Chapter One-hundred Ninety-Four: The World Still Turns

Chapter 194

The World Still Turns

After having his shower and brushing his teeth, Jordi maneuvered around his bedroom, getting ready to go to work that morning. He grabbed his cologne from his drawer and spritzed some on his neck and wrists. He then put on his white pressed shirt, buttoned it, and grabbed his black pants, sliding them over his hips. He fastened his pants, slid the belt through the loops, and buckled it. He then draped his tie over his neck and tied it. He sat on his bed and put on his black sheer socks.

Madelyn still lay in his bed as the scent of Jordi’s cologne lingered in the air. Jordi grabbed his suit jacket, slid his arms in, buttoned it, and left his bedroom.

Jordi stepped out and strolled past his grandfather, eating breakfast.

Henrietta: “Gonna eat some breakfast, handsome?”

She asked. Jordi forced a smile and slid his feet into his zip-up boots.

Jordi: “Not now, Henrietta. I have to be at work.”

He zipped up his boots, grabbed his car keys, and slid his sunglasses over his eyes before stepping out of his house.

~

Jordi arrived at the Megalos Tower and slid his work ID card through the time clock to clock in. There was a twenty-foot Christmas tree in the lobby adorned with gold, silver, and green baubles. Several young secretaries were near the tree. They all smiled and waved at Jordi.

Secretary: “Hi, Jordi!”

Jordi smiled and nodded. He pressed the button to get on the elevator. When the doors opened, he pushed the button for the 85th floor. He saw Alfie in the elevator with him.

Jordi: “Morning, Alfie.”

He nodded.

Alfie: “Nice morning, isn’t it? Did you get your Christmas shopping done?”

He asked as the elevator lifted.

Jordi: “Not yet. How about you?”

Alfie smiled.

Alfie: “With working for Minerva, I barely have time for myself, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

He laughed. Jordi forced a smile.

Jordi: “Right, of course.”

He muttered.

When the elevator reached their destination floor, they got off and went to Minerva’s office.

~

Tristan stepped out of his bathroom in just his dressing gown after showering, brushing his teeth, and freshening up. He didn’t want to go to work, didn’t want to face the world, and wanted to stay in bed like his father does whenever there’s a minor inconvenience in his life, but he had to brave it.

He untied the sash on his dressing gown, dropped it to the floor, and got a pair of briefs from his drawer. He put those on and strolled to his closet. He opened it, retrieved a white pressed shirt, put it on, and buttoned it. He then slid on a pair of navy blue pants, fastened them, and slid his belt through the loops, buckling it. He then draped his dark blue tie with gold paisley patterns over his neck and tied it. He sat on the bed and put on his black sheer socks. He rose to his vanity, spritzed on some cologne, and fastened his hair back with a black hair elastic.

He grabbed his navy blue vest and suit jacket from the closet. He buttoned up his vest, tied his pocket watch around his button, placed it in his pocket, grabbed his briefcase, and left his bedroom.

He went downstairs and found his brother, Bastien, cooking breakfast. Bastien wore a beige button-down shirt with brown stripes, brown pants, and brown socks. Tristan sat at the island. Bastien smiled at him, placing a cup of English Breakfast tea with a plate of toast with honey, bacon, and scrambled eggs before him.

Tristan: “Thanks, Bastien.”

He said gently.

Bastien: “I know you and your friends were there during what… happened at the Pink Flamingo Mall.”

He said softly, giving Tristan an empathetic look. Tristan forced a smile.

Tristan: “What can I say, Bastien? A little girl witnessed Santa Claus being turned into a ghastly demon. Many children did, and many children were killed because of this.”

He blew on his tea and sipped on it.

Bastien: “Tristan, it’s… It’s not your fault, and you and your friends stopped the monster from causing more carnage.”

He stated. Tristan paused.

Bastien: “I saw the news of many people who escaped, and that was because of your bravery.”

He said genially. Tristan smiled a bit.

Tristan: “Thank you, Bastien… I needed that.”

Bastien nodded.

Bastien: “I sensed you did, but it’s also the truth.”

