My father and I are riding in the limousine, heading back home from a long morning of business dealings. He sits to my right, looking through his monthly planner. I lean my elbow on the door, resting my chin in my hand as I gaze out the tinted window.
"You've been doing so well with the business dealings!" My father exclaims. "My business partners want to know if you could permanently work with us."
I continue to stare out the window in thought.
"If you keep this up," my father continues. "I'll be able to let you handle some business dealings on your own! Perhaps they think of you as beautiful, but they wouldn't dare approach you with such intentions," my father's eyes glow red for a split second as he balls his fist.
My mind is thinking about last night when Alastor and I danced at his place, along with the bouquet of roses. My father turns to me and notices my pensive state.
"Ellie?" He says.
"Hm?" I turn to him, snapping out of my thoughts.
"What's the matter, darling?"
"Sorry, dad… I'm just thinking."
"You've been awfully pensive lately. Is something on your mind?"
"I guess it's just all the meetings getting to me," I smile.
"I can take the load off you."
"No, it's okay. How else am I going to handle the workload when I take over as Queen?"
"That may be true, but I value your health first. You should as well."
"I'm just stubborn is all."
"Ah, you get that from me," my father chuckles.
My father thinks for a moment and has an idea.
"How about we sing together sometime tonight?" He suggests. "It's been a while since you and I got together for a little performance."
"Sure! I miss singing with you."
"Splendid!"
We eventually arrive at our estate.
"Welcome home," my mother greets us with hugs and kisses. "I hope your morning full of meetings wasn't so exhausting."
"We're going strong!" My father has a smug smile.
Alastor stands in front of a tall bookcase, staring blankly at the books in thought.
"So the contract is finalized," Jonathan sits at his desk and pulls out a contract. "You just need that signature."
Alastor walks over to the desk, taking a hold of the contract and skimming through it. He lands on the page where the fine print explicitly says that the signing of the business partner will grant absolute and whole ownership to Alastor. He stares down at the fine print for a moment in thought.
"Once you have that signature," Jonathan says. "The business will be all yours," he has a slight smirk.
Alastor stands in silence for a moment.
"Is there a problem?" Jonathan asks.
"No, it's exactly what I asked for…" Alastor replies.
"Then all you need is that signature. The sooner, the better."
Alastor hesitates but doesn't want to show it.
"Produce another contract," Alastor finally says. "One which doesn't grant me whole ownership. I want it to say that ownership of the business will be evenly split between me and my business partner."
"Oh? Do I have to terminate the first one?"
"No, keep it. I'll just have this second contract as a back up in the case that my business partner suspects anything unusual. She's rather business savvy."
"Ah, so you want to have a decoy contract?"
"I suppose so."
"Great idea! I'll get started on it today. It'll look completely normal with no suspicious wording."
"Fine then. I'll leave you to it," Alastor heads to the office door. "Oh, and remember," he stops before opening the door. "You must not utter a word of this to anyone. Am I understood?"
"Of course," Jonathan nods as he recalls the last time he was warned.
"Good. There won't be any issues then."
Alastor opens the door and exits the office.
It's early in the evening. I've decided to head to the venue to check up on it. I make my way inside, closing the door after me. To my surprise, Alastor is here.
"How's it going?" I greet.
"Hello there!" Alastor greets as he stands in front of the stage. "What brings you here?"
"I was gonna ask you the same question," I stop a few feet to his right.
"I'm overlooking the venue to see if there are any other repairs needed."
"Hm. That's why I came," I laugh a bit.
We both gaze up to the stage.
"Sorry about last night," I finally say. "I got a bit carried away with my dancing," I rub my neck.
"You can't stop passion," Alastor shrugs.
"Still, I know you don't like being touched, even though you don't have a sense of boundary at times."
"I assert dominance by making people uncomfortable."
"I'm not even surprised."
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" Alastor steps closer to me.
He's moved to be inches in front of me, gazing down with those lowered eyelids and that grin of his. His face is less than an inch from mine, our noses practically touching. My face heats up a bit as I then turn my body away with my eyes closed.
"You have a knack for ticking me off," I cross my arms.
"Now, now," Alastor comes around to face me again. "Wipe that frown off your face. Smile, my dear! Remember - you're never fully dressed without one," he tickles the bottom of my chin.
"Don't push it, Smiles," I try to keep a stern face.
"Do I see a smile coming?"
I can't help but lightly laugh at him as I playfully push him away.
"How was your business dealing with your father?" Alastor asks.
"It was a long morning," I reply. "But it went well."
"There's word going around of your excellent business skills. I hear many businessmen want to work with you."
"I'd be open to it if they weren't so driven by my looks."
"You wouldn't pursue an intimate relationship with someone of high business stature?"
"A rule I like to follow is not to mix business with personal affairs. That didn't really work out for me the last time."
"Don't let someone else's poor behavior influence your relationships with others. Nothing is set in stone."
"I guess you're right," I shrug. "I'll never know who I'll run into next."
My phone vibrates in my pocket. It's a text from Angel.
