came back with Conner and Rocky's smoothies.
"Are we going to the movies this weekend?" Aisha asked them.
They usually did things as groups because it was easier for them. By the end of the night, they usually separated anyways.
"This weekend, we gotta go back home." Rocky told Conner.
"What does Mom need?" Conner questioned him. He sipped on his smoothie.
"She needs us pack up the garage for her." Rocky answered.
Conner nodded. "Then we can all go help, then see a movie afterwards."
"Deal." Kira exclaimed. "We should all see our parents this weekend then."
Since they all lived on the estate, they rarely got to see their families. Their families all understood. They were grown and can make their own decisions. Being a worker at the Scott-Oliver Estate was well respected.
"Oh, I can't believe I forgot." Conner interrupted. They all gave him their attention. "I was in the kitchen earlier to get something to drink, and I saw Kimberly and Dr. O in there."
Their ears perked up. "What happened?" Aisha urged him.
"She was feeding him some of the fruit tart." He said.
"And?" Kira said.
She found no point to this story.
Conner shook his head. "The way he looked at her, it's something. I'm telling you guys, he's starting to fall for her."
"No, way would Dr. O fall for her." Kira denied his statement. "First, Dr. O is like incapable of love. He' so busy with his work. Second, this is Kimberly. She loves Jason. Third, I can never see it happening."
"You weren't there. He stared at her with purpose and lust in his eyes when she was feeding him the tart!" Conner defended himself.
Rocky and Aisha looked at each other. They knew Conner can be well, sometimes a dumb jock, but he can be pretty observant.
"Well then my tart must be an aphrodisiac or something." Rocky said. "Tommy would never fall for Kimberly."
"Did they do anything else?" Aisha asked him.
Conner smiled. "You saw how short Kimberly's shorts were right?"
"Those were some pretty short shorts." Rocky remembered her outfit. He had a faraway look in his eyes.
Aisha noticed she smacked his arm.
"Ouch! 'Sha, what's that for?" Rocky snapped.
"For that look in your eyes. Boy, Kimberly is like our sister and you had thoughts about her in those shorts!" Aisha retorted. She glared at him.
"Shit." Conner said about Aisha's glare. Kira laughed.
"So, what about the shorts?" Kira got them back on the topic.
"He was totally staring at her ass. You could see it. I'm telling you Dr. O is falling for Kimberly." Conner stated with vibrato.
"Let's make a bet." Rocky presented.
"Oh, no. You are not going to bet on Kimberly's and Tommy's love life." Aisha directed.
Rocky shook his head. "'Sha, we got this in the bag. I'm against Conner on this one. We will win." Rocky stated.
Conner rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Bro. I'm telling you I know what I saw. Dr. O is falling for her. I'm taking this bet. I bet you $200." Conner said.
Kira couldn't believe it. "$200?" She warned. Conner nodded. "Oh my gosh! Are you an idiot?"
"Bro, you got it." Rocky said. They shook hands.
Conner looked at his girlfriend. "Don't worry. I got this in the bag." He kissed his girlfriend with love laced through it.
Kira forgot what they were talking about. "I love you too."
Rocky and Aisha observed the two of them. "Yup, Conner got that from me." Rocky winked at Aisha.
Rocky always said the only reason why Conner got girls was because of the game Rocky taught him.
Aisha rolled her eyes, but smiled at the thought. After all, he was able to get her, right?
The four of them stayed until closing time. Then went back to the Scott-Oliver Estate to get rest for the next day.
Xxxxx
Two Days Later.
It was Wednesday morning. Zordon was taking Tommy to his job. The morning was normal enough.
After Zordon's conversation with Kimberly, he decided to follow her advice. He had adjusted his rearview mirror enough, so he could see out the back window and see Tommy. His daughter insisted that Tommy wasn't so robotic. Zordon needed to see this for himself.
In the back, Tommy had his briefcase opened. His laptop was on the mini desk built inside the Bentley, and he grabbed the telephone in the car. He needed to call his secretary.
"Good morning, Trini. First, call Nevada. Las, Vegas Nevada to be exact." He instructed.
Trini gulped on the other end. "Any reason sir?"
