Cleo opened her mailbox to happily see the check from Lightning she had been waiting for. Literally the woman had millions now. She happily took the check into her home...
Lightning went down and outside to the dirt track to teach his students. Students he had transferred from the racing school and some who accepted the Jackson Storm scholarship. Lightning met with them and took it in for a moment. He had started with about one hundred or so that still wanted to train. Now, after Cleo had been putting out articles, rumors, headliners, etc.. Lightning only had about thirty eight students. He sighed and stared at them. "This place is going to close down at this rate.." Lightning mumbled. Jackson heard this and next to him was Dan. The two already knew this. Lightning sighed then looked to Dan and Jackson. "You two handle lessons today.. I got some paperwork to work on.." Lightning sounded depressed in tone. He turned and headed back inside the academy. Jackson ran after Lightning trying to help.
"Hey!" Called Jackson. "I'm no teacher.. I'm.. Barely a racer anymore.. And let's be honest here champ.. Is there any reason to continue training? If Cleo keeps up her crap than more and more students will quit." Lightning stopped and nodded agreeing. "Cleo needs to stop slandering me." "Legally?" Asked Jackson. Lightning glared answering "When has dealing with Cleo legally ever worked out.. I got to go speak with her. Call Bobby. You three can take care of the place for the day." Lightning went inside with Jackson following. Lightning grabbed his jacket and put it on. "You aren't serious.. Are you?" Jackson asked. Lightning nodded then grabbed his keys from his pocket. "Cleo needs put in place. Reminded who is top dog around here.." He growled then began to leave. Jackson stopped in front of Lightning, blocking him and began to beg!
"Please don't do this!.." "Excuse me?" Asked Lightning with a raised brow. Jackson had to think quick and explained "Nothing ever good comes from messing with Cleo.. If you piss her off she may retaliate!" "Good. I like a good fight." Lightning snickered and left. Jackson let him and stood there. He was to afraid to face Cleo himself. He just was afraid that Lightning facing her would make her go for him again to. Working with Lightning put a little fear in Jackson sense Cleo was free now. What if she found a way to take his sight away again.. Or worst...
The door bell rang and Cleo was in the process of redecorating her home. She stopped and opened the door bell camera on her phone to see Lightning. She smiled wittingly. "What a surprise.." She whispered to herself then quickly primped herself before rushing to answer the door. Lightning stood there a few minutes and looked at his watch. Was Cleo even home? He thought. Then the door opened. Cleo looked at him with a smile. "Awe... Mr. McQueen.. To what do I owe the pleasure?" She asked. I won't even describe what she was wearing, because it didn't matter.
Lightning glared a bit answering "You kmow exactly what.You got to stop making articles and posts about me and my wife." Cleo's eyes widened. "Me? Why.. I assure you that I have"-"Stop.. What's it gonna take? Hmm? Let's just get to it.. What do you want?" Lightning asked. Cleo snickered and leaned on the door frame. "Why don't you come in and we can.. Get to it as you put it. No more games and.. What's it I've heard you say now?.. Total.. Honesty?" She joked. Lightning sighed but after glancing behind him and seeing no one was watching, he stepped inside the house with Cleo and the door shut. "So what is it?" Lightning asked kind of rudely. Cleo smiled and began explaining. "I'm glad you came to see me alone. I have been missing this. I really have been craving some real meat." Lightning raised a brow and almost choked up a laugh. "Wait.. W-what?" He asked with a fake and awkward smile.
Cleo snickered and rubbed his arms. "I just love these big arms of yours.." "Um.." "I love these hands and this nice firm chest.." She said as she leaned against him and heard his heart beat. "I love the way you speak to me and I especially love how dumb you are to fall for so much." "Right..." Lightning snarled and gently pushed Cleo away. Cleo snickered and took his hand continuing "Oh please Daddy. I know you've been missing me to. And those eyes.. Blue as the sea." She complimented. Lightning then corrected "Well.. Technically the sea only looks blue and is actually a red, yellow and orange light that's absorbed by the water itself, but."-Cleo interrupted with a playful laugh. "Maybe you are smart. Thats a little nerdy for a race car driver." she joked and poked his nose.
Lightning glared and listened to Cleo continuing "I just am so in love with you and.. Love isn't wrong. Right?" "Wrong." Lightning corrected. Cleo laughed. "Oh stop. You are too funny. Here, let me get us something to drink as we negotiate." She went and took Lightning to the kitchen and poured some wine into some glasses. She handed Lightning one, but Lightning rejected it. "I'm cutting back on the alcohol.." He admitted. Cleo snickered and sipped hers. Lightning sighed and asked "You realize you are a bit of a stalker, right?.." Cleo shrugged replying "You should be flattered Daddy." "Don't call me that." "Does Sally know you're here?" "No." Lightning answered quick. Cleo was happy to hear that and Lightning began to think that maybe he should have told Sally before coming.
He just once again didn't want Sally to get too involved. Cleo set her glass down then asked. "Why do you make me struggle for attention? Makes a girl feel a bit unwanted." "You are unwanted." Lightning corrected. Cleo snickered. "Please.. I know you want me.. You think about me everytime you lay with that little wife of your's." Lightning couldn't help but laugh at that! "What's so funny?" asked Cleo. Lightning shook his head answering "Just the fact that you think I am just this.. You think I want you.. I don't." "And yet you're here. Negotiating.." Cleo reminded. Lightning sighed and stared at her. Right, he needed her to stop. "You are ruining my business." "You ruined my life. Won't be long I'll have my kids and town back though." She assured.
