[Edward POV]
An hour before the surprise. In the midst of my focused work in the office study, surrounded by towering bookshelves and seated at an expansive desk, I sighed as I said to Robin, "I'll screen the scripts myself later. How many are there again?"
"More than 100 movie scripts were sent to the company by aspiring filmmakers and script writers." Robin replied. She added, "This work would put a lot of stress on your physical and mental well being. I would implore you to get some help or delegate the work instead of doing it yourself."
"I'll keep your advice in mind. Ah, right. The one with the rights to make the adaptation for The Queen's Gambit book, was Heath Ledger, right?" I asked. If I wasn't mistaken, the late Heath wanted to cast Elliot Page for the main role, but the entire production was scrapped after he took his own life.
"You're correct. The production of the adaptation was stalled again. Superstitions about the works being cursed have been circling around, and there wasn't anyone who wanted to pick up the story." Robin replied.
"Okay. We'll take it. Get Donna on the line. I need Harvey to handle the acquisition. And oh, try to see what Chad Stahelski is doing right now."
"Stuntman Chad Stahelski had just finished with his work for the movie Ninja Assassin, and is available for hire."
I met the stuntman before in the Iron Man 2 movie production. Who could've guessed that the experienced stuntman would change his career path to become a movie director in just a few years? And the first movie he would direct? It's none other than the blockbuster action movie, that has a great success which turned it into a franchise, the John Wicks films.
After finishing the call, a sudden and familiar sound caught my attention.
A gentle "meow" resonated from the direction of the door, causing me to turn with a smile on my face.
"How did you get out again?" I said jokingly.
"Nyaa!"
Approaching me with graceful steps was a stunning black cat, adorned with captivating bluish green eyes. Her fur appeared luxuriously soft and fluffy, accentuating her elegant presence. A white bow tie collar adorned her neck, while a delicate patch of white fur on her chest added a touch of charm.
With an air of nonchalance, she strolled into the room, as if she owned it. Without hesitation, the kitten hopped onto my lap, settling herself comfortably. The sound of her contented purring filled the air as she nestled against me.
"Why are you so clingy now? You bit me when we first met." I said with a chuckle as I rubbed her chin with my finger. Her eyes blinked softly as she let down all of her guards against me, wanting some affection as I was working. With one hand, I rubbed her fur while the other one was working on my blueprint for the telecommunication tower.
A few days ago, after the day I got my medal from the president, I had to go to the hardware store to pick up a few wire spools for my ongoing experiments when I was almost ambushed by a swarm of paparazzi. Using the back alley, I hid behind a dumpster when I saw something furry hiding behind the dump.
"A black hole– No, it's a cat."
As I got the [Animal Affinity] plus with the natural aura of an afterlife agent, I foolishly went to pet her. But, she suddenly pounced on my left arm and bit the base of my palm as I tried to do it.
Startled, I didn't push back my arm and instead, I talked calmly towards the kitten, "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you."
For a brief moment, she maintained her bite, locking her gaze with mine. Through the reflection in her eyes, I caught a glimpse of her emotions, sensing fear and apprehension.
Gradually, as she recognized that I posed no threat, she released her grip on my hand, her demeanor shifting from defensive to apologetic. The cat began to lick my hand, as if seeking forgiveness for her earlier outburst.
I inspected her for a collar, finding faint traces of it on her fur, though the actual collar was absent. The absence of claws indicated she had once been in the care of an owner. Concerned for her welfare, I spoke to her in a gentle tone, "You won't survive out here." While gently stroking her dirty fur, I realised that the grime obscured the white patches that adorned her coat.
"This is nostalgic." I said as I petted the cat without caring about her dirtiness. "You know, I was once lost and ended up behind a dumpster too, with bruises all over me. Then, a kind old lady stopped by and decided to take me in."
"Do you want to come back with me?" I asked using a comforting tone. "I'll take care of you." I said while patting her head. The cat was on guard as I asked her the question, then, after a while, she decided to purr as she rubbed her body on my leg, signalling her agreement.
With gratitude for her trust, I commended her, saying jokingly, "Good girl. Come, let's open a can of tuna for you." Side by side, we made our way back to my car, and I brought her to the safety of my mansion. Moments later, James arrived in a sleek limousine to pick me up. He was startled when he saw I was holding a dirty cat, and that my shirt was also dirty because I was holding her close to my chest. But he didn't say anything and just smiled as he helped me with my bag.
Upon reaching the mansion, I dedicated myself to her well-being. Max, my dad, and my aunt wanted to approach her, but she would swat their arms whenever anyone else other than me tried to touch her. The first person she warmed up to other than me was Max because was a genuine animal lover.
I carefully bathed her, tending to her dirty fur, and gently brushed it until her true beauty was revealed. Then, I kept feeding her until she transformed into the affectionate and clingy companion she is today.
I tried to give her the name Captain Kuro, but she rejected me by hissing. Yoruichi Sihohin, JiJi, Sakamoto, Chomusuke, Shadow, Lucifer, Midnight, Noir, Bitey, Shady, Jet, Loki, Raven, Stella, she rejected all of them.