"Unable to attend the business meeting with George Maloof of the Palms Casino"
Tommy and George Maloof, owner of the Palms Casino, were set to have a business meeting tonight. Tommy would've taken the White Tiger Jet to Las Vegas. The two of them were going to talk about how to open a casino. If necessary, Tommy would've made Maloof part owner. 1/10 to be exact.
"Why not?" She asked.
Trini has been working with Tommy for some time now. She's never heard him to cancel meetings. EVER! Her throat went dry of all of a sudden.
"Slight hitch in the casino/hotel merger. Got that?"
Which was true, with Jason insisting he wanted to run off Kimberly, Tommy had to make another plan to intervene. Plus, Jason had been nagging him to keep his eye on her. Tommy only found one way to do that. He needed to spend more time with her. This confused Tommy to a tee. Was he doing it on his brother's behalf? Or was he doing it because he needed to see her again? He never did ask her for a rematch. Maybe tonight he could do it.
"Yes sir. Is there anything else you need done?" Trini inquired.
'Bingo' Tommy thought. "Next, here's the plans for tonight."
Zordon looked at the rearview mirror. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like what was going to be spoken next. He knew Tommy to never cancel anything, so what was so important to cancel this meeting?
"I want two tickets to the musical 'The King and I'. Box seats at the Pantages Theater in Downtown, Los Angeles. Table for two at the restaurant, Ketchup, in LA. Before the show by the way. After the show, I want a private room at the Root Core in Briarwood. Udonna and Leanbow know me. They'll keep the place open for me." Tommy directed.
Trini wrote all of it down. "Got it, where are you?"
Tommy looked out the window. "I'm just passing by Inquiris Fields. Can you get two of the largest cups of coffee from my sister's café?"
"I will do that. See you here."
Tommy hung up his phone.
Zordon had a stern look on his face after hearing Tommy's conversation. He looked straight ahead. He adjusted his rearview mirror, so he could only see out the back window.
"Zordon, I need you tonight." Tommy requested.
"Yes sir." Zordon stated. He sighed in annoyance. Tommy was going to take out his daughter. Was this a sick game?
"I'm take Kimberly out again." Tommy announced.
"Yes sir." Zordon indifferently said. He kept staring out the window. He refused to look in the rearview window again.
"Would you have her at my office by 6?" Tommy inquired. He kept shuffling with his papers. He could tell something was bothering Zordon.
"Yes sir." Zordon repeated.
'That's it.' Tommy said in his head. "Anything wrong, Zordon?" Tommy looked into Zordon's rearview mirror to see if he could get a glimpse of how he looks.
"I prefer to not be involved in these dates with my daughter" Zordon said in an audacious tone. Zordon unfortunately could see the look on Tommy's face, so he elaborated more. "It makes for a rather awkward situation."
Tommy felt like an ass. "That never occurred to me, I'm sorry Zordon." He honestly said.
Tommy should've known better. He was so concerned about getting Kimberly away from Jason, he never thought about how Zordon felt about all of this.
Zordon shook his head. "It's just not right, Dr. Oliver." Zordon looked back on the road, if he looked back at Tommy, Tommy would probably see daggers being thrown his way, and there would be a definite car accident. "I like to think of life as a limousine. We're all driving together, but there's a front seat, a back seat, and window in between." Zordon described.
Tommy thought about it for a moment. He understood what Zordon was implying. The are two different kinds of people in this world. The haves and the have-nots. It's obvious Tommy and Jason had the haves. Kimberly would be considered the have-nots. The window is meant to separate the two.
"Zordon, I never realized it, but you're a terrible snob." Tommy confessed.
"Yes sir." Zordon stated with robust.
Tommy nodded. "Alright then, have her drive herself, in Jason's car."
Tommy's Acura and Mitsubishi were manual. He wasn't sure if Kimberly could drive stick, and he knew Jason's Mustang was automatic.
"Thank you, sir. It's all so distressing." Zordon said. "First, Mr. Jason, now you. I wish Kimberly had stayed in Paris."
"So do I." Tommy mumbled. He looked at the papers in his briefcase again.
