Chapter 18
Victor
First Class Section, California-Bound Airplane
Victor Francis was a rich kid from Miami. He was developing a bit of a reputation as a man who got what he wanted no matter what it took; he would always find a way. Money could do that for you.
But it couldn't bring his parents back, killed in a plane crash on his 21st birthday. Naturally he did what any newly fully legal person would do: grieve for a little bit, and then cash in on the inheritance. And if he got in trouble, he'd buy his way out. He didn't care one bit.
The only thing he cared about was his little sister, Lexi. She had been there when his parents hadn't. Even before they were killed, it was as if they weren't there, constantly flying or driving to some business meeting or social gathering or the like. Lexi helped keep it all in perspective; that they did this for them, so that they wouldn't have to suffer like a lot of people in the world did.
But Victor didn't buy that garbage. If so many people were suffering, why didn't they try and help themselves? No, it was survival of the fittest, and these days that meant survival of the richest. Anyone who was poor deserved to stay that way if they weren't willing to do what had to be done. Those who thought otherwise, he'd let him or her know about it. And if they got in his face…well, a good old-fashioned beat-down would shut them up. And would he get charged? Maybe. But it was the Golden Rule: "He who has the gold makes the rules." As well as "Do unto others before they do unto you."
Victor was going to see Lexi in her new home of Angel Grove, California. He figured he'd surprise her with a couple of housewarming gifts. She'd just gotten a job as a teacher at the high school there this year and was helping to set things up for the mysterious "Wild Card Reunion" taking place in a few days. He hoped she wasn't getting in over her head. It seemed to him that things were moving way too fast. Lexi had left Miami when their parents died, opting out of most of her share of the inheritance. She only took enough for a few months' rent and left the rest to Victor. He thought she was crazy, but when you profit from another's poor judgement, why should you complain?
Lexi told Victor he wasn't giving himself time to grieve. Victor wasn't hearing it. (Grieving is for the weak,) he thought to himself. (I can't waste time thinking about parents who were never there for me. The only good thing that came out of their lives was the money. They never cared about Lexi or me. Good riddance to bad garbage.)
Victor didn't give a rat's rear about what others thought about him. (If people wanna laugh, let 'em. They don't know anything about me. I'm too strong for them. If they want to step up, I'll knock 'em down. That's what happens.)
A stewardess came to his seat and gave him his meal.
"What is this?" Victor asked.
"Steak." She answered.
"I asked for T-Bone steak, not Porterhouse. Take it back and give me what I want."
"But sir, there are no more T-Bone steaks. This'll have to do."
"Are you sure? You checked with the cook?"
"Yes sir."
"All right, then. I guess I can deal with it." Victor cut into his steak, but then… "Uh-uh. This is medium well. I asked for medium rare."
"Oh, sorry. I suppose I can ask if they can give you a medium rare steak."
"Please do so. And give this to someone who wants it like this."
"Yes sir."
Victor decided to call Lexi. He wanted to check in on her before he arrived. He dialed her cell number and waited. After four rings, it clicked over to her voice mail. When the beep came, he left this message:
"Hey Lex, it's Vic. We're getting there; it won't be too much long, then I'll be on the ground headed your way. I'll get a rental, something with style. I'll see you when I get there. Bye."
Victor hung up just as the stewardess returned with his steak. "Is this to your liking, sir?" she asked.
"Let me check," Victor cut into the new steak. "Yeah, this works quite well. Thank you for finally getting it as close to right as you could."
"Sir, I don't like your tone of voice…"
"Well, frankly, miss, I didn't like your attitude from the start."
"Sir, if you have a complaint with me, take it up with my supervisor."
"Nah, I prefer settling matters personally." And with that, Victor stood up and strode dangerously close to the stewardess.
"SECURITY!" She screamed. 3 TSA agents leapt up from seemingly out of nowhere and surrounded Victor.
"Sir, leave her alone and return to your seat." One of them said to him. "We don't want to have to arrest you."
Victor assessed the situation and backed off. "Fine. Whatever."
Another agent stepped over to the stewardess. "You alright, Cindy?"
"That jerk. I refuse to be on the same flight as him ever again."
"We'll put him on the watch list."
"Some people don't know how to treat people these days," said the third agent, this one a woman.
"As far as I'm concerned, he can go jump in the Pacific as soon as this flight lands, or even throw the rat out now with no parachute!" said Cindy." "I'm not dealing with him again."
Victor just huffed in his seat. (You're lucky those agents were there, Miss Cindy. Cuz if they weren't you'd have gotten a good ol' fashioned beat down. Somebody needs to teach you respect for those better than you. But it doesn't matter. I'll find a way to make you pay, to make those agents pay, to make everybody who thinks they're better than me pay for their sins. And they will pay dearly…)