Lightning glared replying "Doubtful. Sally won't let you be mayor again." "Not Sally you have to worry about honey.. The townsfolk won't want someone who is.. Controlled by you to run this town." "I don't control Sally. That I promise." Lightning assured. Cleo snickered. "How's your Mom?" Cleo asked softly. Lightning didn't answer. So Cleo stepped very close, face to face, eye to eye. "You just don't know it yet.. But you love me Daddy.. And we're going to be together forever. No one and nothing will stand in my way. Even if I have to burn down all of Radiator Springs and get rid of that stupid little blonde your temporarily fucking." "That a threat?" Lightning asked rhetorically. Cleo smiled and licked her lips as she stared at Lightning. "More like a promise.." She answered. Lightning nodded a little. "I won't let that happen." He said. Cleo snickered again then rested her hands on his shoulders.
"Please Daddy.. What's Sally going to say when one day you.. Don't return home? Or.. You go home and find an empty house? You'll be all alone.. No one, but me." That did scare Lightning some, but he knew this was how Cleo played. She would try and weaken him mentally first. "Enough. Just tell me what you want and you can have it!" Lightning whined!. Cleo raised a brow and cocked her head to the side a bit. Her hands rubbed down over his chest with a sigh and softly answered. "I want you.." She bit her lips and stared at his.
Lightning gently pushed back and said. "And what if you had me? Then what? Because destroying my image would only destroy yours if and I mean IF we were even ever together. So that plan makes no sense!" He shouted. Cleo just stared. But her expression was sharp. "What do you really want from me Cleo?" Lightning asked again. Cleo crossed her arms answering. "I want power. The same power you have over this entire town." "Had. Thanks to you." Lightning growled. Cleo snickered.
"Give me whatever I want when I want it.. And I can promise you I will leave your sweet little family alone." That did make Lightning think, but what did she mean by power? "I can't make you mayor." He exclaimed. Cleo laughed correcting. "Who needs to be mayor you can get whatever you want from the great Lightning McQueen!" Lightning glared. "Maybe if you want your academy to thrive.. You should put a women in charge for a while.." Lightning's eyes widend. "What?! You want my academy?" he asked. Cleo shrugged and explained "More like.. A partnership. Givee a job. I need a job to prove to the court I can be steady enough to get my kids back." Lightning stared at her. Partner? Nope!
"Not gonna happen." Lightning growled. Cleo sncikered saying "Then the post and articles and blogs will continue to slander your name.. Sally's name and your childrens names. Think of how they will be treated in school? The son of a womanizing man whore who fucks anything in a skirt?" She asked. That did make Lightning think. "The post will stop if I give you a job?" He asked. Cleo shrugged and corrected "If you make me a partner. And.. I'll give you a few million back. What do you say?" She asked. Lightning stared saying "I can't trust you." Cleo then turned and took her checkbook from her purse. She wrote a check and handed it to Lightning.
"Consider this a donation to knowledge.. To the well being of the students.. As a partner." Lightning looked at the amount. It was half of what she had sued him for. "I make you partner.. Which is basically giving you an office and fancy name plate.. And you stop hurting my name?" He asked. Cleo nodded. "But that's just the beginning Lightning. Keep that in mind. Whatever I want.. When i want it." Lightning stared and sighed. "We'll see how this goes. Long as you leave my family and the towns folk, and Jackson alone."
Cleo giggled slightly hearing that. "Where did Jackson's name come up?" She asked. Lightning held out his hand asking "Do we have a deal?" Cleo stared with a smile then shook his hand saying. "Deal. Partner." That really gave Lightning an unsettling feeling. But as long as this kept Sally and the kids, the town safe.. He would try keeping his enemies closwr in an attempt to be one stwo ahead of Cleo always...
Lightning returned home to find Sally waiting for him. "Hey!.. I was worried." Sally immediately rushed over and hugged him tight! Lightning was surprised and asked "Why?.. I was just working." "Jackson told me you went to speak with Cleo." Lightning sighed saying "I really hate how Jackson is such a tattle telling bitch." "Lightning!" Snapped Sally. Lightning only shrugged then admitted "He is.. But.. Yes.. I went and spoke with Cleo today.." Sally hated that. She didn't want Lightning anywhere near that woman. "You should have told me.." Sally scolded. Lightning shrugged again. "It went well anyway.. She's going to stop making all the negative posts and articles she's been having made." "Really? What did you say to her?" asked Sally.
Lightning shrugged again! "Not much really.. She just.." He was about to tell her that he had made or was making, Cleo partner at the academy, but hesitated that idea. Sally raised a brow asking "She just?.. What?.." Lightning sighed then put on a smile, answering "She just wants her kids back.." Sally snickered. "Yeah, well.. That won't happen. There's no way her ex husband will allow that." Lightning snickered fakely agreeing. He just knew that Cleo had ways of getting what she wanted from people. "Good news and important thing is that the bad publicity id coming to an end.." He assured Sally and embraced her. Sally smiled. "Total honesty.. Right?" she asked.
Lightning swallowed painfully and nodded repeating those words. "Total honesty.." With a crack in his voice. Sally was suspicious, but more of just glad nothing happened to him and hugged him again. "Love you.." She said. Lightning tookin her scent and kissed her head. "I love you Sal.. Always and forever."The kids ran in and to their father, happy to see him and chat as well. This. This was why Lightning was making Cleo partner and decided to keep her on close watch. To protect his kids and wife. For his family. "I'm about done with dinner." Sally announced. "Hungry?" She asked. Lightning nodded with a smile. "Yeah, I'll be right there. I gotta send out a quick group message to the guys about meeting before classes tomorrow." He said. Sally nodded and stepped out to fix dinner with the kids running after her.
Lightning took out his phone and sent out that message to Bobby, Jackson, and Daniel.
Everyone come to the academy conference room about two hours earlier than usual. Have to brief you guys on the new hire..
Bobby,
I'll try.. If I can get some sleep!
Jackson,
K.
Daniel,
You got it boss!