"What's the plan for my birthday tomorrow night?" His text reads.
"Oh gosh," I'm surprised. "I nearly forgot!"
"What's the matter?" Alastor asks.
"It's Angel's birthday tomorrow night," I reply as I text Angel back.
"Any special plans?"
"Probably a night out at the bar, the usual," I put my phone away. "Speaking of which...when's your birthday, Alastor?"
"My birthday?" He's surprised at the question.
"Yeah. Angel's is February 16th, mine is July 26th."
"Oh, well...mine is March 21st."
"That's next month!"
I put my hand on my chin in thought.
"I'll keep that in mind," I have a cheeky smile.
"Is that so?" Alastor wonders.
"Anyway, since I see you've got things under control here," I make my way to the exit. "I'm heading out. I've got to make it back home for dinner."
"Wouldn't want your parents to get worried, now."
"They do that enough already," I chuckle. "I'm not necessarily the easiest to keep track of."
I begin to walk toward the exit.
"Will you tag along for Angel's birthday tomorrow night?" I turn to Alastor as I walk.
"You're inviting me?" Alastor raises a brow.
"Sure, why not? You're one of us, now."
Alastor stares at me in wonder.
"Angel's place at 8pm sharp," I say. "Anyway, see ya, Alastor!" I wave at him.
He waves back as I close the door on my way out.
"See ya…" Alastor is in thought.
I'm walking around my estate garden after having dinner with my parents. I make my way around the tall hedges and sit on a stone bench. After some time of sitting in silence, I decide to stretch out my wings, extracting them from my back. I stretch them far and wide, relaxing them after. My wings come closer to me as I brush my fingers through the thick yet soft feathers. I gaze down in thought.
"Are you alright, Ellie?" I hear my father from behind.
"Yeah, dad," I keep my gaze down.
"You don't sound too convincing," he sits on my right.
I let out a sigh. My father glances at my wings, remembering how self conscious I was of them with all the bullying I experienced because of them.
"You toughened it out when you were a kid," my father says. "Even when all the other kids teased you, you still stayed strong."
"I had you and mom there to help me," I give him a smile. "Sometimes I feel like I don't fit in because of my wings and being a half-angel."
My father then extracts his own wings, which are bigger than mine, spanning about twelve feet.
"You don't have to feel like the odd one out," he puts his hand on my shoulder. "Remember you get your wings from your old man," he makes me laugh. "Your wings are special here in Hell, just like mine. It makes me happy whenever I see your wings. You should let them out more often."
"Why do they make you happy?"
"Because they're a reminder that you're my daughter," he gives me a warm smile.
I'm surprised at his words and return the warm smile.
"How about a song together?" He suggests as he manifests his acoustic guitar. "We did agree on one."
"Sure," I nod.
"One of your favorite ones when you were a child that your mother and I used to sing to you."
My father plays at the guitar strings.
"Come stop your crying, It will be alright," he begins. "Just take my hand, Hold it tight. I will protect you, From all around you. I will be here, Don't you cry. For one so small, You seem so strong, My arms will hold you, Keep you safe and warm. This bond between us, Can't be broken. I will be here, Don't you cry."
"'Cause you'll be in my heart," we sing together.
"Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart
Always"
"Why can't they understand the way we feel," I sing this verse alone. "They just don't trust what they can't explain. I know we're different, but deep inside us. We're not that different at all."
"And you'll be in my heart," we sing the chorus together.
"Yes you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more"
"Don't listen to them, 'Cause what do they know," my father sings.
"What do they know," I sing the background vocal.
"We need each other, to have, to hold. They'll see in time, I know. When destiny calls you, you must be strong."
"Gotta be strong."
"I may not be with you, But you got to hold on. They'll see in time, I know."
"We'll show them together," we sing together.
"'Cause you'll be in my heart
Believe me you'll be in my heart
I'll be there from this day on
Now and forever more"
"You'll be in my heart," my father sings.
"You'll be here in my heart," I sing the background vocals.
"No matter what they say."
"I'll be with you."
"You'll be here in my heart. I'll be there, Always."
"Always."
"I'll be with you."
"I'll be there for you always."
"Always and always."
"Just look over your shoulder."
"Just look over your shoulder."
"Just look over your shoulder."
"I'll be there always," we sing this last line together.
My father lets the strings ring out at the end of the song.
"You've grown up so much," my father leans his head against mine as he wraps his arm around me. "It's hard for me to believe that you're a grown woman now. I worry about you as if you were still a little girl."
"Oh dad," I giggle as I lean against him.
"Just know that I love you, Elena," my father kisses the top of my head. "And if there is anything that's troubling you, you know you can open up to me."
"Thank you," I tear up a bit but hide my eyes.
My father and I sit on the bench, our wings overlapping as we embrace. Behind the tall hedge a few yards across from us stands Alastor, having heard our conversation and song.
'Lucifer really does love his daughter to death,' he thinks to himself.
(Song You'll Be In My Heart by Phil Collins)