He said earnestly.

After Tristan finished his breakfast, he went into the mudroom, put on his black wingtip Oxfords, and got into his car with Oliver jumping into the passenger’s side. He slid the key into the ignition, started the car, and pushed the button for the garage door to open. He looked behind him as he backed out of the garage and then shifted into the first gear as he drove down his driveway. As he went down the road, he glanced at Deimos’ house and wasn’t surprised to see it wasn’t decorated, but neither was Lazaros’ place. Then what Blair wanted to tell him echoed in his mind.

~

Tristan arrived at work. He saw a five-foot Christmas tree by the entry, decorated with green, gold, red, and silver baubles, gold garland, and a gold “Merry Christmas” sign. There was red, green, and gold garland draped around the waiting room and the secretary’s desk, with red stockings hung on the back of the wall by the gold “Trémaux Law Office” with Tristan’s, Rosemary’s, Erin’s, Oliver’s, and Francis’ names on the sock in glittered gold.

On the windows, gold letters spelled out “Merry Christmas,” with snowflake stickers.

On the secretary’s desk were ceramic Santa Clauses, snowmen, and a dish with candycanes. Tristan surveyed the office and smiled at Rosemary.

Tristan: “Morning, Rosemary, you went above and beyond here!”

He beamed. Rosemary smiled at him.

Rosemary: “Every Hallmark movie I watch, the secretaries always decorate the offices!”

Tristan forced a smile.

Tristan: “Of course, they do.”

He cleared his throat.

Tristan: “I’ll be in my office if you need me.”

He stated as he went upstairs.

Tristan and Oliver stepped into his office. Tristan strolled to his desk, turned on his computer, and sat at his desk. He heaved a deep sigh as he went through his files. He heard a knock at his door.

Tristan: “Come in, please.”

The door opened, and he saw a huge bouquet of roses come in. He was pleasantly surprised to see Jasper Henderson carry in the bouquet. Jasper Henderson was a colleague of Tristan’s. He was a corpulent, white 59-year-old man. He wore his muted brown hair swept back, and spectacles hung over his bulbous nose. He had a prominent double chin and an imperial moustache. He wore a brown three-piece suit, a white pressed shirt, a red tie, and brown whole-cut Oxfords.

Tristan: “Hello, Jasper! What a lovely surprise, and what is this?”

He asked as he took the bouquet and inhaled the roses’ lovely aroma.

Jasper: “Just decided to drop in to see you since I will be taking residence here for the winter! It’s nice to be back… and enjoy the view…”

He smiled. Tristan flashed him a smirk.

Tristan: “I see now.”

He took a vase from his bookcase and went to his bathroom to fill it with water. He returned and placed the roses into the vase. Tristan smiled at the sight.

Tristan: “Looks very lovely…”

Jasper gazed up at him.

Jasper: “Indeed.”

He chuckled.

As Tristan stepped back to admire the roses, he caught a waft of his cologne, and it was one of the most pleasant aromas Jasper had ever smelled. Tristan saw him peeking and smiled.

Tristan: “Something caught your eye?”

He teased. Jasper cleared his throat.

Jasper: “So are you doing anything this evening, Tristan? I’d love to catch up with you since I am staying here for the winter. I do want to avoid those dastardly Imperium State winters.”

He folded his arms behind his back and stood in a regal posture. Tristan surveyed him.

Tristan: “No, I’m not doing anything this evening.”

He sat down on his leather sofa. Jasper smiled and sat with him.

Jasper: “Would you care to have dinner with me? I was thinking of the Pearl Lion! I do enjoy their Emperor’s Plate!”

He guffawed. Tristan grinned.

Tristan: “I’d be delighted, Jasper.”

Jasper’s face lit up.

Jasper: “Sh-Shall I pick you up?”

He stammered. Tristan paused and smiled.

Tristan: “Of course.”

Jasper beamed.

Jasper: “What time?”

Tristan: “Five-thirty works. I can go home and bring Oliver back.”

He nodded.

Jasper felt like a little boy in a candy shop once again. He giddily rose and nodded.