"May I ask, Dr. Oliver, what exactly are your intentions?" Zordon inquired. He had a feeling, but he wanted it to be wrong. His daughter is not a pawn.
Tommy spoke from his mind. "My intentions? Unethical, reprehensible but very practical." He answered. If he spoke from his heart, he would be afraid of the outcome.
"I beg your pardon?" Zordon questioned.
"With your permission, I plan on shipping your daughter back to Paris." Tommy requested. 'Yes, that's brilliant. I should've thought about that a long time ago. That's my final plan.' Tommy thought.
He should've thought about that sooner. Zordon voiced he wanted that to happen, and so did Tommy. He had the money and means to do so.
"You are, sir?" Zordon asked in disbelief.
Tommy took off his eyeglasses. He blinked his eyes a couple of times. Then looked into the rearview mirror. "I'm going to try to."
If he went through with this plan, Kimberly couldn't find out. His plans needed to be inconspicuous.
"May I ask how, Dr. Oliver?" Zordon asked him.
"First class of course." Tommy stated matter of fact. Zordon cleared his throat. "Don't worry about the money." He added.
"It's not the money I'm worried about. It's Kimberly." Zordon stated sadly.
He didn't want his child, his flesh and blood, his daughter, and only living memory of his late wife getting hurt.
Tommy heard the concern in his chauffeur's voice. "I'll be as gentle as I can."
Tommy thought about everything. Kimberly would be hurt at the end of all of this. He could have that on his conscience though. The merger would go as plan, and he would have more power and money.
"I hope so. She's a displaced person. She doesn't belong in a mansion, but she doesn't belong above a garage either." Zordon ended all the conversations between himself and Tommy the rest of car ride to the Command Center.
Tommy sat in silence. Letting everything sink in.
Xxxxx
Kimberly and Zordon's home.
After Zordon dropped off Tommy, he rushed back home to talk to Kimberly. He walked back into the home, and he went to look for her. She was dressed in a pink sports bra and gray track pants.
Zordon yelped and covered his eyes.
Kimberly was startled by the sound. "Father?" Kimberly saw him.
"Yes." Zordon cleared his throat. "Where is your top?"
"Father, I'm going to go work out in the dojo." Kimberly giggled. She looked at him, he still had his eyes covered. She went to put on one of his shirts. It looked like a dress on her. "Father, I have a shirt on."
After Zordon heard that, he parted his fingers to make sure. He exhaled a breath, he had no clue he was holding in. "Thank you Jesus. Since, when are you going to workout in the dojo?"
He had never heard of his daughter stepping foot inside the dojo. This is something new to him.
"I'm going to do some katas, twirl with the kendo sticks. I think Rocky is doubling as a teacher today. I'm going to see if I can catch him. Maybe me and him can spar." Kimberly replied. She was getting a water bottle from their fridge.
"You know karate?" Zordon asked incredulously.
Kimberly nodded. "I know kung fu in you want to get technical."
Zordon gasped. "When did you learn that? I thought I sent you to Paris for gymnastics."
She had never shown interest in martial arts, well maybe she did for Jason's sake. His daughter was certainly a Jill of all trades if he thought about it. Gymnastics, interpreter in sign language, he could hear her when she spoke French, she sang, and kung fu. What else could his daughter do.
"Father, there are a lot of things I learned in Paris. Remember that letter, the last letter I sent you before I came home?" She reminded him.
He nodded. "Um, you have an engagement tonight." Zordon mentioned.
Kimberly furrowed her brows. "An engagement?" Zordon nodded. "With who?"
There could be two possibilities. Tommy or Jason. For some odd reason, she wasn't thinking of Jason.
"Dr. Oliver has requested your company tonight for dinner and a show." Zordon blankly said.
Kimberly's eyes brightened. "What show?" She smiled. "Father, what show?" She asked eagerly.
Zordon sighed. "The King and I. You are to have dinner at the restaurant, Ketchup, then the show, and then some place called Root Core afterwards." He summarized.
"Root Core?" Kimberly echoed. Zordon nodded.
She remembered Jason had mentioned that place. Now, she was going there with Tommy. 'This was going to be a night to remember'. She thought.
"What time?" She said.
