***Author's Note***
I am trying to make up for all the month's I've gone without updating, and I was starting
some of my outlines when I noticed that many of the characters weren't as fully
understood as I'd like them to be. So this one is another chapter with another's POV part
the way in… So~ yeah. If any of you have any questions about ANY of the characters, just
ask in a review (hint hint) or if it makes you feel better, shoot me a PM and I will try to
answer any questions by working the answers into the next chapter. I'll keep doing it for
the next chapters too. Unless it spoils the story~
Right so I have two new fans! (Both of which my phone told me about btw!)
(So I get your reviews and questions in real time… plus or minus FF's Mailing delay)
So thank you to:
Akatsukilover34 & wildface02
I just broke 30 alerters/favoriters/reviewers!
How does that make you all feel? Especially all of you that have been with me from the beginning…
THANK YOU!
~Gebrelle
***End Note***
Nina searched through the bags she brought in from getting groceries for the house, looking around for more things to put in the fridge with a bag of chips in her mouth for Light. He seemed to like them and Nina figured it would be in her best interests to keep her death god happy. Especially since he had already informed her that she would die when he wrote her name in his DeathNote… Nina could only hope that if she stuffed him with enough chips that it wouldn't be a heart attack he chose… That just sounded painful…
When she got finished with putting them away she stuck her head into the study, watching her father curiously, able to see the light on his screen illuminating his face, and since was wearing headphones she knew he was watching an anime of some kind.
She smiled and flipped the lights on, and grinning as she watched him pause his show, pulling off his head phones, "What's up, Kitten?"
She grinned, "I got groceries. Tacos sound good?"
He chewed his lip, looking at something on the screen, "Got something that won't mess up my stomach? Like~ Spaghetti?"
He sounded hopeful and she shook her head, "Sure Da, Spaghetti it is then"
He only nodded happily, putting his headphones, the signal the conversation was over and she flipped his light back off, signaling in return that that was all she had wanted, and she carried the bag of chips to the bed room, closing the door and pressing her forehead to it, glad she wouldn't have to deal with Scott for the rest of the day. And if she was honest with herself, she was skipping breakfast from now on if he was going to be there. No matter how hungry she was… No… She couldn't do that. Then he'd realize she was intentionally avoiding him… That redhead was actually really sharp and she really did need to find out more about Nathen, even if she had to deal with the FBI agent that seemed way too young to be on a case this big… Scratch that. Both were agents… Damn…
She pulled out her phone… Speaking of, she'd have to tell Anne.
'I'd scratch the white one. He's got a card.'
She didn't really remember when they made their lingo and most of it had gone unused until now. It was nice though to not have to worry about creating one now and take the chance of being misunderstood. Especially now that their very lives were at stake. And if she or Anne didn't fully understand a phrase, they could ask clarifying questions.
It wasn't long until she got a reply.
'Are you serious?'
Anne wasn't looking for a reply; she was obviously just as confused as Nina was… If not more so since she liked him so much…
Anne tucked her phone away and sat quietly with her hands folded neatly in her lap, her back strait and ankles crossed. Just like the good girl she had been taught to be. Her dress was fitting for the occasion and had been tailored to fit her. Her shoes were shined and her hair was done in simple yet flattering ringlets that fell around her shoulders.
The chair she sat in had looked comfortable at first, but was overstuffed as per usual in expensive suits… So, contrary to its looks, it was probably the most uncomfortable chair in the room. Not that she was going to show her discomfort. She had been taught better than that. She was a 'lady' after all. Which is why she kept her mouth shut as the men in the family had their conversation as the other women stayed quiet. It wasn't a thing of 'Knowing your place' or such; it was just how the family did their business… Or so she continued to tell herself…
Very soon the men left to get a drink and smoke a cigar on the balcony, leaving the women together in the sitting room.
"Marsha dear, your daughter is growing to be such a fine lady," as if she wasn't in the room…
"How are her studies coming along?"
"Is she still going to that dreaded public school?"
More voices… More questions…
"Anne dear, why don't you play us one of the songs your instructor taught you?" She looked up from where she had been examining the carpet.
"Yes mother…" she spoke softly, standing and moving to the piano. Why did there have to be one here? Why couldn't they talk about something that wasn't her? Like how awful the tea tasted…
She smoothed her skirt as she sat with grace, stretching her fingers but being careful not to pop then in delicate company. She chose a random soft but flowing song that she knew she could play all the way through, making sure to choose one complicated enough that the others were impressed and her mother could be proud. There was a little conversation over her playing and her tutor but she finally faded into the background like the music she was playing.
She would have given anything to have gone to school instead of playing tea party with a few rich men's wives who smelled of too much expensive perfume and dry cleaned clothes.
Anne kept the song going by repeating certain stanzas, always mixing them up so that it didn't sound repeated, her mind finally going as numb as her fingers, muscle memory making the song as smooth as silk, no matter how she chose to change it. Her mother had forced her to take piano lessons since she was four, though her mother was unaware that she was unwilling since she had initially loved it, though when she got older she had to force herself to go, unable to embarrass her mother after watching Nina go through what it was like to lose hers.
She cherished her mother and father, even if she put her on a shelf like a pretty doll and he put her in a dress to stand by a man… She knew they loved her… She was their only child after all…
She wanted to be the heir of the company but she wasn't sure that would ever happen, since she was a girl. He was probably going to give it to the man she married someday. Though that would mean he would have to be a business man that her father approved of. Basically leaving him to choose her husband. It would basically be an arranged marriage… Not that anyone would call it that. The story they told their kids would be that she met him when he was doing business with her father and they went on a few dates, decided they wanted to get married and did. None of it would be a lie. Because that's what would happen. She didn't want to be given away as a side note to ownership of the company, because that's basically what it would be. Few men's eyes would actually be on her. Most would be on the Garren company name.
She could always run away. Or so she told herself. Find the right guy, get married and live a little life alone with her hubby and kids. But really… That was impractical. It would shame her family and she would never be welcome again…
She began to repeat the song again and noticed a lull in the conversation, "If I may ask… Does anyone have a request?" She asked pleasantly, continuing her tea party.