Jasper: “I’ll be there with bells and whistles!”

He sang.

Jasper: “Have a lovely day, Tristan!”

He waved and promptly left his office.

Tristan grinned.

Tristan: “Did you hear all that, Deimos?”

Deimos peered his head in and snarled at Tristan. He wore a Black Sabbath sleeveless shirt, torn jeans, and cowboy boots.

Deimos: “You are NOT going anywhere with that fat bastard, Tristan! He’s after ONE thing!”

He hissed. Tristan rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “Yes, you would know. You were certainly after one thing when you slept with Jaxon.”

He hissed. Deimos drew a long breath.

Deimos: “I made a mistake, Tristan. I want to make amends to you.”

He said, giving him a beseeching look.

Tristan: “You can’t come back from betrayal, Deimos. I’m a single man now. I am free to dine with whom I please.”

He rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “Right, but you’re doing this to spite me!”

He growled.

Tristan: “Please, Deimos, you’re not that important to me.”

He huffed.

Deimos: “Then why didn’t you consider that fat fuck when he was working with you at Samsun & Co., huh?”

He challenged.

Tristan: “It’s just dinner with an old colleague, Deimos. You had sex with Jaxon. They are not the same thing.”

He smiled.

Deimos: “Right, and you certainly give two hundred fucking roses to a colleague.”

He said dryly.

Deimos: “You listen to me now! When I took you out to dinner, I rented the ENTIRE fucking restaurant out so we could be alone because your ass gets frozen up when you have to talk to people for too long.”

He rasped.

Tristan: “Wow, I’m touched you had to burden yourself to accommodate me. Should I get on my knees and give you oral sensations to reward you for your infinite generosity?”

He asked acidly. Deimos hung his head.

Tristan: “I never asked you to do that for me, and your gesture doesn’t absolve you of what you did to me.”

He sneered at him.

Deimos: “Well, I don’t see Dump McWhalen accommodating you like that.”

He shrugged.

Tristan: “We’re not an item, and he doesn’t need to go above and beyond for me. He can just enjoy my company. You do these grand gestures in the hopes I will reward you with sex; well, you got it, Deimos. You took my virginity. I gave my purity to a clown.”

He snapped and threw his file at him. Deimos winced.

Deimos: “It takes two to tango, Tristan! I gave mine to a pretentious snob like Narcisse!”

He fired back. Tristan angrily rose and delivered a hard slap across Deimos’ face.

Tristan: “Get the Hell out of my office and out of my life, Deimos!”

He cried. Deimos looked at Tristan with hurt and marched out of their, slamming the door behind him.

Tristan sank to the couch and held Oliver close in his arms.

~

Madelyn entered the tower, dressed in a crimson velvet red hood over a ruffled red corset dress. She carried a basket with her and resembled Little Red Riding Hood. She drank in her busy surroundings, looking around for Jordi’s purple hair. She was overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle around her and fell deep into her lost thoughts.

Madelyn: “Hmm, let’s see… Where would he be? Ah, he’d be at the top, right?”

She pondered to herself as she jumped onto the elevator.

Suddenly, she was surrounded by the aroma of fried food and hamburgers.

Madelyn: “Oh, that smells good. I could go for a burger right about now, and I can get something for Jordi…”

She pondered to herself when she was interrupted by the familiar and unnerving coo of “Good piggyyyyy!” Madelyn froze in her tracks and locked eye contact with the obese couple indulging in Voyage Burger.

Makalya glanced up at her with widened eyes.

Makayla: “Well, well, if it isn’t little red riding whore?”

She asked sharply.

Madelyn: “Damn, Hamburger Queen, you really let yourself go!”

She laughed at her. Makayla glared at her.

Makayla: “How could you be fat-phobic towards your fellow people?!”

She whined.

Madelyn: “Fat People aren’t a race, and I’m not your people.”

She laughed at her.

Makayla: “If you came here to chase after me, too bad, I’m taken!”

She grinned at Brad and rubbed his tummy as if she were polishing a trophy.