"You are to meet him at Scott-Oliver Business and Associates at 6." He told her.
Kimberly nodded. "So, then we must leave here at around 5:15 or so to beat traffic." Kimberly walked to her closet. "I think I have the perfect dress for tonight, and then I will put my hair like this-"
Kimberly looked at her father he wasn't saying anything.
"Kimberly." Zordon croaked. "We are not leaving at any set time. You are going to be taking Mr. Jason's car and will meet Dr. Oliver at the office."
"Oh." Kimberly said. "Well, I'm going to the dojo." She took off her father's shirt. Then started walking towards the door. She had a water bottle in hand, then she looked back at Zordon. "Father, are you alright?"
Zordon put on a fake smile. "Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
Kimberly let it slide. "No reason. I will see you later. I love you." She walked out.
"I'll miss you when you are shipped off to Paris." Zordon mumbled.
Little Jase came up to him. He whimpered. Zordon picked him up.
Xxxxx
Scott-Oliver Estate Dojo
Kimberly walked into the dojo. She saw Rocky and Aisha were in there making out. She smiled at the sight. She was about to be a definite cock block.
"Am I interrupting something?" Kimberly asked as she walked towards them. Rocky and Aisha quickly separated. She laughed. "That maid's outfit Aisha wears must be a turn on, huh?" Kimberly winked.
Aisha rolled her eyes. "Girl, this thing is not all that." Aisha motioned to the outfit. The maids on the estate wore dingy, gray ones with the skirt on it reaching to their knees and an apron tied around the waist. It was the standard.
"It's not like I haven't seen what's underneath." Rocky said huskily.
"Rocky!" Aisha hissed. She turned bright red.
Kimberly laughed. "So, is this what you guys do? When the cats away the mice will play?"
"Shut up!" Aisha playfully said. "What are you doing here?"
She, too, had never seen Kimberly in the dojo. Usually, Kimberly would go to the gym on the Estate to work out.
"Since, Rocky's supposed to teach today, I decided I need a sparring partner. Tommy and Jason aren't here. Tommy's at work, and my Jason's still healing." Kimberly answered.
"You want to spar with me?" Rocky asked incredulously. Kimberly nodded. "Alright, I'll go easy on your then."
"Whatever Rocky. I can so wipe the mats with your face." Kimberly stated with confidence.
"I wish I could see this, but I must get back to work." Aisha said. She kissed Rocky on the lips. She gave a hug to Kimberly. "Go easy on him." She said then walked off.
Rocky was already dressed in a red tank top, and blue track pants. He was barefoot. Kimberly started to take off her sandals. They went onto opposite sides of the mat. They bowed.
She let Rocky advance towards her. She blocked his punches then used her hands to jab his stomach. Rocky was pushed back a little. They went to their opposite side. They bowed again. Kimberly advanced this time. She did a series of no handed cartwheels. Rocky noticed. He stepped back to avoid them. Kimberly stopped and did a front flip over Rocky. Rocky ran backwards. Kimberly ran toward him. Punch. Kick. Punch. Kick. Rocky Blocked her kicks. Kimberly blocked his punches. Rocky went to attack her again, but Kimberly quickly did the splits. Rocky didn't notice since she did it so quick. Kimberly used her upper body strength to pick herself up then she swiped Rocky's legs beneath him. She pinned him.
Rocky was on his back. "What the hell? Did you train with the Asian Mafia or something?" He exclaimed.
Kimberly laughed. "No." She held out her hand for his. Rocky took it, and she helped him up. "You want to go again?"
Rocky nodded. They went to opposite sides of the mats. They bowed.
They met in the middle of the mat. Rocky punched first. Kimberly blocked it. Rocky did it again. He kept punching her, but she kept blocking it. Kimberly then started kicking him. Rocky blocked her advances. Kimberly could sense his next move she started to cartwheel away from him. Rocky raced after her, Kimberly's back was to him. Then she back kicked him then whirled to face him. They started to do a series of pushing hands. Their hands were gracefully blocking, wrapping, pushing each others away. Their circular motions were taut. Push. Block. Wrap. Circular motion. Finally, Kimberly jabbed his stomach. She did a series of kicks to his front and side. She did a spin kick, and Rocky fell down.
