A door opened and the sound of a ringing phone echoed across the halls of the huge mansion. The shadow that came from the doorway zoomed into the dark room. Two amber eyes darted everywhere, wary of the surroundings. Then, a shapely woman stepped inside the room and went directly to the whereabouts of an office desk. Her slender hand picked up the phone's handle and she positioned it at her ear.
"Hello?" Her eyes widened when she recognized the voice at the other end of the line. After a few seconds, her lips curled into a devious smile. "One moment, please."
She carefully placed down the handle and walked towards the door. Without any sound, she closed the door and swiftly sat down at her office desk. She picked up the handle and set it snugly at her ear.
"Please continue…"
We will be arriving soon.
"Yes, I am aware of that."
Have you prepared everything?
"The only thing missing is you and your son, Mr. Fair."
Excellent, Ms. Gainsborough.
"Enough of the formalities, Mr. Fair. Please call me Jenova."
Then I have to ask you to refer to me as Angeal, Ms. Jenova.
A genuine smile was painted on the woman's face.
"It is a tricky deal, Mr. Angeal, but I think I could manage. I have heard a lot of rumors about your son. I am amazed that his name scattered like wildfire in the places I have visited, but he is unusually famous among the residents…especially the women. Have you heard about his excursions?"
A jovial chuckle came out of the receiver.
Yes, the boy has handled our business brilliantly but his infamous womanizing is really getting out of hand. But I'll wager he'll change once we arrive in Midgar.
"Do not worry, Mr. Angeal. I believe this meeting will make your son as obedient as a pup. I am sure of it."
I'm looking forward to it, Ms. Jenova.
"I must bid you adieu, Mr. Angeal. I have a lot of paperwork to do."
Of course, I apologize for being a disturbance.
"Not at all, Mr. Angeal. I wish you a fair journey to our city."
Likewise. Goodnight, Jenova.
"Goodnight, Angeal."
She slowly placed the handle to its receiver. A weary sigh escaped her lips as she rubbed the back of her neck.
What a pain… She gazed longingly at the picture of a man at her desk. She slowly picked the frame and stared at the man. You would do the same, wouldn't you?
Her fingers trailed the lines of the man's face. She stroked the glass that separated the picture from her polished finger. Unknowingly, a tear fell from her eye. She felt it fall down her pale cheek.
"Ms. Gainsborough?"
Her eyes shot up as she heard Reeve's voice behind the door. She wiped away the tear that fell from her amber eye and set the picture down beside the phone.
"Come in, Mr. Tuesti."
The door creaked open slowly, revealing a man in a gray suit. She glared at him angrily but he still remained in his straight composure. That was to be expected of Reeve Tuesti, personal assistant of the late Pres. Gast. He slowly walked to her desk and bowed humbly.
"Good evening, madam."
Her eyebrows were crossed and her hands curled to a fist but she remained calm. It was not suitable for a president to act violently even in private.
"Mr. Tuesti, did not my husband assign you to protect and teach my daughter at his deathbed?"
"Yes, he did. God bless his soul." Reeve made a sign of the cross in respect to the late Pres. Gast.
"Yes, may God bless his soul…and yours."
Reeve furrowed his eyebrows and he looked directly at her eyes, now a deeper shade of yellow. Jenova took a few papers and affixed her signatures to them. Reeve watched her as she does her job as president of the whole company. He must admit that she was doing an excellent job. She was admired and respected by the whole nation and the other nations that surrounded the state. The company was soaring and it's all thanks to her. She had so many responsibilities that she never pays attention to her own daughter. Reeve curled his fist in disdain as he thought about Aerith. This woman, whom he once admired, was now only a business-thinking machine.
"Mr. Tuesti…"
Reeve shot a questioning look at her. Jenova placed down the papers and she crossed her arms in front of her.
"Did you know that Aerith went out of the mansion?"
Sweat began to form at Reeve's forehead.
"Yes, madam."
Jenova nodded and stood up, gracefully.
"Correct. And did you know that Aerith is forbidden to go out unless said to?"
"Yes, madam."
The President went to his side and began to encircle him in a dominating manner.
"You are a great man to be trusted by my husband, Mr. Tuesti. I do hope that your unwavering loyalty will also apply to me."
"I am forever indebted to your husband, madam. What he asks of me shall be done no matter what the costs."
"I applaud your consistency, Mr. Tuesti. Your allegiance shall be rewarded in due time."
"My gratitude is as high as the heavens, madam."
Jenova placed her two pale hands on each strong shoulder of the butler.
"Tell me, Reeve, feeling a little uncomfortable lately? You seem…pale."
He swallowed as a drop of sweat dripped from his forehead.
"I have been working the whole day, madam. Teaching Ms. Gainsborough and taking her to her classes."
She took of her hands and sighed. "Yes, of course. That girl must be in tip-top shape when the Fairs arrive in Midgar. We should not disappoint them, should we?"
"Absolutely not, madam." Reeve breathed freely when the President sat at her desk. "I shall retire now, madam. Is there anything else you want of me?"
Jenova raised her gleaming amber eyes to him in question.
"Is there?"
Reeve shook his head in disapproval.
"I have said what there is to be said."
Jenova smiled at him, professionally.