What name did she actually accept?
"Vader, I need to take a shower." I said as I picked her up and brought her face close to mine. She nuzzled her face on my cheek as I laughed and said, "You can't follow me. I'm going to be nude. It's not good for underage girls to peek."
Despite there was no change in her expression, I could sense that she was giving me a disdainful glare. I burst into laughter when I brought her back to the room and placed her on top of a velvety plush pillow next to my bed. She circled around the pillow before laying down there as I took off my clothes and entered the Japanese style hot tub inside the bathroom.
"Ahhh~" I moaned in pleasure as I gradually submerged myself into the water.
…
[General POV]
While Edward was taking a bath, suddenly, Denise walked into the room groggily and silently. Vader was startled when she saw the new human in the house and went to take refuge underneath the giant bed immediately in panic.
"Ugh…I need to take a bath…" Denise muttered as she flopped down on the bed, staining the sheets with her cigarette smell.
As she was feeling lazy, she undressed herself while lying down on the bed, leaving her only in her white frilly Victoria Secret undergarment, and her previous one piece dress thrown to the ground. She also kept wearing her heels because she felt too bothersome to bend down and took them off.
However, as soon as she had undressed, her sleepiness took over, and she fell asleep on the pillow less than a minute later, with loud snoring sounds filling the room. Feeling a chill due to her exposed skin, she instinctively reached for the blanket, pulling it over her entire body for warmth. The act of covering herself also served to muffle her snoring to some extent.
Unbeknownst to Denise, Edward continued to unwind blissfully in the hot jacuzzi, blissfully unaware of the unexpected "visitor" in his room.
But less than five minutes later, another tall blonde girl, Taylor, stealthily made her way into the room. Vader, who had barely managed to crawl out from his hiding spot under the bed, was taken aback once again and sought a deeper refuge this time, hidden from view.
Taylor couldn't contain her mischievous laughter as she swiftly changed into her white lingerie, complete with thigh-high stockings and a garter belt, before slipping into a white satin gown. Taking a seat at the edge of the bed, she crossed her legs, eagerly anticipating the perfect moment to surprise Edward as he emerged from the bathtub.
She didn't have to wait long, as Edward emerged from the bathroom after 10 minutes, his bare chest glistening, and a white towel draped loosely around his waist.
"What? Oh my." Seeing Taylor's anticipation, his smile widened as he began to speak, but before he could utter a word, she cut in with a sultry voice, interrupting him mid-sentence.
"Hello lover," Taylor purred mischievously, her tone filled with playful intrigue. "Did you get surprised?"
Edward chuckled, momentarily taken aback by her boldness. "Yeah, it was quite a surprise," he replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "And a delightful one at that. But that reminds me, I have a surprise for you too. Did you see her yet?"
As Edward nonchalantly reached for a coffee milk drink in the nearby mini-fridge, his gaze shifted towards the figure hidden beneath the blanket. In that moment, a mixture of curiosity and confusion flashed across his face, his mind racing to comprehend the situation unfolding before him.
'Did she bring another person here? Wait…It can't be what I'm thinking of, right?' Edward thought excitedly but was still maintaining a calm facade on the surface.
"Her? A surprise?" Taylor's mind raced with excitement upon hearing Edward's words. Her anticipation grew, ready to embrace the unexpected.
However, before she could make her move, something caught her attention—a hint of a figure beneath the blanket, with the telltale presence of a high heel peeking out from beneath it. Instantly, her expression froze, and a surge of panic and astonishment washed over her.
Taylor turned to face Edward, her mind racing at breakneck speed as she considered the possibilities that flooded her thoughts.
'Did he bring another girl... Wait! Has he already slept with her?!' Her mind spiralled into a whirlwind of assumptions and accusations. Her expression turned into anger, which startled Edward. 'And now he has the audacity to want me to join in?! He's a degenerate pervert!'
A torrent of emotions and thoughts consumed Taylor as she grappled with the unexpected revelation, her mind racing through a series of conclusions and judgments.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked with a chuckle, "Are you mad I didn't wait for you before picking her up? (The cat)"
Taylor fumed as she said, "Yes! I am mad! How dare you decide something like this on your own! (The girl)"
Edward was confused, "I thought you loved things like her?! (The cat)"
"WHEN!? WHEN DID I EVER SAY I WANTED SOMETHING LIKE THIS?! (the girl)" Taylor replied with disbelief and frustration.
"Hey! We talked about this a lot of times before. (Adopting a cat)" Edward said with slight agitation.
"And I have never agreed! GOD! YOU'RE UNBELIEVABLE! (Adding a girl in their bed)" Taylor stood up and shouted while pointing her finger at Edward.
"I don't have to take this. I'm glad you brought another surprise here, but I got to say, I really didn't think you'd hate the cat that much. You keep saying and acting like a cat lover, but I've never thought– Vader, where are you?"
"Her name is Vader!?" Taylor exclaimed in frustration before she noticed something was wrong. "Wait. A cat?"
Vader darted from underneath the bedroom, startling Taylor as she raced towards Edward. She hopped into his arms in panic while Taylor was flabbergasted as she processed what was happening.