She won… again.
They didn't realize they had been going at it for an hour or that there was someone watching.
Conner ran up to them. "Bro, you got beat. By Kimberly!" Conner gave Kimberly a big hug.
Kimberly giggled. "It's because Rocky was going easy on me, right?" She winked at him.
"Uh, yeah. That's right." Rocky said. Even though, the truth was he gave it all he got, but Kimberly just kicked his ass.
They went to the side of the dojo where the fridge was. Rocky got out a water bottle. Kimberly already had hers.
"So, Kimberly, where did you learn that?" Rocky asked her. He was breathing heavily.
"I was taught kung fu for a year and a half." She answered. She was also breathing heavy.
"Well, whenever you get the chance, I'm sure Jason would love to spar with you." Rocky said.
Conner nodded. "Maybe you could spar with Dr. O." Conner started to practice a kata Rocky had taught him.
"I already sparred with him." Kimberly admitted. Rocky and Conner gawked at her. She knew she needed to explain it to them. "The night of the party, when Jason got into that stupid accident, Tommy met me here in the dojo. We ended up sparring, but we used Kendo sticks."
"You know how to use a kendo stick?" Rocky questioned her.
Since he's known Kimberly, he only thought she did gymnastics. He's never known her to do any type of karate. Yes, she showed interest because of Jason, but she seemed pretty advanced.
"Yes, I was taught in Paris." She added. She started to do some stretching. "Should we do a kata?" Conner and Rocky nodded. "I'll lead."
Kimberly lead them into an intense kata. It looked like she mixed in some tai chi.
"Conner, what are you doing here?" Rocky exhaled and inhaled while doing the kata.
"It's my break, I figure I'd come here. Nick made lunch by the way." Conner exhaled his breath. "Kimberly, who won the match between you and Dr. O?"
"I did." Kimberly continued her movements. The boys followed her.
"What?" Rocky exclaimed. Kimberly nodded. "How?"
"We fought for half an hour. I finally knocked the stick out of his hand. I won end of story." She finished her kata.
They all stopped.
"Wow. I should rag on him for that." Conner said.
Rocky and Kimberly gave him a stern look. "I don't think you should do that." Kimberly said.
"You're right. He would kill me." Conner thought.
The relationship between Tommy and Conner was a unique one. Conner would annoy Tommy, and Tommy would sometimes want to smack him up side the head. However, Tommy had respect for Conner. Even though, he never showed it, he did. He felt obligated to Conner as if he was a mentor or something.
Kimberly smiled. "Well, I need to start getting ready for tonight." She went to grab her things.
"Tonight? What are you doing tonight?" Rocky asked her.
"I'm going out with Tommy tonight. We are going to a musical and have some dinner." She told them. "I'll see you guys tomorrow." She gave them a hug then walked out.
Conner smiled in triumph. "I believe you owe me $200." He established.
Rocky shook his head. "No, that doesn't mean he's falling for her." He said.
Rocky knew Tommy. Kimberly wasn't Tommy's type. Well, Tommy didn't exactly have a type, but he also knew that Tommy could be up to something. He remembered Kimberly's facial expressions, and she didn't seem too thrilled. Was she hiding it? He wasn't sure.
"What are you talking about?" Conner demanded. He shook his head. "Admit it, you lost. You just don't want to pay up!"
"Fine, I'll give you half." Rocky negotiated. "Cause he's taking her out. Once he puts a ring on it or something I wull give you the other half."
Conner nodded. "Come on, we should tell our girlfriends."
Rocky closed up the dojo, and he left with his brother to the main house.
Xxxxx
Command Center in Reefside.
Kimberly arrived at the Scott-Oliver Business and Associate's office in Reefside. He had the valet take Jason's car. She loved Jason's car. It was fast, sleek, and very classy. Her love had chosen well.
Her dress tonight was a silk black one. It was a strapless, bubble dress kind. The skirt of the dress flared out and it was kind of ruffled. She also put a red ribbon around it. She had on blue strappy heels. Her accessories were a cocktail ring, her Hello Kitty necklace from Master Mao, pink cubic zirconium stud earrings, a bracelet and a black clutch.
