Mostly a filler chapter. There is a date, but it's only for about half of the chapter.
This chapter is dedicated to HiddenAuthor
He opened the door and froze. Standing there was a woman in a red suit with fiery orange hair. She was very thin, and she would have been pretty is she didn't have such an evil look in her bright green eyes. Vlad's ghost sense went off but he didn't even notice.
"I'm Penelope Spectra." She said, smiling almost too widely. "And I'm here to make your life go from lonely and depressing to fun and amazing!" Spectra was already using her powers to figure out what would cause Vlad the most misery. "Well, are you going to stand there and wait for some idiot to steal me away, or are you going to invite me in?"
Vlad sighed and moved over so she could enter. Her words were surprisingly close to what had happened to Maddie. He hadn't moved quickly enough so Jack stole her away from him. Vlad instantly went from being furious to being depressed.
Spectra smiled wider, absorbing Vlad's misery. She walked past him into the entranceway. "Someone's got an obsession problem." She said just loud enough for Vlad to hear. "You do realize that Green Bay will never let you buy the Packers, don't you?"
"Yes." Vlad said, looking miserable. "I know." He hid his misery the best he could and continued. "Penelope, I realize that you received an email asking you to come here, but I didn't send it. Two teenagers were pulling a prank on me. I'm sorry that you had to come all of the way here, but I have a lot of work to do and would like to get back to it. Could we talk some other time? I don't know, like tomorrow, or in a few months… or years…"
"How could a grown man not realize that some kids were playing a prank on him? How dumb are you?" She didn't move towards the door at all.
"I was kind of busy…" Vlad said.
Molly walked up quietly, glanced at Spectra, and said, "The cook says that he's made more than enough food for two, if your company wants to stay for dinner."
Spectra sensed Vlad's despair increase and said, "Wonderful! Now I'll get a chance to see how the richer half lives! Come on Vladdie, let's turn that frown upside down!" she grabbed Vlad's arm and began to pull him towards the exit.
"…Thank you, Ms. Virga." Vlad said as he was yanked away. He didn't really feel like thanking Molly at all. Now he would have to deal with Spectra through dinner too.
"You're welcome creep." She muttered.
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Danny and Sam were hiding behind a Packers display case listening to everything. Danny had asked Molly to try and keep the date going for as long as she could and because she hated Vlad Masters she agreed. Danny decided that as long as he was going to be stuck at Vlad's mansion he might as well have some fun.
Molly walked over to where they were hiding and said, "The coast is clear. I think that Spectra woman is trying to make the cheesehead cry. About time someone did."
Sam wondered what Molly would do if she knew that the 'cheesehead' was also the ghost she loved. "Why do you hate Vlad so much?" she asked.
"He's spoiled, rich, evil, vain, a Packers fanatic; he won't stop calling me Ms. Virga, and he's a sleazy lying person. And I hate his ponytail. Anything else you'd like to know?"
"Yes." Sam said. "Why do you like the ghost that haunts this place?"
Molly took her time answering. "That's harder to explain. He's mysterious, handsome, shy, and looks absolutely nothing like Masters." She paused and then gave Sam a questioning look. "Why? If you're trying to pair me up with Vlad Masters then forget it. The thought of even liking him disgusts me." Molly turned around and walked to where Danny was already hiding. "Let's see if he's been reduced to a bucket of tears yet."
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The dining room was huge, and Vlad tried to sit as far away from Spectra as possible. Unfortunately the dining table was round, so it was rather hard. Usually the chef brought out the food, but tonight Molly did. She wasn't going to pass up a chance to watch Vlad be tortured.
"Ms. Virga?" Vlad said, confused, "Why are you serving the food tonight? I've seen more of you today than I have in a while."
"Lucky you." Molly said, not even bothering to lower her voice. Sam had reminded her of the reasons why she hated Vlad Masters, and Molly was determined to prove that those reasons were true. "Enjoy the food; it's just like everything around here. Half-baked." She grinned at the shocked look on Vlad's face and left.
Spectra glared at Molly's back as she left. If anyone was going to cause Vlad misery it would be her, not some stuck up maid. "I'm surprised that you let someone treat you like that Vlad." She said. "You clearly don't pay attention to anything other than your own desires."
"That's not true." Vlad said. "The maid must be having a bad day."
"Sure." Spectra said. "You know, I've seen men who go prematurely bald, but never one who has white hair and is only forty. Has it ever occurred to you that it makes you look much older than you are?"
"I know. My hair's been white for twenty years. It's because of an accident I had when I was in college."
Spectra frowned. She had followed the wrong line of insults. Vlad's misery was coming out more slowly, and it was nothing like what she had been getting earlier. "Well maybe that's why you aren't married. Why would someone date a guy who looks three times their age? Unless of course they were doing it for your money." Her smile returned. She had hit the jackpot.
"Maybe." Vlad said, feeling more depressed than ever. Why wouldn't this Spectra woman just leave? Is that why Maddie didn't like him? Because of his hair color?
"But of course, money can't buy everything, now can it. Although since you're so rich you probably don't know that. You probably still have hopes that maybe the girl of your dreams will marry you and you'll live happily ever after. Aren't you getting a little old for that? A forty year old bachelor is pretty old."
