So with the early morning. Lightning headed to the academy as he thought of how to explain hiring Cleo as a partner. This was a bad idea. But at the same time, he fwlt it was the necessary move. With Cleo close by, he could keep an eye on her. She just wanted her kids back after all. How bad could that be. Lightning had the upper hand here, not Cleo. Lightning unlocked the academy and got the conference room ready. Just some readied coffee and donuts. He heard a knock and looked back seeing Bobby and Heather with the little baby. "Oh my goodness.." Lightning said softly. "Is this really Alrick? He's so big already!" Lightning exclaimed! Heather smiled just as a proud mother would. Bobby took Alrick from Heather with a smile saying. "Yeah he's beautiful. Wanna hold him?" He asked. Lightning shrugged answering "Sure I.. I'd love to." Lightning took Alrick carefully as he would his own baby. "He's somethin.. Ain't he?" Asked Bobby.
Lightning snickered with a smile and nodded. Heather smiled then asked "You wanna keep him?" Lightning's brows lowered. "For like a day!" The young mother corrected. "Or two.. No, I'm kidding.. Totally kidding!" She said! Lightning faked a bit of a laugh then handed Alrick back to Bobby. "No baby sitter huh?" He asked. Heather shook her head then explained "I'm taking Alrick home.. Just needed to drop Bobby off. Car is broke down. Bobby thinks it's the alternator, but.. I'm not so sure." Lightning snickered. "You should bring it by here sometime or the house. The kids would love to meet little Alrick here. Especially Ece. She's a little sweetheart when it comes to other kids." Heather nodded replying "Yeah, sounds nice."
Then she turned to Bobby and kissed him sweetly. "I'm gonna go back home. I'll pick you up when you call. Love you." She then began to leave, but Bobby stopped her with. "Um.. Babe.." Heather stopped and realized she left Alrick in Bobby's arms. Heather took her son then left a little embarrassed. Once she was gone, Lightning turned to Bobby and asked. "She okay?" Bobby nodded answering "Yeah, just.. Not getting much sleep with the baby. Plus those tits! All she does is complain about how they are swollen more than usual lately." Lightning snickered with a shake of the head. Bobby then asked "Seriously.. Have you seen the size of them things!?" Lightning sighed and began pouring a cup of coffee. "Well.. No.. I was trying not to look.." He answered.
Bobby snickered continuing "Heather is so moody and getting no sleep and then the boobs are huge. She was bleeding for what felt like ever and god it was killing the sex life. A few months later. Bam! SEX! Every day for every moment possible!" Lightning sighed and handed Bobby the cup of coffee. "I really don't want to hear abou"-"And then as suddenly as the sex was just constant, BAM! No sex. Ever! EVER!" Lightning glared and waited a moment to see if Bobby was done complaining, then Jackson walked in. "Wow.. Glad I'm not some old retired racer getting none." He joked as he came and sat down. Bobby glared and snarled. "At least I'm not gay and like a sausage up my ass." Jackson snickered with a smile replying "You wish my sausage was up your ass." "What!?" Bobby snapped all wide eyed!
Lightning stepped in scolding. "Enough already!.. Please don't start.. I have serious news that I have to tell you guys.. I have a new partner." "Partner?" Asked Jackson. Bobby then asked "Aren't we partners?" Lightning sighed replying "Yes.. Well... Sort of. I'll explain once Dan's here. In the mean time, let's.. Try to get along. For just a few hours. Alright?" He asked. Jackson crossed his arm, but agreed. Bobby reluctantly agreed silently. Jackson then thought of what he overheard and said "She's pregnant again." Bobby and Lightning looked at him confused a bit. "What?" Asked Bobby. Jackson played with a pen on the table and explained further. "Your wife, Bobby. You were complaining about her tits and the sex.. Did you even use protection?" "She just had a baby a few months ago. I don't need protection for like the first year." Laughed Bobby.
It got awkward. Bobby looked at Lightning then back at Jackson. "Jesus.. Where did you take sex ed?. You gonna tell him?" Jackson asked Lightning. Bobby looked at Lightning again with worry. Lightning hated saying this, but "I'm with Jackson on this one Bobby.." Bobby's awkward laugh fell silent. Then Bobby darted out of the room and ran off to probably call Heather. Lightning sighed and rubbed his eyes before asking Jackson if he'd like some coffee. Jackson declined. Lightning sipped his own coffee then set it down and seeing how Daniel wasn't here yet, decided to break the news to Jackson alone. "So.. I'm hiring Cleo." Jackson's eyes widened with shock! "What!? You can't!.. She.. She.. You can't do that!" "I am. And you can't tell Sally this time. It has to come from me." Lightning firmly said. As if putting his foot down.