The make up she had tonight was a classic smoky eye, pale lips, blush, bronzer. Her hair was down and curled.
She was a little early, but she went up anyway. Once she arrived to the top floor, she was greeted by Tommy's secretary, Trini.
"Hello, you must be Kimberly." Trini greeted. Kimberly nodded. "I'm Trini Kwan, Tommy's secretary."
Trini looked at Kimberly. She was gorgeous, and her outfit was to die for. She also exuded confidence. Something Trini felt she lacked. That was Trini's demeanor though. She was a passive person, and she never put herself out there.
"That dress is so pretty." Trini complimented. She stared at it with awe.
Kimberly did a once over of Trini. She wasn't hideous, but she didn't dress to impress. Her hair was in a strict bun, and she was wearing a classic suit. Everything was black, and it didn't show off her figure. She had on oversized eyeglasses. Kimberly felt something when she saw this woman. She felt she saw her old self in her.
Kimberly smiled. "Thank you, Trini. I have a question for you." Trini nodded. "Do you have to wear eyeglasses?"
Trini was a little taken aback by her question. "No, I do have prescription contact lenses, I just never wear them. Why?"
"I think you should start wearing them. You're very pretty." Kimberly said.
"You think I am?" Trini asked.
Yes, she's always been a smart cookie, but no one has ever commented on her looks. Trini was beginning to like this Kimberly. She was nice and sweet. In another lifetime, maybe they could've been best friends.
Kimberly nodded. "Listen, why don't we get together. I think we should go shopping. What do you think?"
"I would like that. Maybe this Friday." Trini smiled. "Well, Dr. Oliver is already in his office. The door is unlocked. He's done with all his meetings. Thank you Miss. Kimberly." Trini started to gather her things.
"Just call me Kimberly." She advised. Trini smiled and left to go home.
Kimberly smiled at the thought of helping someone else. She walked into Tommy's office. He wasn't in there, so she started to look around. His office was huge. It could've been a condo or something. She examined everything, and then she noticed Tommy's desk.
His desk chair was one of those swivel ones. She sat down, and she spun herself around. She giggled like a school girl. Then she want to the desk where the meetings with other people were held. She went to the side of the desk where Tommy probably sat. She spun around that one.
"Alright!" Kimberly announced. She wanted to act like Tommy. "The meeting of the board of directors will now come to order." She motioned with her hands as if she was leading an actual meeting. "As chairman, I would like to say at the outset…" Kimberly grabbed her head. The spinning of the chairs didn't make her feel so great.
Tommy had been watching from afar. He chuckled inside at how innocent Kimberly could still be at times. "The chairman is dizzy." He observed.
Kimberly bit her bottom lip. She realized he had been watching her. "Meeting adjourned." She said quickly.
Tommy went to the built in kitchen in his office. "Would you like something to drink?" She nodded. Tommy got out the blender, some Jose Cuervo tequila, strawberry margarita mix, he got out some ice from the fridge. He blended it all up for her. Then got out two margarita glasses. Poured the contents. Added some fresh mint for her. "Here, a strawberry margarita."
Kimberly took it. She drank some. Then continued to look around his office. Tommy drank his margarita in one gulp. He liked the stronger stuff. He started to walk to the closet in the office.
"I once saw an office like this in Forbes magazine at the doctor's office." Kimberly looked around once more. "Does Jason have an office like this?"
Tommy changed into a dress jacket. "Something like this, only larger. " He then put on some cologne.
"Larger?" Kimberly echoed loudly.
"Instead of a desk, he has a boxing ring." Tommy joked. Kimberly looked at him. "Jason hardly comes in, he would rather use the gym as an office."
Kimberly put her drink on his desk. She looked out the window. This had to be the window.
"Is this the ledge?" Kimberly pointed to the side.
Tommy looked at her. He took off his eyeglasses. "What ledge?" He followed her gaze.
"You know, the ledge. When you almost…" Kimberly didn't want to continue. She looked out the window, it overlooked all of Reefside.
