Chapter 7 – Second Meetings
Fowl Manor, Dublin
Artemis sat on his bed and yawned. Yesterday's events were a blast. He had so much fun with Julian and the twins while they were at his house. There is no way he would make this day inferior. Maybe it would be a good idea to enjoy the day at the mall. The mall, he chuckled. Funny that he thought of the mall as a place to pass one's day rather than at someplace else. The spa, for example. Next time, they'd see me in the amusement park playing silly games. Again, another chuckle. Artemis was really becoming someone. Someone who is different. Not like before when he was a selfish young boy who plots dastardly plans and using his genius to venture in illegal enterprises. Without knowing it, his newfound personality is beginning to do him good. Real good.
Artemis went downstairs and found his parents in the dining area. He stopped for a moment. Now I finally believed that it is nice to have a normal family.
"Good morning Mother. Good morning Father", he said.
"Good morning Arty. Come, give Mummy a hug." Angeline stood up and embraced her son. She smelled like the morning dew. So refreshing.
"Good morning son", Artemis Fowl Senior said. "Anything planned for today?"
"Not much, Father. I suppose I'll stay at the mall with Butler."
"The mall?" Angeline said, startled.
"Not our typical Artemis," his father commented.
"W-Well," he stammered, "I though to try something new than being in science symposiums all the time." He breathed a sigh of relief. A plausible story.
"If that's what makes you happy, dear." Angeline smiled. Her son is certainly improving in personality and attitude. "Just make sure you are home by four. We will go eat dinner outside."
"On what occasion, Mother?" Artemis inquired.
"Nothing. Just a normal family on a normal date." She winked.
"A good idea, Mother." Artemis's mind agreed on that one. A normal family on a normal date. Sound good enough. "I'll be home soon."
"Have fun, son," his father advised. "And watch out, you might meet a special someone along the way," he added with a twinkle in his eyes.
"And who might that be?" Artemis asked, puzzled.
"I don't know. Surprise me."
Yeah right. A special someone. He smiled to himself. He brushed the sleeves of his Armani suit. "Let's go, Butler. See if we can bump into that special someone Father is talking about." With that, he went inside the Bentley and the luxurious car stormed up the avenue. I wish…
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Golden Mall, Ireland
Helena stepped out of the elegant black limousine and strode over to the mall's entrance. "I just love going to the mall," she said loudly, inhaling the fresh air.
"What time will I fetch you, miss Helena?" the chauffeur asked.
"Just pick my shopping bags at around two. I'll be going home myself."
"But miss, your father…"
"No buts, Rick. Tell my Father that I can go home by myself. The house is just a couple of kilometers away. I don't know why I bothered with the limo." She straightened her dress and fixed her hair.
"But…"
"Pretty please?" Helena batted her eyelashes. No one could resist those startlingly hazel eyes.
"Very well, miss. Your shopping bags at two. Got it. Have fun!"
"I will. Thanks Rick!" She stepped inside the mall and thought of nothing else.
The Golden Mall never failed to give anyone a thrill, especially Helena. It is as big as three football stadiums, four stories high. Every item you care to think of can be found in this place. Gadgets, bags, shoes, clothes, things, you name it. They were Helena's passion. She once tried to count all her closets, bags and shoes, but she'd lost track at fifty, two hundred, and three hundred pairs respectively. There are definitely perks of being an only child.
First, she went over to the boutiques, buying one clothing per boutique. Next were bags, where she bought one from Gucci, Prada and Chanel. As far as she was concerned, she was enjoying so much.
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Meanwhile, Artemis, together with Butler had been strolling the Golden Mall for a good twenty minutes. Arty was not accustomed to being pushed around and bumped into, and it made his temper rise.
"The thing with malls, Butler, is that there is no organization. This is such a big place, and yet people choose to bump into each other." Artemis commented.
Butler smiled. Typical Master Artemis. Always finding faults.
"What do you want to do now, Artemis" he asked. Butler himself was a little bit tired. It had been that way in the last two years. It was like he is always wearing a bulletproof vest. In reality, Kevlar tissues were stuck in his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.
"Let us sit down for a while and have a spot of tea. I would like to freshen myself from that mall chaos."
"Very well, I will just be a minute. I have to go to one store to check out the latest security stuff."
"Alright. I am off."
Artemis strode to the nearest café and ordered a cup of his favorite Earl Grey tea. He sat onto one of the chairs and sipped his drink peacefully.
Meanwhile, a very beautiful vision appeared in the door of the café, attracting all eyes of those inside. Well, except Artemis. Maybe because he had his back at the entrance.
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A minute earlier…
Lilly, Helena's bodyguard/chaperone was getting a bit tired from walking while carrying the many purchases made by Helena. The beautiful thirteen-year old seemed to notice this.
"Lilly, why don't we sit down for a while and have tea. I miss my favorite Earl Grey."
"A good idea, Miss Helena."
The two walked over to a nearby café. As Helena looked for a place to sit, she noticed that the people inside were all eyes on her. I admire you Helena. You really have the charms, she said to herself. As if on cue, a young man, maybe the same age as her, in an elegant Armani suit stood up to leave the café, bumping Helena on his way.
"Watch it!" she said in a snobby tone.
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a/n: Another chapter finished! Well, what do you think? Is it great? To tell you honestly, this is my first fanfic, so I'm really nervous about what people would say toward my work. Haha.