Madelyn: “I’m not here for your fat hamburger ass! I’ve got eyes for someone BETTER and way hotter!”

She poked her tongue out at her.

Makayla: “Oh, who is your imaginary friend?! Where is he then?”

She taunted.

Jordi walked over to them.

Jordi: “Hey, Madelyn, what brings you by?”

He smiled at her. Madelyn’s eyes lit up when she saw him.

Madelyn: “Jordi! I came by to surprise you and give you some treats!”

She smiled at him, hugged him, and handed him her basket. Jordi hugged her back and took her basket.

Jordi: “Why, thank you!”

Makayla gaped at them.

Makayla: “Seriously?! How could you sell out your own kind?!”

She shook her head at her.

Jordi: “Is there a problem, Makayla?”

He asked her.

Makayla: “You're only with her because you have a fetish like Lazaros!”

She countered as she stuffed a hamburger in Brad's mouth. Jordi cleared his throat.

Jordi: “No, I am not with her because of any fetish, and I don’t share a fetish with Lazaros.”

He said coolly. Makayla rolled her eyes at him.

Jordi: “But you’re clearly with him for a fetish. It’s all I ever see you do is shove food in his face.”

Makayla's jaw dropped at him.

Makayla: “How dare YOU! I LOVE MY PIGGY, AND THIS IS TRUE LOVE!”

She snapped. Madelyn laughed at her and shook her head. Jordi rolled his eyes and waved his hand dismissively at her.

He saw two office men sitting beside them, on their laptops, laughing at something. He saw a picture of Blair cutting French toast for Ashley, who stared blankly. Jordi went over to look and saw they were on Fabien’s Bungle Server.

BlairDonati: Here is day one of me and Ashley as an engaged couple. I am cutting up their French Toast but if Ashley decides to be a big enby, they can cut their own but I love cutting up their French toast! Wait until the honeymoon!

Madelyn frowned at Blair and felt for Ashley. Makayla shook her head.

Makayla: “Poor Ashley! He's starving him!”

She gasped.

Jordi turned to Madelyn.

Jordi: “Did you want to go somewhere private?”

He asked her. Madelyn nodded.

Madelyn: “Yes, let's get away from Hamburger Queen and Blue Baby Bitch.”

She declared and took his hand. Jordi smiled and grasped her hand.

He led her into the break room. He saw that no one was inside and closed the door behind them.

Jordi: “So what brings you here?”

He smiled at her.

Madelyn: “I wanted to surprise you with something nice to get you through this hard day!”

She smiled at him, offering him a basket filled with purple candies, chocolates, and flowers she'd picked from the neighborhood. Jordi beamed at the variety of sweets, treats, and flowers. He placed the basket on the table, hugged and kissed her.

Jordi: “Thank you…”

He whispered in her ear. Madelyn shivered at his whispers and reddened.

Madelyn: “Heheheh, you're very welcome!”

She kissed and hugged him back.

Jordi: “So are you going to spend the night at my place or go back to yours?”

He asked her.

Madelyn: “Well, that depends, do you want to be in your bed or take a journey to fairy land in my bed?”

She poked his nose. Jordi laughed.

Jordi: “I don’t know. I’m not going to be great company… I just witnessed a little girl see Santa get turned into a ghastly monster, and she wants me around like I used to be, but I can’t be around… and I don’t know how to solve this so everyone is happy.”

He confessed. He flopped on the couch and leaned back.

Madelyn: “You don't have to entertain me, Jordi. That's not your job! I think you're the one who needs good company! I'm sorry… That’s not your fault for what happened… and it's not your fault, Gina sucks, and she’s caught up in this! What about your happiness?”

She asked him, placing her hand on his. Jordi drew a long breath and grasped her hand.

Jordi: “Regardless, kids witnessed that happen to Santa Claus, and no one needed that. I hate seeing people hurt, and it’s going to take a toll on me. If Ashley got me out of there, it would have been Blair instead. Fabien is a dick, but he has a point, and that would have solved MOST of the problems.”

He said, his voice trailing off.