Jackson was histericial. "Why? Why would you want her to.. to Work here!? With us!?" Jackson asked! Lightning sighed and explained "That way I can keep a very close eye on her. I want to remain a few steps ahead of her at all times." "No!" Yelled Jackson as he stood up! "You are wrong to do this! This is probably what that bitch wants! This is her plan!" "Jackson... I had to. It was this or I continue to lose students.. The academy would wind up shutting down again!" defended Lightning. Jackson shook his head and snarled "Yeah, well what will this place be with Cleo in the middle of it!?" "I am on top of this! I did this to keep everyone safe! That includes you!" "You did this because this is exactly what Cleo wants!" Jackson yelled back! Dan walked in and stared at the two arguing and cleared his throat to grab their attention, announcing his arrival.
Lightning and Jackson looked at Dan who asked. "What I miss?.." With an awkward smile. Jackson glared at Lightning before answering "Oh.. McQueen here only hired that stupid bitch Cleo as a PARTNER!" Then Jackson stomped out. "Where are you going!?" Called Lightning. Jackson only yelled back "Leaving! For good! I'm not working with"-"Hello there Jackson." Greeted Cleo. Jackson's breathing quickened. Cleo was standing right in front of him! Cleo crossed her arms and asked rudely. "Aren't you going to greet me? Jackson?" Jackson stared at her nervously. Cleo raised a brow and said "It's rude to not speak when spoken to." Jackson looked down at the ground with a red face and apologized. "Sorry I.. I have to go." Then walked around her and left. Lightning stepped out and stared at Cleo.
She looked at him with such a satisfying smile. This may have been a bad idea, but it really was the best one Lightning had at the moment. "Good morning." Cleo greeted Lightning as she walked up to him. "Mmmmm. Is that coffee I smell?" she asked. Lightning sighed answering "Yes. In the conference room. I was just announcing our partnership." "Oh? Well you should have told me Mr. McQueen! I would have loved a formal introduction." She then went inside where Dan was. Dan stared at her asking "Y-you?.. Weren't you?.. Isn't she?.." Lightning stepped in at this time. Dan's brows lowered. "How dare you! Not her! She was responsible for the accident! The accident that made me quit racing! You killed my friends! My mentors! You ruined Jackson!" He shouted in pure rage! Lightning stepped in and tried to explain. "Hold on there Dan.. Cleo is just"-"Is she working here? For real?" The young man asked.
Cleo looked to Lightning to answer. So Lightning nodded. Dan was furious. "Then I quit. I won't be associated with someone who caused such a massacre." Dan snarled as he began to leave. Lightning stopped him saying, "Wait!.. Dan.. You trust me and my techniques... Trust me on this.. Please.." He begged quietly. Dan glanced back at Cleo then back at Lightning with a frown. "How can I?.. If what you said she did is true?.. If what Jackson says she did is true?.. You are gonna stand next to that woman? After everything? How many more racers have to die Mr. McQueen?" That stung. Lightning frowned a little and really wasn't sure how to make Daniel understand. "I can't work here if she's here.. I'm sorry, but.. I have to quit.." Dan announced then left. Cleo snickered as he left. Once alone Cleo poured herself some coffee and said. "Shame. But you can do much better. Plenty of racers out there. Should give a student a chance."
Lightning looked to Cleo then she asked. "Mmm. Good coffee, now.. Show me my office... Partner." Boy that made Lightning sick to his stomach. He nodded saying. "Yea, uh..This way..." Guiding Cleo up the stairs. "Great!" She exclaimed. "Once I'm settled in, we can talk about the role I'll play here." "Haha... Right.." Lightning replied. He already had a plan and a few ideas to keep Cleo's presence as discreet as possible...
Mateo shut his suitcase and sighed. Cruz stared at him from the bed and asked him softly. "Are you really leaving again?.." Mateo glared a little and explained "I warked you Cruz. Look, you are a lovely girl.. A nice person inside.. But your obsession with McQueen has had enough here. I am not coming back this time." "I'm sorry..." She apologized. Mateo took his bags and keys in hand. "No." He replied. "I am sorry for you.. Because of this, you do not let people love who you could really be.. Goodbye Cruz.. And Good luck." Cruz stood up and approached her now ex again. She kissed his lips once softly. Mateo flashed a bit of what seemed to be a fake smile, then left.