"Oh my god. She's so cute!" Taylor's cat lover instinct kicked in, and she melted with affection as she saw the young kitty trying to hide in Edward's arm.
"Wait. You hadn't met her yet? So what are you angry about?" Edward asked with confusion.
Taylor snapped out of her affectionate state and burst into anger again, "The girl on your bed! Don't act dumb! She's LITERALLY right here!"
Taylor grabbed the blanket and yanked it away, revealing the sight of a barely dressed girl. Denise slowly sat up and said in annoyance, "God, You guys are being so loud!"
Edward was taken aback for a bit before he reacted, "Wait. Denise? Why are you here?"
"Huh? Newgate?...And who are you- Wait, Taylor S. Why are you guys in my room?" Denise asked in confusion, her groggy mind processed the information slowly.
Taylor was in disbelief and she became hysterical, "God! Do you really believe playing dumb will work!? Aren't you the girl Ed picked up to have a threesome with us?! Ed! It's not like I don't want to! Maybe not with a random skank, yeah?"
"Threesomes?" Denise was confused. "I agreed to have a threesome with you guys?"
"No. Not yet." Edward said mischievously as he figured out everything. "Did James ask you to come by? I've been wondering why he insisted on me staying in this room. He had it all planned out, didn't he?"
"Yeah, he says that grandma is having dinner here tonight." Denise replied before she realised how she was dressed, "AH!" She shrieked belatedly before grabbing another blanket to cover herself up.
Taylor finally realised something was wrong and said, "Wait. What is going on?"
Edward burst into laughter as he said, "Just an old man's evil plan gone wrong."
After calming down and explaining a few things, Taylor covered her face in embarrassment while sitting down at the edge of the bed. Edward's lips curled up and he whispered, mimicking Taylor's sentences before, while rubbing the cat's fur, "Not that I don't want to."
"STOP!" Taylor squealed in embarrassment as she pressed her face to the mattress, trying to hide it.
"'Just not with a random skank', so I guess, you already planned it out with someone we know?!" Edward added.
"STOP IT!" Taylor reacted strongly and threw a few pillows into Edward's direction. Edward burst into laughter, and while he was teasing Taylor, Denise was mulling over the entire thing with a sharp look on her face.
"Damn it. That old man almost sold me out." Denise said angrily.
"No one told you to undress and crawl into the bed." Taylor exclaimed angrily to Denise. The college girl was startled and she said defensively, "Hey! What's wrong with being naked inside your own house! If anything, Newgate's the intruder here!"
"I was invited by your grandmother to stay here." Edward exclaimed with a chuckle. "Do you want to teach that old man a lesson? You might actually stay and joined us, that will surely shake him to his core." He says playfully.
Taylor exclaimed angrily, "You! Stop it! NOW!"
Edward burst into laughter again. However, Denise unexpectedly said, " I don't really have a problem with that. Besides, I think you're really cute." She said as she slowly moved behind Taylor. She placed her finger on Taylor's chin and pulled it forcefully to meet her eyes.
Taylor was startled, but she didn't resist. Denise breathed on Taylor's neck as she wrapped her arms around her stomach and said, "Would it be wrong if I actually did join you guys?"
Taylor's face blushed red and she stammered, "Um..Um…"
"She's thinking about it now." Edward said with a chuckle. Denise smiled seductively and said, "That will surely teach the old man a lesson."
"Daddy issues. The common factor in all of the unconventional bedroom activities." Edward said as he put the cat down on the red velvet pillow again.
"You…You…" Taylor stammered with a shaky voice. "YOU SMELL!" She shouted as she pushed Denise away.
Startled, Denise sniffed her arm, "Right. I haven't freshened up yet." She got off the bed, and walked to the bathroom. Before entering, she glanced at Taylor and Edward while saying, "Join me or not, I won't mind."
Taylor's eyes flickered as she contemplated a decision. Edward chuckled and said to her, "You know we're just messing with you. Right?"
Denise suddenly interjected, "I was being serious though?"
…
"It's almost dinner time." One of the staff members said while talking to the head butler, James. "Should we call Sir Newgate and Miss Denise to the dining room?"
James twirled his moustache as he said excitedly, "There's no need. I believe they are currently getting acquainted with each other, and therefore, shouldn't be disturbed. They must've gotten so lost in talking that they are just missing track of time."
The staff member said obediently, "I understand sir."
As the staff member walked away, James mulled to himself, 'Hmm…Maybe I should let them send some food to the room? The kids should be very hungry.'
Contrary to his expectations of what the kid's should be doing, Inside the room, Edward, Taylor and Denise were laying down side by side, with Edward in the middle. All three of them nude and only with a thin white blanket covering up all three of their bodies.
"That was interesting." Denise muttered with a smile. Her hair was dishevelled and she rested her face on Edward's chest.
"It surely was." Edward said before he pulled Taylor's face in for a kiss. Taylor smiled and said, "This is the first and the last time we're doing this! Okay!?"
"Well if I cannot do it again, then I should not let myself have any regrets." Edward said with a mischievous smile before pulling both of the girls closer towards him again.