The Dinner went perfectly, and after admonishing Gabby for being too thankful, we all enjoyed our meal. I was tired, and my body was relaxed. I felt really good, like all was well. I took to my computer and put in a large tip to Chris for finding Gabby and put in she was a great fit so far, and her skills are amazing. I finished quickly and relaxed, watching some business news before bed. I sat back, thinking in a daze. Then I heard the doorbell. I was genuinely surprised; usually, I would get a call, and the doorbell was just a warning that they were coming in. I got up and went to the entrance to the penthouse to see my daughter smiling at me.
Victoria, dressed in a black robe, came down after me to see what was happening to see my daughter in the foyer. "Gloria, you're here!" Victoria exclaimed and came down while I was still confused. She should still be at Harvard, I thought. I didn't let that cloud my judgment and went to hug my daughter, who I hadn't seen in a week. She still looks good and looks happier as well.
"How are you, Daddy? I hear you have been enjoying the game." She looks at me with a cheeky grin.
"Gloria," I slightly frown, "Victoria hasn't been telling you what I have been up to, correct?" Both looked insulted at that statement.
"I can't believe you, Daddy, thinking I have been trying to cheat with Victoria to beat you. I can do that on my own." I chuckle only to turn into a laugh.
"Ya right, knowing how I know you and Victoria. You have been calling her to see any information you can about the game and me. I have always told you-" She cut me off.
"If you aren't cheating, you are not trying hard enough." I smile at her eye roll.
"That is always true in business, military, and everything. Do everything you can to take what you want—being nice get's nobody anywhere. I am a nice guy, but that doesn't mean I don't have skeletons in a closet somewhere, sweety. Now I know you were coming to visit soon, but why come so early?" I finish my mini-rant.
"Yes, Daddy, I know, I know, although I can think of some examples against that. Like I don't know exams, Relationships." She earned a glower from me and a deep frown.
"That is not what I mean, and you know it." I closed the distance and pinched her cheeks, "You know exactly what I mean, and it is not the literal terms of cheating. Now I think we should all leave the foyer and come inside. I think Gabby is resting in her room or setting it up, so no Massage tonight, but you can talk to her tomorrow and get one."
My daughter's eyes brightened, looking at us both. "You have a personal masseuse now?" She looked excited, and I nodded. "Yup, we do; she just moved in yesterday. We also have a cook in the middle of the process to move in with us as well. No idea who yet, but Chris will handle it. Gabby is a nice young woman with amazing hands that send you to nirvana. Trust me, try her out tomorrow; you won't regret it." I finished as we all sat down late the night on the couches and continued to talk.
We chatted later than we should have before we all called it a night. We were all tired and went to our rooms. Gloria went into her room that I had prepared for her to set up however she wanted. I made it her private area that I would not invade ever since I first adopted her. I still do not know what the inside looked like since I promised her I would trust her. I did everything I could to show her that the world could be good. I fell asleep to memories of the early years with my daughter as she misbehaved with a smile on my face.
Morning came early, and I awoke from dreams with a smile. I moved to get some exercise clothes on and realized I was starting to run out and needed to do some laundry. I had one more day left, so I had to throw it in the washer at the least before we got in the pods. I smiled and moved over to the gym in my workout outfit. I met Gabby and Victoria there. Both are dressed to work out and tired. We all seemed to want to wake up by moving our muscles when my daughter showed up ready to work out as well. I smiled, and we all went in. I turned on some music, and we all worked out and helped each other when needed. Everyone was working up a sweat, and the smell permeated the room slowly as we all had sweat stains. No embarrassment could be seen as we were nearing the end.
I finished just after Victoria finished her workout, and she went to go make breakfast as I went to the shower. Each room had its own attached ensuite, so no lines or awkwardness happened as I took care of business and cleaned up. I got in some nice light clothes down to Victoria, who I hugged while she was working on the frying pan with some eggs.
"Hey, thanks for keeping everything secret. I know you wouldn't break my trust, but I still appreciate it." I let go of her, and she turned and smiled.
"No worries, Rick, your trust is something I will refuse to break. You have done too much for me that I can never pay you back." She turned back to finish up as Gabby and Gloria came in looking clean from their showers in light clothing that was more for comfort than fashion. Gabby looked more awkward, though. She looked like she did not know what to do with herself.
"No worries, Gabby, just sit down. Victoria and I have been more or less making it whoever finishes the workout first cooks. We have been pretty much even on this. We are looking for a live-in cook too. Chris, who interviewed you, is in charge of that, so we should see something soon." I finished and helped Victoria plate the food passing it around. We all sat down, enjoying a nice breakfast together with conversation. Gabby was still loosening up around us, but I really couldn't care less at this point about how awkward she felt. It was her first day here having food cooked by her employers; of course, she was feeling awkward. After the meal, I talked to Gloria to see how long she was going to be staying. I told her before, and I will tell her again, being in the university gathering more contacts was just as important as the learning itself.
She took my nagging in stride and then pushed me to my room. "I get it, and Daddy go play; you need the handy cap." I frowned at her but smiled and told her to enjoy her day. I went into the Pod, watching it close around me getting myself ready to log on.