Tommy didn't want to bring back the memories. There was a time in Tommy's life when he hit the bottom of the barrel. Something in him had snapped, and he felt he had taken too much on at one time in his young life. Tommy's only 30, but he was running several businesses and had hundreds of millions rolling in. Something was missing. That's when he wanted to jump, but he didn't. That's when he decided he'd live for power, so he could constantly stay busy.
"Yes." Tommy said simply. He went to his desk to pick up the tickets for tonight's show. Trini was able to pick them up.
"What made you not do it?" She questioned him.
Tommy looked up from his desk. "There were some children, playing a game of flag football. This was a time before the city became popular. I'm very fond of those children."
Tommy had a normal childhood, but when puberty hit, he traded his black belts for a briefcase and laptop.
Kimberly looked at his desk. She had seen all the different equipment he had. "Look at all these gadgets, you press a button and businesses go up." She joked.
"You know, I can pick up the phone and call for a new commander and troops to make another set of Silver Guardians if I needed to." Tommy added.
Power, that was it right there. He had the power to make jobs, and find defenders for the cities of Reefside, Mariner Bay, Angel Grove, Corinth, Briarwood, San Angeles, Blue Bay Harbor, Oceans Bluff, Turtle Cove, even another one in Silver Hills if necessary. Hell, he could even have defenders on Terra Venture, KO-35, Aquitar, and Mirinoi.
"Could you also say buy all of Las Vegas and move it Reefside?" Kimberly kidded.
Tommy nodded. "I am doing that. I'm building a casino/hotel to move to San Angeles." Tommy referenced to his merger.
Kimberly got the hint. "You must be clever."
"It's just a knack, like juggling three oranges." Tommy shrugged his shoulders.
"Tommy, it isn't oranges, it's millions maybe even billions." She said. "Suppose you dropped one?" She hypothesized, and she put her hands on her hips. She stood toe to toe with Tommy.
His chocolate brown eyes with long eyelashes started into her doe brown eyes that was decorated with make up. "Suppose I did? What's at the end of a million or billion for that matter? Nothing. A Circle."
Tommy once again referenced money isn't the main priority of what he does. It's the power. P-O-W-E-R. Tommy had a plan to get Kimberly on her way back to Paris. He finally thought about it with Hayley.
"Kimberly." Tommy said. He kept staring into her eyes.
She stared back in his eyes. "Yes, Tommy?"
"Can you keep a secret?" He asked her. She nodded. Tommy turned his attention out the window. "I want you to look out there. Uptown."
Kimberly followed his gaze out the window. There on the waters of Reefside by the pier was a luxury cruise liner.
"You see the luxury cruise liner?" Tommy said to her. Kimberly nodded. "That's the Queen Mary 3. It sails this upcoming Monday. I'm going to be on it."
"You are?" Kimberly asked him, she was excited.
Tommy nodded. "I'm going to Paris like you suggested I should." She gasped. "I'm sick and tired of staying in this stuffy office. I'm breaking out, Kimberly."
"Good for you!" Kimberly praised with a smile.
"I think the best place for me to run is to Paris. I'm taking your advice." Tommy said.
Kimberly didn't catch Tommy's hidden agenda. Tommy's newest and final plan was in action, and Kimberly was completely oblivious to it all.
"It'll make a new person out of you. You'll double your money back." Kimberly commented him. She was excited for Tommy to have a break. "I'm so glad you're going." Kimberly gushed.
Then she thought about it. Tommy would be leaving Reefside. He didn't say how long he was staying. She didn't even know if he was going alone or with someone else. That's when she realized it, he would be going to Paris, without her. They wouldn't be spending time together anymore. She wouldn't see his chocolate brown eyes, his cold demeanor wouldn't surround her anymore. She wouldn't be going on these dates, or um, engagements with Tommy anymore or learning more about him.
"Or am I?" Kimberly whispered. Sadness lingering in her voice.
Tommy looked at her. He stared long at her. He heard the sadness, and he knew she hadn't caught on to his true intentions. Part of him was grateful that she didn't. Somewhere deep in him, he was sad he was going to do this to her.
"Ready, Kimberly?" He asked her. She nodded. "Let's go."
They left the office, arm and arm.