Madelyn: “No, no one needed that… why is it your fault or Ashley’s fault though? You had every right to be there, and it’s not on Ashley to move you out of the way. Blair was being a dick, and this is his fault! It seems like someone was trying to get him ‘cause he has a lot of enemies, so this is his fault!”

She frowned.

Jordi: “I can’t change the past, I know, but I wish I could make other people’s traumas go away.”

He sighed.

Madelyn: “Just because you have superpowers doesn’t mean you're a superhero and can fix everyone's problems for them. What about your traumas?”

She sighed and flopped beside him. Jordi paused.

Jordi: “My traumas?”

He raked his fingers through his hair.

Jordi: “I’m afraid of being alone.”

He confessed. Madelyn turned to him.

Madelyn: “Why is that?”

Jordi looked away.

Jordi: “Because it seems those who were close to me leave me… My mother died of a drug overdose when I was eight, and my grandmother walked out and left me.”

He embraced himself.

Jordi: “And Blair caused a lot of trauma in my childhood. I was starving, and his grandparents helped me. Blair held that against me and still does. I didn’t do anything to warrant his vitriol, but here we are, and now he has Ashley engaged to him.”

He laughed bitterly.

Madelyn: “Blair was clearly jealous of you! He's a dick to everyone for no reason! He's a miserable mother fucker and not worth your tears or time!”

She assured him.

Madelyn: “I don't know why Ashley would be with him… or anyone would ”

She frowned. Jordi cupped his mouth. Because they’re being blackmailed, but this is a topic for another day, he thought.

He brushed his sleeve back to look at his watch.

Jordi: “I have to be back at work. I’m sorry. I will see you after work?”

He said to her with a faint smile. Madelyn smiled back at him.

Madelyn: “Oh, of course! I'll let you get back to work! I'll see you later!”

The two kissed.

Jordi: “And thanks for the lovely gift, but your presence is the best present.”

He rubbed his nose on hers. Madelyn smiled at him and giggled with reddened cheeks.

Madelyn: “Aww, as is yours!”

She rubbed her nose back onto his.

~

Deimos angrily paced around Lazaros’ living room as Lazaros was watching home videos of him feeding Ashley.

Deimos: “And Tristan accepts a date from this lardass! I am trying to work things out with him, and he fucking goes out on a date with this fat piece of shit who is old enough to be his dad!”

He huffed. Lazaros sighed.

Lazaros: “Well, Ashley is engaged to Blair now. I know how you feel. You do and do for someone, and someone worse comes along, and now you’re nothing.”

He wept. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “Who gives a fuck about that?”

Lazaros: “I said I forgave Ashley for throwing up my delicious food! Did I have to say it every day?”

He asked bitterly. Deimos gaped at him.

Lazaros: “Maybe I have to emphasize my forgiveness. It’s not every day you make a delicious meal for it get thrown up.”

He huffed.

Deimos: “You don’t fuckin’ forgive them…”

He muttered. Lazaros turned to him.

Lazaros: “Between us? No, I don’t, but I said I did because I had to or I wouldn’t get tummy time with them!”

He cried and stomped his feet.

Deimos: “Yeah, I said a lot of shit Tristan wanted to hear to get my dick sucked.”

He mumbled.

Lazaros: “Yeah, I love giving Ashley tummy rubs and seeing my friends give them tummy rubs, too.”

He grinned.

Deimos: “I feel the same about Tristan sucking my dick, but I don’t want to see him do that to others. Oh, I love his feet on my dick. Best feeling in the world.”

He sighed.

~

At the Noble Monarch Hotel, Celeste stepped out of the shower after Jaxon had gotten one in her black kitty robe. Jaxon lay in bed in his silk red dragon robe, watching TV. Celeste smirked and gave his feet a quick tickle. Jaxon laughed and kicked his feet.

Jaxon: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!”

She smirked and crawled into bed with him, snuggling him. He put his arm around her and smiled down at her.

Jaxon: “So, why aren’t you with Fabien?”

He asked her. Celeste shrugged.

Celeste: “I dunno. He has work, or he wants to troll Blair or some crap.”