"That is all, Mr. Tuesti. You can rest now."
With a bow, the butler turned back to leave the presidents' office.
"Oh and Mr. Tuesti…"
Reeve turned back and watched the president looking at some paper works through her reading glasses.
"Yes, madam?"
"Kindly tell Aerith that our conversation will be continued some other day." She took of her glasses and smiled at him. "You can take your leave now."
The butler nodded and bowed again. Jenova's piercing eyes followed Reeve's back as he walked out of her office.
"Damn the man… It's as if he doesn't know that I have the knowledge of their little field trips with my daughter." She breathed hard then she reclined on the chaise lounge that was a gift for her from the people of Nibelheim. "No matter. Everything will change by the morrow. I'll have to deal with him when the case closes."
.-+-.
"Hey Reeve."
The butler was sitting at the circular bar in the kitchen. He was wiping the sweat that profusely fell from his forehead. Reeve glanced up and smiled when he saw the beautiful maid standing under the kitchen doors. Tifa sat down beside him and gazed at his brown eyes. She could see anger and fear in his eyes. There was only one person who could inflict those kinds of emotions to the butler and to anyone that worked in the mansion. That person is President Jenova Gainsborough.
"Hey, Tifa." Reeve wiped the remaining sweat that covered his forehead. "Why aren't you asleep?"
Tifa's gaze went to the cloth that she's holding. Her grasp at the cloth was tightened when she remembered the scene with Aerith a moment ago. Reeve stared at the cloth that Tifa was holding. He sensed anxiety in the beautiful maid. The butler placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong, Tifa?"
Tifa's eyes flew open and she averted her gaze to Reeve. He smiled at her like a father to a daughter. Tifa's eyebrows furrowed as tears fell from her eyes.
"It's just that...I'm scared that Aerith will leave us one day."
Reeve's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Don't say things like that Tifa. Aerith will never leave us."
Tifa gazed up at him with tears rolling down her flushed cheeks. He felt his heart crushed at the sight of the maid sobbing. Aerith and Tifa were both special to Reeve. Both had lost their parents' love but Tifa was most unfortunate. She was not as rich as Aerith and had no one to call family. Her mother died while giving birth to her and she never knew her father. Nevertheless, Aerith was always there for her. She treated Tifa like a sister and a friend. To Tifa, Aerith was the most important person in her life. And chances of Aerith leaving her would be so heartbreaking that no amount of riches could cure that pain of her loss. He knew that. He watched them mature into what they are now.
"B-But…"
Reeve shook his head and smiled.
"Always remember that Aerith loves you. She would never leave a special person like you. Don't worry, Tifa. She won't leave us."
Tifa stared at Reeve's kind face and smiled. She slowly nodded and blew her nose into her handkerchief. Then a musical laughter filled the whole kitchen. Reeve and Tifa turned to the doors that led to the dining room, quite alarmed.
"Reeve's right, Tifa."
Tifa's eyes widened. A white slipper stepped out of the darkness and accompanied with it was a pale figure. Reeve smiled at the person who spoke. Tears once again filled the brunette's eyes.
"I will never leave you."
Aerith beamed happily at the sobbing maid. Tifa ran towards Aerith with arms opened wide. Aerith, too, opened her arms and welcomed Tifa to her warmth. Aerith caressed Tifa's hair as the brunette wept in her arms, like a mother to her child. The butler watched cheerfully at the sight of the two girls.
"Hey, Reeve!"
Reeve blinked. Aerith's left arm and Tifa's right held out to him. They were both smiling at him.
"Why don't you join us?"
The butler stood up slowly and he scooped the two girls into a big hug. After a few moments, the two girls began tickling the man. They laughed and giggled for a whole five minutes. Tifa wiped her tears away and straightened out her clothes.
"I'd best be going to sleep. I still have a job to do, tomorrow."
Aerith and Reeve smiled at her and they bade her goodnight. Tifa beamed at them and disappeared in the darkness. When Reeve was about to send Aerith off to her bed, he froze when Aerith was staring up at him with her saucer like eyes. He knew too well what that look meant.
"What is it now, Ms. Aerith?"
Aerith smiled, shyly. "I promised Cloud I would go to the church tomorrow."
"That mongrel has a name?!"
She pouted at his words. "Yes, that mongrel has a name and it is Cloud Strife."
Strife…where have I heard that name before?
"Will you take me?" At that moment, Aerith unleashed her ultimate weapon. The puppy dog eyes.
Reeve rolled his brown orbs. He couldn't resist those green eyes of hers.
"Alright, alright." Aerith beamed widely at him and ran towards the main door. Reeve opened her mouth to speak just as she was about to disappear in the darkness. "Aerith…"
The lovely brown headed girl looked back, quizzically.
"Your mother said she'll speak to you one of these days…" Her eyes widened in fear. "Let's be careful of our actions…"
Aerith pursed her lips but finally smiled and nodded. She waved back and when she saw him wave at her also she disappeared behind the doors. Reeve shook his head and grinned to himself.
Sneak Peek: Disregarding her mother's warnings Aerith returns to the church the next day. Is the blonde still there waiting for her like he said? Will something blossom within these two who are exact opposites in their cruel society?
Next Chapter!
Chapter 7: Getting Closer
See you then!