Author's Note: Sorry about this one being late, very late, real life has caught with my time; with less of it occurring now and next year as well. I had originally wanted to do a good chapter but I lost enthusiasm, so here it is now after Christmas.
Chapter 19: The Conspiracy
I couldn't believe that this was happening; Mother has formed a relationship with Claire's mother but why? It definitely had to be business related coherently is associated our rivalry with the Altos.
"Why do you know Claire's mother's phone number?" I asked slightly increasing my tone.
"We found some common... interests." Mother said in a manipulative way.
"Sure... It has to do something with the Altos doesn't it?" I replied back.
"Of course, Malcolm, They are the only thing hindering my plans."
"The question now is; what are your plans?" I asked in the same tone.
"Well I don't think that I'm liable to tell you that but I'll tell you anyway. I'm using, um, no associating with Claire's mother." She announced unexpected information that she tried to cover up.
"My next question is obvious, why?" I asked again.
She sighed, "Claire is affiliated with, that 'pleasant' man, Nick Alto. I've always wanted to get rid of him for years but I just couldn't formulate a strong enough plan. Until now, I found out by your connection that Claire, Claire's mother was under Nick's control. The best plan was to undermine him; he would never expect it coming... That's what I love so much about this plan."
"But what plans are the Alto's hindering from you; you still haven't revealed that yet. I want to know, I don't like these secrets you're keeping from me." I was continuingly asking questions to reveal the truth.
"You've finally found an interest in our company; you want to learn the ways of our 'inner sanctum'? Fine by me, I knew this day would come; I can just see you, Malcolm the next 'supreme' CEO of Landgraab Industries, making decisions for the company that would out rival me in cunningness... Back to my point, after those Altos are 'gone and out for the count', my glorious plan will emerge, in this multicultural society, capitalism will emerge out and we'll become the bigger monopoly, like we've always been. We have created the standards for consumer goods and our light will never cease to shine." Mother smirked with a grin and clasped hands, similar to Burns, Mr Burns, the strict teacher in our school.
"But you don't exactly know that for sure, how certain can you be about me joining the ranks of this... empire?" I retorted back.
"Malcolm, my dear, of course I am certain, I was exactly like you when I was younger, adamant and repelled by the big responsibility bearing on me but I envisioned my future and began to control the company," She reminisced, "I have never regretted my actions, for they have brought you and your father, my two j-joys in the world; my family and my company, the only things I'll ever cherish." She replied with a slight smile.
"So every time you refer to 'your' company, you mean the 'inner sanctum'? This secret society controlling Sunset Valley, wait the whole of SimNation. And Landgraab Industries is just a front for all of all of these secrets." I questioned with a stressed face constantly thinking of what is just occurring.
The truth of my statement struck my mother instantly, shocked at how I could guess of what was occurring. But it shocked me more than her; my world was continuously growing beyond my comprehension.
"How-how, did you know? It cannot be that painstakingly obvious. Anyway, you're in trouble! I almost forgot, I need to call Claire. You thought you could talk me out of this one, but you are wrong, don't ever underestimate a Landgraab." Mother said with a shift in tone.
"But... Our conversation?" I asked with a begging tone.
"I'm not interested Malcolm, I'm calling Claire's mother now. You're grounded indefinitely; you have broken my deep trust, something that has to be paid back." Mother said in an abrupt and harsh tone.
She called Claire's mother, the shock to her was insurmountable, the two best 'friends' in trouble together, life spent at home was terrible, I had no communication to Claire whatsoever until we were at school, nothing could stop that, unless they hired a bodyguard but I don't want to give them any ideas. We just talked at school; it made our love for each other stronger, by how much we knew we missed each other. It felt like 'us' versus 'them' in plot against the Altos and arguably SimNation, for which I knew I had to stop my Mother somehow. She talked about her losing my trust but it seemed to be the other way around, I know she's my Mother but her plan; the horror of it all is just overwhelming, while not surprising, the question is who is on the good side; The Altos or the Landgraabs?
I had to explain it to Claire, hoping she would shed some light on the situation, "Claire, what are we going to do about my Mother?"
"I don't know Malcolm, I just don't know, unless you stab her in the back." She said in deep thought
"Stab her in the back? Stab my actual Mother in the back? I hope you're not turning into a murder, Claire?" I ask.
"Yeah, I mean, you infiltrate Landgraab Industries, by either becoming the leader or stopping her by cutting her power somehow, learning more about the plan and the 'inner sanctum'." She continued.
"But isn't that effectively what she has just done to the Altos and your mother?" I point out.
"Yes, but she will never think of it."
"But you don't understand, I've lost her trust, it's going to be a lot of effort to try and win my Mother back." I reply.
"Well, I don't know then, but we still have to try, no matter how."