Vlad stared at his food and then said, "So why are you here? Are you only interested in my money too?"
Spectra narrowed her eyes. "No. I'm here because my idiot assistant Bertrand still hasn't asked me to go steady with him yet. I've been working with him my whole life and he still doesn't realize that I love him!" There was an uncomfortable silence and Vlad was staring at her. "Oh. I said that out loud." She shrugged. "Well, I guess that means that you know I'm just here to make him jealous. Would you mind letting me finish my dinner before you send me on way?"
"As a matter of fact I would mi-"
Spectra cut him off. "Great!" She smirked. This was too easy. She didn't really like Bertrand at all, but Vlad didn't need to know that. "Now that you know that no woman would ever love you unless she was insane or bribed, we can move on to another topic."
"Why did you come here?" he said, miserably.
She shrugged. "I'm a ghost who feeds off of the sorrow of humans, and what's more depressing than dating someone who picks at all your faults?" Vlad's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you didn't know I was a ghost? Your ghost sense should have gone off."
Vlad's ghost sense finally went off again, as if to say 'I told you so.'
Vlad grit his teeth angrily. Daniel had set this all up. He was being forced to deal with this woman all because Daniel wanted to play a prank on him. He had had enough. Vlad's eyes turned blood red as he glared angrily at Spectra. "Get out now." he said.
She gasped in surprise and lost her composure for a moment. "What? You're actually angry? You're supposed to be depressed!" Spectra stood up and calmed down a little bit. "It doesn't matter. You've given me enough misery to stay young for at least a week. So what if you're going to be lonely and single forever, it's not like I didn't try-"
"Get out." Vlad said dangerously. Spectra almost flew out the door.
He turned and looked around the dining room. "Daniel, Samantha, I know that you're here, so come out." Vlad took the remote from his pocket and pressed a button. There was a loud thump as Danny, Sam, and Molly all fell out of their hiding place behind a door.
"What is wrong with you guys?" Molly whispered, glaring at Sam and Danny. "If he says to come out of your hiding place then that means that he doesn't know where you are. You didn't have to come out!" Vlad of course heard none of this, and stared at Molly in surprise.
"Ms. Virga? What are you doing here?" She said nothing and Vlad continued. "It doesn't matter. Please go clean the kitchen or something. I need to teach these children a lesson." Vlad's voice was low and dangerous. Molly stood up and directed her glare at Vlad.
"Leave them alone. They were just curious about why you had so many women in your house, and I can't blame them."
"It is none of your business to tell me what to do, especially when you don't know all of the details." Vlad said. "I am your boss." An idea came into his head. He held the remote behind his back and pressed a button. "Besides, Samantha and Daniel know that I mean them no harm."
Danny felt Vlad take control of him again. He closed his mouth tightly and tried to resist, but he couldn't. "We'll be fine." He said. "Mr. Masters won't hurt us."
Sam was forced to continue. "Don't worry about us. Just don't get yourself fired."
Molly gave them both a strange look and glared defiantly at Vlad again. "If you dare hurt these kids I'll pour bleach down your throat when you're sleeping." She stormed away leaving Vlad standing in shocked silence.
"I would listen to her if I were you." Sam said. "She's serious."
Vlad blinked and looked at Sam and Danny. "What's the matter Samantha? Are you afraid to face the punishments I have planned for you?"
"Of course not." Danny said, glaring at Vlad. "If we weren't wearing these bracelets then I would have already gone ghost and have beaten you. If any one is afraid it's you. Instead of trying to fight us you use mind control."
Vlad narrowed his eyes and changed into his ghost form. "You need to be taught a lesson." He blasted Danny. "No one," He blasted Danny again. "Ever" Another blast, "Defies Vlad Plasmius."
Danny stood up carefully, wincing as pain filled him. "I thought Spectra was a good match. She could feed off of your misery, and you would be married to someone as evil and desperate as you." Vlad glared at Danny and Danny glared back.
"How many more women do you have lined up, Daniel?" Vlad said.
"Why should I tell you?"
Vlad reached forward and grabbed Sam's arm. "Because if you don't then Samantha will be paying for your insolence."
"I've had enough." Sam said angrily. "Stop calling me Samantha!" She kicked him in the knee, and because she always wore her combat boots it was a lot more painful than a normal kick. Vlad gasped in pain and released her arm to hold his knee. Then he realized that he still had the remote in his other hand and pressed a button. Sam and Danny stood still.
The room was silent for a moment. Vlad floated in the air to take the pressure off of his knee. "Now tell me Daniel and Samantha, how many more dates are coming my way. And tell the truth this time."
Danny tried to stop himself because he knew that Vlad would get very angry after hearing his answer, but he couldn't. "We don't know. Anyone who clicked on your profile will get your address and name."
Vlad's eyes widened and he dropped to the floor in surprise. He almost cried out as pain filled his knee again. "Is there any way to stop the women from coming?" he said.
"No." Danny answered. Vlad changed back into his human form.
What was he going to do? Vlad sighed in defeat and pressed a different button on the remote. "Fine. You will simply remain at my mansion until they stop coming." They began to leave. "And Daniel, you are forbidden from telling Ms. Virga that I punished you. I would prefer to live through the night."