She trailed her nails on his chest. He shivered and laughed a bit.

Jaxon: “I thought you liked that?”

Celeste: “I do, but Blair was funnier when he didn’t have Ashley instead of having them now.”

Jaxon gazed down at her.

Jaxon: “How did you know to reattach Fabien’s arm after that monster creature tore it off?”

Celeste: “Oh, when I was in the facility as a little girl being trained, some other kids had the same powers as he does, and I learned it then and there. They were harder to kill.”

She stated. Jaxon gazed up at the ceiling.

Jaxon: “What was being in that place like anyway?”

Celeste shifted her eyes.

Celeste: “I dunno. It was boring or whatever, but I got rewarded with presents if I killed the other kids, and that was kind of cool.”

She drawled.

Jaxon: “Did you get Christmas?”

Celeste: “I dunno. I think when I got rid of the other kids, nothing else was left. I did get a birthday, though. Alfred Horowitz got me a pink princess canopy bed and a princess dress with a crown for my birthday. That was pretty cool.”

She smiled a bit.

Jaxon: “Do you know what happened to him?”

She shook her head.

Celeste: “No, after Adelio broke me out, I never knew what happened to him and never heard his name again until Trevor found those papers in Narcisse’s mansion.”

She said, her voice trailing off.

Jaxon: “Do you ever think about him?”

He asked her. Celeste paused.

Celeste: “Sometimes. He made my time at that facility not so boring or crappy. I got a nice bed and a lovely dress. Sometimes I wonder where he is or if he’s alive.”

She looked up at him.

Jaxon: “If we found him, he could answer questions about that ‘Project Ghisyn.’ ”

Celeste: “Yeah, but why would I want to know about that?”

She blinked.

Jaxon: “Because it’s more important than finding out about Borko.”

He huffed. Celeste furrowed her eyebrows.

Celeste: “Why don’t you want me finding out about Borko?!”

She snapped. Jaxon sighed.

Jaxon: “It’s NOT that… It’s HOW you want to do it!”

He knit his eyebrows.

Jaxon: “Can’t you just leave this to Tristan?”

He said beseechingly.

Celeste: “Ichiro is not attracted to Tristan or into men!”

She pouted.

Jaxon: “No, but Tristan is the smartest guy on the team, and he would figure out a way to find out about Borko without you wearing a sexy costume for that psycho!”

He countered and pounded the bed.

Jaxon: “Even Jordi could find out, seeing how he works for old kook, and she works with Ichiro.”

He huffed.

Celeste: “But he doesn’t know, and Jordi is working under that hag, not Ichiro! Jordi doesn’t know much about Ichiro.”

She stated.

Jaxon: “Yeah, and no one in my family knows much about him either.”

He muttered.

Celeste: “So I wanna find out.”

Jaxon: “I don’t want you to! Can’t you leave this to Tristan?!”

He asked with hurt in his tone. Celeste furrowed her eyebrows.

Celeste: “I told you Ichiro is not attracted to him or any man!”

She snapped.

Jaxon: “That’s NOT what I meant! He has ways of figuring people out! He can probably find out who Borko was to Ichiro!”

He fired back. Celeste folded her arms.

Celeste: “I’m not a helpless damsel like Ivy, Jaxon!”

Jaxon hung his head.

Jaxon: “I know, babe, but Ichiro traumatized ME. He was always shitty to me, but I can’t even function when I see those monster creatures! I am always brought back to Chelsea and Kristen! I can’t help but think it’s my fault when I see those!”

He cried.

Celeste: “And if we find out about Borko, maybe we can stop this.”

She stated.

Jaxon: “No, I don’t think finding out about some dead old guy will do shit! I have to kill Ichiro!”

He growled.

Celeste: “But you won’t, Jaxon. It’s not in you to kill people. If it were, you wouldn’t be traumatized about Chelsea or Kristen.”

She said evenly. Jaxon pursed his lips and wiped his eyes.

He embraced himself as he sobbed. Celeste knit her eyebrows and cuddled him close. He rested his head on her large breasts and wept.