Cruz sat alone for a little bit, but it wasn't long that little Miguel came in."Mommy.." He quietly called from the door. Cruz skiled seeing her son and reached for him. The child walked over and into his mother's arms. Cruz sat Miguel on her lap and held him close. "I'm sorry.. I'm going to be a better mother.. You'll see.. I promise." She assured. She then kissed her son's head. She had definitely fallen in love with her child and their relationship had really grown. Cruz had been doing very well as his mother. Keeping this up would definitely get her full custody of her son again one day. "The world is a scary place baby.. I'm going to protect you from it.." Cruz added to her son. He was pretty much clueless by whatever she meant. But to Miguel, it was so nice to have his mother holding him closely and safely in a loving embrace...
Cleo rubbed her hand across her new desk. She was going to like being so close to Lightning for sure. She went to Lightning's office and knocked on the door. Lightning looked up from his desk and looked over to see Cleo. Cleo smiled greeting. "Thanks for hiring me." She said. Lightning glared a bit saying "Kind of didn't have a choice.." Cleo giggled and walked up to his desk. She sat down on the corner which made Lightning sigh. "What do you want?.." He asked. Cleo smiled lovingly and answered. "I have a box of officr decor in my car." She then took out her keys and held them up."Go get it and bring it into my office." Lightning stared at the expensive Mercedes keys and reluctantly took them saying. "I'm not your pet." He more of growled.
Cleo snickered replying "Oh I know that. I wouldn't want that anyway. If you were my pet I'd have you fuck me already." Lightning had to hold himself back from already choking this woman to death. He already was regretting this plan. "You know I can fire you." He reminded. Cleo nodded saying, "Yes, but you won't." "Yet." Lightning said then smiled as he leaned in close to her face. "Right now, I have you right where I want you.." Cleo made a very confused expression while Lightning held his smile. This really made Cleo so confused. She put on a fake smile, but Lightning saw through it and was especially happy to see he was messing with her playing like he had the upper hand. Whicb he wasn't sure if he even had yet. "Now, let me get that box for you Miss De Frank. Wouldn't want you to break something yet." Yet?
And he took the keys to help her out. Cleo was a little lost, but she loved when he played this game with her. Lightning went out and popped the trunk, grabbing out a small box of girly decorations. Cleo was.. intersting when it came to decor it seemed. She was a bitch and needed a close eye on. Lightning shut the trunk as Bobby came out. "Hey, everything all good with Heather?" Lightning asked. Bobby glared at hia friend, quickly scolding. "What do you think you are doing!? Hiring Cleo?!" Lightning sighed and explained. "I need to keep an eye on her and keep a few steps ahead of her at all times. It's easiest when she is right there." "And before I even go into the mental shit that can do to YOU! Did you even think about Jackson!? Daniel!?" "Dan quit." Admitted Lightning.
Bobby's eyes widened! "And you let him!? You really choosing Cleo over Dan!?" He asked. Lightning set the box on the trunk of Cleo's car before continuing. "Dan will be okay.. I have to look after my family first. Jackson is safer this way to. He'll see that evantually too." "Doubt it." Snarled Bobby. Lightning glared then took the box back in hand and walked inside alongside Bobby. Bobby only continued "Do you know how this makes you look?! As a racer? Cleo caused that accident!" "She was never actually convicted of that, so does nothing to my image." "Yes it does! You told the public she raped you! What is going to happen when the people find out you HIRED her!?" Lightning sighed then explained. "They'll see it as if I'm hiring her as an apology for crying rape." "So you takin it back now? Just like that!?" Bobby snapped!
Lightning wasn't, but he had to keep a close eye on Cleo. "Look, I don't have to explain myself any further. I'm the boss Bobby! Cleo works here for now. If you wanna go to, than leave! Door is right there!" Bobby glared asking "Oh. So that's how it is? Gotta protect your family first and throw all your friends under the bus huh?" Bobby was mad. Lightning sighed, but before he could argue, Bobby began headed out the door. "Where are you going?" Asked Lightning, because he didn't really want Bobby to leave. Bobby didn't look back answering "Leaving!" "But you have no ride.." "I got legs though!" Bobby snapped back. Lightning sighed and watched his friend step outside. Lightning really wasn't sure about this plan or what he was going to do...